C Sansom - Sovereign

They gave me only a glance, though, before turning to Radwinter, who likewise had jumped up. From his groggy look he must have been sleeping after all. The fat turnkey heaved him to his feet. ‘Right, matey, Sir Jacob wants you questioned.’

He tried to struggle. ‘No! I have done nothing! It is Maleverer who should be here! I am Archbishop Cranmer’s gaoler! Let me loose!’ He began to struggle. The fat turnkey slapped his face, hard, then grabbed his head and looked into his eyes.

‘Don’t make trouble or we’ll drag you along by your feet.’

Radwinter said nothing, shocked by the blow, and allowed himself to be manhandled from the cell. He recovered himself outside, though; I heard him screaming as he was dragged away, calling out to God for vengeance on Maleverer, yelling that he would have the turnkey in his own gaol. I sat down on the bed, my legs shaking. When would they come for me?

More hours passed.

The tide was rising once again, the hissing of the rain getting louder. I had heard of cells in the riverside gaols flooding at high tides, prisoners drowning. I half hoped that would happen, watched with a mixture of fear and anticipation for water to start lapping over the window. I started at the sound of the key in the lock again, whirling round with a gasp of fear. Was it my turn now?

Barak stood in the doorway, the young gaoler behind him. He looked exhausted. I jumped up and ran to him, grasping his arms, all reserve forgotten. ‘Jack, Jack, thank God!’

He reddened with embarrassment at this unprecedented show of affection. He reddened further as he saw my chains. He took my arm gently. ‘Come, sir, sit down.’ He led me to my bed and turned to the gaoler. ‘Half an hour, yes?’

‘Ay. Half an hour for sixpence. Let me know if you’re bringing anything in, and I’ll tell you the tariff.’ He went out, locking us in. Barak sat on Radwinter’s bed. I knew from his weary anxious face that he had no good news for me.

‘That’s Radwinter’s bed,’ I said with a hysterical little laugh.

‘Radwinter? They’ve kept him with you?’

‘Ay. He is out of his wits, Jack, and I’ll be out of mine if I’m here much longer. They’ve taken him away, Jesu knows what they are doing to him. I do not have the stomach for this.’

‘What man has? God’s wounds, you look rough. Is there anything I can bring you?’

‘Blankets and dry clothes. I need them desperately.’ My voice caught on the words and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. ‘And some decent food. I’ll pay you later.’

‘I’ll sort it out.’

‘Thank you. Jesu, it is good to see you. Talk to me, help me remind myself there is still a world beyond here. Have you gone to my house?’

‘Ay. I thought it best for us all to stay there. Tamasin is helping look after Master Wrenne.’ He hesitated. ‘Sir, he is not well at all, poor old fellow. He almost collapsed when we reached Chancery Lane. He had to be put to bed.’

‘I feared he was in a bad way.’ I looked at Barak. ‘Is this the end for him?’

‘I think he just needs rest. The voyage was too much for him.’

‘Does Joan know where I am?’

‘We thought it best not to tell her. We said you had business at Whitehall, had told us to stay at Chancery Lane and look after Master Wrenne till you returned.’

‘Good.’ We sat silent for a moment. ‘Listen to that rain,’ I said.

‘Ay. Apparently the weather has been bad in London, hasn’t stopped raining for a fortnight. You know the orchard behind your house, that the Inn authorities have pulled up for new building?’

‘Yes.’

‘Now the trees have gone it is a sea of mud. You know it slopes down towards the wall of your garden. Well, it’s flooding, there’s a little pond building up by the far wall. Hasn’t come under the wall yet, but it could flood the garden. Joan showed me.’

I did not reply, I could not focus on what he was saying. He was silent for a moment then said, ‘I spent yesterday and this morning trying to find out what this is about. I’ve been round my old contacts at Whitehall, but they don’t know anything. The King’s been back at Hampton Court some days, he’s not been to London. They say there’s something going on down there, something big. All the chief men are there, including Cranmer.’

‘The Prince’s illness?’

‘No, he’s better they say. I’m thinking of trying to get a pass to Hampton Court. What have they told you?’

I looked at the door, then leaned forward. ‘Speak quiet now, I think they may listen at the door. It is about the Queen.’ I told him what Sir Jacob had said about Dereham.

‘Dereham. That makes no sense.’

I looked at him seriously. ‘If they use harsh methods I don’t think I can hold out, Jack. They’ve taken Radwinter for questioning. When I heard the key in the lock I thought it was my turn.’ I groaned. ‘I’ve even been tempted to call the turnkey and spill everything, about the Queen and Culpeper and about Blaybourne for good measure. But that means danger for you and Tamasin too.’ I looked at him bleakly.

He nodded slowly, bit his lip. ‘I don’t understand this,’ he said quietly. ‘What do they think connects you to Dereham?’

I told him how Rich had seen us leave the Queen’s tent, seen Dereham accost me later in Hull. ‘This is Rich’s doing, he and Maleverer.’ I was thinking quickly now. ‘There must have been some suspicion of Dereham already; maybe they’ve got the wrong man or maybe the Queen has been even more stupid than we thought.’

‘Dereham too?’

‘Yes. I think Rich got Maleverer to tell Cranmer, got me put here for questioning.’

‘That’s a strange way to proceed. Surely it would make more sense just to have you taken before Cranmer for questioning, especially as you’re under his patronage.’

‘I think they’ve told him some lie, said there’s more against me than there is.’ I pondered, my mind was growing rational again now Barak was there. ‘If I’m shut up in here with my reputation ruined, the Guildhall are more likely to drop the Bealknap case. I think that is what is behind all this – it fits with Rich’s threats and Maleverer’s sly grins.’

‘Maybe.’

‘Listen, go to the Guildhall and ask for Master Vervey, he is one of the Common Council attorneys and a good fellow. Find if there has been any approach made by Rich’s men about the Bealknap case. If I am right and Rich is behind this, there will have been.’

‘All right.’

‘Then get that information to Cranmer. Get to Hampton Court. Bribe anyone you need to, you know where my money is kept. If Cranmer is being used he won’t like it. Put in a word for Radwinter too, say he is out of his wits and I do not think he killed Broderick.’

Barak smiled and shook his head. ‘You’d help that rogue?’

‘I’ll help anyone wrongly accused, even him.’

He essayed a joke. ‘Without a fee?’

‘Ay. Poor man’s plea. Pro bono, for the common good.’ I laughed again, bitterly.

‘Who did kill Broderick?’

‘Someone on that ship’s manifest, who was at Howlme when Jennet Marlin died. Tell Cranmer that as well if you get the chance.’

‘Do you still suspect Leacon? He came up to me after you were taken, said he was sorry to have to arrest you but he had his orders.’

‘Perhaps. I wonder if that story of his parents’ land was even true.’ I paused, and when I spoke again my voice shook. ‘Get me out of here, Jack, for pity’s sake. They showed me what they did to Bernard Locke. He was broken.’ I gave a shuddering sigh. ‘He was executed this morning.’

Barak got up, looking resolute now he had a clear course of action. ‘I’ll go straight to the Common Council, then I’ll cozen an entry into Hampton Court. There’s a man at Whitehall owes me a favour from when I worked for Lord Cromwell. And I’ll get Tamasin to fetch the things you need, she is waiting outside the Tower Gates.’ He hesitated. ‘I didn’t want her to see inside this place.’