Outside, the cathedral bells struck up a new peal, startling me out of my thoughts. If they signalled the end of the service, people would be spilling out into the precincts and it would be harder to leave without attracting attention. I looked down at the keys in my palm, willing myself to make a decision. Was one of these the key to Sir Edward Kingsleys cellar?
It was reckless, I knew, but I was afraid I would not have another chance. I slipped the bunch of keys into my pouch too, closed the casket, and fiddled impatiently with the lock, my fingers made clumsy by haste, until I felt it click beneath the knife. At least if he found the casket locked Langworth might attribute the missing keys to some lapse of memory on his own part. I hid the box again under the tile and left the hidden room, returning to Langworths bedchamber and closing the door as silently as possible behind me. But this time I could not make the lock turn back into place, and the persistent clamour of the bells began to seem an alarm meant to warn me that time was short. Instead of easing the knife gently, as I knew I should, I tried in my haste to force it; the blade glanced off the bolt and caught the edge of my finger. A gout of blood splashed to the floor; stifling a curse, I sucked furiously at the cut and at that moment I heard the sound of a door opening downstairs, followed by voices.
Frantic, I glanced around the room. The only possible hiding place was under Langworths bed. I pulled the tapestry across the door, scuffed the traces of my blood away with my foot and, as quietly as I could manage, pressed myself prostrate on the floor and wriggled flat under the bed, holding my breath. The space under the bed frame was thick with dust, but the boards were warped by age and I found a gap between two of them wide enough to press one eye against. I was directly above the front room of the house, Langworths study. Below I could see the desk where I had found the penknife I now clutched in my bleeding fingers. As I watched, a packet was flung down onto the desk and the figure of the treasurer in his black robe crossed my line of vision.
Well, then, he said. That is everything.
You are certain? I could not see the face of his interlocutor and dared not move to try and see better. I remained frozen, pressed to the floor, making my breath as shallow as I could.
Everything I could find, Langworth replied. It was not easythe place was left in such disarray.
You did not attract attention, going there?
The other mans voice seemed disturbingly familiar. Langworth gave a cold laugh.
The apothecarys sister-in-law stands to inheritshe is a superstitious woman and would not set foot in a place befouled by murder until it had been blessed by a man of the church.
And now?
Tacere et fidere, my friend. Langworths voice grew impatient. The threads are all unravelled. We can only bide our time and wait for news. For now, the best thing we can do is to have faith, and keep our mouths shut.
We must experiment further, if we hope for success, his companion said, lowering his voice. There are other places to buy
In time, Langworth snapped back. There have been enough deaths lately, the town is alert. They will blame a vagrant for Fitch and hang him at the assizes in a few days. Then they will forget. Meanwhile, have you not seen the tide of refugees fleeing the plague rumours? He folded his long fingers together and cracked his knuckles. There will be chance enough for experiments in the days to come. God will provide. Besides, he added, moving back towards the desk and out of my sight, nothing can be done while the Italian is here, prying. You saw him this morning, I suppose?
Not today. Was he here?
The second man spoke sharply and as he stepped forward and I was able to glimpse him, my stomach constricted and I swear for a moment my heart stopped beating. It was Samuel, Harry Robinsons servant. A chill washed my whole body, as if I had been hit by a cold wave, as I realised the implications of this: Langworth knew exactly who I was. When he greeted me politely by my false name at the gate, he had been mocking me; if Samuel was his confidant, he must have known my identity even before I arrived. The Italian. My careful pretence was meaningless; I already had an enemy in the heart of the cathedral, an ally of Henry Howards who must know my part in his patrons imprisonment. This changed everything; I could no longer imagine that I was passing unnoticed through Canterbury. Langworth must be as suspicious of me as I was of him and would be waiting for an opportunity as we danced around each other, trying not to reveal our hands.
I saw him by the gatehouse this morning, as I was leaving, Langworth said, his voice sharp. He said Harry was taking him to the library.
He has not called, Samuel said. Harry is at home. Perhaps he went by himself.
Well, let him occupy himself there if he wishes, he can do little harm, Langworth said, dismissive. It will serve to keep him above ground, at least. Watch him. What does Harry make of him thus far, out of interest?
Samuel was now directly beneath me; I saw him shrug.
Harry is wary of him.
And rightly so.
He fears this business with Kingsleys murder is a pretext. There are rumours from London, you know, that the queen will send forces to the Netherlands.
Let us hope they are true. This is just the news our friends in Paris are waiting for.
They say Walsingham plans to dissolve the richest cathedral foundations to raise money for this war. Starting with Canterbury, to set an example.
Langworth appeared again beneath my spy-hole.
And the last thing Harry wants is for the foundation to be dissolved. Where else would he find so comfortable a situation? His voice was cold.
All Harry cares about is preserving things as they are. He fears the Italian is really here to find evidence of his own incompetence.
So poor Harry finds himself caught between the Devil and the deep sea, Langworth mused, without a trace of sympathy. The spy fears he is spied on by his own spymaster. He gave a dry laugh. What a fitting irony.
He has warned the Italian away from you, Samuel added.
I doubt that will stop him, Langworth said, folding his arms and cupping his chin in his right hand. Do not make the mistake of underestimating our friend Bruno, as my lord Howard did. He is devilishly clever and sly as a fox.
Nevertheless, if he is determined to unearth Kingsleys murderer
Yes. That could be awkward. Langworth paced across the room and was again lost to my narrow field of vision. Samuel turned to follow his direction, and I found myself looking down onto the shiny disk of pink skin at his crown, barely covered by the meagre strands of black hair he scraped over it. I felt an instinctive revulsion. Langworths voice continued, from over by the window. How much did the wife know, that is the question.
Nothing, Kingsley always said.
Im not sure I believe that. She may have been sharper than Kingsley realised. After all, the damned fool didnt even have the wit to look behind him on a dark night, Langworth added, an unmistakable anger in his tone. Walsingham would not send someone like Giordano Bruno here for the murder of a provincial magistrate, you can be sure of that. It can only be that the girl told him something significantsomething she may have observed without Kingsleys knowledge. And there are others at St. Gregorys whose silence cannot be taken for granted.
The boy, you mean?
Langworth snorted.
Nicholas has eyes only for whores and cards. No, I am thinking of the housekeeper. If anyone has seen what they should not, it would be that beady old bird. He fell silent for a moment, then clapped his hands together briskly, as if he had come to a sudden decision. I had better pay another visit to St. Gregorys. Before the Italian asks too many questions. Find Sykes for meI may have need of his skills.
And then should I follow the Italian?
Langworth paused, weighing up his alternatives.
DamnationI had forgotten that there is a meeting of the chapter today at one, and I have certain accounts that must be arranged beforehand. He shook his head impatiently. And I dine with the mayor tonight. NoSt. Gregorys will have to wait until tomorrow. Take a message to Sykes, tell him I want him here after Evensong. Watch the Italian, by all means, report his conversations with Harry. I have an idea of how to keep him out of trouble, if we need to.
And where shall I find you?
In the treasury. I shall go there presently, once I have put this in a safe place. I could not see what he meant by this, but as he crossed the room again I saw that he had picked up the packet he had been holding when he first came in. By the cross, this heat is too much.
We shall have a storm soon, Samuel observed.
Langworth grunted assent and I heard the sound of the latch being drawn on the front door. I tried to swallow but my throat felt as if it were filled with dust; Langworth would be coming up here at any moment and would surely notice anything awry. I wanted urgently to check that I had rearranged the tapestry over the door just as it had been, but I dared not move a muscle.
God will reward your loyalty, Samuel, Langworth said, on the threshold.
I hope not to wait quite so long, Samuel replied, and both men gave a low, knowing laugh. The door closed, and my bladder tightened as I heard the first creaking tread on the staircase.
Langworths worn leather shoes passed directly in front of me as he crossed the room to the door behind the tapestry. I breathed out as silently as I could, watching the small bloom of dust that rose under my nostrils as I did so. I kept my lips pressed tightly together so that I should not sneeze. A bunch of keys jangled in his hand, then I heard the sound of one being fitted into the lock. One more heartbeat and Langworth would discover that his secret room had been left unlocked; one morebut before I heard the click of the key turning, there came a peremptory knock at the door from downstairs. Langworth appeared to hesitate, but the banging came again, more urgently. I heard him tut, then he threw the packet onto the bed and hurried down the stairs. It was only when I heard him lift the latch on the front door that I realised how much I was shaking.
Dean Rogers. Good morning. To what do I owe the honour? Langworths voice rose from the room below; he sounded surprised and not at all pleased to see his visitor.
Johnsorry to disturb, Im sure youre busy. Its about the chapter meeting this afternoon. The deans tone was apologetic. I wondered if I might have a quick look at the accounts ledgers ahead of the meeting?
WellI shall be presenting the accounts myself this afternoonIm not sure that it would be particularly
If its not too much trouble, the dean said pleasantly, but firmly. Im afraid I dont have a head for figures, John, not like you, and theres always so much to take in at these meetings. I thought it would be easier for an addle-pate like me to try and understand the expenditure before we get there.
Clever old fox, I thought, smiling to myself as I recalled what Harry had said about the persistent rumours of Langworth playing fast and loose with the treasury accounts. The dean meant to put his treasurer on the spot. While Langworth began to explain at length why the ledgers might prove difficult to understand, I held my breath and slid as silently as I could so that my head was poking out from under the bed and glanced at the door behind the tapestry. Langworth had left the key in the lock, an iron ring with several others dangling from it. I eased myself out a little farther into the room, still flat on my stomach, praying that no creaking board would give me away. The heat in the room seemed to press about my face like a damp cloth; sweat dripped into my eyes.
I do appreciate that, the dean was saying, but it would put my mind at rest before addressing the chapter
I crawled on my belly across the floor, one hand on the keys at my own belt so that they would not scrape on the boards, until I could reach up to the lock of the door into the back room. Hoping that my knife had not damaged the mechanism, I turned the key. To my relief I heard the bolt slide into place with a dull thud.
The account books are all in the treasury, of course, Langworth was explaining to the dean, his voice growing defensive. I was on my way over there.
Then I shall accompany you, the dean said, just as pleasantly. Shall we go now?
Langworth hesitated.
Of course. Although I realise I have left my keys in my chamberdo go on ahead, if you wish.
No matter, said the dean pleasantly. I can wait a moment.
Langworths heavy footsteps sounded again on the stairs; I scrambled back under the bed, my heart pounding in my throat, pressing a hand over my mouth as the dust scuffed up by my sudden movement itched its way into my eyes and nose. The counterpane that hung over the bed was still swaying when Langworth stormed into the room, unlocked the hidden door, threw the packet he had left on the bed into the back room, and locked the door again, muttering under his breath. I heard the flap of heavy material as he rearranged the tapestry and the metallic clink of the keys as he tossed them in his hand on his way out. Though I had fallen out of the habit of regular prayer, I offered a silent thanks to Providence for the appearance of the dean.
When I was certain that they had left the house, I crawled out from my hiding place, brushing the dust from my clothes, and crept back down to the study, again bending low so that I would not be visible to anyone passing the window. I hesitated by the desk as I replaced the penknife, first wiping the traces of my blood from its blade. There was ink in the inkwell, and paper. How long was Langworth likely to be in the treasury with the deanlong enough for me to copy the letter I had tucked into my purse? My hands were still trembling from our near-encounter. I forced myself to breathe slowly and deeply. Now that I knew Langworth and the other canons would be occupied at the chapter meeting that afternoon, I decided the lesser risk would be to take the letter away to copy and attempt to return the original later while he was out, trusting that he would not check the contents of his secret chest carefully in the meantime.
Outside, the sound of voices carried across from the cathedral. People were evidently abroad in the precincts; the service must have ended. I needed to leave Langworths house now, while I still had time; Harry would be expecting me for dinner soon and I wanted to return to the Cheker and copy the coded letter firstthough I had no idea how I could send it to London, now that I knew Samuel could not be trusted. My jaw tightened at the thought of dissembling in front of Harrys servant, as if I were ignorant of his treachery. I must find a way to speak to Harry alone, I thought, but I feared he would not believe me about Samuel, and I would lose his trust and goodwill if he knew I had defied his warning to keep away from Langworth. Worse stilland my mouth dried at the thoughtI could not discount the possibility that Harry knew about Samuel. Perhaps he was even in league with Langworth, or at best turning a blind eye; it would not be the first time one of Walsinghams contacts had betrayed his trust and, though I found it hard to believe of Harry Robinson, I knew I must remain wary. The hardest part of working for Walsingham was knowing whom to trust.