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- Herausgeber: Allison & Busby
- Kategorie: Krimi
- Serie: Domesday
- Sprache: Englisch
It is the juiciest piece of gossip the citizens of Norwich have heard for a long time. The ruthless Richard de Fontenel is himself the victim of robbery. In addition to two priceless golden elephants that he was using to lure the beautiful Adelaide into marriage, his steward Hermer is also missing. Onto the scene arrive soldier Ralph Delchard and lawyer Gervase Bret who are meant to adjudicate on a land dispute, but they also become involved in the hunt for the thief. But is Hermer the steward really missing or has something altogether more sinister happened?
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Seitenzahl: 427
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021
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PRAISE FOR EDWARD MARSTON
‘A master storyteller’
Daily Mail
‘Packed with characters Dickens would have been proud of. Wonderful [and] well-written’
Time Out
‘Once again Marston has created a credible atmosphere within an intriguing story’
Sunday Telegraph
‘Filled with period detail, the pace is steady and the plot is thick with suspects, solutions and clues. Marston has a real knack for blending detail, character and story with great skill’
Historical Novels Review
‘The past is brought to life with brilliant colours, combined with a perfect whodunnit. Who needs more?’
The Guardian
THE ELEPHANTS OF NORWICH
EDWARD MARSTON
To Conrad and Gaynor beloved son and daughter-in-law as a belated wedding present
King William caused all England to be surveyed: how much each of his barons possessed; and how many enfeoffed knights; and how many ploughs, villeins, animals, and livestock, each one possessed in all his kingdom from the greatest to the least; and what dues each estate was able to render. And as a consequence the land was vexed with much violence.
Florence of Worcester
Contents
Prologue
‘Elephants?’ she said in astonishment. ‘You brought elephants back to England?’
‘Yes, my lady. Two of them.’
‘Where did you find them?’
‘That’s a secret,’ said the other with a quiet smile.
‘But I thought that you were visiting your estates in Normandy.’
‘My search took me further afield.’
‘Search?’
‘For the two elephants,’ he explained. ‘When I set my heart on something, I’ll move heaven and earth until I possess it. That’s why I hunted them down with such patience. You’ll not see two such beasts in the entire kingdom. Those elephants will make a perfect wedding gift to my bride.’
Richard de Fontenel gave a confident grin. He was a big man in his forties with the build and rugged features of a soldier. Time had thickened his waist, thinned his hair and lent him a florid complexion but he could still be accounted a moderately handsome man. Ten years younger, the lady Adelaide had retained the beauty and poise that made her such a desirable prospect as a wife. The great wealth she had inherited from her late husband only served to intensify desire.
‘Nothing has been agreed, my lord,’ she reminded him.
‘Until today.’
‘I’m in no rush to make a decision.’
‘Wait until you see the elephants.’
‘Why should they make any difference?’
‘Because I got them for you, Adelaide.’
‘It’s a curious way to court a lady,’ she teased. ‘Tracking down two monsters in the hope that they may further your suit. To be honest, my lord, I had grave doubts that such things as elephants even existed. I’ve heard the tales, naturally, but I never met anyone who had actually laid eyes on the creatures. Since you have brought two of them to Norfolk, I shall be interested to see them, but I cannot promise that they’ll win me over.’
‘Why not?’
‘Elephants are, by report, large and dangerous. I’m more likely to be frightened by them than enamoured.’
His grin widened. ‘There’s no chance of that.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘Because I would never dream of doing anything to upset you,’ he said with rough courtesy. ‘I seek only to delight your senses. That’s why I went to such trouble to secure the elephants for you.’ He moved to the door. ‘I’ll have them brought in at once.’
‘Here?’ she gasped, suddenly afraid. ‘Are they not tethered and penned?’
‘No, my lady. They are tame enough to handle.’
Richard de Fontenel opened the door of the parlour and barked an order. When he turned round, he saw that his guest had withdrawn for safety to a comer of the room. Torn between curiosity and apprehension, the lady Adelaide waited in silence. Her host ran covetous eyes over the shapely body beneath the long blue gown. She looked even more entrancing than when he had taken ship for Normandy. Absence had increased his fondness for her and, he suspected, melted away some of her reservations about him. She was finally within his reach. The wedding gift would remove any lingering doubts she might have.
There was a tap on the door, then Hermer, the steward, came in with a wooden platter in his hands. Silken cloth covered some objects on the dish. A short, stout individual in his thirties, Hermer had the cautious look of a man who walked in fear of his master. He stood beside de Fontenel.
The guest was mystified. ‘Where are the elephants?’ she asked.
‘Waiting for you,’ said her host, indicating the platter.
‘Is this some kind of jest, my lord?’
‘Far from it. Lift the cloth and see for yourself.’
‘I expected two vast animals.’
‘These are not live elephants, my lady.’
‘But you led me to believe that they were.’
‘I did nothing of the kind,’ he said, beckoning her over with a crooked finger. ‘I would never offer a fragrant lady like you such foul-smelling pets as a pair of elephants. These creatures are designed to excite and allure.’
The lady Adelaide crossed slowly towards him and looked down at the platter. Taking the edge of the cloth between thumb and forefinger, she pulled it tentatively away to reveal two objects that made her gape in wonderment. They were miniature elephants, made from solid gold and standing four inches in height. Affixed to the top of each head was a small crucifix. Richard de Fontenel picked one of the gleaming animals up and handed it to her. She was entranced. Its sheer weight gave her some idea of its value but it was the craftsmanship that really appealed to her and she ran her fingers gently over the smooth contours. Never having seen an elephant in the flesh, she could not tell how accurate a representation the miniature was, but the large head, long trunk and curved tusks held a thrilling novelty for her. And she was not just being offered a piece of treasure. The crucifix gave each object a religious significance.
It was impossible not to be touched. She looked up at de Fontenel.
‘You brought these back for me, my lord?’ she said with gratitude.
He gave a nod, took the elephant from her and put it back on the platter. When the two animals were covered once more with the cloth, Hermer went out of the room, but not before he shot a sly glance of admiration at the lady Adelaide. She was sad to see the miniature animals go. The tips of her fingers were still tingling from the touch of the gold. The very sight of the objects had stirred something akin to lust in her, but possession came at a price.
‘Well?’ said de Fontenel, searching her eyes.
‘They’re exquisite, my lord.’
‘An exquisite gift for an exquisite lady.’
‘That remains to be seen.’
‘Did you not like them?’
‘I adored them,’ she confessed, ‘but then you knew that I would.’
‘I’m well aware of your tastes,’ he said softly. ‘I’ve studied them long enough. I seek to please you in every way, Adelaide. Precious as they are, those elephants are only a means to an end that is far more precious to me. I’ve offered you my hand already but I do so again now,’ he continued, extending a palm towards her. ‘I think that I’m entitled to an answer from you.’
‘You’ll get one, my lord,’ she said, politely ignoring his hand.
‘When?’
‘In due course.’
‘You’ve been saying that for months.’
‘Marriage is not something into which I’ll enter lightly.’
‘You were swift enough to wed Geoffrey Molyneux.’
‘That was different,’ she said with a note of reprimand in her voice. ‘I was young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. I was also very much in love with my husband. I still grieve over Geoffrey’s untimely death.’
‘So do I, Adelaide,’ he assured her. ‘So do I.’
‘Were he still alive, you could not buy me with a hundred gold elephants.’
He feigned indignation. ‘There is no sense of purchase here, I swear it. No amount of money could attract such a wife. I offer you love and devotion, not riches and finery. You already have those in abundance. What you don’t have – and what you need – is a husband who will cherish you.’
‘The lord Mauger said the selfsame words.’
‘Mauger is a fool!’ he retorted.
‘He offers me everything that you do, my lord.’
‘Including two gold elephants?’
‘No,’ she conceded. ‘He lacks the imagination to find such a gift.’
‘That’s not all that he lacks,’ said the other, still bristling. ‘Let’s put Mauger aside for the moment. He has no place in this discussion. Unless, that is,’ he added, arching an inquisitive eyebrow, ‘some promise was given during my absence?’
‘Not by me, my lord.’
‘Mauger has been rejected?’
‘Neither rejected nor accepted. I’ve still to make up my mind.’
‘Does my wedding gift carry no weight at all?’
‘Considerable weight.’
‘Then why do you hesitate?’
‘Because it’s my privilege to do so.’
Bestowing a warm smile on him, she turned away and moved across to gaze out of the window. She pondered. Richard de Fontenel had much to recommend him as a husband. He had wealth, position and power. His manor house was one of the largest in the county, his estates scattered across Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincoln and Essex. In Normandy, too, he had substantial holdings. The lady Adelaide was tempted by his proposal but two things held her back. The first was the fact that her beloved husband, Geoffrey, had been killed in a hunting accident while riding out with de Fontenel and that memory still festered. The second obstacle concerned her host’s relationship with his two previous wives. One had died in childbirth and the other had been carried off by a fever, but it was rumoured that he treated both with a harshness unbecoming in a devoted husband.
Richard de Fontenel was a hard man in a world that punished softness. He was ruthless, ambitious and acquisitive. The lady Adelaide’s fear was that she would be one more prize to be added to his collection. Though he was wooing her gently now, his manner might change sharply once she had succumbed. There was the additional problem of providing an heir for a childless husband. That phase of her life, she hoped, was over. Having already brought two children into the world, she did not wish to go through the ordeal again. Her hesitation shaded into reluctance.
Watching her carefully, he moved across to stand behind her shoulder. ‘What are you thinking?’
‘How fine your garden is,’ she said, pointing at the avenue of trees.
‘Fine enough to make you yearn to share it with me?’
‘Perhaps, my lord.’
‘And perhaps not?’
She turned to face him. ‘It’s not an easy decision.’
‘What’s making it so difficult?’
‘Memories,’ she whispered. ‘And the presence of a rival.’
‘Mauger is no rival,’ he snarled. ‘He’s a grasping rogue. While I was away on my travels, he had the temerity to claim land that is rightfully mine. Fortunately, when they compiled their returns for this county, the commissioners did not believe him. Even as we speak, a second team of commissioners is on its way to Norfolk to settle the dispute between us.’ He became earnest. ‘Settle the more important dispute between us, Adelaide. Mauger is no fit husband for you. Discard him and choose me.’
‘Why must I accept either of you?’
‘Because it’s my destiny!’ There was anger as well as exasperation in his voice. The lady Adelaide was too composed to let her feelings show but he sensed her disapproval. Making an effort to control his temper, he showered her with apologies, then conducted her to a chair.
‘You must do as you wish, Adelaide,’ he said.
‘I intend to, my lord.’
‘All I ask is that you hear me out.’
‘That’s the least you deserve.’
Her smile encouraged him to show his hand more clearly. Richard de Fontenel had admired her from afar for years. He spoke of his continuing affection and of the deep sympathy he felt for her at the tragic death of her husband. Honest about his faults, he was profuse in his vows. The lady Adelaide listened attentively, enjoying the flattery without being taken in by it and making an occasional mention of her other suitor in order to prick him into a response. Courtship was preferable to marriage. While she had two suitors paying their attentions to her, she could play them off against each other in order to secure advantages for herself. Eventually, however, the game would have to end.
Richard de Fontenel was persuasive. As the time slipped past, he slowly began to gain ground. He talked so fondly about his previous wives that she disregarded all the rumours she had heard. She even forgot some of the dire warnings her husband had given her about the man who was now bidding to replace him. The lady Adelaide was tempted afresh. When he pleaded with her to marry him, she gave the matter serious thought.
‘Let me see them again,’ she said at length.
‘See what?’
‘The two elephants, of course.’
His hopes rose. ‘Then you accept my proposal?’
‘Allow me a little more time.’
Concealing his disappointment, he gave a nod, then escorted her out of the room. They went down a passageway until they reached a door at the far end. He unhooked the keys from his belt and inserted one into the lock.
‘This door is solid oak,’ he boasted. ‘I like to protect my property.’
She was almost flirtatious. ‘Is this where you would lock me up as well?’
‘No, Adelaide. I’d never let you out of my sight.’
He opened the door and they stepped into a small room that smelled of damp. Light came in through the cracks in the shutters but the iron bar that held them in place made it impossible to open them from outside. Three large wooden chests took up most of the floor space. Her companion went to a smaller chest that stood on the table. Made of elm, the chest was reinforced with iron bands. He chose a key and offered it to her.
‘You open it,’ he suggested.
‘Shall I?’
‘The elephants are yours.’
She took the key and pushed it into the lock before giving it a sharp twist. Lifting back the lid, she expected to feast her eyes on the two gold miniatures, but a rude shock awaited her. The chest was completely empty.
‘Where are they, my lord?’ she asked.
‘My steward should have put them back.’
‘Who else has a key?’
‘Nobody apart from Hermer and myself.’ He stepped back into the passageway and roared at the top of his voice. ‘Hermer! Hermer, where are you, man!’
When repeated yells failed to elicit a response, he went charging off in a fury. The lady Adelaide could hear him calling for his steward and howling at his servants. It was minutes before he appeared. Richard de Fontenel’s face was puce with rage.
‘He’s not here,’ he said, biting his lip. ‘Hermer has gone.’
His guest heaved a sigh and looked down at the empty box.
‘So have the elephants,’ she said.
Chapter One
Love had finally won the battle against caution. Protracted absences from home made Gervase Bret miss his young wife so much that he eventually decided to take her with him when he next ventured out of Winchester on royal business. Hitherto, he had always persuaded himself that Alys was too delicate to undertake a long journey and that it was wrong to expose her to the potential dangers of travelling through open country. Gervase was also concerned that his wife’s presence would be a distraction, taking his attention away from the important judicial work that he and the other commissioners had to complete in each designated county. Long nights in a lonely bed made such arguments less convincing. Setting aside his reservations, therefore, he invited Alys to join him on the trip to Norfolk and was delighted at the alacrity of her response.
Early fears were soon confounded. Though small and slight, she had an innate strength that kept fatigue at bay. No additional periods of rest were necessary on her account. Alys proved herself a competent horsewoman and revelled in the opportunity of leaving her native Hampshire and seeing something of the rest of the country. What was an onerous assignment for her husband was a wonderful adventure to her. After only one day, Gervase realised that he did not, after all, have to watch over her so anxiously. Alys was well able to take care of herself and she was an ideal companion for Ralph Delchard’s wife, Golde, a seasoned traveller with the commissioners. They might come from different backgrounds but the beautiful young Norman lady and the Saxon thegn’s daughter showed a sisterly affection for each other. Gervase was able to relax. The decision to bring his wife was already yielding up more than one bonus.
Her value to the expedition had not gone unnoticed by Brother Daniel.
‘You are a fortunate man to possess such a wife,’ he observed, fondly.
‘I know,’ said Gervase.
‘Anyone can see that you bring each other great joy. Your good lady also helps to cleanse the minds and mouths of the company.’
‘In what way, Brother Daniel?’
‘Soldiers can be very coarse when they’re alone together. Yet I’ve not heard an offensive word from them since we left Winchester almost a week ago. They’ve been becalmed by our two charming female companions.’
‘I’m glad of that.’
‘So am I. Obscenity offends me.’
‘I’d hate it if Alys were forced to listen to warm words from our escort.’
‘She’s subdued them, Master Bret,’ said the other with a grin. ‘And given them something far more interesting than my tonsure to stare at as we move along.’
Gervase was riding beside the Benedictine monk and directly behind Alys and Golde. He was finding Brother Daniel a talkative companion. Brother Simon, their usual scribe, had many virtues but his undisguised fear of the female sex and his hatred of soldierly banter ensured that every journey with the commissioners was an extended ordeal for him. Brother Daniel, by contrast, was a much more worldly man with a twinkle in his eye that suggested he was not unacquainted with physical pleasure before he took the cowl. Devout and learned he might be, but the lean, wiry, sharp-featured monk with the greying circle of hair was a red-blooded human being as well. His gaze was fixed admiringly on the two women in front of him.
‘I hope that I’ll not let you down,’ he said.
‘There’s no question of that, Brother Daniel,’ replied Gervase. ‘You come with the highest recommendation. I’m sorry that Brother Simon is indisposed but you’ll be an able deputy, I’m sure.’
‘Simon instructed me with meticulous care.’
‘Did he tell you what to expect?’
‘Yes,’ said Daniel, turning to him with amusement. ‘But I’ve so far encountered none of the things I was warned about. Simon spoke well of you, Master Bret, though he was less complimentary about the lord Ralph.’
‘Only because Ralph enjoyed poking fun at him.’
‘I take such teasing in my stride. It’s always good-humoured.’
‘What else did Brother Simon say?’
Daniel was discreet. ‘Enough to show that he didn’t appreciate the privilege he was being given. I do appreciate it, Master Bret. Very much.’
‘Let’s see if you still feel that way at the end of our visit.’
‘I’ve no doubts at all on that score.’
He returned to his contemplation of the two graceful figures in front of him.
They were eighteen in number, wending their way at a steady trot through the Norfolk countryside. Six knights from Ralph Delchard’s own retinue provided half of the escort, the remainder belonging to the new commissioner, Eustace Coureton. Like their men, Ralph and Coureton wore helm and hauberk and carried weapons. Gervase, too, though wearing the attire of a Chancery clerk, had a sword in his scabbard and a dagger at his belt. Such a show of force was necessary on a journey that took them through six separate counties. Outlaws would think twice about trying to ambush such a well-defended group of travellers. Alert and disciplined, the soldiers rode in pairs. Sumpter horses followed on lead reins at the rear of the column.
Leading the cavalcade were Ralph Delchard and Eustace Coureton. Ralph had been pleased when his habitual colleague, Canon Hubert, was replaced by a veteran soldier, but Coureton was not turning out to be the hardy warrior he had anticipated. A solid man of medium height, the newcomer had a vigour that was surprising in someone who was approaching his sixtieth year. He also had a scholarly turn of mind. Instead of wanting to discuss the finer points of military strategy or past battles in which he had fought, Coureton preferred to enthuse about Greek and Roman authors whose work he was reading in their original language. Ralph liked him immensely but was quite unable to follow his colleague through the thickets of Classical literature.
‘My favourite author is Horace,’ Coureton observed.
‘Who?’
‘Quintus Horatius Flaccus.’
‘Another noble Roman?’ said Ralph without enthusiasm.
‘A poet and a satirist.’
‘The only Romans I know are soldiers.’
‘Oh, Horace did his share of fighting,’ explained the other. ‘When Julius Caesar was assassinated, Brutus fled to Greece. Horace joined his army and fought at the battle of Philippi. Unfortunately, he chose the losing side. Horace had to obtain a pardon before he was allowed to return to Rome.’
‘I’ve never been on the losing side,’ said Ralph, proudly.
‘Then you’re too young to have borne arms when King William was merely the Duke of Normandy. They were desperate days, my lord. Feuds broke out from time to time in every part of the duchy. Unlicensed castles were built all over the place. Fighting never ceased. None of us won all the skirmishes in which we were forced to take part.’ He gave a shrug. ‘Perhaps it’s just as well.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Too much success can lead an overweening arrogance. Failure in battle tempers a man’s character. It did so in my case. I learnt the value of humility.’
Ralph laughed. ‘Humility is only fit for monks.’
‘Monks and beaten armies.’
‘Victory sharpens the edge of ambition.’
‘That’s why I came to distrust it.’
‘Would you rather we had lost at Hastings?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Then why not enjoy the spoils of war?’
‘Because war is not always something that we should enjoy.’
They argued happily for a couple of miles. Ralph then lifted an arm to call a halt so that they could have a rest, water the horses and see to the wants of nature. The place he had chosen met all three needs. A fallen tree offered seating to the women while verdant grass welcomed the rest of them. Water rippled invitingly in a twisting stream and the nearby copse supplied enough privacy for those wishing to relieve themselves. Everyone was grateful for the break in the journey. It was a warm day and the sun kept peeping through a veil of wispy white cloud to test its strength on them. Soldiers in heavy mailshirts were eager to dismount and find some shade. Horses whinnied in approval.
Ralph helped his wife down from her palfrey and escorted her across to the fallen tree. Gervase was equally attentive to Alys, taking her by the waist to swing her gently to the ground. She gave him a dazzling smile of thanks.
‘I’m enjoying this so much, Gervase,’ she said.
‘You’re not bored, my love?’
‘How can I be when there is so much to see and so many things to talk about with Golde? She really is the perfect travelling companion.’
He pretended to be hurt. ‘What about me?’
‘You’re perfect in other ways.’
‘I’m relieved to hear it.’
‘Where are we?’ she asked, moving across to sit beside Golde.
‘I’m not sure,’ he replied. ‘But it can’t be more than ten miles to Norwich.’
‘That’s my reckoning as well,’ agreed Ralph.
‘What sort of a town is it?’
‘Who knows, Gervase? I’ve never been there. And if it were left to me, I’d not be going anywhere near the place now. Norwich holds no appeal for me.’
‘It will, my lord,’ promised Coureton.
‘You’ve visited the place?’
‘Once or twice. I was impressed and saddened at the same time.’
‘Saddened?’
‘War has been unkind to it.’
Ralph was wary. ‘Are you going to lecture me again about the defects of victory?’
‘Only if you’re prepared to listen,’ said Coureton with a chuckle.
Removing his helm, he settled down on the grass and explained his remark about Norwich. Though it was ten years since he last visited the city, it remained a vivid memory. He talked with affection and regret, holding their interest and sparking off a flurry of questions. The two women wanted to know about the castle where they would be staying, Brother Daniel enquired about the spiritual life of the community and Gervase asked about the trade in the area. Ralph’s attention soon wandered. It was not from lack of curiosity. He was as eager as any of them to learn something of the city, but another development took priority. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement in the bushes and let a hand drift at once to his sword. Having drunk their fill in the stream, the horses had been tethered nearby. To give the animals a rest, packs and leather satchels had been removed from the backs of the sumpters who now grazed contentedly.
What alerted Ralph was the sight of a hand reaching out slowly from behind a bush to grab one of the satchels and drag it away. Hauling himself up, Ralph drew his sword and gave a signal to his men. Three of them immediately leapt to their feet to support him as he strode quickly towards the bushes. The rest of the escort also got up and drew their weapons. Coureton broke off his narrative and Gervase, fearing an attack, got up to stand protectively in front of the two women. There was, however, no danger. When Ralph and his men plunged into the undergrowth, they met with no opposition. All they saw was a bedraggled figure limping off into the copse with the satchel under his arm. Even in their hauberks, the soldiers had no difficulty in overhauling the man. He was old, grizzled and close to exhaustion. Tripping over the exposed roots of a tree, he fell full length and let out a cry of pain.
Ralph turned him over with a foot and held a swordpoint at his throat.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he demanded.
‘Spare me, my lord!’ pleaded the other.
‘Why should I spare a thief?’
‘I was only after food.’
‘You and who else?’ said Ralph, eyes combing the trees around them.
‘Nobody else, my lord.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I swear it.’
Ralph nodded to his men and they fanned out to search the copse. Eustace Coureton joined Ralph to see what quarry he had run down. The man at their feet was a pitiful sight, cadaverous, hollow-eyed and caked in filth. His tunic was badly torn, his gartered trousers ripped in several places to expose skeletal legs. He was trembling violently, fearing for his life and wondering how a Norman lord could speak his language so fluently. Coureton looked down with sympathy at the bearded captive.
‘Is this all you found?’ he said.
‘He stole one of our satchels,’ explained Ralph, reclaiming it from the ground. ‘The rogue claims that he was only searching for food.’
‘Then I’d say he was telling the truth, my lord. I’d also suggest that you take your weapon from his neck or he’ll die of fright. Let him be. He’s hardly likely to outrun mounted pursuit, and he’s not armed.’
Ralph relented and sheathed his sword. The remainder of the escort was now picking its way through the copse, searching in vain for any confederates. The old man was patently alone.
Golde had instructed her husband well. His mastery of the Saxon tongue enabled him to speak to the captive on his own terms.
‘What’s your name?’ he said.
‘Alstan, my lord.’
‘Where are you from?’
‘Taverham hundred.’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘I was driven out,’ whimpered the other. ‘When King Edward sat on the throne, I was a villein and happy to work the land for my master. Times have changed. Under the new king, I became a mere bordar, then my master treated me as a slave. When I tried to protest, he had me whipped and driven out.’
‘Whipped?’
‘Yes, my lord. I still bear the scars.’
Alstan struggled up into a kneeling position so that he could peel off his tunic. When he turned his bare back to them, they saw the livid wounds across the pale torso. It was surprising that the old man had survived the punishment. Coureton was shocked and Ralph felt a surge of sympathy.
‘We’ll give you food, then you can tell us the full story.’
‘Thank you, my lord,’ said Alstan, weeping with gratitude.
‘That doesn’t mean I condone theft,’ warned Ralph. ‘On the other hand, I don’t condone savage punishment such as you’ve endured. Taverham hundred, you say?’
‘Yes, my lord.’
‘Who is this cruel master of yours?’
‘The lord Richard.’
‘Richard de Fontenel?’
‘He drove me out to starve in the wilderness.’
‘For what offence?’
‘Old age.’
‘Do something!’ insisted Richard de Fontenel. ‘Summon your men and do something!’
‘My deputy is already looking into the matter.’
‘I don’t want a mere deputy. I want the sheriff himself in charge of the case.’
‘I have more important things to do than to go searching for missing trinkets.’
‘Trinkets!’
‘And you’ll not endear yourself to my deputy by insulting him. Why not calm down, Richard? Nothing will be gained by trying to browbeat me.’
De Fontenel held back a tart rejoinder. Roger Bigot, sheriff of Norfolk, was not a man to be intimidated by a loud voice and a threatening manner. While his visitor ranted at him, he remained icily calm. Bigot was a power in the land, a man who had the King’s trust and a place at his Council table. Constable of the castle, he had recently been elevated to the shrievalty of Norfolk and of its southern neighbour, Suffolk, two large counties with a healthy respect for the name and reputation of Roger Bigot. He was a tall, slim man of middle years with a sagacity and imperturbability rare in a soldier. When de Fontenel came riding angrily into the castle to harangue him, he was given short shrift.
‘Return home,’ advised Bigot. ‘Let justice take its course.’
‘How can it when you stand idle here, my lord sheriff?’
‘I’m never idle, Richard. In addition to affairs of state that require my attention, I have to welcome the commissioners who’ll soon arrive in Norwich.’
‘Not before time!’ grumbled the other. ‘They can oust Mauger from my land.’
Bigot was amused. ‘Mauger is hoping that they’ll shift you from what he claims is his property. Don’t expect too much from the commissioners. They’ll be quite impartial.’
‘In that case, I’m bound to win.’
‘Mauger feels the same.’
‘I don’t care what he feels. Mauger is a sly rogue. An unscrupulous cheat.’
They were standing in the bailey of the castle, a timber fortress that had been erected soon after the Conquest to attest Norman supremacy and to act as a bulwark against any Danish incursions along the eastern seaboard. The conversation between the two men could be clearly heard by the guards on the battlements. Richard de Fontenel was not a man to lower his voice in a public arena.
‘I’d not put it past him to be involved here,’ he declared.
‘Mauger?’
‘The crime has his mark upon it.’
‘You told me that the gold elephants were stolen by your steward.’
‘They were. Hermer made off with them.’
‘Then how does Mauger come into it?’
‘Hermer was acting at his behest,’ decided the other. ‘He must have been. My steward gave me very loyal service for years. Only someone like Mauger could corrupt him and turn him against me.’
‘Are you quite sure that your steward was the thief?’
‘Completely, my lord sheriff.’
‘How can you be so certain?’
‘Apart from myself, he was the only person with a key to the chest in which they were locked. Nobody else could even have got into the room where my valuables are stored. Or, indeed, into my house. Besides, the man has vanished into thin air. The facts are irrefutable. It has to be Hermer.’
‘I doubt very much that he was in league with the lord Mauger.’
‘Why?’
‘What motive could he have to instigate the theft of those elephants?’
‘Spite, my lord sheriff.’
‘Concerning this property dispute?’
‘And property of a different nature.’
‘Ah,’ said Bigot with a knowing smile. ‘I begin to understand.’
‘The gold elephants were to be a wedding gift.’
‘The lady Adelaide has accepted you, then?’
‘Unhappily, no. But she will,’ added de Fontenel, defensively. ‘The lady Adelaide was enchanted by my gift. Once those elephants are back in my possession, she’ll not be able to refuse me. That’s why they must be found immediately.’
‘My deputy will do his best, Richard.’
‘Order him to arrest Mauger.’
‘On what evidence?’
‘Search his house. I’ll wager that you find the stolen property there.’
‘A foolish wager,’ argued Bigot. ‘Even if those gold elephants were taken on Mauger’s instructions – and I refuse to countenance that notion – he would never be stupid enough to conceal them in his own home where they might be found by a search. As you know better than anyone, Mauger is as cunning as a fox. My advice is to forget him altogether, Richard. He has no place at all in this investigation.’
‘But he has. He’s trying to lure the lady Adelaide away from me.’
‘That’s a personal matter between the two of you. What concerns me is the crime that’s been committed. If your steward is responsible for the theft, you should be looking at yourself rather than at the lord Mauger.’
‘At myself?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why?’
‘You said a moment ago that Hermer was very loyal to you.’
‘He was, my lord sheriff. Unswervingly so.’
‘Then what happened to undermine that loyalty?’
‘Nothing at all.’
‘Nothing?’ said Bigot levelly. ‘Be honest with yourself, Richard. You’re a hard man with a rough edge to your tongue. You like your own way and you make sure that you get it, no matter how many toes you may have to trample on in the process. What did you do or say to upset your steward?’ He looked his visitor in the eye. ‘Has it never occurred to you that you may actually have provoked this crime?’
The last few miles began to tell on the travellers. Weary from so much time in the saddle, they were finding the heat more oppressive and the terrain less diverting. When their destination finally came within sight, they heaved a collective sigh of relief.
Gervase Bret was riding beside his wife, who was bearing up bravely.
‘Take heart, Alys,’ he said. ‘We’re almost there.’
‘Good.’
‘I’m sorry that the journey has been so tiring.’
‘I was enjoying the ride until we met that poor man. He was all skin and bone.’
‘At least we were able to give him one good meal today.’
‘It was distressing to see someone in that terrible state,’ she said. ‘Did I hear Ralph tell you that he’d been turned out to fend for himself?’
‘Yes, my love.’
‘What kind of master could be so cruel?’
Gervase did not answer. The name of Richard de Fontenel was already known to him because the man was involved in one of the property disputes they had come to settle. Alys was upset enough already. Her husband did not wish to alarm her by telling her that he would soon be locking horns with the very Norman lord who had treated the old man so callously. Gervase had promised himself to keep his work and his domestic life rigidly apart. His wife would hear nothing of his deliberations with his colleagues.
He glanced across at her and was disturbed by what he saw. ‘Are you unwell?’ he said with concern.
‘No, Gervase.’
‘But you look pale.’
‘This heat is bothering me.’
‘Do you wish to stop for another rest?’
‘I can hold out until we reach the castle.’
‘It’s not very far to go.’
‘I long for a cool drink and a place in the shade.’
Gervase reached out a consoling hand. ‘You’ll have both very soon.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I hope that you don’t regret coming with us.’
‘No,’ she said, rallying slightly. ‘For the most part, it’s been very exciting. I am simply in need of a long rest now. I shall sleep very soundly tonight.’
‘So will we all.’
The closer they got to Norwich, the more able they were to appreciate its size and character. It was the principal town in one of the most populous counties in the entire kingdom. The soil was rich, the harvest plentiful and the rivers stocked with fish. Larger boats ventured out to sea in search of even bigger catches. Extensive deposits of salt supported a flourishing trade and there were dozens of other occupations in what was the fourth largest county in England. Much of the country was plagued with drought that summer, but Norfolk seemed to have suffered less from its effects than some of the other areas through which they had travelled. Sheep and cows grazed in the fields. Pigs could be heard in patches of woodland. There was an abiding sense of contentment.
It disappeared the moment they rode into Norwich. Eustace Coureton’s description of the place was accurate. It bore the scars of war as blatantly as Alstan bore the mementoes of his whipping. Almost ninety buildings had been destroyed to make way for the castle, creating a huge hole in the fabric of the city. Of those that remained, the best part of two hundred houses were unoccupied, abandoned by owners who had fled for a variety of reasons. The streets were full and the market was busy, but there was no zest about Norwich. Its indigenous population had yet fully to accept that it was now under Norman control. When Ralph Delchard led his party towards the castle, they gathered the usual mixture of hostile stares and muttered resentment.
Riding beside her husband, Golde was grateful for their safe arrival.
‘The journey didn’t take as long as I’d feared,’ she said.
Ralph grimaced. ‘The best road in Norfolk is the one that takes us out of it.’
‘Aren’t you looking forward to our stay here?’
‘No, Golde. I’d rather be at home with my lovely wife.’
‘Travel adds body to a marriage.’
‘You sound like the brewer you once were,’ he remarked with a grin. ‘What did you add to your ale to give it some sparkle?’
‘That’s a closely guarded secret.’
‘Even from your loving husband?’
‘Especially from you, Ralph,’ she pointed out. ‘When you were in Hereford, you refused to touch my ale. You’re a true Norman. Wine is all that you’ll drink.’
‘I’m glad you mention Hereford, my love.’
‘Why is that?’
‘Do you recall your ill-fated earl?’
‘Of course.’
‘Well, this is where he sacrificed his earldom,’ said Ralph, pointing to the castle ahead of them. ‘My namesake, Ralph Guader, was earl of Norfolk, a man of mixed parentage and uncertain temper. He decided to marry Emma, sister of Roger, earl of Hereford.’
‘You don’t need to remind me of that. It was the talk of the town. We could not understand why the wedding was not held in Hereford cathedral. Had the ceremony occurred there, I might have been engaged to provide ale for the table. Not all the guests were as fond of wine as you are.’
‘It was not only drink that flowed at the wedding, Golde. Blood was up and passions ran high. The noble earl of Hereford conspired with Ralph Guader and with Waltheof, earl of Northumberland, to overthrow the King with the help of Danish invaders. A doomed enterprise from the start,’ he said with contempt. ‘It robbed Waltheof of his life and both Norfolk and Herefordshire of an earldom. This is where the plot was first hatched. Norwich has much to answer for.’
‘That was well over ten years ago, Ralph.’
‘You still see the effects, my love. Look around you. Much of the destruction here came as a result of Earl Ralph’s forfeitures. His supporters quit the city in fear. Houses that were not burnt to the ground still stand empty.’
Golde gazed around her. ‘I’d certainly prefer to live in Hereford.’
‘Are you not happy in our home?’
‘On the few occasions when we actually spend time there,’ she said with a teasing smile. ‘But at this moment, after a long day in the saddle, I have to confess that I am delighted to be here in Norwich.’
‘So am I.’
‘What kind of welcome may we expect?’
‘A cordial one, I hope.’
No sooner had he spoken than a man came riding out of the castle at a reckless speed, heedless of what lay ahead and jabbing his spurs hard into his horse’s flanks. Richard de Fontenel was in no mood to bid the commissioners welcome. Face dark and teeth gritted, he rode straight at the cavalcade, scattering it uncaringly as he headed for the city gate. Ralph had grabbed the reins of Golde’s palfrey to pull it out of the way of the galloping stranger who missed others in the party by a matter of inches and went hurtling on to send the townspeople scurrying for safety. There was great commotion in his wake. Everyone turned to look in bewilderment after the furious rider.
It was left to Ralph Delchard to put their thoughts into words.
‘Who the devil was that!’ he exclaimed.
Chapter Two
Mauger Livarot arrived at her manor house with an escort of six knights. When he was admitted to the parlour, the lady Adelaide could not resist teasing him.
‘Have you come to arrest me, my lord?’ she said, feigning apprehension.
‘In a manner of speaking.’
‘Does it take seven men to overpower one woman?’
‘We’ve been hunting,’ he explained, indicating the mounted riders who could be seen through the open shutters. ‘Since our way home led directly past your house, I felt it only courteous to call on you.’
‘You are always welcome here.’
‘More welcome than Richard de Fontenel?’
Her smile was calculated. ‘Both of you are equally welcome.’
‘How long will you keep us on the same footing?’
‘Only time will tell.’
‘You’re as evasive as ever, my lady.’
‘Would you be interested in a woman who submitted without any delay?’
Livarot grinned. ‘There’s only one woman who excites my interest.’
She waved him to a seat, then lowered herself on to an oak bench with her back straight and her hands folded in her lap. His gaze never left her. A tall, thin, angular man with a long face that tapered down to a pointed chin, he was now in his late forties, the once attractive features ravaged by a life of excess. The lady Adelaide would never have chosen him as a husband on the strength of his appearance. It was his other assets that appealed to her. Livarot was a wealthy man with estates in England and Normandy. He was also a skilful politician, employed by the King on occasional diplomatic missions abroad and, it was rumoured, destined for high office in the fullness of time. His bride might find that she had wed a future sheriff.
‘I hear that the lord Richard is having domestic problems,’ he said, complacently.
‘You have keen ears, my lord.’
‘Little that happens in Norwich escapes me.’
‘Then you’ll know the circumstances in which the robbery took place.’
‘I can guess at them.’
‘Go on.’
‘Richard de Fontenel acquired some costly gifts in the hope that they might make you look more favourably upon his ugly visage. Exactly what they were I don’t know, but they seem to have disappeared.’ Another grin surfaced. ‘I must confess that I regard the theft as an act of God.’
‘Can crime ever be providential?’
‘This one is.’
‘Evil can surely never come out of good.’
‘To steal from such a confirmed thief as the lord Richard is not exactly an evil act. He’s spent the last twenty years grabbing land at will from those too weak to defend themselves. The loss of a little gold is small retribution for his misappropriations.’
‘They were elephants, my lord.’
‘Elephants?’
‘Fashioned out of gold. Objects of great beauty.’
‘He’ll need more than two elephants to plead his case.’
‘They were powerful advocates,’ she admitted. ‘I coveted them.’
‘Then I’ll have something similar made for you.’
‘Why bother when the originals may soon be recovered?’
‘Whatever he offers you,’ said Livarot, jealousy flickering, ‘I’ll match. Remember that, my lady. There’s no gift that the lord Richard can dangle in front of you that I’ll not give you as well. Simply name it and it’s yours.’
‘There’s nothing I want.’
‘You wanted those gold elephants.’
‘I was tempted by them,’ she corrected, ‘but the animals did not, alas, come alone. They bore the lord Richard on their backs. His gift was conditional upon my accepting his hand in marriage.’
‘That would be a disaster for you.’
‘Not necessarily.’
‘Look at his reputation,’ he urged, leaning forward to gesticulate. ‘The man is a household tyrant. He’s already buried two wives and their deaths were a blessed release from a bullying husband. Do you wish to be his third victim?’
‘You’ve been married yourself,’ she noted, bluntly, ‘and that union was scarcely an example of wedded bliss.’
Livarot was stung. ‘My wife and I were reasonably happy together.’
‘Reasonably?’
‘We had no more unhappiness than most marriages.’
‘Then why did she try to flee back to Normandy?’
‘She didn’t, my lady,’ he retorted, smarting at the accusation. ‘That was a wicked lie put about by the lord Richard. Judith was a good wife to me and bore two fine sons. But she could never settle in England. Judith missed her parents sorely. That was why she longed to return to Normandy.’ He sat back with a sigh. ‘Her death came as a great shock to me. I mourn her still.’
‘I didn’t mean to offend you,’ she said, adopting a more conciliatory tone. ‘Only those involved in a marriage know its true nature. But I must warn you that you’ll not win my hand by speaking ill of the lord Richard. He is just as harsh in his judgement of you and it does him no good. If you must woo me, do so by telling me about your own virtues and not about the supposed vices of others.’
‘The lord Richard’s vices are established fact.’
‘I’m already aware of them.’
Mauger Livarot pursed his lips to hold in any further comment. Taking a deep breath, he spread his hands in a gesture of apology. The lady Adelaide was right. He would make more headway by emphasising the positive aspects of his own character than by listing the negative attributes of his rival. Long before his wife died, the marriage had crumbled, not least because of his repeated infidelity and his long absences abroad. Though there were mercenary instincts involved as well, he saw a union with the lady Adelaide as a means of atoning for the mistakes of his first marriage. She would be altogether more outspoken and self-possessed than her predecessor. As he now reminded himself once again, she was also considerably more beautiful and gracious. Infidelity would no longer be a factor.
‘I offer everything that I have, my lady,’ he said. ‘And everything that I am.’
She was direct. ‘I’d look for more honesty than you’ve so far shown.’
‘Honesty?’
‘Yes, my lord,’ she continued, pointing towards the window. ‘You claim that you’re on your way home from a day’s hunting yet none of your men have any carcasses with them. You travel empty-handed. Was it such a poor day in the forest or am I the only prey you seek?’
‘You’re no prey,’ he assured her.
‘Then why invent this tale about hunting?’
‘It was no invention. The truth is that we hunted this morning. I thought it a pretty excuse to gain admission to your home. Forgive me, Adelaide. It was a small deception.’
‘Small deceptions hold the seeds of larger ones.’
‘You’ll have no cause to doubt my honesty.’
‘None at all?’
‘You have my word on it,’ he said, rising to his feet. ‘Put me to the test.’
‘I will,’ she replied, watching him closely. ‘When you first arrived, you said that you’d heard about the theft from the lord Richard’s house but you didn’t know exactly what was taken. A little later, you mentioned that gold had been stolen and, when I told you about the elephants, you knew that they were two in number. How?’
Mauger Livarot weighed his words carefully before replying. ‘If you want a straight answer, my lady, you shall have one.’
‘I’d appreciate that.’
‘My steward’s name is Drogo,’ he said airily. ‘He’s a resourceful man who acts as my eyes and ears. Drogo has a friend who’s employed in the household of Richard de Fontenel. By that means, I get to know almost everything that occurs under his roof. In short,’ he added with a smirk, ‘I follow the rules of combat.’
‘Combat?’
‘I keep a spy in the enemy camp.’
‘Oh,’ she said with astonishment. ‘I see.’
‘You did ask for honesty.’
Ralph Delchard was impressed with the way that they were received. Everything was in readiness. As soon as they entered the castle, the sheriff himself greeted them. Servants were on hand to conduct the guests to their respective apartments while their escort was taken to lodgings in the bailey by one of the guards. When his wife was safely bestowed in their chamber, Ralph went off to speak at more length to their host. Gervase Bret joined the two men in the hall.
‘A fine castle,’ observed Ralph. ‘Well-sited and heavily fortified.’
