‘Archery and reading, sir, those were always my pastimes. To my parents’ annoyance; they wanted me to work on the farm.’ He pulled a face. ‘I needed to get away, I was happy to join up. I thought once this war is over I might come to London. Maybe earn my bread with some players, learn more about how plays are made.’
I smiled. ‘You have thought this out, I see. Ay, we need some English comic writing today if ever we did.’
We were interrupted by Snodin marching across. ‘Come, Carswell,’ he snapped. ‘We’re going to have some archery practice in a field down the road. Leave your betters alone, you mammering prick.’
‘He’s doing no harm,’ Barak said.
Snodin narrowed his eyes. ‘He’s a soldier and he’ll do as I say.’
‘Yes, Master Snodin.’ Carswell hastily got up and followed the whiffler. I called after him, ‘Ask for me at Lincoln’s Inn when you return.’
‘There’s an unusual fellow,’ I said to Barak. ‘And you should be careful of antagonizing another officer. One was enough.’
‘Arsehole. As for Carswell, you’d do better not to encourage him. Half those actor folk drink themselves into the gutter.’
‘You are in a poor humour today. Missing Tamasin?’
‘I wonder how she is faring all the time.’ He looked at me. ‘And I wonder what you are planning to do about that Ellen.’
I did not reply.
IT WAS AFTERNOON, and we had eaten by the roadside, before the cart was finally repaired. It took twenty men with ropes to reload the cannon. The cart pulled in to the side of the road to let the company past. We continued south, ever deeper into the Forest of Bere.
I made my way up to the head of the company, where Leacon rode with Sir Franklin. ‘George,’ I said, ‘we will be parting shortly.’
‘Ay. I am sorry for it.’
‘And I. But before we go I wonder if I could ask another favour.’
‘I will help if I can. What is it?’
‘If Portsmouth is full of soldiers, I imagine a good proportion of those who served professionally in the past will be there.’
‘Yes. Portsmouth is becoming the focus of all the military activity.’
‘If you get the chance, I wonder if you could ask whether anyone ever heard of a man called William Coldiron. He is my steward, for the time being at least.’ I told him the story of Coldiron and Josephine, how from what I had overheard in the tavern it seemed he had never married. ‘If anyone knows his history, I would be interested to hear it. I do not believe his tales of killing the King at Flodden, but certainly he has been a soldier.’
‘I will ask if I get the chance.’
‘If you do, maybe you could write to me at home.’
‘I will. And if you should come to Portsmouth while you’re here, look for me. Though I will have a busy time keeping these fellows in order. I hear the town is chaos, full of foreign soldiers and sailors. The company will be pleased to see you too.’
‘They do not all think me an unlucky hunchback?’
‘Only a few joltheads like Sulyard.’
‘Thank you. That means a lot.’
I rode back to the rear of the company. The road began slowly ascending and the pace slowed. I was half asleep in the saddle when Dyrick roughly shook my arm.
‘We turn off here.’
I sat up. To our right a narrow lane led into deep, shadowed woodland. We pulled aside. I called out, ‘George! We leave you here!’
Leacon and Sir Franklin turned. Leacon gestured to the drummer, who ceased drumming. The company halted, and Leacon rode back to us. He gripped my hand tightly. ‘Farewell, then.’
‘Thank you for letting us ride with you.’
‘Yes,’ Dyrick added with unaccustomed grace. ‘I think we would have had another two days’ riding without you to speed us on.’
I looked into the captain’s tired, haunted eyes. ‘I am glad we met again,’ I said sincerely.
‘And I. We must move on now, it will be late when we reach Portsmouth.’ Dyrick called a farewell to Sir Franklin, and he half-raised a gloved hand.
Some of the soldiers called goodbyes. Carswell waved. Leacon rode back to the head of the company.
‘God go with you all,’ I called out.
The trumpet sounded, the supply carts trundled past us, and the company marched away, the tramp of their footsteps fading as they rounded a bend. We turned into the lane.
THE FOUR OF US rode under the trees. All at once everything was silent, no sound apart from the chirking of birds. I was conscious of how tired I was, how dusty and smelly we all were. Suddenly the path ended at a high old stone wall. We passed through a gateway into a broad lawned area dotted with trees, a knot garden full of scented summer flowers to one side. Straight ahead stood what had once been a squat Norman church, with a wide porch and arched roof. But now large square windows had been put in at each side of the door and in the walls of what had once been the attached cloister buildings. Tall new brick chimneys rose from the cloister roof. I heard dogs barking in kennels somewhere behind the house, alerted by the sound of the horses. Then three men in servants’ smocks appeared in the porch. They approached us and bowed. An older man with a short blond beard followed, wearing a red doublet and a cap which he swept off as he came up to Dyrick.