‘Because Chapman was the victim,’ replied Spayne impatiently. ‘A man who has earned her contempt by selling fake relics. I thought that if I could pass off her intelligence as mine, the Spayne household would not be responsible for impeding your work. Obviously, I did not listen carefully enough to her account, and I told you the wrong tavern.’
‘Good,’ said Christiana sarcastically. ‘The truth at last, My Lord Mayor. Now let us have a little more. Tell Brother Michael why you could not have witnessed what happened to Chapman. Your “business” was in the east of the city, not the south as you claimed, so you passed neither the Angel nor the Swan.’
‘That is none of your-’
‘You were visiting a woman called Belle,’ Christiana went on relentlessly. ‘But you do not want these scholars to know about that, do you? It throws a rather different light on your reputation as a grieving, celibate man who will not look at another woman now Matilde has gone.’
Spayne was white. ‘It is hardly-’
‘I see,’ said Michael with a smug grin. ‘You hired a whore! Well, you should be grateful to Lady Christiana. When we caught you in lies and a refusal to explain your whereabouts, I immediately assumed you were out a-murdering. Now I see you are not a deadly adversary, but a feeble man, who is obliged to pay for his pleasures.’
Spayne’s shoulders slumped, and the commanding presence that had so impressed Bartholomew on their first meeting began to deflate in front of his eyes. ‘But I pay her very well.’
Michael was delighted with the confession Christiana had forced from Spayne, gratified that the paragon of virtue Bartholomew had championed had transpired to be something rather pitiful. Bartholomew was sorry for Spayne, although Michael murmured in his ear that if the merchant was ready to lie about that, then what else might he be hiding? Reluctantly, Bartholomew conceded that he might be right.
‘We make a good team,’ said Michael to Christiana. ‘We must work together again.’
She smiled, and there was a coquettish bounce in her step as she turned to resume the climb to the cathedral. ‘As often as you like, dear Brother.’
Spayne caught Bartholomew’s arm as he started to follow. ‘Actually, I came to ask if you would spare a moment. My sister is unwell. Surgeon Bunoun tended her earlier, but I do not like the look of the potion he prescribed. It is not urgent, but we would appreciate a visit. Today, if possible.’
He began to walk away, and Bartholomew trotted after Michael, thinking he would see Ursula after they had spoken to Hugh.
‘Go,’ said Christiana, pushing Bartholomew gently in Spayne’s direction when he explained why the mayor had intercepted them in the first place. ‘He may be sufficiently chagrined about my exposure of his frolics with Belle to let something slip about Matilde.’
‘That is true, Matt,’ said Michael, keen to have him out of the way and develop his new working relationship with Christiana. ‘I do not need you with me when I speak to a child.’
‘I will come,’ said Cynric to Bartholomew. ‘Spayne will not attack you with me there.’
‘He will not attack me anyway. If he was being entertained by Belle when Chapman was stabbed, then it means he cannot have been at Holy Cross. So, if he was not one of the four men who killed Simon, then he cannot be one of the four who ambushed us in the orchard, either.’
‘That is probably true,’ conceded Michael, albeit reluctantly. He turned to Christiana. ‘I am grateful to you for showing Spayne to be a liar, but you seemed angry with him. Is it because Ursula harmed your mother?’
She was startled by the question. ‘Of course not! He cannot be held accountable for his sister’s actions. Anyway, as I have already told you, I think my mother knew exactly what she was doing when she asked Ursula for that particular tonic.’
Michael regarded the hill without enthusiasm. ‘Shall we be on our way to the top, then?’
Christiana hesitated. ‘However, just because the Spaynes had nothing to do with the death of my mother does not mean I consider them harmless innocents. You do not become mayor by being nice, and Spayne is just as ruthless as Miller, Kelby and anyone else you care to name. I am sure he is jealous of your friendship with Matilde, and may decide he does not want you to find her.’
Michael nodded. ‘That is true, Matt, so be careful. Do not let him send Cynric to the kitchens for refreshment with the servants, or some such nonsense.’
‘I shall come with you, then,’ said Bartholomew, pleased to be in a position to chaperon Michael. ‘And we can visit Ursula together on the way back.’
Christiana shook her head. ‘You should go now, when he is flustered. And you should accompany him, Michael – both to pit your clever mind against his defences and to make sure nothing happens to Matthew. With men like Spayne, there is always safety in numbers.’
‘I would much rather escort you to the cathedral,’ objected Michael, his face falling.
