Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake #5)(40)

She did not reply, just looked at me with terrible fear and distrust. Then I said something which showed how little, even then, I understood her. ‘Ellen, the way to Portsmouth passes near the Sussex border, near the town of Rolfswood, where I know you come from. Is there anyone I could visit there who might help you?’

At the mention of Rolfswood Ellen’s bosom heaved as though she were fighting for breath. Then she began not to shout but to scream hoarsely. ‘No! No!’ Her face reddened. ‘They were so strong!’ she shouted. ‘I could not move! The sky above – it was so wide – so wide it could swallow me!’ The last words were a shriek of pure terror.

‘Ellen.’ I took a step towards her, but she shrank away, pressing herself into the wall.

‘He burned! The poor man, he was all on fire—’

‘What?’

Her eyes were glassy now, I realized she was not seeing me, nor the room, but something terrible in the past.

‘I saw his skin melt, turn black and crack!’ she howled. ‘He tried to get up but he fell!’

There was a crash and the door flew open. Shawms entered, furious looking. Behind him were Palin and Hob Gebons. Palin held a coil of rope in one hand.

‘God’s nails!’ Shawms shouted. ‘What the hell’s going on here?’ Ellen stared at them and instantly became quiet, quaking against the wall like a poor mouse trapped in a corner by a cat. Shawms grasped my arm in a meaty hand and pulled me away.

‘It’s all right,’ I said. ‘She’s only frightened – ’ And then, when it was far too late, I stretched out a hand to her, but she did not even see me as she shrank away from Hob and Palin. Hob looked at me over his shoulder, fiercely, and shook his head. Shawms jerked my arm again, pulling me to the door. I resisted, and he bent close, speaking quietly and savagely. ‘Listen to me, master hunchback. I’m in charge here. You come out of this room, or I’ll have Hob and young Palin put you out, none too gently. Want Fettiplace to see that, do you?’

There was nothing I could do. I let him lead me outside, leaving Hob and Palin to stand guard over Ellen as though she were a dangerous animal rather than a desperate, helpless woman. Then Shawms slammed the door on them, pulled the little square viewing window shut, and turned to face me. He was breathing hard.

‘What happened in there, lawyer? We heard her screaming from the other end of the building. Her that’s normally more quiet and biddable than any of them. What did you say to her, or maybe do to her?’ His glare turned into a vicious leer.

‘Nothing. I only told her I may be going away for a while.’ I had to say as little as possible, for her sake.

‘Well, that’s the best news I’ve heard since they put Cromwell’s head on a pike.’ Shawms’s eyes narrowed. ‘That’s all? I heard her screaming about burning men, the sky swallowing her.’

‘She started shouting when I told her I was going, I didn’t understand any of it.’

‘They’ll say any sort of crazy rubbish when they’re riled.’ Shawms leered again. ‘Doesn’t like the idea of you going away, does she?’

I heard muttering on the other side of the door, male voices, something being moved. ‘What are they doing to her?’ I asked.

‘Tying her up. It’s what happens to those who make scenes. Be grateful it’s not the chains.’

‘But she’s ill—’

‘And those who are ill must be restrained. Then perhaps they’ll learn to restrain themselves.’ He leaned forward. ‘This was your fault, Master Shardlake, for coming here so much. I don’t think you should come again for a while. If you’re going away, maybe now she’ll realize you’re not going to order your life around her, and that may do her good. We’ll keep an eye on her, make sure she does nothing stupid.’

‘Maybe it would be easier for you all if she died,’ I said quietly.

He shook his head and looked at me seriously. ‘That it would not, Master Shardlake. We’ve kept her safe here nineteen years, and will go on keeping her safe.’

‘Safe from what?’

‘From herself.’ He leaned forward and said, slowly and emphatically, ‘The only danger to Ellen Fettiplace is from people stirring her up. It’s best for everyone if she stays here, grazing like a contented cow. Go and do your business. Then when you come back, we’ll see where we are.’

‘Let me look in that room before I go. See that she’s all right.’

Shawms hesitated, then knocked on Ellen’s door. Gebons opened it. Palin stood by the bed. Ellen’s feet were tied, and her hands too. She stared at me and her eyes were no longer blank, they were full of anger again.

‘Ellen,’ I said. ‘I am sorry – ’

She did not reply, just stared back, clenching her bound hands. Shawms closed the door. ‘There,’ he said. ‘See the damage you have done.’





Chapter Ten


AGAIN I CLIMBED the stairs to the Court of Wards. Barak was at my side, the Curteys case papers tied in red ribbon under his arm. We passed under the carving of the seal: Pupillis Orphanis et Viduis Adiutor.

It was a beautiful, warm morning. I had walked down to Westminster, where I had arranged to meet Barak outside the court half an hour before the hearing. I found my assistant leaning against the wall, looking as worried as I had ever seen him.