The sun is lost, and the earth, and no man’s wit
Can well direct him where to look for it.
’Tis all in pieces, all coherence gone;
All just supply, and all relation:
Prince, subject, Father, Son, are things forgot.
“Do you know who wrote it?” he asked. I shook my head. “He didn’t note the author. I wish I knew.” With that, Will robbed us of our good cheer, but not unjustly so, for we had bought it at his expense.
“Come,” I said in a subdued tone. “We should go.” We turned onto Low Petergate and walked the rest of the way in silence.
When we arrived, I told Yeoman’s servant we would like to meet with his master. He led us to the parlor and disappeared into Yeoman’s study.
“I’m afraid Mr. Yeoman is far too busy to meet with you at the moment,” the servant announced upon his return. “He suggests you send him a letter. He assures you that he will try to find time to meet with you.”
I hadn’t thought Yeoman would confess to murdering his nephew immediately upon my arrival, but neither had I expected this degree of intransigence. The servant took Martha by the arm and started leading her to the front door.
“Tell Mr. Yeoman that I would like to discuss Stephen Cooper’s diary with him,” I said.
“I will certainly give him the message, my lady. Now, as I said, Mr. Yeoman is attending to important business. You should go.”
As Martha struggled to free her arm, I strode across the room and seized the servant’s ear and pulled with all my strength. With a cry of surprise and pain, he let go of Martha and followed me across the room toward Yeoman’s study. “Nay, sirrah, you will remember your place and give him my message right now.” I pushed him down the hall. “Tell him I eagerly await his reply.” The servant scarcely paused to knock before scampering through Yeoman’s door. I turned back to the room and found Will and Martha both shaking with suppressed laughter.
“My Lord, Aunt Bridget,” Will said, wiping away a tear. “I’ve never seen that side of you before.”
“Something I learned from Martha. I told you she had more than a few useful skills.”
“Mr. Yeoman will see you, my lady.” The servant had returned.
“That is very kind of you,” I said as Will and I followed him to Yeoman’s office.
* * *
Yeoman sat behind his desk, but this time he gave me his full attention as soon as I entered. I wondered if he might reprimand me for abusing his servant, but he chose to ignore my offense. “Have you really read Stephen’s diary?” he asked angrily. “If you’re lying, you’ve made a terrible mistake.” Only then did he notice that Will had followed me in. “Who is this?” He looked Will over, his eyes lingering on his cane, though what he made of it I could not tell. “You must be Lady Hodgson’s nephew. I hear your brother Joseph is serving with Cromwell. It is good that one of you can fight. I imagine that he will inherit your father’s power, too. That’s probably for the best.” He glanced again at Will’s cane, and a cruel smile touched the corners of his mouth. I wondered if, in his youth, Yeoman had tormented lame boys the same way that Will had been. If so, I hoped he received a beating or two for his trouble. I could tell from Will’s face that he recognized Yeoman’s scorn. Tears of anger came to Will’s eyes, and my heart ached for the pain I knew he felt. “Mr. Hodgson,” Yeoman said suddenly, “please leave the room.” Will looked shocked by the order and found himself caught between the obedience demanded by Yeoman’s voice and his own wounded pride. “Go,” Yeoman repeated. Without a word, Will left.
“Will knows what I’ve found,” I said. “There was no reason for you to do that.”
“I don’t care what you’ve told him,” Yeoman said with a sneer. “He is weak in body. I cannot trust him. He can wait with your servant. Now, you said that you saw Stephen’s diary. I don’t know what you think it tells you, but I will answer a few of your questions.”
“I want to know why you lied to me.”
Yeoman burst into harsh laughter. “Why I lied to you? Do you hear yourself, woman? The better question would be why I ever stooped so low as to meet with you. I could have saved us both time and trouble by sending you away from the first.” I tried to speak, but he did not give me the chance. “I lied to you for the sake of the city. I lied to you because you are a woman meddling in matters that do not pertain to you. I lied to you so that you would not put yourself in any greater danger than you already have.”