The Service of the Dead

“Why did you not warn me about Sam when Simon died?” Kate asked.

“I expected you knew, that you would have heard the servants talking. Women have the ear for whispered conversations, it seems to me.”

Apparently Kate did not. “Anything else I should know about him?”

“Of course he knew of Mistress Anne and the children in Calais. But I am not surprised he would not speak of that with you.”

She left him with the request to tell Berend whatever else he might recall.

“Bring home anything you find in here today that does not seem to belong,” she told Berend. “Anything.”

Connor’s pack they left with him as well. No need to scurry about with it.

By the time Kate and Jennet reached the King’s Staithe, clouds hid the sun and a sharp breeze snapped the sails of a ship at anchor. Many of the dockworkers greeted her, some expressing their outrage that her ship had been boarded by the king’s men in Hull – “That would never happen here,” one bragged, “I wouldn’t let them past me, Mistress Clifford” – and some asking after young Phillip, poor lad, finding Connor hanging in the minster. One asked whether it was true Connor had killed Alice Hatten. She spoke the truth by saying she did not know who had killed Alice, but a terrible thing it was. They were quick to point out Sam’s brother Cam when she asked after him. She realized that she had met him once before, unloading one of her ships.

He seemed oddly happy to see her, quickly explained by his asking, “Has my brother returned, Mistress Clifford?”

Of course he would wonder. “I fear I have no news to give you, Cam. But I have just heard something that concerns me. Is it true that Sam works for Lionel Neville as well as for me?”

“Lionel Neville.” Cam turned the name in his mouth as if it were spoiled fruit, then suggested they step aside so they might not be overheard. “I hope that my brother took my advice and stayed well away. He feels caught between the Nevilles and you. Master Lionel says my brother owes it to Master Simon’s memory to help him, tell him things.”

“What sort of things?”

“He would not say, but what else would it be but to round upon someone, give Neville something he can use against them? For the life of me I cannot think why he would choose Sam for that. What could Sam hear?”

There was plenty Sam might tell Lionel. Had he? “Sam felt he could not refuse?”

“He has no backbone, my brother. Do you think he got in trouble for something Master Lionel put him up to? Is that how he went missing?”

“As far as I know he went off to Beverley for me. He left before Alice Hatten was found. He was to see whether she had simply gone home without telling anyone.”

Cam looked doubtful. “I would not trust that Master Lionel had naught to do with my brother’s disappearance. He’s always nosing round in folks’ affairs. We all know to shut our mouths when word goes along the staithe that ‘the Lion’ is about. If he did that with someone powerful, and Sam was caught at it–” He cursed, then apologized.

So Sam and Lionel were two of a kind, though Kate could see Cam was blind to his brother’s faults. She thanked him. “One thing more.” She described Hubert Bale as best she could. “Did you ever see your brother with such a man?”

“I did.” He looked pleased with himself.

“Can you remember when you saw him?”

“Not so long ago.” He scratched his chin, then nodded. “Just before ‘the Lion’ came sailing in complaining of being boarded by the king’s men downriver. I remember thinking you might do well to hire that bull to guard your ships. Will you?”

“Do you think it would discourage the king’s men?”

Cam laughed. “No. Once they put on the livery you would think they were first knight, all of them.”

She thanked him again and promised she would get word to him the moment they had any news of his brother.

Jennet had disappeared while Kate talked to Cam. Off hunting for information in her own manner, Kate guessed. She made her way back through the crowd of workers, pausing here and there to respond to their queries and concerns. She was proud of how they greeted her. When she had reached the bridge, she looked round, and not seeing her servant, she started across. Jennet joined her halfway, as Kate paused at a shop stall to admire a display of silk thread in jewel colors. The cushions in the deanery had inspired her to brighten her own home.

“Several men reported seeing Lionel and Sam together, and recently,” Jennet quietly reported. “And perhaps Sam with Hubert Bale as well.”

Together they continued on.

“Cam thought he had seen his brother with Bale, so I would guess that is true,” said Kate. She told Jennet the rest. “To think that I laughed at Lionel’s poor choice in servants when we caught Fitch. It seems I may have made an even poorer choice. Perhaps Fitch truly was hoping to see Sam, but not because they are friends.”

“I could gut him,” Jennet said.

“Sam or Lionel?”

“Both!”

“You warned me. You never trusted him.”

“Nor Master Lionel, but you needed no warning about him.”