'But for the hole the sound of the bells would deafen those working the bell ropes,' the prior observed. 'They have to plug their ears as it is.'

'I can imagine; they almost deafen one at ground level.' I noticed a flight of wooden steps. 'Do those lead to the bell tower itself?'

'Yes, they're used by the servants who go up to clean and maintain them.'

'Let us go up. After you.'

The stairs led to another room, where a rail surrounded the bells themselves. They were indeed enormous, each larger than a man and fixed to the roof with huge rings. Nothing was hidden up here either. I went over to the bells, taking care not to go too close to the edge, for the railing was low. The nearest bell was covered with ornate metalwork and had a large plaque fixed to it, inscribed in a strange language.

'Arrancado de la barriga del infiel, ano 1059,' I read aloud.

'Taken from the belly of the infidel,' Prior Mortimus said. I started; I had not realized he was so close.

'Commissioner,' he said, 'I would ask you something. You saw the abbot earlier?'

'Yes.'

'He's a broken man. He's not fit for the office any more. When it comes to a replacement, Lord Cromwell will want a hard man who'll be loyal to him. I know he's been promoting supporters in the monasteries.' He looked at me meaningfully.

I shook my head in surprise. 'Prior Mortimus, do you really think this house will be allowed to continue? After what has happened here?'

He looked taken back. 'But surely – our life here – it can't really end. There's no law to make us surrender. I know people say the monasteries will come down, but that can't be allowed, surely.' He shook his head. 'Surely not.' He took another step closer, pressing me back against the railing, his foul body odour rancid in my nostrils. My heart began thumping wildly.

'Prior Mortimus,' I said. 'Please stand away.'

He stared at me and then stepped back.

'Commissioner,' he said intently, 'I could save this house.'

'The future of the monastery is something I must discuss only with Lord Cromwell.' My mouth was dry, for a terrible moment I had thought he was about to push me over. 'I have seen all I need. There is nothing hidden here. Let us go down now.'

We descended in silence. I was never so glad to stand on firm ground again.

'Will ye be leaving now?' the prior asked.

'Yes. But Mark Poer carries my authority while I am away.'

'When ye talk to Lord Cromwell, will ye mention what I said, sir? Please. I could be his man.'

'I have many things to tell him,' I said shortly. 'And now, I must go.'

I turned and walked quickly away to the infirmary. The shock of Gabriel's death had suddenly caught up with me; my head spun and my legs threatened to give way as I walked though the infirmary hall to our room. Mark was not there, but a pannier had been made up containing my papers, some food and a change of shirt. I pushed it aside and sat on the bed, letting myself give way to a trembling that shook me from head to toe. I found myself suddenly weeping uncontrollably, and I gave way to it. I wept for Gabriel, for Orphan, for Simon, even for Singleton. And for my own terror.

I was feeling calmer, washing my face in the water bowl, when there was a knock at the door. I hoped it might be Mark come to say farewell, but it was Alice, looking curiously at my flushed face.

'Sir, the servant has brought your horse round. It is time to leave for town if you are to catch your boat.'

'Thank you.' I took my pannier and rose to my feet. She stood before me.

'Sir, I wish you would not go.'

'Alice, I must. In London I may find some answers that can end this horror.'

'The sword?'

'Yes, the sword.' I took a deep breath. 'While I am away, don't go out if you can help it, stay here.'

She did not reply. I hurried past her, for fear that if I hesitated a moment longer I might say something I would regret. Her look as I passed was unfathomable. At the front door the stable boy stood with Chancery, who waved his white tail and whinnied as he saw me. I stroked his flank, glad for at least one being that greeted me with affection. I mounted with my usual difficulty and headed for the gate, which Bugge held open. I stopped and looked back over the white courtyard for a long moment, I know not for what. Then I turned, nodded to Bugge and led Chancery out onto the Scarnsea road.

CHAPTER 27

The journey to London was uneventful. There was a favourable wind and the little cargo boat, a two-masted crayer, followed a strong tide up the Channel. It was even colder out at sea and we travelled over leaden waves under a grey sky. I kept to the little cabin, only venturing out when the tang of hops became too strong. The boatman was a sullen creature of few words, aided by a scrawny youth; both rebuffed my attempts to draw them into conversation about life in Scarnsea. I suspected the boatman was a papist because once when I came on deck I found him mumbling over a rosary, which he quickly pocketed when he saw me.

We were two nights at sea and I slept well, wrapped in blankets and my coat. Brother Guy's potion had made a real difference, but also away from the monastery I realized how oppressive that life of constant fear and turmoil had been. I reflected how in that atmosphere it was no wonder Mark and I had quarrelled; perhaps we could yet repair things when all this was over. I thought of Mark, no doubt establishing himself now in the abbot's house. I was sure he would ignore my instructions about Alice; his words had implied as much. I guessed she would tell him that I had revealed my own feelings for her, out on the marsh, and felt a hot flush of embarrassment. I worried for their safety, too, but told myself that if Mark kept to the abbot's house, no doubt with visits to the infirmary, and if Alice went quietly about her duties, surely nobody would have any motive to harm them.

We arrived at Billingsgate in the afternoon of the third day, after a short wait at the mouth of the Thames for the tide to turn. The banks of the estuary were covered with snow, though I fancied not so thickly as at Scarnsea. Standing on the deck, I made out a slushy growth of ice on the far bank. Following my glance the boatman addressed me almost for the first time on our journey.

'I fancy the Thames may freeze again, like last winter.'

'You may be right.'

'I remember last year, sir, when the king and the court rode across the frozen Thames. Did you see it?'

'No, I was in court. I am a lawyer.'

I remembered Mark's description of it, though. He had been working in Augmentations when word came that the king was to ride across the ice from Whitehall to the Christmas celebrations at Greenwich Palace, with all the court, and he wanted the Westminster clerks to follow too. It was all political, of course; a truce had been called with the northern rebels and their leader, Robert Aske, was in London to parley with the king under a safe conduct. The king wanted to provide a spectacle to show Londoners that rebellion would not interfere with his celebrations. Mark never tired of telling how all the clerks were sent out with their papers to the riverside, forcing their reluctant horses onto the ice.

His own horse nearly threw him as the king himself rode past, a massive figure on a huge warhorse, Queen Jane on her palfrey tiny at his side, and behind them all the ladies and gentlemen of the court, then the household servants. Finally Mark and the other clerks and officials joined the end of the great train that went hallooing and shouting across the ice, horses and carts slipping and slithering, watched from their windows by half London. The clerks were there only to contribute to the spectacle; they were sent back across London Bridge again that night, clutching their papers and ledgers. I remember discussing it with Mark months later, after Aske's arrest for treason.