The King's Examiner: A Tudor Felony (Tudor Crimes Book 6) by Stevens Anne

Author:Stevens, Anne [Stevens, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: TightCircle Publications
Published: 2015-11-03T16:00:00+00:00

Rafe is sitting on the front step of Draper House when Mush appears, whistling. The young Jew has regained his sister’s lost cogs, her money, and a further sixty three pounds for himself. He is in a jolly mood, and cannot wait to tell Miriam of his good fortune.

“Ho, Rafe, have they swept you out with the soiled rushes?” he jests.

“They sent to Austin Friars,” Rafe says, glumly. “Miriam’s time has come sooner than we thought.”

“How is she?” Mush recalls how she lost her first child, and knows that any further heartache might break his sister’s spirit.

“Ellen is with her,” Rafe replies. “She is in the best of hands, my friend. I only wish Will was home.”

Ellen Barre is a maid in Cromwell’s house. She has been deserted by her husband, whom is thought to be dead in Ireland, and is under the protection of Rafe. When the husband’s death can be legally declared, the two will marry.

“He will not thank Master Cromwell for keeping him away at this time,” Mush says. “Do you truly not know their whereabouts?”

Rafe sighs, and shakes his head. He has a suspicion, but does not wish to send Mush on a wild goose chase across Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. This is the first time since joining Cromwell that the lawyer has not taken Rafe into his confidence.

They fetch a flask of Miriam’s best wine from the cellar, and stroll down to the bottom of the back garden. The frontage of the big house is on the Thames, and its water almost laps up to the door, but the grounds to the rear extend to over a half acre, and are walled on all sides.

“It is a chill day.” Mush takes a swig, and passes the flask to his friend.

“Winter snow will be on us soon,” Rafe confirms. “It is not a good time to travel.”

“You mean to travel?” Mush asks.

“Soon. The king has a mind to visit Calais before Christmas, and sign a new treaty. He will expect me to attend him.”

“And Cromwell?”

“I should think so,” Rafe replies. “If they still be friends by then. The Boleyn whore presses to make Sir Thomas More and a few others take the oath.”

“Will Cromwell take it?” Mush can never understand why politics is so difficult a pastime.

“Of course, as will all at Austin Friars,” Rafe says. “It is the wording that worries those who still favour Rome. It puts Henry above all others, even the pope. As Pope Clement, the venal old dog, is supposed to be God’s representative in this world, how can he be put beneath a mere mortal … even if he be a king?”

“A sore point,” Mush says, taking another drink. The flask goes back and forth, until it is all but empty.

“Miriam could build another house in this garden,” Rafe says at length. “One even bigger than Austin Friars.”

“She can certainly afford it,” Mush says. Then adds: “I made sixty pounds today. Will you take half for the fund?”

“A princely sum,” Rafe says.

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