I WENT UPSTAIRS to change for my ride with Edward Priddis. I felt guilty now for wanting to stay. Barak wanted so much to return to Tamasin. Looking out of the window, I remembered, sadly, Feaveryear and the two boys practising at the butts. David and Hugh had both disappeared to their rooms when we returned; I did not know who, if anyone, was with them.
When I went back downstairs Sir Quintin was still ensconced in his chair by the fireplace with his son, watching all that was going on with horrible amused interest. I asked Barak to stay in the great hall, and listen to all that was said. Edward rose and we went to fetch the horses. As we rode out, Edward's manner was cool and distant, but civil enough.
'This is a terrible thing for you to find here,' I said.
He nodded seriously. 'These are strange and dreadful times.'
'What news of the French in Portsmouth?' I asked.
'They say their fleet has been sighted off the Sussex coast. People are becoming fearful.'
'Yes, there is much fear underneath people's show of confidence.'
'Nonetheless,' he said firmly, 'we must face whatever comes.'
I studied him. Edward had bushy eyebrows like his father, and a firm, obstinate set to his mouth. 'I believe your father knows Sir Richard Rich,' I said.
He gave me a wintry smile. 'Yes, he is an old acquaintance. We met and had a talk with him at the Portsmouth Guildhall. The day you brought Hugh Curteys there. I hear the merchants who have overcharged the army or provided bad food come to Sir Richard Rich in fear and trembling. I imagine he will soon cut through their excuses about having to charge more because of the new coinage. Sir Richard learned the art of interrogation under a master. Cromwell. But you will know that.' Again that wintry smile, a piercing look from those blue eyes.
'Rich spoke of me?'
Edward smiled coldly. 'A little. He asked my father about the case you have on down here. He said you can become—very strongly involved with your clients.'
'No bad thing in a lawyer, surely, Brother.' I inclined my head, hiding the anxiety I felt at Rich's continued interest in me.
'True.'
'Did you qualify at Gray's Inn, like your father?'
'I did. I worked on official service in London for a while. After a few years I came back to Winchester, to help Father in his work.'
'You must do the bulk of it now, I hazard.'
'Oh, Father still holds the reins. I am but his trusty steed.' I caught a note of bitterness. Are you waiting to succeed him? I wondered.
'Look over to your right, Brother,' I said. 'Those are Hugh Curteys' lands that were cleared some years ago.'
We came to a halt, near the area of cleared woodland Barak and I had seen on our ride. New trees, little more than saplings, stood amid thick undergrowth and the mossy stumps of old trees. It was hot, still and quiet. I said, 'I think there was more oak in this land than the accounts allow.'
'And the evidence for that?' Edward asked sharply.
'The fact the uncleared area of woodland to the south has a great deal of oak.'
'The soil may be different.'
'It looked very similar when I rode through it a few days ago.'
'The day an arrow was shot at you?' He looked at me curiously.
'Yes. Everyone thought it was a poacher. But after today I wonder.'
'A madman roaming these woods,' Edward mused. He glanced apprehensively at the distant trees.
'Sir Luke seems to think he has his suspect.'
'He may be wrong. Perhaps some deserter from the army is in hiding out in the trees. He tried to kill you, then came across poor Mistress Hobbey. He may have wished to rob her.'
'I do not believe she had a purse with her. The family would have noticed if one was gone.'
'Still, you will forgive me if I say I would like to keep the inspection brief.'
'This area is quite open, and we are out of bowshot from the trees. I suggest we ride through the cleared area, look at how many oak stumps we can see.'
'If you insist.' Edward looked across at the treeline, about five hundred yards away. He was nervous; I wondered whether pride had made him accede to his father's suggestion that we still make this ride. We rode on, guiding the horses carefully.
'I gather your family comes from near Rolfswood,' I said casually. I had decided to see what I could find out. Edward Priddis was clever, and a smooth talker, but I sensed he lacked his father's strength of character.
'That is so. Though my father moved to Winchester when he became feodary of Hampshire.'
'Do you ever visit there now?'
'Not since my mother died ten years ago, God rest her. It was her family who came from those parts. Do you have connections there, Serjeant Shardlake? I do not recall hearing your name before.'
'I have a client who thought he may have family in Rolfswood. He asked me to visit, see if I could trace them. I went there a few days ago.'
'Did you find them?' Edward smiled pleasantly, though his eyes were keen as ever.
