The Service of the Dead

16 The Knight

The tavern Lionel had chosen was in the undercroft of a business fronting a substantial house on Micklegate. Private, no public rooms, an arrangement preferred by merchants doing business requiring discretion. Though Kate avoided the practice, preferring her fellow guild merchants to trust her, Simon had frequented the place, and the taverner greeted her warmly. He seemed excited as he informed her that her party had preceded her, quickly showing her into his best room. Cushioned chairs were drawn up to a table large enough to seat several merchants and their factors. Wall sconces and a brazier lit the windowless space, the latter made necessary by the stone floor and walls that glistened here and there with river damp and held in the winter chill.

Handsomely dressed in a brown velvet houppelande and deep green leggings, a brown velvet hat with a swooping feather covering his thinning hair, Lionel had clearly dressed up to the standard of his surprise companion, Sir Elric, a retainer of the powerful Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmoreland. Not a good sign.

“Sir Elric.” Kate bobbed her head, irked by a fleeting sense of relief that she, too, was dressed in finery, in honor of Alice and Connor, and that Jennet was as well, wearing the dress Kate had altered for her. Yes, he was a handsome man, but she needed a cool head. “My brother-in-law did not mention I would be dining with a knight in the service of the Earl of Westmoreland. It has been several years since we have met. You seem in good health.”

He replied in kind, asking after the health of her wards, expressing concern about Phillip’s recent discovery in the chapter house. She assured him they were both well, the morning requiem a great comfort to Phillip.

Elric was a retainer answering directly to Sir Ralph Neville, in residence at the earl’s castle of Sheriff Hutton in the Forest of Galtres. She had met him on numerous occasions when she and Simon attended feast day celebrations at the castle. Always Elric had dressed in fine velvets and silks, though he was clearly valued for his martial skill, demonstrating his swordplay as part of the entertainment out on the jousting field. A curious companion for this dinner. She suspected it was he who had called them together, and she wondered why.

Once they were seated and served with wine and the fish course, Lionel expressed concern about the fire in the undercroft on High Petergate the previous evening. “I passed by this morning, heard workmen hammering, and the undercroft door swung wide, a man in the Kirkby livery standing guard out front. A passing neighbor said the fire had been down below. Of course I am concerned about the spices.”

“You have no need to worry on that count,” said Kate. “The smoke was noticed at once, the fire doused before it did much damage.”

“Was it your tenant who caused the fire?”

“No. Someone had lit the pallet that recently appeared in the undercroft. Yours, Lionel?” She tasted the salmon. Quite good.

“Mine?” He looked honestly surprised. “No. When I noticed it on my last visit, a week ago, I think, I reckoned you had someone guarding the undercroft while I was away. An excellent idea. I had found the lock undone on several occasions.”

“And never informed me,” Kate noted, quietly, which took great effort. “It is clear we need to bury our differences and learn to work together, Lionel. We stand in danger of losing everything. For now, I may move the stores elsewhere once Clement and Berend complete the inventory.”

“Inventory? When?”

“Now. They began this morning.”

She noticed sweat beading on his forehead. Good. And Sir Elric, who had seemed content to savor the fish, regarded Lionel with the hint of a smile before turning to Kate. “I am here seeking news of a comrade who came to York on a mission for the earl and seems to have vanished. A great bear of a man, Jon Underhill.” He described Hubert Bale.

“You are the second person this day to describe him to me. I have just learned that a servant gone missing for several days was seen in this man’s company before he disappeared.”

“Might it have been your cousin, William Frost, who mentioned this?” asked Sir Elric.

“No, it was not. It was my servant’s brother and his fellows on the King’s Staithe. William knows this man?”

She expected the knight to flinch at having said too much, but he merely shrugged. “When I last saw Underhill, he told me that your cousin William had some trouble with a man too curious about his family, a man who had frightened his daughter. Jon had offered to help your cousin resolve the matter.”

Two could play this game of cool indifference. “Poor William. Well then surely you must ask my cousin about this man’s whereabouts.” She imagined poor William choking on his memory of Bale’s decomposing body.

“I have. He tells me that he refused Underhill’s offer and sent him on his way.”

“Ah. I am afraid I cannot help you there. But perhaps Lionel might. It has been brought to my attention that he and his servant Fitch have been often in the company of my missing servant, Sam. In fact some have come to believe Sam serves Lionel, not me, they are so often together. And Sam has been seen with this Underhill.” She shrugged. “In fact, Fitch was following Sam in the early hours of the day my servant disappeared. When I noticed Fitch behind Sam in the alley, he took off running. He shed his cloak, one of Lionel’s castoffs, in a passing cart as he went. Is that not odd, Sir Elric?”

The knight sat back in his chair, regarding Lionel, who was grasping the edge of the table with his gloved hands. “Clearly it would be best that I see to this going forward, Lionel.”

To Kate’s surprise, Lionel rose, bowed to Kate, to Elric, and made to depart.

“One question before you depart, Lionel,” said Kate. “How is it that Jon Underhill approached my cousin William? Your doing?”

It was Sir Elric who responded. “I will explain.”

“Good. And Lionel, Lady Kirkby asks that you call on her at the guesthouse this evening. She would hear you out.”

Lionel expressed his surprise, and thanked her, bowing out.

“And now, Sir Elric, I trust you will do me the courtesy of explaining yourself,” Kate said quietly, one hand on the dagger hidden in her skirts.

“Forgive me for not having invited you to dine myself, but I did not know whether you would come. However, Lionel… Well, you have much to discuss with him, so I brazenly used him to lure you. I pray your forgiveness.”

“It would seem you have lived so long among the Nevilles that you have adopted their bad habits. I much prefer someone who is direct.”

“Direct I shall be. But first, would you be so kind as to serve us?” he asked Jennet.

“Gladly, sir.” Jennet jumped to the task, serving all three of them the meat course that had been set out on the sideboard and refreshing their barely tasted goblets.

Kate took a forkful of the meat. Venison. Delicately spiced. Elric and Jennet also tried a little.

“So,” Elric began, “you are quite right about my lord’s kinsman. Lionel has interfered with your servant. I learned that only this morning, and have sent out men to search the road to Beverley. And other destinations, in case he had other plans.”

“Other plans?”

“If he was indeed working with Jon Underhill, or Hubert Bale as your servant Berend knew him–”

She looked up sharply. So he knew about the two identities. And that Jon was the king’s man, Hubert the duke’s? She wondered. But clearly he thought Bale still alive.

Elric was grinning at her surprise. “Yes, this man is known to the former assassin you call your cook. In any case, your man Sam, well, it is possible that Underhill offered him something more interesting than living out his years serving you.”

“Because I am not a Neville?”

A shrug. “He did prove willing to betray you. But to a point. I am quite certain that Lionel is as yet unaware of the clients you regularly host in the house on High Petergate. Sam did not choose to betray you about that.”

She began to protest, but it was foolish. He knew. “How did you learn about my guesthouse?”

“I no longer remember how I learned of it. But I applauded you when I did, Dame Katherine. Your late husband was not an honorable man. He and his brother seem two of a kind. Your secret is safe with me. You have nothing to fear from me on that count.”

On that count. “You think Sam might have left the city in the company of Jon Underhill? Why? What was Underhill’s mission?”

“Sir Thomas Kirkby has not always been a man of peace. My lord earl sent Underhill to gauge the mood of the citizens of York who dine with Lady Kirkby.”

“So that is why he approached William Frost?”

“Yes. An influential, highly respected citizen of York.”

“What do you fear this man has done instead?”

“I have no idea. But I will find out.”

His steely gaze made Kate uneasy. This man would discover everything.

“And if you find my servant, what happens to him?”

“It depends on whether or not he is with Jon Underhill. If he is, he will be brought to me at Sheriff Hutton. If not, he shall be delivered to your doorstep.” He glanced up at Jennet. “The other meat dish now, if you will.”

“I cannot believe that Lady Kirkby’s mission is anything other than what she claims it to be,” said Kate. “Both the archbishop and the dean of York Minster have sanctioned her presence here.”

“One is a Scrope, the other a Clifford. I doubt either of their families would remain neutral in a civil war.”

“And the Nevilles would?”

A cough, a grin. “The earl merely wishes to know which way the citizens of York are bending.”

“I see. So why our meeting?”

“My lord still needs an ear among the citizens of York. I hoped that might be you. Or, if you prefer, you might help me recruit your cousin Frost. No need to decide at once.” He tasted the stew. “I must commend the taverner on his kitchen. The steward of Sheriff Hutton is in need of a new cook. Do you think I might lure the man away from the city?”

“I very much doubt it. He is his own man. His family is here, and the merchants pay him a handsome retainer for his services.”

“Ah. Pity.”

They moved to neutral topics for a while as they ate, such as the long winter, the sudden, welcome thaw, each sizing up the other.

Finally Elric pushed his plate away. He sat back, elbows on the arms of the chair, fingers steepled. He regarded her with cool blue eyes.

She allowed to herself that he was a handsome man, strong-jawed, well-spoken. She had watched him fight, remembered quite clearly his grace in motion, his skill. She was not immune to his charm. And for that reason, and more, she regarded him with great caution, so she fought a smile with his first words.

“I should very much like to have you as an ally, Dame Katherine. I believe we would work well together.”

“No doubt you would like that. But what value should I find in it?”

“Trouble is coming, of that I have no doubt. You have chosen strong servants for your household, and you have powerful kin. But when civil war breaks out, you will need more than a former assassin and the resourceful Jennet to assist you in protecting your wards and your property. Sheriff Hutton might be a place of refuge for you in the storm to come, and the Earl of Westmoreland is certain to stand with the victors.” He grinned at Kate’s snort. “I am not blind to the self-serving nature of the family I serve. Your family by marriage, eh? I offer you protection, including protection from the petty meddling of my earl’s kinsman, Lionel Neville.” His smile was more dazzling than Matt’s.

Time to escape. Kate rose.

Sir Elric rose.

“You have given me much to think about, Sir Elric.”

“One thing more. I give you fair warning that I am investigating any rumors that come to my attention about several matters that touch on your interests. This fire in your undercroft, the deaths of Alice Hatten and her lover, your cousin’s sudden fondness for the Forest of Galtres. I will, of course, share with you anything that I find. I merely mention this to spur your consideration of my offer. Were we to cooperate, we might resolve these mysteries in a more timely manner.” He bowed to her.

Outside, a steady rain fell. Kate was pulling up her hood when Jennet caught her arm.

“Will you work for him?”

“The question is whether I actually have a choice.”

“He knows too much?”

“If he does not now, he soon will.”

“Sam, that crook-pated lout. He told Sir Elric all about us. My background, Berend’s. If we find him at home, warming his feet in front of the fire, I’ve a mind to geld him.”

“We will worry about what to do about Sam in due time. For the moment we have more important things to sort through.” Kate pulled up her hood as she considered where to head. At this time of day, just after dinner, she might find William at home. Watching for puddles, she pushed through the crowds on Micklegate, heading for her cousin’s house.