Ordeal by Fire by Sarah Hawkswood

Author:Sarah Hawkswood [Sarah Hawkswood]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780749020927
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2016-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

In sober mood, Bradecote returned to the castle and headed for his supper, though with a curtailed appetite. He was relieved to find the castellan absent, nursing an aching tooth in his chamber, and when Catchpoll entered, with Walkelin in tow like an eager hound, he pushed his trencher aside and rose to meet them.

They adjourned to the privacy of the guardroom, and round a small glowing brazier that kept out the evening chill, the recent developments came under review. Bradecote sat upon a narrow bench, and invited Catchpoll to do likewise. As befitted his lowly rank, Walkelin remained standing and kept his own counsel as his superiors discussed the information about the stranger in Cokenstrete. They agreed that the Jew’s house was a clear target, and Catchpoll remarked that he had instructed the watch that was going to do the rounds of the quay area at some point during the night to take in Cokenstrete on its patrol. They then wondered about how much further they had got in identifying their potential fire-setter. Assuming the girl had seen him, and not just some debtor with a grudge, then the culprit was now confirmed as male, of tall stature and not blonde-haired. At this point Walkelin could not resist commenting that Edgar Brewer was not fair-haired, but though tall, walked with a stoop.

‘Would that be visible if he wore a flowing cloak, do you think, my lord?’

Catchpoll’s train of thought had been disturbed, and he rounded on the man-at-arms. ‘You just wait till we’re ready for you, young Walkelin, or else I’ll send you to stand out in the bailey yard and your keenness can cool off out there. You’ve fair thrown my thinking, so you have. Keep your mouth shut and learn. Where were we, my lord?’ He turned back to Hugh Bradecote.

‘Accepting that whoever it is, it is not Mercet’s tame bully, Turgis. He’s probably not tall enough, but more importantly the girl would have recognised him at once.’

‘Mercet has other men to do his dirty work though, so it does not necessarily rule out the master even if it does rule out the man.’

‘True enough. And Walkelin does not rule out Brewer, even though he casts doubts.’ Bradecote rubbed his chin, thoughtfully.

‘Not doubts, my lord, just questions. Besides, as I have it, if the fire-raiser is Brewer, then his motive is against those he thinks usurped his bed. Are you seriously suggesting Maud Brewer sold her body to a Jewish merchant?’

‘If he had plenty of money I don’t suppose it would have stopped her. Why should it? If adultery meant nothing to her it would be unlikely that a man’s religion would get in the way. More to the point is that I do not see Master Simeon, respectable husband and clearly doting father, falling in sin with a brewer’s wife, especially of her reputation. I’d swear an oath he has eyes only for his wife, and his profitable business.’ Bradecote shook his head. ‘No, that doesn’t work.

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