He was about to continue when the door swung open. The man who greeted them was dressed, despite the heat, in a fur-edged robe stretching from neck to slippered feet. In one hand he held an eyeglass, in the other a quill; inkstains covered his fingers. He was balding, with a grey seamed face; his eyes were bright, his nose sharp and pointed like a quill. Bloodless lips puckered in irritation at being disturbed.
‘What business, sirs?’ He scratched his scrawny neck.
‘King’s business,’ Cranston replied, pushing him aside.
‘Well I never, I beg your pardon, sir.’ The man grasped Cranston’s arm.
‘Who are you?’ the coroner barked.
Tibault Lesures, Master of the Rolls. How dare you…?’
Cranston gripped his hand. ‘Sir John Cranston, coroner of the city here on the express orders of the Regent. This monk is Brother Athelstan, parish priest of St Erconwald’s and my secretarius.’
‘Then why didn’t you say that in the first place? Lesures’ head came forward like that of an angry chicken. He plucked at the cambric belt round his waist and smiled at Athelstan. ‘You are here about the murders?’ He clucked his tongue. ‘Two young men killed in their prime. Violent times, Father! Satan is always an assassin and there are more sons of Cain than there are of Abel. Ah well, come on.’
He led them along a gloomy passageway, past chambers where scribes and scriveners scratched away, copying or preparing rough drafts of documents.
‘The Chancery of the Green Wax,’ Lesures turned at the foot of the stairs, ‘is on the first gallery. On the second gallery is the Chancery of the Red Wax and on the…’
‘Thank you,’ Cranston replied. ‘I once worked in the Chancery myself, Master Tibault.’
‘Did you really?’ Lesures became all friendly.
‘Please!’ Cranston insisted.
Lesures took them up the stairs, along the gallery and into a large furnished room. This was more comfortable than the others they’d passed. Damask cloths and coloured tapestries hung above the wooden wainscoting next to shields bearing the arms of England, France, Scotland and Castille. The floor was of polished wood; high desks and stools were placed neatly around but these were now empty. Four clerks were gathered at the far end of a long table which ran down the centre of the room. They were grouped round a fair-haired young woman who sat in a chair, her face in her hands.
The young men looked up as Cranston approached. They were all in their early thirties, dressed in jerkin and hose, white shirts with clean, crisp collars coming up under the neck. They were neat, tidy and all wore the Chancery ring on their left hands. Athelstan recalled how the Chancery always recruited the best from the Halls of Oxford and Cambridge: young men of good families. Some of them would enter the Church whilst others, if they won royal favour, would rise to be sheriffs, court bailiffs or royal commissioners.
Lesures introduced them: William Ollerton, small and thickset, his clean-shaven face marred by a scar which ran from his nose down to his mouth. His dark hair was carefully oiled and he wore an earring in one lobe. Quite the dandy, Athelstan thought. Robert Elflain was tall and thin as a spear shaft: arrogant, his face puckered in a permanent expression of disdain, his eyes watchful. Thomas Napham was tall, broad and chubby-faced, his hair not so neatly coifed as the rest, rather nervous, eager to please. Finally, Andrew Alcest, apparently the leader of the group: loose-limbed, rather girlish with his smooth-skinned face and large round eyes. Yet Athelstan sensed mischief, a man who, despite his innocent looks, was attracted to plotting as a cat to mice.
Lesures finished the introductions. The clerks shook Sir John’s hand and that of Athelstan, then stood aside. The young woman, round whom they had been grouped, still sat in the chair, her chin resting on the heel of her hand. She smiled tearfully at Cranston who towered over her. Athelstan was struck by how pleasing her face was, not beautiful but pretty: large grey eyes, sweet mouth, her oval-shaped face still comely despite the tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked tired. Wisps of auburn hair peeped from under the serge-cloth wimple she wore. Athelstan noticed the mud stains on her grey cloak, slung over the arm of the chair, whilst her bodice and dress, clasped close at the neck, looked crumpled and travel-worn. She wore a ring on one finger but otherwise, apart from a silver cross hanging on a chain round her neck, no other jewellery. The friar was fascinated by her fingers, long and very slender; he noticed the indentations around the nails and wondered if she was a woman who had spent her life as an embroiderer or seamstress. Cranston still gazed beatifically down at her until the young woman, rather disconcerted, blinked and turned to Athelstan for help.
‘Sir John Cranston, mistress,’ Athelstan explained. ‘Coroner of the city. We are here to investigate the murders of Luke Peslep and Edwin Chapler.’
‘Good!’ the woman exclaimed, her face becoming hard. She rose, grasped Cranston’s hand and, before he could stop her, kissed it. ‘I am Edwin’s sister, Alison Chapler. I have just heard the news, Sir John. I demand vengeance and justice for my brother’s murder.’
CHAPTER 3
Sir John released the young woman’s hand.
‘Sit down, mistress,’ he said softly, walking backwards.
Athelstan closed his eyes at the muffled giggles from the clerks. Cranston, the rich claret now making its full effect felt, gazed round benevolently.
‘All of you, sirs, sit down at the table here.’ He placed himself at the top, snapping his fingers for Athelstan to take the stool beside him. ‘Now,’ Cranston began, once the clerks were sat on either side of him. ‘Now, now, a pretty mess, two royal clerks horribly murdered.’ He wagged a stubby finger. ‘And you know what they’re going to say, don’t you?’
‘Are you a prophet as well as a coroner?’ Elflain blurted out, grinning at his companions for support.
‘No, sir, I am the King’s officer,’ Cranston snapped, all weariness disappearing from his face and voice. ‘The murder of a royal clerk is treason. The punishment for that is to be half-hanged, disembowelled, cut down and the body sliced into quarters.’
The clerks became more attentive.
‘Good,’ Cranston purred. ‘Now we have your attention, let us begin. Mistress Alison, you live in London?’
‘No, Sir John, I do not. I came this morning from Epping, a village on the old Roman road through Essex.’
Aye, I know it,’ Cranston replied. ‘Mistress Alison, I must apologise, but I have ordered your brother’s corpse to be taken to St Erconwald’s. Brother Athelstan kindly agreed to have it interred there.’
Alison smiled so dazzlingly at Athelstan that his heart gave a slight skip. It had been a long time since a comely young woman smiled at him like that. He blushed and lowered his head.
‘Do you wish to take it back, mistress?’ Cranston continued, glancing sideways at Athelstan, enjoying his secretarius’s discomfort.
‘No, Sir John, I do not. Brother Athelstan, it was most kind of you. St Erconwald’s is in Southwark, is it not?’
‘Yes, mistress.’ Athelstan didn’t even lift his head.
‘I thank you, Brother.’
‘What are you doing in London now?’ Cranston asked.
‘I came to see my brother,’ Alison replied. ‘Ten days ago a journeyman brought me a letter, a short note: Edwin said he felt unwell. I could see he was worried about something. I have it here.’
She picked up the battered leather saddlebag lying next to her chair, undid the clasp and rummaged amongst the contents. The letter was passed along. Athelstan took it and undid the crisp, square piece of parchment. The writing inside it was beautifully formed: From Edwin Chapler to his sweet and beloved sister Alison. The letter went on to describe that he felt unwell, burdened by certain troubles; that if he was free he would go to visit her but could she not come and see him?
Athelstan noted it was written ten days earlier; he smiled his thanks and passed it back.
‘I arrived this morning,’ Alison continued. ‘My brother had lodgings in St Martin’s Lane near Aldersgate: a mere garret overlooking the city ditch. A rather foulsome place, especially in summer.’
‘Quite, quite.’ Cranston nodded understandingly. And so you came here, mistress, and found your brother had
