I turned to Lady Honor’s cousin, who was sitting beside me. ‘Are you enjoying London better, Master Henry?’
The boy reddened. ‘It is hard to get used to after Lincolnshire. So many people crowded together, they give me a headache.’ His face brightened. ‘But I have been to dine with the Duke of Norfolk. His house is very splendid. I hear Mistress Howard is often there, that they say may be queen soon.’
I coughed. ‘I’d be careful what you say about that in public.’
Marchamount laughed. ‘Come, Shardlake, it’s as certain as can be. Cromwell’s days are numbered.’
‘I hear Lord Cromwell is a great rogue, of no breeding,’ Henry said.
‘You really should be careful where you say that,’ I warned him.
He gave me an uncertain look. Lady Honor was right, this boy had not the wit to make a path for his family at court. I glanced at the head of the boat, where Lady Honor sat looking out over the river, her face thoughtful. Ahead, on the Southwark side, the high circular arena of the bear-baiting ring loomed up. I sighed inwardly, for I had ever disliked watching the huge, terrified animals torn apart to the roars of the crowd.
I felt a touch on my arm. Marchamount beckoned me to lean down so he could whisper to me. I felt his hot breath in my ear.
‘Are you any closer to finding those missing papers?’ he asked.
‘My investigations continue—’
‘I hope you will not be troubling Lady Honor further about them. She is a woman of great delicacy. I like to think she looks on me as a counsellor now that her poor husband is dead.’
I leaned back and stared at him. He nodded complacently. Remembering what Lady Honor had told me, I had to resist an urge to laugh in his face. I glanced at Henry Vaughan and saw he was staring over the water, lost in his own gloomy thoughts. I leaned in to Marchamount’s large, hairy ear.
‘I have had my eye on you, Serjeant, by the authority of Lord Cromwell. I know you have had certain conversations with Lady Honor, involving matters of interest to yourself and to the Duke of Norfolk.’ At that his head jerked aside and he gave me a startled look.
‘You have no right—’ he blustered, but I gave him a set look and crooked a finger so that, reluctantly, he bent his head again.
‘I have every right, Serjeant, as well you know, so don’t piss me about pretending an authority you do not have in this matter.’ I was surprised at my own crudity; I was picking up Barak’s ways.
‘That’s a private matter,’ he whispered. ‘Nothing to do with - with the missing papers. I swear.’
‘Your interest is of a romantic nature, I believe.’
His face reddened. ‘Please say nothing about that. Please. For her sake as well as mine. It is - it is embarrassing.’ His look was suddenly pleading.
‘She did not tell me willingly, Marchamount, if that is any consolation. But, be assured, I will say nothing. Nor about the duke being after her lands.’
His eyes widened briefly for a moment in surprise. ‘Ah, yes, the lands,’ he said a little too quickly. ‘A privy matter.’
I had to lean back then because the boat hit the Bankside steps, making us all jerk slightly. The ladies laughed. The boatman began helping them out. Looking at Marchamount’s broad back as he clambered ahead of me, I thought he was surprised when I spoke of the duke being after Lady Honor’s lands. Was it something different that Norfolk really wanted of her? I remembered her hand on the Bible as she swore the duke had never asked her to discuss Greek Fire, and my doubts about her faith.
The bank was crowded with people, mostly of the common sort, heading for the baiting. A man in a jerkin brushed against Lady Honor’s broad skirts. One of her attendants gave a yelp and a servant shoved him away. Lady Honor sighed.
‘Really, one wonders if coming here is worth it with all this crush and noise.’ I saw there was a sheen of perspiration on her lip.
‘It will be, Lady Honor,’ Marchamount said. ‘There is a fine bear from Germany called Magnus being baited today. He’s over six feet tall, killed five dogs yesterday and ended the day alive. I’ve a shilling on him going down today, though, he was much bloodied.’
Lady Honor looked over at the high wooden amphitheatre. A great crowd was waiting by the gates, and shouting and cheering could already be heard from within: the old blind bears were already in the ring, the dogs loosed on them. She sighed again.
‘When is the great Magnus to be brought on?’
Marchamount did not appear to notice the ironic emphasis in her. voice. ‘Not for an hour or so.’
‘I will join you then, I think. I don’t think I can stand that dreadful kerlie-merlie of noise right now. If you will forgive me, I will take a walk along the bank with my ladies.’
Marchamount looked crestfallen. ‘As you wish, Lady Honor—’
‘I will join you by and by. Would any of the other ladies care to join me?’ She looked around. One of the mercers’ wives looked as though she would have, but when she glanced at her husband he shook his head.