A Mortal Bane(144)

Either the bishop had still been awake when Bell arrived with his prisoner or Bell had thought better of not waking him and explaining what had happened. In any case, Winchester was certainly taking the matter of whether Beaumeis had murdered Baldassare more seriously than merely asking questions while breaking his fast. When Magdalene arrived, she found what amounted to a court convened in the bishop’s chamber of affairs.

Winchester sat at a long table, Father Benin on a stool beside him. Guiscard was at one short end, parchment, pens, and ink ready, and Bell stood near the other short end. Standing in a group not far from the door through which she entered were the sacristan, the infirmarian, Brothers Patric and Elwin, Knud, and the two brothers who were guarding him, whose names she did not know. Across the chamber near the window was Master Buchuinte.

The shock of seeing him made her hesitate as she stepped over the threshold. She was grateful for the veil that hid her face, although ten years of habit in not recognizing any client in public should have kept her expression unchanged. Fortunately, the monks had all turned to look at her, which was reason enough for her hesitation. Then Bell, wearing not only his sword but full armor, came forward and drew her to stand a little farther back, near the wall, at the short end of the table. No one spoke. A few moments later, the priest and archdeacon who officiated at St. Paul’s entered the room.

They spoke briefly to the bishop and then went to stand beyond Guiscard, near Master Buchuinte, whom they both acknowledged with nods. The bishop gestured to Bell, who turned and went out.

They all heard Beaumeis before they saw him, wailing, “I did not! I did not!” Then Bell entered and went back to stand at the end of the table, where he could see the bishop, and two of the bishop’s men-at-arms dragged Beaumeis into the room. They brought him to stand before the table, but the moment they released his arms, he fell to his knees.

“I did not kill Messer Baldassare!” he shrieked. “I did not! I did not!”

His face was swollen with weeping, and Magdalene could not help but feel sorry for him. The bishop glanced at him once, so coldly that Magdalene understood better why as many hated Winchester as admired him. Beaumeis shuddered and was still. The bishop looked across the room.

[page]“Master Buchuinte,” he said, “stand forth and say when you last saw Richard de Beaumeis.”

So that is why he is here, Magdalene thought, listening to the story that was already familiar to her. Buchuinte explained how Beaumeis had come from the ship with Baldassare, refused to dine with himself and the papal messenger, claiming that he must ride at once to Canterbury with news from the archbishop. The priest and the Archdeacon of St. Paul’s then stated, with some reluctance, that Beaumeis had not come to St. Paul’s that afternoon. Last, Brother Patric reported that Beaumeis had been seen in the priory before Vespers and had said he had come because he missed his old school and wished to attend the Vespers service.

“Richard de Beaumeis,” the bishop said, “do you admit that the testimony of these men is true?”

“Yes,” Beaumeis said. “I was at St. Mary Overy priory, but that does not mean I killed Messer Baldassare.”

“Then why did you admit to Sir Bellamy of Itchen last night that you were responsible for Baldassare’s death?” the bishop asked sternly.

“Only because he went to St. Mary Overy church on my word. I never hurt him. I never came near him,” Beaumeis shouted.

“And why did you send him to St. Mary Overy?”

There was a silence. Bell took half a step forward, and Beaumeis said sullenly, “I told him that you wanted the papal bull naming you legate to be delivered in secrecy so your enemies in the court could not cause trouble.”