Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake #5)(199)

I did not reply. He came to the foot of the stairs and stopped. He looked at me uncertainly, sensing something. He said, ‘They’re sending more men out of London. Young Simon still wants to join up if the war goes on.’

‘Over my dead body,’ I answered quietly. ‘Where is Dr Malton?’

‘In the parlour. I—’

‘Join us in fifteen minutes.’ I turned away, leaving him uneasy.



IN THE PARLOUR Guy sat reading. He looked up at me in delighted surprise, got to his feet and came over, grasping me by the arms. I was pleased to see he seemed more like his old self, the weary sadness less marked in his brown face.

‘You are back at last,’ he said. ‘But you look tired.’

‘I have seen terrible things, Guy, worse than you can believe. I will tell you later.’

He frowned. ‘Is Jack all right?’

‘Yes. He has been a rock these past weeks. He has gone on to Tamasin. How is she?’

He smiled. ‘Large, and tired, and irritated. But everything goes well. About ten days now till she is due, I would say.’

‘And you?’

‘I feel better than for a long time. You know, my energy seems to be returning. I want to go back to my house, start practising again. And if the corner boys return – well, it is in God’s hands.’

‘I am heartily glad.’

‘You know what has helped me? Keeping Coldiron in order. By Jesu, he was an insolent rogue that first week. But I did not let him get away with his tricks. I called him out for his insolence, as I said in my letter. Then he was quiet and obedient for a while, but last week he got angry with Josephine again—’

‘You said.’

‘He set about her with a ladle. I took it off him.’

‘Good. I have asked him to come in here shortly. But first I have something to tell you about him, something I did not trust to a letter in case the rogue opened it.’

I related what the soldier in Portsmouth had told me about Josephine’s origin, and Coldiron’s desertion after stealing his company’s funds. ‘He is a wanted man,’ I concluded.

‘It does not surprise me,’ Guy said quietly. ‘What are you going to do?’

I answered grimly, ‘You will see.’

A few minutes later there was a knock and Coldiron entered. He took up a military stance in the middle of the floor. I said, ‘Well, Coldiron. Or, I should say, William Pile.’

He did not move, but his stance stiffened.

‘I met an old comrade of yours in Portsmouth. Someone you used to play cards with. One John Saddler.’

Coldiron took a deep breath. ‘I remember Saddler. A dishonourable fellow. Soldiers with a grievance tell lies readily, sir.’

‘He was at Flodden with you, when you were a purser in the rear. He remembered how later you took Josephine from France when she was a small girl.’

He gulped, his Adam’s apple moving up and down in his stringy throat. His voice rose. ‘Lies,’ he said. ‘Lies and slander – yes, slander. I rescued Jojo from a burning French village, I saved her life.’

‘No, you didn’t. You took her like a chattel when you decided to desert, having stolen your company’s money. A hanging offence.’

‘It’s all lies!’ Coldiron shouted. He swallowed, brought himself under control. His voice turned wheedling. ‘Why would you believe Saddler, sir? A vicious liar. Old soldiers never get any justice,’ he added pathetically.

‘Easy enough to make enquiries. Then you will get the justice you deserve.’

His face took on a hunted look. ‘Does Josephine know who she really is?’ I asked sharply.

‘She remembers the burning village, her life in camp. She knows I gave her a life, a place in the world. I rescued her, I’m all she has. I treated her as my daughter.’

‘Guy,’ I said, ‘would you do me a small favour? Go and fetch Josephine.’

Coldiron turned to him as he went to the door. ‘Sir,’ he said pleadingly, ‘you don’t believe these lies?’

Guy did not answer. When he had gone Coldiron and I stood facing each other. He licked his lips. ‘Sir, please don’t report this. If it came to a trial they might believe Saddler’s lies.’

‘They will be able to check what he says with the company records. Then we will have the truth.’

‘Just let Josephine and me go,’ he said pleadingly. ‘We’ll leave, as soon as you like. Though I’m an old man, injured in the King’s service—’

‘Injured when you were caught cheating at cards, I heard.’

His face twisted with anger for a moment, but he said no more. The door opened again and Guy came in. Josephine trailed after him, looking afraid.

‘Sir,’ she said at once. ‘Have I done something wrong? Father—’

‘Shut your face, Jojo,’ Coldiron told her warningly. ‘Keep quiet.’

I said, ‘Josephine, you are not in trouble. But I know William Coldiron is not your father. Coldiron is not even his real name.’

Josephine had been shifting nervously from foot to foot but now she became very still, her face watchful, eyes narrowed. And I realized her stupidity and clumsiness were largely an act. A part she had grown used to playing for Coldiron over the years, as Emma Curteys had learned to play the part of her brother. No doubt that was how Coldiron liked her to be – silly, clumsy, dependent.