Margaret looked at me helplessly. “Now what do we do, my lady?”
I didn’t have a good answer. “We hope for another chance,” I said. “Anne will have to leave the house at some point. Perhaps she will come to you.” I knew, of course, that Rebecca Hooke was capable of keeping Anne prisoner, but I had to offer her some hope. “For now, go home. If I learn anything, I will send word.” She nodded and set out for home.
After Margaret disappeared into the crowd, Martha and I started down Petergate. “That Rebecca Hooke is one stone-hard bitch,” she said. I smiled despite myself.
“I would not have put it quite that way, but I cannot disagree.”
“She has a special hatred for you—can I ask why?”
“It’s widely known, so I suppose there’s no harm in telling you. Before I arrived in York, Rebecca was the best-known midwife in the city. She was far from the most capable, but in every conversation she would trumpet her mastery of the mysteries of childbirth, and list the lives she had saved.”
“She was a midwife?” Martha asked, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.
“Hard to believe, isn’t it? In truth she cared not for mother or child. But she loved the power that came with the office. Midwives are privy to the secrets of women, and she used her knowledge to destroy her enemies and advance her friends.”
“What happened?”
“I started to take away from her business. My mother-in-law trained me well, and the women of the town began to call me instead of Rebecca. You can imagine her reaction.”
“She hates you for taking some of her clients?”
“No, but that was the seed. Then a few years ago, I was called to the labor of a singlewoman in Fossgate. When I arrived, I found Rebecca sitting idly by as the child died in the mother’s womb. What was worse, Rebecca had told the poor girl that there was no hope to save her or her child. The mother lay there, waiting to die, and Rebecca just watched.”
“My God!” Martha cried.
“In the end, Rebecca was half-right. The child died, but I was able to save the mother. The girl’s family petitioned the Church to take Rebecca’s license. I was called as a witness, and told the court that a child died as a result of her poor work. They banned her from ever practicing again.”
“And she hates you for it.”
“She swore she would have her revenge, and while she’s not yet gotten it, I am careful to keep my affairs separate from hers whenever I can.”
“Then why would you pursue Anne Goodwin’s case? Surely that can only make things worse between you two.”
“I imagine it will. But I’ve sworn an oath. If I do not try to discover the child’s father, I am no better than Rebecca. Besides, Anne is in a great deal of trouble now. If I can save her, I must.”
“Is there really nothing more we can do?”
“Not for the moment. Rebecca has Anne, and soon she will have the baby. But unless she kills them both and buries their bodies in her garden, she can’t keep them secret forever.”
By that time we had reached my house, and Hannah met us at the door.
“My lady, there is a letter for you!” she exclaimed. “A boy brought it from the Castle this morning.”
Puzzled, I took the letter from Hannah and opened it. To my surprise, it was from Esther. I read it aloud to Martha.
Lady Bridget,
As I’m sure you know, I have been arrested for Stephen’s murder. I should hope that I do not need to tell you this, but I swear that I am innocent. I have tried to convince the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of this, but they would rather see a rebel die than uncover the truth. Once they convict me they will try to hasten my death, so time is short. None of Stephen’s friends would dare to help me, even if they believed in my innocence, so I turn to you. If anyone can find out who killed Stephen and save me from the gallows, it is you. As your friend, I beg you to help me. We will discuss this matter soon, but until then you must believe that I remain your loving friend, Esther.
“What does she mean that you will discuss this matter soon?” asked Martha. “Are you going to visit her?”
“No, I’m not,” I said, shaking my head in confusion. “At least I have no plans to. Moreover, the Castle guard would never let me through the gate, even if I tried. I have no idea what she means.”
I stood there for a few moments more, thinking about the letter, when suddenly my house started to shake and a dull roar filled the air. Hannah, Martha, and I raced to the front door and ventured out into the street. A huge cloud of smoke filled the sky to the north of us, in the direction of the King’s Manor. As the rumble subsided, we heard the dull thump of cannon and the crack of pistols.