‘No. Edwin is mystified, he has been mystified by her since she came to them.’
I wondered what had gone on at Sir Edwin’s house, whether there were things Joseph knew but would not say, as is common enough in family matters, though he seemed frank enough. He went on, ‘After they found the body, David Needler locked Elizabeth in her room and sent a message to Edwin at the Mercers’ Hall. He rode home and when she wouldn’t answer his questions he called the constable.’ He spread his hands. ‘What else could he do? He feared for the safety of his daughters and our old mother.’
‘And at the inquest? Elizabeth said nothing then? Nothing at all?’
‘No. The coroner told her this was her chance to speak in her defence, but she just sat looking at him with this cold, blank look. It made him angry, and the jury too.’ Joseph sighed. ‘The jury found Ralph had been murdered by Elizabeth Wentworth and the coroner ordered her taken to Newgate to face a murder charge at the assize. He ordered her to be kept in the Hole for her impertinence in court. And then—’
‘Yes?’
‘Then Elizabeth turned and looked at me. Just for a second. There was such misery in that look, sir, no anger any more, just misery.’ Joseph bit his lip again. ‘In the old days when she was small she was fond of me, she used to come and stay on the farm. Both my brothers saw me as a bit of a country clod, but Elizabeth loved the farm, always rushing off to see the animals as soon as she arrived.’ He gave a sad smile. ‘When she was little she’d try and get the sheep and pigs to play with her like her pet dog or cat and cry when they wouldn’t.’ He smoothed out the torn, creased handkerchief. ‘She embroidered a set of these for me, you know, two years ago. What a mess I have made of it. Yet when I visit her in that awful place she is now, she just lies there, filthy, as though waiting only for death. I beg and plead with her to speak, but she stares through me as though I was not there. And she is up for trial on Saturday, in only five days’ time.’ His voice fell to a whisper again. ‘Sometimes I fear she is possessed.’
‘Come, Joseph, there is no point in thinking like that.’
He looked at me imploringly. ‘Can you help her, Master Shardlake? Can you save her? You are my last hope.’
I was silent a moment, choosing my words carefully.
‘The evidence against her is strong, it would be enough for a jury unless she has something to say in her defence.’ I paused, then asked, ‘You are sure she is not guilty?’
‘Yes,’ he said at once. He banged a fist on his chest. ‘I feel it here. She was always kind at heart, sir, kind. She is the only one of my family I have known real kindness from. Even if she is ill in her mind, and by God’s son she may be, I cannot believe she could kill a little boy.’
I took a deep breath. ‘When she is brought into court she will be asked to plead guilty or not guilty. If she refuses then under the law she cannot be tried by a jury. But the alternative is worse.’
Joseph nodded. ‘I know.’
‘Peine forte et dure. Sharp and hard pains. She will be taken to a cell in Newgate and laid in chains on the floor. They will put a big, sharp stone under her back and a board on top of her. They will put weights on the board.’
‘If only she would speak.’ Joseph groaned and put his head in his hands. But I went on, I had to; he must know what she faced.
‘They will allow her the barest rations of food and water. Each day more weights will be added to the board until she talks or dies of suffocation from the press of the weights. When the weights are heavy enough, because of the pressure of the stone placed underneath her back, her spine will break.’ I paused. ‘Some brave souls refuse to plead and allow themselves to be pressed to death because if there is no actual finding of guilt one’s property is not forfeit to the State. Has Elizabeth any property?’
‘Nothing in the world. The sale of their house barely covered Peter’s debts. Only a few marks were left at the end and they went on the funeral.’
‘Perhaps she did do this terrible thing, Joseph, in a moment of madness, and feels so guilty she wants to die, alone in the dark. Have you thought of that?’
He shook his head. ‘No. I cannot believe it. I cannot believe it.’
‘You know that criminal accused are not allowed representation in court?’