A Mortal Bane(159)

“He hid it in your house, did he not?” Bell’s voice was accusatory.

Magdalene turned her head, her eyes now dry and defiant. “I could not admit that, not even to the bishop. Stop and think of the result if Winchester had demanded that I give him the pouch after the messenger was murdered.”

Bell’s face, which had been angry, suddenly went blank. Then he drew her away from the grave and began walking toward the gate to her house. After a moment he asked, “Were you really thinking of Winchester when you hid that pouch in the church?”

“And myself.” Now Magdalene’s voice was hard and cold. “Winchester would have had to admit how he came by the pouch, and I and my women would have been accused of murder. That would not have done the bishop any good, because he is known to be my landlord. Would not all say he was the most likely one to bid me murder Baldassare? Never mind there was no reason in the world for him to do so, for Baldassare was bound to give him the bull in any case. But blaming the bishop would not have helped me, either, for I would have been gutted and hanged for the crime, no matter who gave the order. I am a whore and thus guilty, remember.”

[page]“I know why you did it,” Bell said, waving dismissal of her reasoning, “but I thought you could have trusted me. You told William of Ypres.”

“I did not! I told William that Brother Godwine had been murdered, the church would have to be purified, and since Baldassare had not hidden the pouch in my house, it was possible he had been inside the church, had hidden it there, and the cleaning might expose it. If he guessed what you guessed, he gave no sign of it. And since William is not one to cry over spilt milk, I doubt he cares how the pouch got into the church. It is enough that he was there when it was discovered.”

“Well, he did not hint to the bishop that there was any doubt about who hid it—not that it matters; Winchester knows now, but obviously he will not make an issue of it, or of anything else that might cause you trouble. And anyway, he got what he wanted. Lord William did try to convince him of the benefits of bringing the pouch to the king intact and allowing the king to bestow the bull, but when Winchester said flatly he would not accept it from the king without the pope’s special order, Lord William agreed that the bishop should take the bull. Winchester sweetened that by suggesting that he would not announce receiving the bull or use it until it was absolutely necessary, so that the king would believe it had been sent by a different messenger.”

Magdalene sighed. William had not got everything he wanted, but he had the letter confirming the king’s right, and he had a fascinating story to tell. He would be back in full favor—for a time, anyway.

“I am delighted to hear they came to a peaceable agreement,” she said. “Is that where you were when we were all scrubbing the church? Acting bodyguard for the bishop lest William lose his temper and take the bull by force?”

Bell laughed. “No, I heard by accident. I was waiting to report to the bishop about my search for the goldsmith who made those copies of the church plate. Neither Lord William nor Lord Winchester even noticed I was in the bishop’s private closet. I spoke at once, but they both waved me to wait. Thank God they seem to trust me to hold my tongue” —he looked surprised and shook his head— “which I have not done. God help me, talking to you, Magdalene, is like talking to myself.”

“And what you said will go just as far. I am accustomed to hearing what is dangerous to know. If William can trust me, you can.”

“Oh, yes, unless my interest conflicts with his.” His voice was bitter.

They had stopped by the gate; the latch lifted readily and Bell swung it open. Magdalene passed through, then turned back to face him.