“It’s not an issue of protocol. It’s just strange. Sergeant Barnes said he saw you on the tower’s steps. The tower is an odd place for a cleric in the middle of the night. What were you doing there?”
“Is it by the king’s orders that my presence in the castle must be accounted for now? Or has there been a crime I am unaware of that I’m suspected of having committed?”
“Is there a reason you are refusing to answer such a simple question?”
A brief pause.
“I had just returned from my trip to Ervanon that night and was at the castle to see the king, but when I arrived he was busy and I was asked to wait. I had nothing better to do and I’d never seen the view from the high tower, so I decided to make the climb—good for me to get some exercise. At my age, I don’t get nearly enough. I took a peek out the window—couldn’t actually see much in the dark.” He chuckled. “I suppose I should have anticipated that, but I didn’t. I was heading back down when I ran into this parade of soldiers coming up the stairs. I was curious what so many men were doing in the tower. Turned out it was a birthday party for the captain of the guard. They had a barrel of ale and a tray of meat and cheese. Having not had time to eat, and still waiting for the king, I lingered.”
“And after it was discovered that the girl was missing, why were you so insistent on Captain Lawrence sounding the alarm?”
“I was concerned for my king. She could have been anyone. A woman who sells her body is capable of anything. What if she had a dagger and was planning on slitting the king’s throat?”
“She was just a girl—an ignorant whore from Medford House. Do you expect me to believe you were fearful she could reach the king armed with a butcher’s knife? And even if she did, that she’d pose any serious threat to his life?”
“I was in the room with a dozen or so castle guards who had admitted to breaking rules and then somehow lost a girl they had smuggled in. I wasn’t quite as confident as you about their competence in protecting the king. I would think that you of all people would agree with me, that you would be on my side.”
“Your side?” The words were spiteful. “You know what I think, Bishop? I think you and your side would like nothing better than to see an end to monarchal rule. I also think that tower is conveniently isolated despite being part of the royal residence. The stairs are long, it’s cold up there, and it’s supposed to be haunted—perfectly out of the way and yet a nearby place to plot against the king. I think you were there—before the party—not to look at the view but to conspire with someone. There’s a rumor that a light was seen in the tower the night before Wainwright’s death. Perhaps you had a habit of meeting there, and finding the king’s soldiers unexpectedly rushing up the steps gave you reason for concern. What you discovered was alarming. A woman had been hiding in the wardrobe. Was she there when you were? Had she overheard what you and your fellow conspirators said? You needed to find out. That’s why you raised the alarm. You had to find and cut her throat.”
“My dear boy, that is quite an elaborate tale—so inventive. But why waste it on me? Surely this speech has been concocted to make the king, or at least the chancellor, distrust me—and dare I say, to divert attention from yourself? We both know it’s you who is plotting against the king and you who is so intent on finding this girl. Was it you who arranged for Barnes to smuggle her in? Is that why you killed him? To keep Barnes from telling the truth? You see, accusations are easy to throw around but account for absolutely nothing. I know, I tried to get the king to understand. He was less than receptive. He wants facts not assumptions. Now, unless you intend to arrest me, I’m going back to the cathedral. I’m too old for parties.”
Richard knocked and waited. “Who’s there?” Exeter shouted. “What do you want?”
“Richard Hilfred. I’m here to see the bishop.”
“By all means, come in, Hilfred,” Saldur said.
“Don’t you ever actually guard the king?” Exeter asked.
“I was assigned to the queen this evening, Your Lordship, and she has just dismissed me for the evening.”
“Is there anything else, Constable?” Saldur asked.
“I’ll find the girl,” he said to Saldur. “I’ll find Rose, and then I suspect we’ll have another, very different conversation.” He pushed past Richard and stormed down the halls toward the stairs.
“Do come in, Richard. How can I help you this evening?”
Richard closed the door to the hall but was still concerned about being overheard. After all, he’d just overheard the previous conversation in that room.
He said softly, “I found Rose.”
CHAPTER 15
ROSE
They moved swiftly down the uncomfortably narrow corridor. Richard led the way, holding a lantern high to help the bishop on what had to be his maiden visit to the dungeon. The sounds of the gala barely reached them—a muffled, muted blend of conversation, laughter, and music. When he reached the last cell, Richard used the key his son had given him.
“Reuben?” the girl called as he opened the door.
“No,” Richard said, entering, raising the lantern again, this time to reveal Rose as she sat huddled against the far wall. “I’m Reuben’s father. He sent me and I’ve brought Bishop Saldur, who wants to ask you some questions.”
They entered the straw-filled cell, and the bishop appraised the girl with a dismissive shake of his head. “Were you in the high tower last night?”
Rose nodded, wrapped in a straw-covered blanket.
Richard was pleased that she looked nothing like his Rose. She was much younger, about Reuben’s age, and had a round, doe-eyed face.
“Sergeant Hilfred tells me you overheard a conversation between two men. What did you hear?”
“They talked about killing the king.”
“Who were they?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
Saldur stepped closer. “Are you certain? This is very important.”
“They never said their names.”
He took another step. “You’re positive?”
Huddled in the straw, Rose looked terrified. “I … ah, yes … no names, but one did refer to the other as ‘Your Grace’ once.”
“Anything else?”
She hesitated. Richard could see she was struggling to think of anything to appease the bishop, who towered over her. He saw her eyes brighten. “Yes … yes! They said the name Clare.”
“Clare?” Saldur pressed.
“I heard…” She looked at Richard, then at the floor. Her eyes drifted in thought as she struggled to remember. “Yes! They said what a shame it was that Clare had to die. That she had discovered who murdered the chancellor.” Rose was nodding rapidly, causing some bits of straw to slip free from her hair.
“Did they say who that was?”
Rose struggled again, her face revealing her frustration. “No.”
“Do you think you could identify the voices if you heard them again?”
Again she paused to think. Her eyes studied both of them, and in a pitiably small voice she admitted, “I don’t know.”
Saldur peered at the girl for only a breath longer, then walked out. Richard followed. They moved down the empty cell-lined corridor, then the bishop stopped and spoke, barely above a whisper. “Who else knows she’s here?”
“No one, just my son.”
“Your son?”
“Reuben. Today is his first day as a gate guard.”
“Is he on duty now?”
“Yes.”
Saldur smiled. “Perfect. You need to get Rose out of the castle. Do it now, before Exeter finds her. Take care of her. Find a safe place—somewhere no one will look. Then hurry back—I’ll need your help tonight. The fate of the kingdom is in our hands now.”
Reuben was starting to understand why Bale had been upset at his tardiness. Standing in one place turned out to be harder than splitting wood and a lot harder than brushing horses. Nothing of note had happened for hours, and the night had turned cold.