‘Brother Shardlake, this is an unexpected meeting.’ He smiled, that little flash of white teeth. ‘What happened to you on Friday? Had you no stomach for the bear-baiting?’
‘Lady Honor did not feel like attending,’ I said briskly. ‘I went for a walk with her.’
He stared at Barak. ‘Who is this?’
‘An agent of Lord Cromwell’s. He is helping me on the Greek Fire matter.’
Barak took off his cap and made a little bow. Marchamount’s eyes widened at his bald head, then he frowned in exasperation. ‘I have told you all I know. How many times—’
‘As many times as I see fit, Serjeant.’ I had decided bluntness was the best way. ‘May we come in?’
He set his lips but permitted us to follow him to his private room. There he sat in his thronelike chair and gave us a haughty stare. I leaned forward.
‘In the boat going to Southwark, Serjeant, we spoke of a certain pressure his grace the Duke of Norfolk was putting on you, to obtain something from Lady Honor. You confirmed he wanted to obtain some of the Vaughan lands in return for furthering young Henry Vaughan to a place at the king’s court.’
Marchamount sat very still. I knew at once I had struck a nerve.
‘I thought you seemed evasive in the boat, so I asked Lady Honor about the matter on our walk—’
‘Sir, you had no right. For a gentleman to ask—’
‘Lady Honor told me the matter began with pressure from the duke over the land, but then it developed into something else. She refused to say more, but I need to know what it was.’
He smiled shrewdly. ‘So you come to me, as an alternative to Cromwell putting pressure on her?’
‘Never mind why. I want the whole story, Marchamount. No bluster, no evasions, just the story.’
He sat back in his chair. ‘It is nothing to do with Greek Fire.’
‘Then why it is so secret?’
‘Because it is shameful.’ He frowned, reddening. ‘I had an interest in Lady Honor, a romantic interest. You know that.’ He took a deep breath. ‘She would not have me and I would not press a lady who rejected me.’ He fingered his emerald ring, then looked me in the eye. ‘But the duke would.’
‘The duke?’
He frowned. ‘He does not just want her family lands in return for helping that boy. He wants Lady Honor as his mistress.’
‘But, dear God, he’s in his sixties.’
Marchamount shrugged. ‘In some men the sap still runs into old age. The duke is one, though you would not think it to look at him. He would not approach her directly’ - he laughed bitterly - ’he’s too proud for that. He made me act as intermediary.’
‘Poor Lady Honor.’
Marchamount shifted uncomfortably. ‘It was a job I disliked, sir, but I could not gainsay the Duke of Norfolk. He said the Vaughan boy’s a fool and a weakling, which is true enough, and he’d have to exert a mighty effort to get him accepted at court. He wanted a high price in return. Lady Honor knows his reputation for cruel ways with women; she’s refused him time and again. But he’s one of those that is only excited further by refusal.’ He shifted uneasily again. ‘I have had to try and persuade her. I told you, the duke is not one to be gainsaid.’
‘What has Norfolk promised you in return? Help towards a knighthood perhaps?’
Marchamount set his lips. ‘I want something for my family’s future too. To advance one’s family, that is no dishonourable thing.’
‘Thirty pieces of silver would be the right reward for what you have done,’ I said. Barak laughed harshly and Marchamount gave him a furious look. He glared at me, his face reddening further.
‘How dare you talk to me like that! And you - you are no impartial witness. You lust after her yourself.’
‘Come, Serjeant, you are losing control of yourself. So that is the whole story, is it?’ I asked. ‘No connection at all to Greek Fire? That is what I need to know, Marchamount.’
‘I have told you before, I know nothing of that. Nothing.’
‘Are you quite sure?’
The merest hesitation. ‘Of course.’ He ran a hand through his red hair, then began to bluster. ‘You have troubled me enough with this. No gentleman—’
I stood. ‘Come, Barak. I think I have an apology to make to Lady Honor.’ Barak got up and made another bow to Marchamount, a mocking, exaggerated one.
The serjeant glared at me. ‘You have embarrassed me, Shardlake, in front of this churl,’ he said. ‘I will not forget it.’
OUTSIDE IN THE courtyard, I turned to Barak. ‘He’s still keeping something back - I’d swear he is. But what? I’ll have to talk to Lady Honor.’
‘She won’t be pleased you know this story. Nor at being questioned further.’
‘There’s no help for it. She knows my position. I’ll go there now.’
‘I suppose there’s nothing else we can we do today. But—’
‘What?’ I asked impatiently.