The thought came to me, why not let the factions fight it out to the death? Why was the radical side any better than the conservative? But then I thought, the Queen would harm no man willingly. Nor, I believed, would Cranmer. I wondered, though, about Lord Parr. He was old and looked ill; but I had seen his devotion to his niece and sensed a ruthlessness about him, too – I was useful to him, but probably dispensable as well.
Lord Parr had handed me the power of attorney from Greening’s parents. I would go to the streets around St Paul’s to talk to the constable, then to Greening’s neighbour Okedene, and finally the dead man’s apprentice, who had witnessed the earlier break-in. And I should try and find out who Greening’s friends were.
Lord Parr wanted me back at the palace by seven. I was likely to be heavily involved with this for many days. Fortunately it was out of law term and the courts were not in session. I would have to ask Barak to do some extra preparation work on cases I had in hand, and supervise Nicholas and Skelly. Uncomfortably I realized that I would have to lie to Barak and Nicholas; I could tell them I was involved in investigating the printer’s murder, but only on behalf of his family, and I must say nothing about the hunt for the Queen’s missing book. I hated the thought of lying to Barak especially, but there was no obvious alternative I could see.
On impulse, I turned north, heading for the street of little houses where Barak lived with his wife, Tamasin. He would be at work but she would likely be at home this time of day. Like Barak, Tamasin was an old friend; the three of us had been through much together, and I had an urge to talk with someone ordinary, commonsensical, with no taste for intrigue; and to see my little godson. I wanted a moment of normality, perhaps the last I would be allowed for some time.
I tied Genesis to the post outside their house and knocked on the door. It was answered by their servant, Goodwife Marris, a formidable widow of middle age. She curtsied. ‘Master Shardlake, we were not expecting you.’
‘I was nearby, I came on impulse. Is Mistress Barak in?’
‘Ay, and the master, too. He came home for lunch. I was about to clear the plates away.’ I realized I had had nothing to eat. Goodwife Marris showed me into the little parlour overlooking Tamasin’s small, immaculately kept garden. The shutters were open and the room was filled with the scent of summer flowers. Barak was sitting at the table with Tamasin, empty plates and mugs of beer before them. Jane began clearing the plates away. Tamasin looked well, her pretty face contented and happy. ‘This is a welcome surprise, sir,’ she said. ‘But you have missed lunch.’
‘I forgot about it.’
She clicked her tongue. ‘That is not good for you.’
Barak looked at me. ‘I came home to eat. I thought Skelly could keep an eye on young Nick for that long.’
‘That is all right.’ I smiled as a little figure in a white robe and a woollen cap tied in a bow came crawling out from under the table to see what was happening. He looked at me with Barak’s brown eyes, smiled and said, ‘Man!’
‘’Tis his new word,’ Tamasin said proudly. ‘See, he begins to speak.’
‘He is well out of his swaddling clouts now,’ I said, admiring George’s progress as he crawled over to his father and then, furrowing his little brow with concentration, managed to stand for a moment before clutching at his father’s hose. Smiling at his achievement, he lifted a foot and kicked at his father’s ankle.
Barak lifted him up. ‘Do you kick, sirrah?’ he said with mock seriousness. ‘In the presence of your godfather, too? Shameless imp.’ George chuckled happily. I reached down and patted his head. A few curls, blond like Tamasin’s and fine as silk, escaped from under his cap.
‘He grows by the day,’ I said wonderingly. ‘Though I still cannot see whom he most resembles.’
‘Impossible to say with that fat chubby face,’ Barak said, tapping his son on his button nose.
‘I hear you are to be congratulated, Tamasin.’
She blushed. ‘Thank you, sir. Yes, George will have a little brother or sister next January, God willing. We both hope for a girl this time.’
‘You feel well?’
‘Apart from a little sickness in the mornings, yes. Now, let me fetch that bread and cheese. Jack, you have a pea in your beard. Please take it out. It looks disgusting.’ Barak pulled the pea from where it had lodged, squashed it between his fingers, and gave it to a delighted George. ‘I think I might grow one of those long forkbeards people have now. I could drop so much food in it I would have a nice snack always to hand.’
‘You’d have to find a new house to eat it in,’ Tamasin called from the kitchen.
I looked at Barak, sprawled comfortably in his chair, the little child playing at his feet. I was right to keep him out of this. ‘Jack,’ I said, ‘I have a new piece of business which is likely to keep me out of the office a good deal for the next few days at least. Could I ask you to take charge, to supervise Nicholas and Skelly – though I may use Nicholas a little. I will see the more important clients if I can.’
‘Like Mistress Slanning?’ I knew Barak could not abide her.
‘Yes, I will deal with her.’