The women were conversing with Abigail, lightly but, I saw, uneasily too. They would probably know what had happened outside the church yesterday. Abigail was trying to make conversation, but her voice was high with tension and she fiddled constantly with her napkin. ‘This will be my son’s first hunt,’ she said. ‘It is time such a fine strong boy enjoyed a hunt.’ She looked at the other women defiantly, gave a frightened whinny of a laugh. One of the hunting dogs barked sharply and she flinched. I remembered the whispered conversation I had overheard, Abigail saying it was not safe to have the hunt.
Barak left the servants and came over to me. ‘Sure you want to do this?’ he asked.
‘I have been on a hunt before,’ I replied sharply.
‘It’s more than I have. But they say you should experience everything once, save incest and the plague.’
‘Master Shardlake!’ Hugh was walking over to us. He seemed relaxed now. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘What is to happen?’
‘Myself and the other three archers – ’ he nodded at David and the other boys – ‘will lie in wait at different points along the route. Fulstowe, too.’
‘A great honour for a steward.’
‘Master Hobbey believes he deserves it,’ he answered blandly.
‘I thought usually the young men rode with the chase rather than waiting in ambush in the woods.’
‘Ah, but we want to test our archery skills. Master Stannard there is second in command of his local militia, ten miles off. Here, lads!’ He waved an arm, and David came across with the two others and Dyrick. Dyrick looked ill at ease. I was introduced to Master Stannard and Master Belton, the sons of the two men looking over the plan with Hobbey. Both were only in their late teens; but it was social rank that counted in the military. I thought of Sir Franklin Giffard, past command yet still in charge of Leacon’s company.
‘We saw some militiamen training on the way here last week,’ I said.
‘I’m getting them well trained up in my district,’ Master Stannard said proudly. He was a tall well-built lad, with a round face and swaggering manner. Master Belton was smaller, still with spots peppering his face. ‘Equipment is the problem,’ Stannard went on. ‘By law they should all have their own weapons but many do not even have bows. But they will be ready to march when the beacons are lit.’
‘No greater army ever seen in England,’ David said. I looked at him. There seemed a hectic quality to his excited tones. He met my eye and looked away.
Master Stannard nodded. ‘If we have to, we will crush them by sheer numbers. And I shall lead my militia. Today will be good practice, perhaps I shall take down the stag and gain the heartstone.’
Young Stannard turned to Hugh. ‘You gained the heartstone at my father’s hunt two years ago, did you not? At only sixteen.’
‘I did,’ Hugh answered with pride.
‘It can heal many ills, I am told.’
‘Normally I wear it round my neck. But today I brought it to show you.’ Hugh took off his gloves and reached into the pouch at his belt. He took out a tiny leather bag with a cord attached, opened it and tipped a small, round whitish object into his palm. Barak wrinkled his nose with distaste, but the boys studied it with interest.
‘Even should I gain another, I will always keep this one,’ Hugh said with quiet pride. The boys looked impressed.
Dyrick stepped up to me. ‘I see the horse you have been riding has been brought out for you. He looks a steady beast.’
‘He is.’ I looked at Dyrick in surprise. For once he was making amiable conversation.
Hobbey called out, ‘All of you that are going on the hunt, over here please!’ He waved an arm, and the male guests and the Hoyland men walked across to him. Dyrick put a detaining hand on my arm.
‘Brother Shardlake,’ he said quietly, ‘Feodary Priddis and his son will be here this afternoon. You will have a chance to take young Priddis to view the woods. But afterwards I would ask you to agree that we leave tomorrow. The case I sent Feaveryear away to deal with is difficult. I should be there.’
‘A Court of Wards matter?’
‘An injunction.’ He took a deep breath. ‘And if we leave tomorrow, Master Hobbey has agreed each side in this matter will pay their own costs, out of court. It is a very pretty bargain for your client, you must agree. But otherwise,’ he resumed his usual aggressive manner, ‘I promise we shall press for full costs in court.’
‘Hobbey has agreed this?’ I asked, astonished. It was a very good offer, not one a lawyer would normally make when his opponent’s case had effectively fallen apart.
‘He has. He wants you gone. Christ’s blood, man, has he not enough trouble?’ Dyrick spoke with unusual passion.
I considered. There was only one reason for Hobbey to make this offer; he wanted to make sure David’s condition was not made public in London.
‘My client is not here,’ I said.
‘Come, man, you can agree informally. She will do what you advise. She and the Queen,’ he added bitterly.
‘I will consider, once I have viewed Hugh’s lands with Priddis.’ I looked up, to see Hobbey staring at me intently. ‘Come. We should join the rest.’