“Beaumeis?” Magdalene and Bell said together.
“I have seen the back of his head often enough to know it,” Ella said, and added with uncharacteristic severity, “He is a silly man and very selfish. Often he did not wait for me but only took his own pleasure, even when I explained that he would enjoy it more if he waited.”
Bell choked. Magdalene said, “Then he was punished, for he spoiled his own joy.”
“I hope you will not let him come again,” Ella said, turning away. “He always wanted more and said the price was too high for what I gave him.”
“No, love,” Magdalene said, and handed Sabina to Letice, who signed that she would sit with her; Magdalene nodded and Letice took Sabina into her chamber. Turning back to Ella, Magdalene said, “He will not come again. And I am going to close your door so our voices will not trouble you.”
Ella yawned. “Good. All that scrubbing in the church has made my arms ache. I really want to sleep.”
When she was closed in, Magdalene turned to Bell, who was starting to shiver. With another appreciative smile, she suggested—somewhat reluctantly—that he should dress and take Beaumeis to the bishop’s house. Beaumeis immediately began to squirm and object. Bell whacked him with the flat of his sword and he subsided into sobbing.
“He must be questioned,” Magdalene said, raising her voice over Beaumeis’s whining protests, “but before witnesses who would have credence. What court, specially a Church court, would accept testimony from an excommunicated whore? And there must be two witnesses.”
Bell grimaced, but he could not deny what she said. “I will take him,” he agreed, started to turn away, and then shook his head, frowning. “No, you must come too. Other churchmen might not be willing to hear you, but Winchester will listen, and you know this little rat better than we do.”
Magdalene started to protest and Bell held up a hand. “Not tonight. I do not think the bishop would be pleased to be wakened for what could easily wait for morning. Come to Winchester’s house tomorrow morning soon after Prime. I know he must reconsecrate the church tomorrow, which will make a very full day for him because he has other business that cannot be put aside, but he must eat, too, so he will be able to squeeze us in while he breaks his fast.”
Either the bishop had still been awake when Bell arrived with his prisoner or Bell had thought better of not waking him and explaining what had happened. In any case, Winchester was certainly taking the matter of whether Beaumeis had murdered Baldassare more seriously than merely asking questions while breaking his fast. When Magdalene arrived, she found what amounted to a court convened in the bishop’s chamber of affairs.
Winchester sat at a long table, Father Benin on a stool beside him. Guiscard was at one short end, parchment, pens, and ink ready, and Bell stood near the other short end. Standing in a group not far from the door through which she entered were the sacristan, the infirmarian, Brothers Patric and Elwin, Knud, and the two brothers who were guarding him, whose names she did not know. Across the chamber near the window was Master Buchuinte.
The shock of seeing him made her hesitate as she stepped over the threshold. She was grateful for the veil that hid her face, although ten years of habit in not recognizing any client in public should have kept her expression unchanged. Fortunately, the monks had all turned to look at her, which was reason enough for her hesitation. Then Bell, wearing not only his sword but full armor, came forward and drew her to stand a little farther back, near the wall, at the short end of the table. No one spoke. A few moments later, the priest and archdeacon who officiated at St. Paul’s entered the room.
They spoke briefly to the bishop and then went to stand beyond Guiscard, near Master Buchuinte, whom they both acknowledged with nods. The bishop gestured to Bell, who turned and went out.
They all heard Beaumeis before they saw him, wailing, “I did not! I did not!” Then Bell entered and went back to stand at the end of the table, where he could see the bishop, and two of the bishop’s men-at-arms dragged Beaumeis into the room. They brought him to stand before the table, but the moment they released his arms, he fell to his knees.
“I did not kill Messer Baldassare!” he shrieked. “I did not! I did not!”
His face was swollen with weeping, and Magdalene could not help but feel sorry for him. The bishop glanced at him once, so coldly that Magdalene understood better why as many hated Winchester as admired him. Beaumeis shuddered and was still. The bishop looked across the room.