Dark Fire (The Shardlake series) by C. J. Sansom

Author:C. J. Sansom [Sansom, C. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780330503631
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2008-09-03T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-five

SOME HOURS LATER, as the heat of the day began to fade, I sat under the shade of a trellis in my garden. I had told the crowd in the street that I had been the victim of a robbery, bringing forth mutterings about the type of people living at the old friary. The innkeeper had insisted a cart be sent for to remove the horse, which was blocking the narrow street, and that I pay for it. When the cart arrived I had a ridiculous urge to ask the driver to take Chancery’s corpse to my house; but what would I do with it there? As they loaded him on the cart, to take him to the Shambles, I walked down to the river to catch a boat. I blinked back tears. There was no point in going to Lady Honor’s now, I was too dusty to present myself at the House of Glass, and my legs were trembling as I walked.

I closed my eyes at the memory of the sudden stillness in Chancery’s eyes. He had died of shock as much as loss of blood and I blamed myself; for days I had ridden him beyond endurance through London in the heat. The poor old horse, with his quiet gentle ways. Young Simon wept when I told him Chancery was dead. I had not realized the boy was so fond of him; he had seemed more taken with Barak’s mare.

I remembered the day I bought Chancery. I had been eighteen, not long in London, and he was the first horse I had bought for myself. I remembered how proud I had been as I led the pretty white creature with the broad hooves from the stables, how gentle he had been from the start. I had promised myself I would put him out to grass, but now he would never enjoy those last years in the orchard behind my garden. Tears formed at the corners of my eyes again. I wiped them away.

There was a cough at my elbow and I turned to find Barak, looking hot and dusty.

‘What’s happened? The boy tells me your horse has died.’

I told Barak of the attack. He frowned as he sat beside me. ‘Shit, that’s more bad news for the earl tomorrow. How did they know you were going there?’ He thought a moment. ‘It was Bealknap’s property. That points to him.’

I shook my head. ‘Bealknap had no idea I was going there today. No, I think Toky was following me again. I wasn’t looking round me as I should, I was careless. I had an – an – encounter with Sir Edwin Wentworth at the Guildhall. They knew who you are,’ I added. ‘They know you have been looking for them.’

‘Word’s got around.’ He shook his head. ‘What did Lady Honor have to say?’

‘I didn’t go to see her. I was covered in dust and blood and sore shaken.’

‘We’ve only eight days.’ He eyed my face. ‘Have you been weeping?’

‘For Chancery,’ I said, my voice gruff with embarrassment.

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