The Assassin's Riddle (12 page)

‘Yes, we were there from sunset till dawn,’ she replied. ‘There’s no crime in that. We were guests at a private party.’

‘You are harlots,’ Cranston replied. ‘You say you were there from dawn till dusk?’

She nodded.

‘Well, go on!’ Cranston barked.

‘We arrived before sunset,’ Dame Broadsheet replied. ‘There was myself and four other girls. Roesia, Melgotta, Hilda and Clarice.’

‘I see.’

‘The clerks had hired a private chamber, a large spacious room. A table was laid out and we supped and dined. Afterwards,’ she hurried on, ‘two young boys came up with rebec and tambour. They played tunes and we all danced. This was early on in the evening, it was not yet dark.’

‘And then?’

‘We each went off with our partners. I was with a young man called,’ she closed her eyes, ‘Ollerton.’

‘Ollerton’s dead,’ Cranston declared.

Dame Broadsheet’s eyes flew open in alarm. ‘Dead?’

‘Yes, poisoned by person or persons unknown. And,’ Cranston added flatly, ‘another one, Peslep, was stabbed whilst sitting on the jakes this morning.’

‘Oh Lord save us, Sir John!’

Dame Broadsheet’s fingers flew to her lips. Nevertheless, Cranston caught a sly look in her eyes. He grasped her hands and squeezed them tightly.

‘You know, don’t you?’ he remarked. ‘Don’t act innocent.’

‘Sir John!’

‘Yes, you bloody well do!’ Cranston squeezed tighter. ‘Now why should Dame Broadsheet know about the deaths of two clerks, one of whom was killed only a short while ago?’

‘The Vicar of Hell told me.’

‘The Vicar of Hell? And what would he have to do with important clerks in the Chancery of the Green Wax?’

Dame Broadsheet withdrew her hands, her eyes rounded in what she hoped was an innocent look. ‘I’ll tell you the truth, Sir John. I know nothing of it. He came here; we shared a cup of wine before he retired with young Clarice. He asked me if I knew about the deaths at the Chancery, I replied I didn’t.’ She shrugged. ‘We left it at that.’

Cranston sipped from his wine cup. ‘And the night of the festivities?’ he asked.

As I said, Sir John, we feasted and drank and then each of us went to a small garret or chamber with our partner. From what I can gather the clerks were as lusty as cocks in a barnyard. A merry coupling, Sir John!’

‘And in the morning?’

‘I woke up, it must have been before dawn. Ollerton was fast asleep in the sheets beside me. I dressed, collected the rest of the girls and we came back here to rest. After,’ she added quickly, ‘our night’s labours.’

‘Bring the girls here,’ Cranston ordered.

Dame Broadsheet did. All of them were now dressed in long gowns, their hair tidied up under pure white wimples. If it hadn’t been for their laughing eyes and saucy looks, they could have been taken for a group of dutiful novices in a nunnery. They stood trouped round the table, hands clasped before them, eyes lowered.

‘Lovely girls,’ Sir John breathed. ‘Who was the leader?’ he asked Dame Broadsheet.

‘The leader, Sir John?’

‘Amongst the clerks? Who organised the night’s festivities?’

‘Why, Alcest.’

‘And who was with him?’

‘I was,’ a young, blonde-haired girl whispered.

Cranston leaned over. ‘Raise your head, girl. You are . . .?’

‘Clarice, Sir John. Clarice Clutterbuckle.’

Sir John chose to ignore the sniggers: he realised this was no more the young lady’s name than it was his.

‘Clarice, you were with Alcest all night?’

‘Oh yes,’ she purred, rolling her shoulders, reminding Cranston of a cat. ‘We retired to an inner chamber, my Lord Coroner, no bigger than a cupboard but it had a bed.’

And?’

‘We frolicked, we drank some wine.’ She smiled. ‘I fell asleep and the next minute it was morning and Dame Broadsheet was rousing me from bed.’

‘And Alcest was still with you?’

‘Oh yes, Sir John, snoring fit to burst.’

‘And he never left you during the night?’

‘No one ever leaves me, Sir John.’

‘Less of your sauce!’ Cranston barked.

‘Sir John, I was asleep but I would have heard him leave. His clothes were where I,’ she smiled quickly, ‘put them the night before.’

‘And is this true of all of you?’

The other three girls nodded in unison.

‘You saw nothing suspicious?’ Cranston asked.

‘Oh no, Sir John.’

Cranston dismissed them; he turned back to Dame Broadsheet. ‘This must have cost a pretty penny.’

‘I mentioned that,’ she continued hurriedly, ‘to Alcest: how costly the evening was. He said he’d been to Master Drayton.’

‘Who?’ Cranston leaned across the table.

‘Master Drayton the moneylender. Alcest had taken a loan out.’ She added in a rush, ‘I mean, clerks of the Green Wax are well paid but the evening was costly.’

Cranston sat back, mouth half open. Alcest, he thought, going to a moneylender, offering surety to raise monies for an evening of revelry? And why should he do that? Peslep was a wealthy man. All five clerks would have contributed to the evening. So why a loan? And why Drayton? Why not the Italian bankers down near the Thames?

‘Sir John?’

Cranston stared at Dame Broadsheet. ‘Yes, mistress.’

‘Are you well? Would you like to lie down?’ she asked mischievously.

‘No, madam, I would not.’ Cranston lumbered to his feet. ‘I am finished with you for the time being.’

‘So there’ll be no bailiffs?’

‘No, madam, there’ll be no bailiffs.’

Cranston walked across the room, beckoning at Flaxwith who was sitting just within the doorway nursing a tankard of ale.

‘What now, Sir John?’ he asked.

‘Go to the Dancing Pig. Ask the landlord there if any of the clerks left during the revelry.’

‘Anything else, Sir John?’

‘Yes, don’t forget Stablegate and Flinstead.’

‘And there’s something else, isn’t there?’

‘Yes, Henry, there is.’ Cranston put an arm round Flaxwith’s shoulder and pulled him closer in order to whisper in his ear. ‘Get your best men. Have this house watched. I wager a jug of wine to a jug of wine that the Vicar of Hell will return!’

Cranston stepped back as the door of the tavern was flung open. Sir Lionel Havant strode in, hand on his sword. He bowed mockingly.

‘Sir John Cranston, I bring a personal invitation from His Grace the Regent. You are to join him in his private chambers at the Savoy Palace.’

Cranston groaned. ‘Sir Lionel, I am tired, my feet ache, I have been tramping the streets, not to mention falling downstairs.’

Sir Lionel smiled. ‘Sir John, it’s one of those invitations I would beg you not to refuse. We are to escort you to the Savoy.’ Havant sucked at his lips. ‘Whether you like it or not.’

Cranston sighed and turned to Flaxwith. ‘Carry out the tasks I have assigned to you. Tell the Lady Maude that I am His Grace’s most honoured guest, so God knows when I’ll crawl into my own bed tonight.’

Cranston went through the doorway. He heard a bark behind him and the coroner grinned slyly. He really should tell Sir Lionel Havant to keep his ankles well out of the nip of Samson’s jaws. I only wish, the coroner thought, I could take that bloody dog to the Savoy where he could piss and nip ankles to his heart’s content.

The funeral of Edwin Chapler at St Erconwald’s the following morning was a solemn and dignified affair. The coffin had been carried in and laid at the entrance to the rood screen; purple candles ringed it whilst Athelstan celebrated a solemn Requiem Mass. Mistress Alison, supported by Benedicta, had maintained a dignified silence even as the coffin on which she placed a single white rose was lifted out of the church and taken to the fresh plot dug by Pike the ditcher just before dawn. The coffin had been lowered into it. Athelstan had sprinkled holy water with the asperges rod then incensed it with the thurible, the fragrance spreading throughout the graveyard. The earth had been piled in and a suitable wooden cross laid over the fresh mound of earth until Tab the tinker made a proper one. Athelstan and Alison were discussing this when a parishioner, Simplicatas, came running out of the church screaming that a miracle had occurred.

‘The new crucifix!’ she cried. ‘Huddle’s crucifix near the baptistry! It’s bleeding!’

Athelstan, followed by the rest, rushed up the steps of the church. A crowd had gathered round the small recess where the crucifix hung. At first Athelstan could not believe his eyes. The wounds on the hands, side, feet and head of the crucified Christ were glistening red. Indeed, one small drop of blood, like a small ruby, was ready to drip down. Huddle was kneeling there, hands joined; on either side of him Watkin and Pike the ditcher, reminding Athelstan of the Three Wise Men before the crib.

‘Huddle!’ Athelstan bellowed. ‘Is this some trick of yours?’ He nearly added that miracles couldn’t occur in a place like St Erconwald’s but bit back the words.

The painter just stared at him and swallowed hard.

‘Father, how can you say that?’

Alison went forward and touched the glistening drop. She brought it back on the edge of her finger. She held it to her lips and licked it.

‘It’s blood,’ she declared, her face white as snow. ‘Father, it’s not fake blood.’ She paused. ‘The type mummers use.’

Athelstan went and also took a drop. He raised it to his lips. He had the same sensation as when he had cut his lip the previous week: a salty, tangy taste. He stepped back, trying to hide the tremors in his own body. The news had spread; more parishioners were already crowding into the church.

‘Go away!’ Athelstan ordered, hands raised. ‘Go back to your homes! For the love of God!’ His mind raced. This was not the first time a miracle had occurred at St Erconwald’s. He gazed suspiciously at Watkin and Pike but they were engrossed in their devotions.

Athelstan quickly took off his chasuble and surplice. He almost threw them at Crim and grasping the lavabo cloth, the piece of linen he used to dry his hands after touching the sacred species, he thrust his way through to the cross. He dabbed at the red marks and gazed down at the cloth, they did look like bloodstains.

‘What are you doing, Father?’ Benedicta whispered, coming up behind him.

‘Maybe it’s some trick,’ Athelstan replied. ‘The crucifix is new, it might be some pigment . . .’

‘I only used ordinary paint,’ Huddle sang out.

Athelstan stood staring at the cross. He’d wiped the red glistening liquid away; his heart lurched: more was beginning to form.

‘Have the crucifix taken down!’ he ordered Watkin.

‘No, Father.’ The dung-collector got to his feet, his great ham fists hanging by his side. ‘The crucifix is ours, Father, it’s in the nave. The nave belongs to the people.’

Athelstan groaned. Watkin was right. The friar took a secret oath that never again would he expound on Canon Law for his parishioners: by ancient custom, the sanctuary belonged to the priest but the nave, and all it contained, was the property of the people.

‘I said take it out!’ Athelstan ordered again.

‘The cemetery’s ours.’ Pike spoke up. ‘God’s acre belongs to the people too. You did say that, Father.’

Athelstan just glared at him. He felt like taking the crucifix and putting it in the sanctuary but Watkin, despite his bulk, moved more speedily. He removed the crucifix from the wall and, lifting it up like a standard, solemnly processed out through the church porch and down the steps, the crowd following him.

‘Father, let them have their way,’ Benedicta declared. ‘Don’t act hastily.’

‘I’m sorry, I must be going.’ Alison extended her hand, offering a silver coin.

Athelstan shook his head. ‘I buried your brother as an act of charity,’ he replied.

The young woman stood on tiptoe and kissed Athelstan on both cheeks. ‘I’ll be staying at the Silver Lute until this business is finished.’ She smiled at Benedicta. ‘I will collect my things.’

Athelstan watched her go. ‘Shouldn’t you be with her?’ he asked.

‘I have a seamstress working at home,’ Benedicta replied. ‘She will let her in. What are you going to do about this, Father?’

‘What can I do, Benedicta? You know these people better than I do. The supernatural is as real to them as the sun, wind and rain. Demons stand round their sickbeds; demons slay the newborn child; they grimace in corners and lurk behind every tree.’ Athelstan rubbed his face. At night, if Watkin is to be believed, evil spirits rumble about his house; they bump on the roof and creak in the rafters. Devils howl in the wind, strike cattle down in the meadows, cause river banks to burst.’ He pointed to the parish coffin which stood in the transept. A brother told me how, at Blackfriars, a parishioner pulled a nail from a rotting coffin then drove it secretly into a bench. Whoever was the first to sit on that bench suffered the same disease from which the corpse in the coffin had died.’ He smiled thinly at Benedicta. ‘My point, Oh most faithful of parishioners, is that my people see devils and demons and evil all around them. It’s only natural they also see miracles and God’s intervention: angels swooping from heaven, relics which cure the most dreadful diseases and crucifixes which bleed.’

The door was suddenly flung open.

‘What in the devil’s fart is happening out there?’ Cranston swept into the church. ‘Brother Athelstan, have your noddlepates gone mad? They are setting a shrine up in the cemetery!’ Cranston took off his beaver hat and slapped it against his leg. ‘Those noddlepates,’ he continued ‘believe a crucifix is bleeding. They are building their own altar and are charging a penny for people to pray before it. They have got candles lit, they even tried to make me pay! I told them a kick up the arse was all they’d get from the King’s coroner!’ Cranston grinned at Benedicta, swept her into his arms and kissed her juicily on each cheek.

‘You are well, Sir John?’ she asked breathlessly.

‘Bloody awful.’ The coroner stamped his feet. ‘Come on, Athelstan, I need you. Leave your parishioners. They’ve got more maggots in their heads than mice in a hayrick.’

‘I should really stay,’ Athelstan replied.

‘Nonsense!’ Cranston bellowed. ‘Come on, Brother, let them have their run.’

‘Sir John speaks the truth, Brother,’ Benedicta added softly. ‘Go with him. I’ll tidy up the sanctuary and the house, then I’ll camp out in the cemetery.’