The Midwife's Tale by Sam Thomas

Author:Sam Thomas [Thomas, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250010773
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: 2013-01-08T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

After a dream such as that, I was not surprised when I awoke feeling no less tired than when I went to sleep. After my morning prayers I wrote letters to friends on Ellen’s behalf, praising her diligence and loyalty, and then considered the day that lay before me. My first order of business would be to confront Edward about the half-truths he’d told me regarding Stephen Cooper’s political activities and business rivalries. I was furious and would let him know in no uncertain terms. But I also knew that by confronting him with his deception, I could obtain a letter allowing me to visit Esther again. Then Martha and I could question her about her relationship with Stephen and all that I’d found in his correspondence.

After breakfast, Martha and I crossed the Ouse Bridge toward Edward’s house. A wind blew from the east, bringing with it the sound of the rebel artillery firing into the city and the King’s guns firing back. As we walked, I told her what I had discovered in Stephen Cooper’s letters.

“Even if Mr. Cooper was working that closely with the rebels,” Martha said, “would the Lord Mayor murder him? Certainly he could have just had him arrested.”

“I don’t know. If he knew that Mr. Cooper planned a rebellion within the city, he might have feared that arresting him would inspire his friends to rise up. On the other hand, if he murdered Mr. Cooper, he could eliminate a rebel and prevent the rising with one blow. That could be why the murderer tried to hide his crime.”

“And it would explain Bacca’s visits to Mr. Cooper as well.”

“Aye,” I said. “He might have been questioning him or warning him against conspiring with the rebels.”

“Where does that leave the Hookes?” Martha asked. “Do you think that they would kill a man over a lawsuit when the outcome was still in doubt?”

“If you told me that Rebecca Hooke had eaten her own child for supper, I would believe it.” I considered this image for a moment. “Of course, she hates James so deeply that it’s not so outlandish an idea.” Martha looked at me quizzically. “You met James at Rebecca’s door. He was the one she dragged in by his ear.” Martha smiled at the memory. “James reminds me of no one so much as Phineas. He is among the weakest of men that you will meet, a fault particularly grievous in one of his rank. There are worse men, to be sure—James can’t even manage to choose a vice—but none so ineffective. His parents tried to groom him for a life in trade, but he has no head for figures, and no heart for business. They sent him to London to purchase some fine silk, and he came back with neither the silk nor the money. Even the servants who went with him could not give any account of how he had lost such a fortune. He may have been cozened, but if so he does not know it.

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