C Sansom - Sovereign

Barak pondered a moment. ‘He’s guarding Radwinter now, isn’t he?’

‘Yes.’

‘Perhaps you ought to tell Maleverer.’

I shook my head. ‘He wouldn’t listen. There’s no point.’

‘You ought to.’

I sighed. ‘One day I will provoke that man too far and I will be in trouble. But you are right.’

We looked round as another big wave hit the deck amidships, splashing water over the crewmen working the sails. There came a shout from the crow’s nest high above us. ‘Land!’

WE WERE FOUR DAYS in Ipswich, a pretty little town. Getting the ship into dock and repairing the rudder was no easy task. It was simple enough to find an inn, though. Giles ceased to try and hide that he felt exhausted; he took to bed and lay there, his face drawn with pain, disinclined for conversation. I decided to follow Barak’s advice, and went to seek out Maleverer. He had turned a room in the best inn in town into yet another office, got a table from somewhere and covered it with papers. He was sitting writing. He looked tired, his high colour turned to a greyish pallor. He greeted me, as usual, with a frown.

‘I am busy, Master Shardlake. I have a long report to prepare for the council.’

‘There was something that occurred to me, Sir William. About Broderick’s death.’

He sighed, but put down his pen. ‘Well?’

I told him my thoughts about Leacon. He looked at me impatiently.

‘Leacon could have killed Broderick any time these past few weeks,’ he answered.

‘I doubt there was another time when there were no other soldiers around. This may have been the perfect opportunity.’

‘He was careless, letting those men get drunk. That’s in my report and he’ll suffer for it. But why in God’s name would he kill Broderick?’

‘I don’t know, Sir William. It was just he had the opportunity. And – well, he comes from Kent. You remember what I told you about Blaybourne.’

‘For God’s sake, don’t mention that name! These walls are thin. Are you still ferreting about in your head over that?’

‘I wondered about Blaybourne’s family. Whether that confession I glimpsed had been passed down -’

‘You love long shots, don’t you?’ He pointed his pen at me. ‘Most of the soldiers with the Progress came from Kent, as you well know. Leacon has been with the Gentlemen Pensioners for five years, he’s always been solid until this mistake.’

‘Is that not itself a cause for concern? That he should be careless now, of all times?’

‘You want to be careful. Those attempts on your life have made you willing to suspect anyone, blacken anyone’s name on no good evidence.’ He motioned me away. ‘Get out. I don’t want to see you again. Go.’

AFTER WE LEFT IPSWICH, the ship’s bad luck seemed to evaporate; a fair wind set in behind us and we reached the Thames in four days, on the first of November. I watched from the rail as the ship sailed up the broad estuary between the mudbanks. The water was calm and there were fingers of mist drifting along the shore. Like everyone else on board I was cold and exhausted. The first buildings began to appear and the boat tacked to the shore, heading for Billingsgate Dock. On the north bank the Tower of London loomed above us.

Barak and Tamasin appeared and stood beside me. Tamasin gave me an uncertain look. I smiled at her; there was no point in an open quarrel.

‘What are those for?’ Barak asked. Everywhere in the city church bells were ringing loudly.

‘Someone said it’s for Queen Catherine,’ Tamasin replied. ‘The King has ordered services in all the churches, to express his thanks for having found such a good wife at last.’

‘If he knew,’ Barak said softly.

‘Well, he doesn’t,’ I said quietly. ‘And mustn’t. We forget all about that now. Disappear back into London.’

Tamasin sighed. ‘That sounds wonderful after these last six weeks.’

‘Yes. I must go and fetch Master Wrenne,’ I added awkwardly. ‘Tell him we are nearly home.’

I WENT BELOW DECKS to Giles’s tiny cabin. All this last week he had lain in bed, sleeping mostly. He was awake when I entered, though, lying there looking sad.

‘We are almost here,’ I said.

‘Yes. I heard the sailors calling.’ He gave a little smile. ‘So, I made it.’

‘How are you?’

‘Better.’ He sighed. ‘I must get up.’

‘When we get to my house you must rest a few days. Barak and I can make enquiries at Gray’s Inn.’

‘Would you wait a few days before you do? Till I feel able to come with you.’ He laughed awkwardly. ‘I would like to meet my nephew standing on my feet, not have him brought to me in bed.’

‘Very well, Giles. By all means wait a few days. I will get my friend Guy to come and see you. He is an apothecary, but a trained doctor too.’

‘The old Spanish Moor you told me of?’

‘Ay. At the least I am sure he can ease your pains. And you will like my house. My housekeeper Joan is a good old body, she will take care of you.’ My heart lifted at the thought of home. The first thing I would do was try to get the Bealknap case set down as soon as possible.

‘You have been so good to me,’ Giles said quietly. ‘Like a son.’

I said nothing, only laid a hand on his arm. ‘I will leave you to get ready. We will be on deck.’

When I returned the boat was pulling up to the dock. It bumped against the wharf. I saw half a dozen soldiers there, carrying pikes. The escort for Radwinter.

The boat tied up. Giles joined us, grasping the rail. ‘London,’ he said. ‘It seems huge.’

‘It is,’ Barak said. ‘A thousand more come each year, they say.’

‘Jack will guide you round the town, sir,’ Tamasin said.

‘You too, I hope, mistress. It will be fine to walk the streets of London with a pretty girl.’

We watched as the courtiers got off, a bedraggled-looking crew now. Maleverer was there.

I saw Sergeant Leacon emerge with the two soldiers and, between them, Radwinter. The gaoler’s once-neat clothes were crumpled, his face dirty and unshaven, hair and beard unkempt. His arms and legs were chained as Broderick’s had been. There was no sign of violence about him now, his head hung low.

Leacon and the soldiers led him across the planks and over to the other waiting soldiers. A sailor waved to the remaining passengers and we descended the plank. When we reached the wharf I almost lost my balance, unused to dry land. Tamasin and Barak each gave me an arm.

‘Careful, now,’ Barak said. ‘You’ll have us all over. I’m unsteady too.’

Another hand was laid on my arm. I turned round, thinking someone else had come to my aid.

‘I’m all right-’ I broke off. The hand had gripped me tight, and now I saw it was Sergeant Leacon’s. Three of the soldiers had come over and now they surrounded us, their pikes raised. Sergeant Leacon looked at me sternly.

‘You are to come with the soldiers, Master Shardlake.’

I frowned at him. ‘But what – what is this?’

‘You are under arrest, sir. You are suspected of treason.’

Giles stepped forward. ‘Treason?’ There was a shocked quaver in his voice. ‘What do you mean, there is some mistake -’

‘No mistake, sir. The soldiers who came for Radwinter brought a warrant for Master Shardlake’s arrest also.’

‘Let me see!’ Giles snapped authoritatively. ‘I am a lawyer.’ He held out a hand. Leacon produced a paper from his pocket and handed it to him. He studied it, eyes wide, then passed it to me with a trembling hand. It was a warrant for my arrest, signed by Archbishop Cranmer.