Lady Honor took the boy by the arm. 'Master Shardlake has called for a brief visit, Henry. Now come, settle yourself. Have some wine.'
The youth plumped down on a cushion opposite me as
Lady Honor fetched him wine. She gestured me to sit again.
'Henry has been visiting Mayor Hollyes's family,' she told
me. 'I thought it would be useful for him to meet his children.' She gave him a goblet of wine and returned to her chair, smiling at him encouragingly. 'Well then, Henry, what has happened?'
'Those children are common rogues.' The boy took a long draught of wine. 'By God they are.'
'The mayor's daughters? What on earth do you mean?'
'I had looked forward to meeting the girls, I heard they were pretty. There are three of them. Mayor Hollyes's wife was there and the conversation was pleasant enough at first – they asked about life in Lincolnshire, the hunting. But then Madam Hollyes was called away and I was left with the girls. Then they-'
'What, Henry? Come.'
He looked down at the floor, running a hand over the pustules on his face. 'The moment the old woman left the girls became cruel. They – they began to mock my – my spots, asking if I had the pox. One said even a pocky whore would not have me.' His voice shook. 'Cousin Honor, I hate it in London. I want to go back to Lincolnshire.' He hung his head again, greasy hair falling over his face.
'Henry,' Lady Honor said with a touch of impatience, 'these things happen. You must be more robust-'
'They should not happen!' he burst out. 'I am a Vaughan, I am entitled to some respect.'
'It is a cruel thing to be mocked,' I said.
Lady Honor sighed. 'Go upstairs to your room, Henry. I will come and talk to you in a moment.'
Without a word the boy got up and, without looking at me, went out and slammed the door behind him. Lady Honor leaned back in her chair and smiled sadly.
'You can see now why I fear Henry does not have the robustness to make his way in London. It was a mistake to bring him here. But he is the Vaughan heir. We had to try.' She sighed. 'Poor boy.'
'Some boys feel slights greatly at that age. I did.'
'Young girls can be cruel.' She smiled ironically. 'I could, myself.'
'You, madam? I find that hard to be believe.'
'You know how girl children are told how to behave down to the last detail? How to walk, how to sit, when to smile.' She smiled sadly. 'I wonder how many scream with frustration inside, as I did. And how many turn to cruel thoughts beneath sweet rosy faces?'
'It takes a woman to understand such things.'
'I shall send Henry back. There is another Vaughan cousin. He is young, but perhaps in a few years -'
I rose, conscious time was passing. 'I fear I must go.' I was reluctant to leave her, glad my questioning had not broken the beginning of friendship, but I wanted to get Guy's opinion on those books before I saw Cromwell.
'And I must try to console Henry. I will see you out.' Lady Honor led me downstairs.
In the hall I turned to her. 'I am sorry for your troubles,' I said again. 'And for raking them up.'
She laid a hand lightly on my arm. 'You were doing your duty even though it was uncomfortable. I admire that.' She studied me. 'But you look tired. You are meant for finer, gentler things than work like this. You demean yourself, Matthew.'
'I have no choice.'
'For now, perhaps.' She took my hand. 'Until tomorrow. Remember, Three Cranes Wharf at noon.'
As I walked to the stables to fetch Genesis, I felt warmed and soothed by her care. Yet still my sceptical brain worried away at the thought she might only want to keep me on her side in my dealings with Cromwell. She had sworn on the Bible, but the dark thought that she might be an atheist returned to me. To such a person, a Bible oath would mean nothing.
IT WAS A SHORT RIDE to Guy's shop, but when I arrived I saw the shutters were drawn. On the door was a note, in Guy's spiky hand, saying the shop would be closed until the morrow. I stood looking at it, filled with frustration. I remembered that once a month or so he went out to a fair in Hertfordshire, where herbs and physic were sold, to replenish his stock. I left a message with a neighbour asking him to contact me as soon as he returned, then turned the placid horse for home.
BARAK WAS WAITING for me in Chancery Lane, a gloomy look on his face.
'Any news?' I asked.
'I went and reminded that old troll Madam Neller you'd promised her money if the girl turns up again. And told her what to expect from Lord Cromwell if Bathsheba turns up and she doesn't tell us. But she knows nothing. No one knows anything except the dead, and they won't tell. I found where Toky and Wright have been staying, too, a cheap lodging house by the river. They left yesterday, though.'
'Perhaps they were afraid the hue and cry would be out for them.'
'They'd only been at the lodging house three days. I suspect they're moving from place to place so we can't find their trail. What did Lady Honor have to say?'
