* * *
The hope provided by Prince Rupert’s arrival proved short-lived. Two days later, the rebels, assisted by the upstart Cromwell, defeated the King’s men at Marston Moor, and the siege began anew. But this time nobody believed that the garrison would resist for more than a few weeks, for with the defeat of the King’s army, the city’s fall became inevitable.
A few days after the battle, I sat in my parlor reading when Hannah appeared in the doorway. “My lady, there is a gentleman here to see you. He says he comes from the Lord Mayor.” She paused for a moment. “He is Italian!” she whispered in a conspiratorial tone.
I could not imagine why Bacca had come to see me, but it seemed unlikely that he would announce himself if he intended to do me harm, and with Richard’s death, he had no reason to do so. I told Hannah to see him in.
“Lady Hodgson, how are you?” Bacca said. “I am happy to see that you survived your recent troubles.” I instinctively brought my hand to my cheek and felt the plaster covering the wound I’d received from Ellen. “Ah, do not worry about a scar on the cheek,” he said, running his finger along his own. “It will make you all the more alluring.”
I smiled despite myself. “What can I do for you, Mr. Bacca?”
“Always to business. You English are so serious,” he said, pouting. “I came to tell you that the Lord Mayor has decided not to pursue you for defying his will. He has sent a letter to the Minster asking that you be allowed to keep your license to practice midwifery.”
“And I presume you will no longer threaten me?”
“Oh, Lady Hodgson…” He laughed. “I hope you did not believe that the Lord Mayor would have hurt you. You are the daughter of his predecessor! These rebels may not know the meaning of honor and loyalty, but the Lord Mayor certainly does. He apologizes, and sincerely regrets any misunderstanding on your part.”
“On my part?” I asked in disbelief.
“I am simply delivering the message,” he said. “Whether you believe it is up to you.”
“Does his apology have anything to do with the fact that the rebels will soon take the city?”
“He did not say this to me, but I think it would be a reasonable conclusion.” He paused for a moment. “I must commend you on freeing your friend from the Castle. The Lord Mayor is pleased that justice has been done.”
“Did you ever believe that Mrs. Cooper killed her husband?”
“You seem to have confused me with the constable, my lady,” he said. “I have more important concerns than a single murder. In truth, I don’t much care whether Mr. Cooper was killed by Mrs. Cooper, Charles Yeoman, or your brother Edward.”
“Edward?” I cried. “What do you mean?”
Bacca stared at me for a few moments and then began to laugh. “You have many commendable qualities, but are quite blind to those closest to you.”
“You suspected Edward?”
“I did from the start, and so should you. If the maidservant hadn’t killed Mr. Cooper, Mr. Yeoman might have. And if he hadn’t, I imagine your brother would have paid him one final visit. Mr. Cooper seemed quite intent on the destruction of the city, and your brother is not nearly fanatical enough to stand by and let it happen.”
“And if the Lord Mayor had demanded it, you would have killed him?”
“Are we not at war, my lady? If we count the apothecary’s apprentice, you have slain more rebels than most of the soldiers in the King’s army. If I had killed Mr. Cooper, it would have been no different.
“I also came to bid you farewell,” he said, rising to his feet. “I will leave the city after it falls into the rebels’ hands. I look forward to going home, but I found your case interesting, to say the least. I’ve not met many midwives who can kill with their bare hands—it was a job well done.”
An image of Richard’s lifeless eyes came to mind and I looked away from Bacca. “I am very lucky to be alive.”
In the end, predictions about the city’s fall proved accurate. Thankfully, the garrison held out long enough to negotiate favorable terms of surrender. The city’s leaders insisted that none of the Scottish barbarians be garrisoned in the city. Once the rebel generals agreed, the Royalist garrison retreated to the south. With the loss of York, the rebels now held all of the north, and the King’s cause seemed in greater danger than ever.
The ensuing weeks heralded great changes for the city. The King’s men, including the Lord Mayor and his retinue, fled the city, and the godly seized control of the city’s government. This meant even more authority for Edward and also those around him, including me. I disagreed with Edward on all manner of political and religious questions and lamented what he had done to Will, but I was not fool enough to cut him off when he was at the height of his power. Ironically, even as the city saw its political life turned upside down, my own home found peace. I delivered as many women as would have me, and Martha proved an able assistant. Our physical wounds healed as well. The bonesetter had done such a fine job that by the fall none could tell that her arm had ever been broken. In this I was less fortunate, for Ellen’s blow left me with an inch-long scar on my cheek, a token by which to remember her. To my great surprise and pleasure, Tree took me up on my invitation to visit, and he soon got in the habit of stopping by several times each week. At first he came for the food—and resisted the scrubbing I gave his face—but after a time he made himself a second home in Birdy’s old room. Hannah, Martha, and I took turns teaching him to read, and I even dragged him to church whenever he slept at my house on a Saturday night.