‘He is with me,’ said Lucie. ‘Might we come in?’
Michaelo stepped back and shut the door as soon as they both passed through.
With a mixture of relief and anger Lucie watched Marian rise from a chair by the fire and touch her heart.
As he took Lucie’s cloak Michaelo must have noticed the heat in her eyes. ‘Before you say anything you might permit her to explain herself. She thought to protect you and your family,’ he said quietly.
Marian was staring at the dark-haired newcomer. ‘Master Ambrose?’
‘Of course,’ Michaelo murmured, ‘his hands. The musician.’ He bowed to Lucie. ‘I will bring wine.’
Lucie thanked him and approached Marian. ‘I hoped you knew you could trust us.’
‘I do. You have been so kind to me I want to protect you,’ said Marian. ‘The intruders today, the two at the shop, and Gabriel. I hoped to convince Dom Jehannes to take me to St Clement’s Priory today. So that I might no longer attract danger to you and the children. I could not bear it if any of you suffered for my transgressions.’
Whether or not she had committed any transgressions seemed beside the point at present. ‘With Neville’s men searching the city for you and Ambrose how were we to know you had walked out of your own accord?’ asked Lucie.
‘They would not know me. They thought me a young man.’
‘We speak of the Nevilles. Sir John arrived this very day, the one who sent men to silence you and Ambrose, believing the two of you to be spies. His men have been scouring the city for information. By now he will know full well you are not what you seemed. And all who have sheltered you are in danger.’
A flicker of uncertainty in Marian’s eyes. Ambrose understood well enough, glancing toward the window with unease.
‘Would it not be safer for everyone if I went at once to the priory?’ asked Marian.
‘My husband advised us to wait until he has a plan in place for your protection. Our protection. It is a long way, and there are strangers abroad in the city. Possibly even the players with whom you traveled. You may indeed have seen Paul in the minster. Ambrose believes he just saw Carl.’
That unsettled her. ‘You see? I must leave, I—’
She was interrupted by goodwife Anna flinging open the door and rushing into the hall. ‘Oh dear heaven, armed retainers approach, in the company of the archbishop’s secretary.’
‘Ah, my cousin.’ Michaelo gave a mirthless chuckle as he set down the wine. ‘His corpulence will slow them.’
Lucie was already in motion. ‘Servants. You are servants,’ she said as she took Marian by the hand and looked to the goodwife.
‘Yes. She can wrap her hair and scrub my table in the kitchen.’
‘And Ambrose?’ Lucie asked.
‘He can take the shovel just outside the kitchen door and work up a sweat. I will fetch my husband’s hat and gloves,’ said Anna.
Ambrose and Marian hurried away with her.
Lucie was surprised her hand was so steady as she poured herself some wine and turned to Brother Michaelo. ‘Now, what is the purpose of my visit?’
THIRTEEN
Two Days
Alfred leaned against the abbey gate as Owen and Ned approached. ‘I have news.’
‘As do I.’ Ned stood watch as Owen took Alfred aside. ‘Tell me.’
Alfred reported that Sir John Neville’s party had arrived betimes, pausing for the midday meal at Holy Trinity Priory, Micklegate, messengers sent on to the staff preparing the archbishop’s palace in the minster yard. God be thanked Owen had taken Gabriel to St Mary’s. Owen gave him a brief account of his day’s gleanings, including a little of Ned’s part.
Alfred laughed. ‘Poor sod. We’ve all been in that painful place.’
‘I have a mission for him at present. Then I would have him report to you. Keep him busy. And set a watch on Master Thomas’s house. I want to know who visits him, who might be watching him. Ronan called on the chancellor the evening before he was murdered in front of that very house. I do not think his return to that house was accidental. Now that we know how Rupert fell and Gareth drowned, our attention is on finding Ronan’s murderer.’
‘We have only Pit’s idea of how Gareth drowned, Captain.’
‘Have you heard anything to contradict it?’
‘No.’
‘Nor I. Ronan. Just him. I will be at the archbishop’s palace. I prefer to deprive Sir John of the pleasure of summoning me when he learns that his man Pit is in the castle. From there I will go to Jehannes while Ned goes to the castle to warn the bailiff on duty to prepare for Sir John sending men to demand Pit’s release.’
‘I will be at the castle arranging the watches. I could meet him there.’
‘Good. He will be tasked to tell you what transpired at the palace. Warn the bailiff on duty to keep a close watch on Pit. Tell him that I’ve said on no account should he be released to Sir John Neville.’
‘It will be done, Captain.’
Memories haunted Owen as he approached the archbishop’s palace in the minster yard. In the past he would have been stewing about why Thoresby had summoned him, or ordering his thoughts to report progress. He had resented his obligation to Thoresby, disliked the man’s priorities, how he favored the powerful. To Owen’s mind Thoresby transgressed his role as a spiritual shepherd guiding souls to God, though he had come to see that the late archbishop struggled with his conflicting responsibilities as a servant of God, of the pope, and of the king, especially the latter. For many years Thoresby had served as King Edward’s lord chancellor and close advisor, and the king had expected him to continue giving more weight to his interests than he did to either the pope or his spiritual duties. When that conflict had grown too much for Thoresby’s conscience, he had given up the lord chancellor’s chain. In retrospect, Owen admired him. And missed him.
He was startled
