The Midwife's Tale(43)
“Lady Bridget,” he said through clenched teeth. “How good of you to come.” I knew better than to reply. He returned to his desk and picked up a sheet of paper with my handwriting on it. “You say that Esther Cooper is with child?”
“That is what my examination revealed,” I said with as much authority as I could muster.
A voice from behind startled me so badly that I had to suppress a scream. “You have no idea if she is pregnant or not. You know as much about Esther Cooper’s condition as a virgin knows about fucking.”
I spun around to see who had spoken, for I’d not noticed anyone when I entered the room. A small, wiry man hovered behind me, his black eyes boring into mine. He wore a brightly colored silk doublet cut in the Italian style, and a jagged scar ran from his forehead across his left eye and down his cheek. The scar caused his eye to droop in a most unnerving fashion, giving him a look of perpetual sadness.
“This is Lorenzo Bacca,” said the Lord Mayor. “He came to York with the Marquess of Newcastle, and before that he was with His Majesty. He helps me with … delicate matters.” Bacca smiled at the Lord Mayor’s words, but there was no mirth in it, and his eyes remained hard as stones. “I do not need to tell you how disappointed I was with your letter. I shall have to speak to your brother about this.” I felt my stomach sink. I had not thought that my allegiance to Esther would affect Edward. What trouble had I begun?
“I know a bit about women’s bodies,” Bacca said with a leer at mine. “I saw Mrs. Cooper’s before her trial. She is a beautiful woman, but in no way is she with child. Why would you lie about that?”
“That was no lawful trial,” I said to the Lord Mayor, doing my best to ignore the Italian. “There was no judge, no real jury, no evidence. You did not even allow her to appear in her own defense!”
“Lawful trial?” the Lord Mayor shouted, his eyes blazing. “Who are you to judge what is lawful? Your own brother had no such scruples when Parliament took up arms against their lawful sovereign. The city is surrounded by rebels and foreigners, who very nearly breached its walls, and you are concerned about the trial of a murderess? I will decide what is lawful, and I will see justice done on every rebel I can find. The lawyers can take their laws to the devil for all I care. Your friend rose up against her husband, and I’ll be damned before I let a woman such as you keep her from her fate.”
“And I’ll be damned before I let any man render judgment on the secrets of women,” I growled. “I say she is with child, and until I say otherwise you will not have your execution.”
The Lord Mayor’s chest heaved as he struggled to regain control of himself. “You will change your judgment on Esther Cooper’s condition. If you fail to do so, I will do everything in my power to destroy you and those you love. I will have the Church take your license. I will destroy your brother’s business and drive him from politics. I may even ask Lorenzo to play a role in humbling you.” The Italian smiled at the prospect, and I felt my skin crawl.
“Why don’t I accompany Lady Hodgson back to her house?” Bacca said. “Evening is close, and I should feel very sad if anything were to happen to such a beautiful woman. It also would be good if we got to know each other before she makes such an important decision.”
The Lord Mayor nodded and looked at me. “You have two days, Lady Hodgson. With or without your cooperation, I will see Esther Cooper burned. The question you must answer is whether you wish to be destroyed along with her. You may go.”
I turned and left the office, with the Italian close behind. One of the Lord Mayor’s servants opened the front door and saw us onto the street. As soon as we stepped out the door, I tried to escape Bacca, but before I’d taken more than a few steps he grasped my wrist and wrapped my arm around his, as if we were simply strolling together through the city. “Not so fast, my lady, I am far from done with you. I shall see you home. Do not worry; I know exactly where you live.” I tried to pull my arm free, but his thin frame belied remarkable strength, and he held me fast. “I want to make sure that you understand the trouble you have caused, and how important it is that you find a solution as soon as possible.”
“I stand by my opinion,” I said. “You cannot execute Esther if there is even a chance that she is with child.”
“Surely you do not believe that this is about your friend, do you? I am told that for a woman you are surprisingly well versed in politics. The Lord Mayor is simply trying to maintain order. If he is to keep the rebels outside the city walls, surely he cannot suffer a rebel to live inside them.”