The Pardoner's Crime (18 page)

Sit Thomas thumped the bench with his fist. ‘By God's blood, we shall have the dog by nightfall, I wager! I will send some men out to the forest roads straight away.'

The crowd in the Moot Hall were carried away by the Deputy Steward's exclamation and began to jeer the name of their former townsman, and to cheer at the reward for his capture.

Hubert had been watching the crowd all this time and he noted the gleam in the eye of Midge the Miller. He assumed that the news of the proclamation would reach Barnsdale 
Forest before the proclamations were dry on John of Flanshaw's parchments.

Richard was about to close the court session when there was the sound of a horse outside and a commotion from the outer members of the crowd. Moments later a young messenger dressed in the unmistakable royal livery appeared at the door and made his way through to the bench.

He doffed his hat and bowed. ‘Greetings, sirs. I seek Sir Thomas Deyville and bring him a message from His Majesty the King. I rode to Sandal Castle but was informed to ride here.' He drew from within his tunic a sealed message.

Sir Thomas hesitated for a moment, and then gestured to Richard. ‘My eyes are strained this morning, Sir Richard. Would you be so kind as to read it for me?'

Richard held Sir Thomas's eyes for a moment, then nodded with a genial smile. He took the message, opened the seal and read the message. Then he leaned closer to the Deputy Steward and whispered in his ear. Sir Thomas coloured, asked a couple of quiet questions then stood up.

‘His Majesty the King and his special adviser Hugh le Dispenser are staying at nearby Rothwell Castle, but have decided to dine and stay at Sandal Castle until Corpus Christi in two days when he will watch the Wakefield Mystery Plays.' He beamed proudly. ‘This is a great honour for Wakefield and to mark it I invite all of the Wakefield burghers and the heads of the guilds to sup with us, his majesty and his adviser this evening at five o'clock.'

He was still beaming proudly some minutes later, once the court had cleared, when Lady Wilhelmina brought him down to earth.

‘Father, we should make haste. My mother will be all of a fluster. Honoured though she will be at entertaining his majesty, yet I fear she will be less pleased at having to
entertain
half of Wakefield.' 

Richard was dressing and Hubert was looking out of his tower room when the royal party rode up the hill towards Sandal Castle. At the head of the party of some twenty men rode two trumpeters, then two banner carriers, and behind them, a tall dark-haired man of about thirty years, somewhat foppishly dressed, with a pill hat that barely covered his cascading locks. Beside him was the unmistakable figure of the King, Edward II of Caernarvon. Resplendent in blue tunic and hose, with a breast-plate, a flowing fur collar on his purple cloak, and a light crown upon his head. Even at a distance the strange three-forked beard that he cultivated was evident, and he cut a dashing figure. The two men laughed as they rode, clearly enjoying the afternoon sunshine and each other's company. Behind them rode a column of heavily armed men.

‘His majesty comes, my lord,' Hubert announced. Then he gave a soft whistle. ‘So that is his special adviser, Hugh le Dispenser.'

Richard joined him at the window and looked down. ‘Indeed. He seems rather a fine peacock of a fellow, does he not?'

Hubert scratched his chin. ‘And you say that he is the new Gaveston, my lord?'

‘That is what they say. The King calls him his
King's Eye
.'

Hubert hummed. ‘They seem close enough that is for sure.'

‘Too close for many of the King's opponents,' returned Richard. ‘And indeed, too close for her majesty Queen Isabella, for she had him and his father banished, until only this year. Now that he is back she has been sent on a diplomatic mission to France. But still, that is up to his majesty. Our purpose is to uphold the King's justice. And it would not do for us to be absent when the King arrives, so come, we had best take our places.'

Richard completed his change of clothes then swiftly made his way down to the courtyard where Sir Thomas, Lady Alecia and Lady Wilhelmina were already waiting to receive the king. The castle staff was assembled at a discreet distance.

‘A great honour for you, Lady Alecia,' Richard said with a smile.

Lady Alecia smiled back nervously. ‘Yet a daunting
challenge
, Sir Richard. I wish that his majesty had given us more time.'

‘It will be fine, my lady,' said Sir Thomas. ‘A great
opportunity
for – all of us.' His eyes fell on his daughter and Richard imagined that there was sadness in his regard. ‘Alas, he will probably not be over interested in my daughter's beauty.'

‘Father!' Lady Wilhelmina hissed beneath her breath.

Trumpets called from without the walls of the castle, then there came the sound of horses crossing the outer drawbridge as the royal party entered the castle. The trumpeters and the two officers rode up to the waiting Deputy Steward and his group, then they broke apart to reveal the King and his adviser, Hugh le Dispenser.

The King looked down as Richard and Sir Thomas bowed and the ladies curtsied. And behind them, the castle staff echoed their moves.

‘Excellent! Most excellent!' King Edward laughed, elegantly swinging a leg over his saddle and nimbly dropping to the ground. ‘Isn't this the most delightful little castle, Hugh?'

Hugh le Dispenser followed suit and came to stand beside his monarch and friend, for their relationship was immediately apparent to be more that of two close friends than sovereign and humble subject. He looked round at the barbican, the inner moat and then at the keep beyond. ‘An interesting design, Edward, I give you that.' He nodded his head as if agreeing with his own statement. ‘Quaint, but functional, I would say.'

‘And this must be Sir Thomas Deyville, the Deputy Steward that I have such high hopes of.'

Sir Thomas bowed and kissed the outstretched fingertips. ‘Your loyal servant, Your Majesty,' he returned, obsequiously.

‘And these beauties must be your wife and daughter,' went on the King. He pouted, and then added, ‘But which is which? They are both so enchanting that they could be young sisters.'

Lady Alecia giggled and blushed. ‘Your Majesty is too kind. I am Alecia and this is my daughter, the Lady Wilhelmina.'

Both the King and Hugh le Dispenser bowed in unison.

‘And how are you, Richard, my good and trusty Sergeant-at-Law?' asked the King.

‘I am well, Your Majesty.'

‘Your wound is healed?'

Richard looked puzzled for a moment, then said, ‘Quite healed, sir. There is an apothecary here in Wakefield so skilled that he cured it days ago. I had forgotten.'

‘Maybe you will be fit enough to hunt with us tomorrow then, Richard. Hugh here is keen to stick a boar or two in this Great Park that we have heard so much about.'

‘Or a deer,' said Hugh le Dispenser with a yawn. ‘I quite fancy exercising my bow arm.'

Richard inclined his head. ‘I would beg to be excused from a hunt, Majesty. I still have pressing law work to take care of. Yet I am sure that Sir Thomas would be a more than able guide to the park here.'

‘Indeed, Your Majesty,' began Sir Thomas. ‘I would—'

‘Pah! The law!' interrupted Hugh le Dispenser. ‘It is so boring. So dusty, don't you think?'

King Edward smiled indulgently on his adviser. ‘I think you are too artistic to understand the law, Hugh. But my realm needs good law and just law. That is why Richard here is the perfect man for me. He breathes the law. Isn't that so, Sir Thomas? Has he taught you much?'

‘Indeed, your Majesty. In fact—' Sir Thomas began again.

‘But we must not stand here gossiping,' cut in the King. ‘These ladies must be tired. Let us to our rooms, to refresh and then to supper.'

Lady Alecia curtsied. ‘We have prepared a meal for you, Your Majesty and we have invited the local dignitaries to eat with us. I hope that is to your satisfaction.'

Hugh le Dispenser yawned again, but the king smiled. ‘It will give me great pleasure, Lady Alecia. A king must ever be
pleased to meet his subjects. Especially when they are as beautiful as you and your daughter.'

Richard permitted himself a smile as he looked at the two ladies. Of the two, the mother was clearly more susceptible to flattery.

The King clearly enjoyed the feast in the Great Hall, for socializing was one of his great pleasures, and something that he excelled in. He gave the impression to all, as they filed past and were introduced to his royal personage, that he was intensely interested in each person that he spoke to, even though it was unlikely that he would ever remember their names afterwards. He talked knowledgably about art and playmaking with Father Daniel and Lady Katherine; about physic with Wilfred Oldthorpe and about forestry and falconry with John Little, of the Guild of Foresters. Hugh le Dispenser, on the other hand, showed little interest in anyone except the King or himself. He was an easy man to despise, Richard concluded.

The talk at the head table was mainly trivial. Although the King had shown some interest in the affairs of the Manor of Wakefield, yet he did not care to hear about details of any cases that were under investigation.

‘I appoint men such as you Sir Thomas, and Richard here to look after my interests,' he said with a grin at Hugh Le Dispenser. ‘And while you are looking after those interests, I can take a healthy interest in this splendid feast and the affairs of my people.'

‘Quite right, Edward,' agreed le Dispenser, dipping his fingers in a fingerbowl. ‘Why keep a chicken and cluck
yourself
!'

‘So speaks the King's Eye! Am I not lucky to have such a friend? Mayhap I should call him my
mouth
?' And both of them guffawed, as did those about them as if le Dispenser was the greatest wit in the realm, matched only by his sovereign.

For his own part Richard spied out Emma Oldthorpe with her husband on one of the lower tables and would have dearly liked some opportunity to have words with her. He was also pretty sure by a look on Lady Wilhelmina's face that she had caught him more than once sneaking a glance in Emma's direction. She did not seem happy about it.

Indeed, that evening after the King and Hugh le Dispenser had retired to their rooms in the Great Chamber beside the Great Hall, and Sir Thomas and Lady Alecia had repaired to their lodge, Richard sat in his room musing over the events of the day. He still had much to do and he was glad that he had been permitted to be excused from the hunt in the morning.

The knock on the door made him jump up.

Lady Wilhelmina was standing there in a hooded cloak when he opened the door.

‘Wilhelmina, what are you doing here?' he whispered. ‘This is madness, I told you before.'

She pushed past him and turned once he had closed the door. ‘Why, Sir Richard?' she asked.

‘I don't understand?' he replied.

‘Why do you keep putting me off? The other night when I came, naked, to this chamber, you thrust me away. And the time before that you turned me around and sent me away. Why will you not lie with me?'

He looked aside. ‘Wilhelmina, it is not easy.'

Her eyes opened wide in shock. ‘Are you – like his majesty? Do you prefer other men? Is that why he calls you Richard?' As she fired questions her eyes became wider still, almost round. Beautifully round, he thought. ‘So is your manservant – Hubert – is he more to you than a servant?'

He gave her a thin smile and shook his head. ‘No, Wilhelmina, it is nothing like that.'

‘Then what? Is there someone else?'

He said nothing.

Suddenly she looked crestfallen. ‘I saw you looking tonight.
Why not at me? I come every day to your court. I sit beside you at dinner. Am I not desirable?'

He hung his head. ‘Wilhelmina, I think you ought to go,' he said.

She forced back a sob as she pulled up her hood. ‘Damn you, Sir Richard. Damn you! You will regret this some day.'

When she had gone he leaned with his back against the door. ‘I think I do already, Wilhelmina,' he whispered to the empty room. ‘There is just so much at stake.'

Richard slept little that night and was grateful when the first light of dawn permitted him to rise, do his ablutions and then get ready to take his leave. As he expected, Hubert was up, breakfasted and pacing across the bailey courtyard awaiting his orders. The place was buzzing with activity as men prepared horses and weapons for the hunt that had been arranged for the King and his adviser.

‘We will go to Wakefield straight away,' Richard said. ‘But first I need to speak with the Deputy Steward.'

Hubert pointed behind Richard and he turned to see Sir Thomas coming down the steps from his lodge.

‘Ah, Sir Thomas, a word,' said Richard. And they retired again to the Deputy Steward's office.

‘I am concerned for the King's safety, Sir Thomas,' said Richard.

Sir Thomas looked puzzled. ‘As am I, Sir Richard. As should every good Englishman. We go hunting this morning and I will have men all around him, to say nothing of his own. He could not be safer.'

‘And what of tomorrow, at the Mystery Plays?'

‘The same. We shall have him well protected.' His cunning eyes narrowed. ‘Why this all of a sudden, Sir Richard? Do you suspect some attempt on his life?'

Richard shook his head. ‘It is just as well to be prepared for any eventuality. What of the men you were going to send into the forest?'

‘They have gone, and they are better prepared than before. That blockhead who led them last time has had a lesson in tactics.'

Hubert had been standing silently at the door. He grinned inwardly, for his friend Adam Crigg was in the contingent sent into the forest. He had told him the extent of the tactics given to them by Sir Thomas. It was simply, keep an eye behind you and don't get hoodwinked.