Heartstone

Matthew, I think you should return, as soon as you can.

Your loving friend,

Guy

I looked up at Barak. 'What does Tamasin say?' He smiled. 'That she is bored, and tired, and heavy. She wants me home.' He took a long breath of relief. 'What about Guy?'

I passed the letter over to Barak and opened the one from Warner. It was dated yesterday, he had got it to me fast. When I opened the letter I understood why; inside was a little folded note in the Queen's own handwriting. I broke the seal. It was dated the day before, 15 July, from Portchester.

Dear Matthew,

I have received your letter, and was shocked to hear of the death of poor Mistress Hobbey. It seems there is little or nothing against Master Hobbey, and if that poor boy does not wish to proceed we should not entangle him in the coils of Wards at this time. I know that Mistress Calfhill will agree.

We have just arrived at Portchester Castle. The King will be travelling to Portsmouth in two days. Latest reports of French numbers and the progress along the Channel of their ships are very troubling. You should leave now, return to London.

I turned to Warner's letter; it was brief, the script without his usual care and written in a hurry.

Dear Matthew,

The court is arrived at Portchester Castle. I enclose a letter from the Queen; we agree you should return to London as soon as possible. Please accept Brother Dyrick's offer on costs. I hope and trust the inquest has found the killer. On that subject, I heard the inquest's verdict into Master Mylling was one of accidental death.

Here the King is much concerned by the approach of the French fleet. I may be unable to write further till this desperate crisis is resolved, one way or another.

With greetings and salutations,

Robert Warner

I passed both letters over to Barak. 'I never had a letter from the Queen before.'

'Lucky you. Well, that's the end of the Curteys case.'

'I know. This room is sticky. Let's get out.'

We stepped out into the windless summer evening. I looked over at the tiled roof, solid old walls and new high chimneys of Hoyland Priory.

'This will be our last night at this place, thank God,' Barak said. He looked at me. 'D'you still think Warner could be connected with Ellen somehow?'

'I don't know.' I took a deep breath. 'Tomorrow morning we can leave first thing. I will go to Portsmouth, and you take the road for London. With luck I will only be there a few hours, and can catch you up on the road the next day.'

'Don't go.'

'I must.'

'The French could arrive.'

'I must speak to West. It was I stirred up the hornets' nest at Rolfswood.'

'And you're going to try and get the hornets back in?'

'I am going to try and find out what happened at that foundry.'

He shook his head. 'Fuck it. Listen, I'll come with you to Portsmouth tomorrow.'

'No. Go back to London. I'll find Leacon, maybe he can help me reach West again.'

'You shouldn't go alone.'

I looked at him. 'Are you sure?'

'Provided we leave as soon as you've seen West. If I let you go alone, I fear you'll stay and land in more danger.'

I smiled. 'Then—thank you.'

He spoke with a sudden forcefulness; 'When we get back to London, you have to change. You can't go on living like this. And nor can I.' He looked at me hard again, but there was concern as well as censure in his eyes.

I smiled sadly. 'Leacon said something similar to me. About getting old.'

'And obsessive. Never more so.'

I took a deep breath. 'Then it seems that now I need you to guide me. Thank you, Jack.'

* * *

WE RETURNED TO the house. I thought, he is right, when we get back it is time I made a life for myself, instead of living through other people's tragedies. I realized that was what I had been doing for years: there had been so many, brought by the wild changes and conflicts the King had forced on England, perhaps it was my response to the wider madness.

Fulstowe stood in the great hall, looking at the space where the tapestries had been. He turned to me with a hostile look, his fair beard and hair contrasting with his jet-black mourning doublet.

'Do you know where Sir Quintin and his son are?' I asked shortly.

'Departed.'

'And the family?'

The steward glared at me, any last shred of deference gone. 'I will not have you trouble them. Not after the state you reduced them to at the inquest.'

'You should mind your manners, steward,' I said quietly.

'I am in charge of this household under Master Hobbey. I say again, I will not have you disturb them.'

'Where is Master Dyrick?'

'With Master Hobbey.'

'We leave tomorrow. Tell Master Dyrick I will need to speak with him before we go.'

He looked relieved at that news. 'I will. There will be no dinner in the hall tonight. Food will be served to people in their rooms.' He turned on his heel and walked away.

I went up to my room. Soon after there was a knock at my door and Dyrick entered, his face dark and angry. 'You will be pleased to know, sir,' he said, 'that Master Hobbey is prostrate. And David is much upset.'

'Not as upset as Master Ettis, I'll wager.'

I looked at him. I felt guilty for what I believed I had had to do at the inquest, but for Dyrick I felt only anger and contempt. I had believed earlier that, ridiculously unpleasant as he was, he genuinely thought I was treating Hobbey unjustly over Hugh; but after his role in the pursuit of Ettis I knew he was corrupt and cruel.

He sneered. 'Ettis. Whose wife no doubt will take his place as your client.'

I said, 'You will be pleased to hear I have authority to accept your offer to end Hugh Curteys' case on the basis of no costs.'

'Ah yes, that royal messenger.' He smiled nastily. 'And I noticed you and Master Hugh seem no longer to be friends. And after what you made him do this afternoon I imagine he will be as glad to be rid of you as everyone else here.'

'Oh, it is not over yet, Brother Dyrick,' I answered quietly. 'There is the villagers' case to come. And still a murderer to be found, incidentally.'

'He has been found.'

'I do not think even you believe Ettis guilty.'

'Body of our Lord!' he burst out. 'You are the most troublesome fellow I ever encountered!'

'Calm yourself, Brother.'

'I will be calm when you and your impertinent clerk leave this house.'

'And I hope you remain calm when next we meet, at Ettis's trial or in the Court of Requests. I have your mark now, Dyrick, I see you clearly.'

'You see nothing. You never have. Master Hobbey and the family, by the way, can I think do without your farewells.' Dyrick flounced out, closing the door with an ear-splitting bang.

* * *

WE ROSE EARLY the following morning. We breakfasted in the kitchen, and said farewell to old Ursula, toiling there as usual, who thanked us for our interest in Hugh. 'Though you never found why they told that wicked