The Midwife's Tale (10 page)

I turned to face him, trying to stay between the boy and his mother. “James,” I said sharply. “We’re here because Anne Goodwin is rumored to be with child. Is it true?” The blood drained from James’s face, and his mouth opened and closed like that of a fresh-caught fish. He couldn’t even think of a lie, let alone tell one convincingly. “Tell me the truth, James.”

Without warning, Rebecca pushed me aside and threw herself at her son. Martha caught me before I fell to the ground, and behind me I heard a screech of pain. I turned to see Rebecca dragging her wailing son toward the front door by his ear. She shoved him into the house, then turned back to me.

“Stay away from my house and from my family,” she said. Her eyes were wild with anger and her breath ragged. “I do not need your help to maintain order in my household. If I see you again, you will regret it.”

“I
will
search Anne’s body,” I said. “I will find out who is the father of her child.” I turned and strode off, hoping that Margaret and Martha would have the good sense to follow. When I was safely away, I turned and found that they had indeed stayed close behind.

Margaret looked at me helplessly. “Now what do we do, my lady?”

I didn’t have a good answer. “We hope for another chance,” I said. “Anne will have to leave the house at some point. Perhaps she will come to you.” I knew, of course, that Rebecca Hooke was capable of keeping Anne prisoner, but I had to offer her some hope. “For now, go home. If I learn anything, I will send word.” She nodded and set out for home.

After Margaret disappeared into the crowd, Martha and I started down Petergate. “That Rebecca Hooke is one stone-hard bitch,” she said. I smiled despite myself.

“I would not have put it quite that way, but I cannot disagree.”

“She has a special hatred for you—can I ask why?”

“It’s widely known, so I suppose there’s no harm in telling you. Before I arrived in York, Rebecca was the best-known midwife in the city. She was far from the most capable, but in every conversation she would trumpet her mastery of the mysteries of childbirth, and list the lives she had saved.”

“
She
was a midwife?” Martha asked, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it? In truth she cared not for mother or child. But she loved the power that came with the office. Midwives are privy to the secrets of women, and she used her knowledge to destroy her enemies and advance her friends.”

“What happened?”

“I started to take away from her business. My mother-in-law trained me well, and the women of the town began to call me instead of Rebecca. You can imagine her reaction.”

“She hates you for taking some of her clients?”

“No, but that was the seed. Then a few years ago, I was called to the labor of a singlewoman in Fossgate. When I arrived, I found Rebecca sitting idly by as the child died in the mother’s womb. What was worse, Rebecca had told the poor girl that there was no hope to save her
or
her child. The mother lay there, waiting to die, and Rebecca just watched.”

“My God!” Martha cried.

“In the end, Rebecca was half-right. The child died, but I was able to save the mother. The girl’s family petitioned the Church to take Rebecca’s license. I was called as a witness, and told the court that a child died as a result of her poor work. They banned her from ever practicing again.”

“And she hates you for it.”

“She swore she would have her revenge, and while she’s not yet gotten it, I am careful to keep my affairs separate from hers whenever I can.”

“Then why would you pursue Anne Goodwin’s case? Surely that can only make things worse between you two.”

“I imagine it will. But I’ve sworn an oath. If I do not try to discover the child’s father, I am no better than Rebecca. Besides, Anne is in a great deal of trouble now. If I can save her, I must.”

“Is there really nothing more we can do?”

“Not for the moment. Rebecca has Anne, and soon she will have the baby. But unless she kills them both and buries their bodies in her garden, she can’t keep them secret forever.”

By that time we had reached my house, and Hannah met us at the door.

“My lady, there is a letter for you!” she exclaimed. “A boy brought it from the Castle this morning.”

Puzzled, I took the letter from Hannah and opened it. To my surprise, it was from Esther. I read it aloud to Martha.

Lady Bridget,

As I’m sure you know, I have been arrested for Stephen’s murder. I should hope that I do not need to tell you this, but I swear that I am innocent. I have tried to convince the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of this, but they would rather see a rebel die than uncover the truth. Once they convict me they will try to hasten my death, so time is short. None of Stephen’s friends would dare to help me, even if they believed in my innocence, so I turn to you. If anyone can find out who killed Stephen and save me from the gallows, it is you. As your friend, I beg you to help me. We will discuss this matter soon, but until then you must believe that I remain your loving friend, Esther.

“What does she mean that you will discuss this matter soon?” asked Martha. “Are you going to visit her?”

“No, I’m not,” I said, shaking my head in confusion. “At least I have no plans to. Moreover, the Castle guard would never let me through the gate, even if I tried. I have no idea what she means.”

I stood there for a few moments more, thinking about the letter, when suddenly my house started to shake and a dull roar filled the air. Hannah, Martha, and I raced to the front door and ventured out into the street. A huge cloud of smoke filled the sky to the north of us, in the direction of the King’s Manor. As the rumble subsided, we heard the dull thump of cannon and the crack of pistols.

“What has happened?” asked Hannah.

“It appears the negotiations have broken down,” I said. “Quick. Get inside and bar the door. The rebels are attacking the city.”

*   *   *

For a few uneasy hours, Martha, Hannah, and I waited inside. We dared not venture out for news—if the rebels had breached the wall, ours would be among the first parishes to be overrun. I told Hannah to cook supper, joking that if the rebels came we might as well be well fed, but in truth I just wanted to keep her busy. My own mind dwelled on the horrible fate that awaited the city and my household if the rebels won the day. Would the city be burned or simply looted? I wondered if I would be able to protect Martha—her youth and beauty would inspire envy in many women, but if soldiers rampaged through the city, it could cost her dearly. I spent nearly an hour in prayer before a boy came to our street crying the news that the attack had been defeated and the city was saved. I gave thanks to the Lord and told Hannah to serve supper.

In the hours that followed, the news of what had happened gradually spread. As we’d feared, even as they negotiated with the King’s men, the rebels dug under our walls, and the explosion was the fruit of their efforts. Once they had blasted a hole in the wall, the question became who would control the breach. The rebel soldiers who clambered through the wall found themselves in the King’s Manor, on the same tennis courts and bowling greens where Edward and Phineas used to play. Blessedly, the King’s soldiers rushed to the breach and defeated the assault. Later, Edward told me that upward of forty rebels died in the attack and over two hundred more were captured.

After dinner, I retired to my chamber and reviewed the month’s rental receipts from some of my estates in Hereford. In the midst of this work, Hannah announced that my brother-in-law, Edward, was downstairs. I was surprised and more than a bit worried—a man of his stature did not often call upon others, preferring to do business on his own terms and in his own home. I closed my account book and descended to the parlor, a thousand possibilities racing through my head. Was the city in greater peril than it seemed? Had the Lord Mayor decided to surrender to the rebels? The loss of York would be a blow to the King’s cause, but the city would fare far better if it was handed over peacefully than taken by force.

Edward stood in the middle of the room, resplendent in a fine silk doublet. He gazed out the window at the city over which he wielded so much power. I wondered what he thought of the day’s events. I knew that his sympathies lay with the rebels, but he certainly would not want to see the city sacked. I did not envy his position between Scylla and Charybdis. When I entered the room, Edward turned and embraced me. We talked briefly of the attack before he changed the subject.

“Bridget, I need to speak to you in confidence.” I nodded. “Early this morning the Aldermen and Lord Mayor met at the Castle and tried Esther Cooper for murder.” I started to object, but he held up his hand. “There was nothing else to be done. The Lord Mayor and several Aldermen—Aldermen who are partial to the King, if you must know—demanded a trial. It was too vicious a crime to delay, particularly in the midst of a rebellion. I assure you that the proceedings were scrupulously fair.”

“And the verdict?” I asked, though I already knew. The politics of the moment meant that only one verdict was possible.

“I’m sure Will told you that the constable found a vial containing the same poison that killed Stephen in Esther’s cupboard. The evidence is clear. She is guilty, and she will die for her crime.” I felt anger rising within me, but I controlled the urge to lash out at Edward.

“How did she explain the ratsbane?”

“What do you mean?” His refusal to meet my gaze told me something was amiss.

“At her trial the constable must have testified about finding the ratsbane. It was the only evidence against her. How did she respond?”

He coughed softly and looked at his feet. He was as embarrassed as I’d ever seen him. “She did not appear at her trial. The evidence was so clear that the Lord Mayor deemed it unnecessary.”

At this I could no longer contain my fury. “Surely you are joking!” I shouted. “You establish a court with no legal basis, you leave Esther in gaol during her own trial, and then you sentence her to death?”

“What would you have had me do?” he protested. “And what difference would her presence have made? There was only one possible outcome.”

“And that excuses this charade?” I cried. “Edward, you know Esther. Surely you cannot believe she killed Stephen.”

Edward looked away before answering. “I know that St. Paul says we are by our nature children of wrath. It is only by the grace of God that each of us does not commit such a wicked act.” Such sophistry enraged me all the more.

“Answer the question, Edward! Do you really believe that Esther killed her husband?”

Edward sighed heavily. “What I think is immaterial. The court heard the evidence against her, convicted her of petty treason, and sentenced her to die. That is all that matters.” He took me by the arms and looked in my eyes. “Bridget, I am sorry. There was nothing I could do.”

I believed him. “How long will they wait to hang her? I should like to visit her.”

Edward exhaled slowly and once again looked away from me. “The Lord Mayor refused to hang her. She will be burned.”

I felt the strength leave my body, and I sat down on the sofa. Burning? Witches and heretics—those rebels against God—often died by burning, and deservedly so. And while I knew the law prescribed burning for servants or wives convicted of petty treason, I had never heard of such an awful sentence being carried out.

“Is the Lord Mayor so vindictive?” I whispered.

“These are difficult times,” Edward replied. “The Lord Mayor wishes to uphold the divine order as best he can.”

“And since he cannot defeat the rebels outside the walls, he wishes to burn one within them?”

“That is the sum of it, yes.”

“So she has confessed?” I asked.

At this, he looked distinctly uncomfortable. “Erm, no, not yet. The ministers are still talking with her, trying to convince her to do so. I do hope she does. She should acknowledge her sins before her execution. This actually brings me to the reason for my visit. The city requires your services. After she was sentenced, Esther Cooper claimed to be with child. She is pleading the belly.”

At this I nearly laughed out loud, for I realized what Esther meant when she said we would discuss her case soon. I quickly turned away so Edward wouldn’t see the smile that flitted across my lips.

“And why have you come to me for this service?”

“She insisted that you are her midwife. The Lord Mayor wanted to send a woman of his own choosing, but I prevailed upon him to grant Esther this one request. In any event, you must examine her to see if she truly is pregnant. The Lord Mayor believes she is merely trying to delay her execution. He is quite furious but cannot risk the death of an innocent child.”

“Very well,” I said. “When should I visit her?”

“The Lord Mayor would like justice to run its course as swiftly as possible. He asks that you visit her today, if you can.”

“I take it she is being kept at the Castle?”

He nodded curtly. “I have already sent word to the Castle guard to expect you, and I brought you a letter from the Lord Mayor.” He handed me a sheet of paper with an ornate wax seal on it. “The jailor should give you free access to her.” I took the letter and read it over. Everything seemed to be in order.

“I’ll examine her on one condition,” I said.

“What is it?”

“You must promise that nobody will question my verdict in this matter. If I say she is with child, she is with child.”

“I give you my word.” He paused. “Incidentally, he will pay you fifteen pounds after you complete your work.” I looked at Edward in shock. Fifteen pounds was an outrageous sum for a single visit. “He also asked me to emphasize that he appreciates your efficient service.”

I did not have to ask what the Lord Mayor meant by “efficient.” The money was a bribe and a threat; and he would have his burning, or I would feel his wrath.

Chapter 8

After Edward left, I summoned Martha. “I need you to accompany me to the Castle to visit Esther Cooper,” I said.