a chair by the fire, his face streaked with tears, Tom stood leaning against the wall by the door, and Southampton lounged comfortably on a chest that sat under the only window large enough to provide an exit. As I approached, I schooled my aching body into a firmness I was far from feeling, then strolled over to where Roger sat, and stood over him. Roger shot a sulky glance up at me through his wet lashes, then let his eyes sink back to his hands, writhing on his lap like a nest of adders.
“What do you want,” he mumbled sullenly. I found myself laughing. I drew a chair in close and leaned towards the boy.
“Why, Roger, you do owe me an apology, an explanation at least, do you not?” I asked in a light and pleasant tone that in no way diminished the underlying menace. “Why did you do it?” I added gently.
“You killed him! He—I need him, needed him. You wouldn’t have me and then you killed him!” Almsbury drew a shuddering breath and glared at me. I nodded thoughtfully.
“Go to sleep, Roger. I shall return to you presently. Now, go to sleep.” My voice was quiet, and yet Southampton turned to look at me, as if he heard a note of command there that disturbed him. Roger’s head lolled back and he began a light sniffly snore. I stood and turned to the others. “Gentlemen, I need your advice. Upstairs.”
Rhys awaited us in the bedchamber, where he had laid the corpses out side by side. “My lord, I know these three. They do whatever they be paid for, and the more hurtful the more they enjoys it. London’s a better place without them, see. Best I should put them in the river now.”
Southampton cleared his throat. “Well, your grace, I have no better advice to give. Give them to the river. I shouldn’t think that there’ll be much outcry over the likes of them,” he finished and looked over at Sir Thomas, who nodded mutely.
“I can help,” a low voice growled from the doorway and Jehan stood there, a bandage around his head, eyeing Rhys distrustfully. Rhys returned the stare, then stuck out his hand with a grin. Jehan stepped closer, continuing his scrutiny, then his own face cracked into a smile, and he took the callused hand, giving it a firm shake. “Jehan,” he said.
“Rhys,” the other answered, “You take the little ’un, then, you bein’ hurt. I’ll get t’other, and we’ll come back and do the big ’un between us.” That settled they shouldered their burdens and disappeared down the passage, leaving us gaping behind them.
“God’s Lights, your grace, where do you find your servants?” Southampton drawled in mock awe, and we all broke into laughter.
“Come back to the study,” I said genially. “I think that I can find us something fit to drink.”
“Thank you, Kit, but I’ll just pick up what I came for and be off,” Tom said, adding in a voice pitched for my ears alone. “Take care, Kit. And I’ll stay if you think that I should.” I shook my head. Back in the study I handed Tom a large packet of Rózsa’s manuscripts wrapped in oiled silk, then saw him out to the courtyard.
“I’m going to be away for a time, up in Derbyshire. Rózsa’s going with me, you know, so heed what I said and do not hesitate to send if you need us,” Tom said. I agreed solemnly, and Tom leaned from the saddle to kiss me good-bye, then reined his horse around and vanished into the night. I stood for a few moments looking after him, steeling myself for the unpleasantness ahead, and returned to the house.
Roger still slept in his chair. Southampton had pulled another closer to the fire, and sat plying the poker among the coals. “If you could find that wine, I’ll mull it,” he said without turning around. I came in and stood behind his chair, resting my hands on the back of it. “I’ve bespoke it,” I said and Sylvie, also bandaged, presently came in with a tray.
“Your men are in the kitchen, my lord,” she said, curtseying shyly to Southampton. “We can put them up if you’ll be staying.”
“You are welcome to stay, my lord,” I added, and Southampton twisted around in the chair to stare at me for a moment before replying.
“No, I think not, not tonight,” he said reluctantly. “If someone could hail a boat, I think that we’ll