The Midwife's Tale(88)

“The guards know you well,” I said.

“I run errands for them for a penny each. They usually send me for a whore or a pot of ale.” He did not notice the look of horror that crossed my face at the nonchalance with which he described his tasks. What life was this for a boy?

We crossed the compound to the same tower that held Esther. Tree banged on the door and shouted, “Samuel! I brought Lady Hodgson!” Samuel Short’s face appeared momentarily in the small window before it snapped shut. The bolt slid back, and Samuel beckoned us in before securing the door behind us.

“Welcome, my lady,” the dwarf said with an ironic bow but a genuine smile. “If you make many more visits, I’ll talk to the captain about renting you a room on the premises.”

“It would save me a good bit of walking,” I admitted. “And the Lord knows that Tree would benefit from a mother’s influence. But where would I hang my pictures?” I examined the tower closely. “No, I don’t think this is quite what I’m looking for. Do you have a tower room on the north side of the Castle? I would prefer having the winter sun.” Samuel burst out laughing, and I found myself joining in. “To business, Samuel, who is the woman who has called for me?”

The dwarf turned serious. “She won’t say, even though she hasn’t been fed since she arrived. She’s a stubborn creature, I’ll give her that.”

“You are denying her food?” I asked, shocked.

“The captain’s orders,” Samuel replied. “He’s afraid she might be a spy trying to take information to the rebels. She’ll eat when she talks.”

“Well, let me see her. I’ll see what I can do.”

Samuel and I started down the stairs, but when Will began to follow, Samuel stopped him. “I beg your pardon, sir. The prisoner only wants to see Lady Hodgson. She refused to see anyone else.”

Will started to object, but I intervened. “It’s probably women’s business.” He nodded and returned to the entry room.

Samuel stopped at the door opposite Esther’s and unlocked it. I tried to catch a glimpse of Esther through the barred window but saw only a figure lying on the bed. Samuel opened the door, and to my surprise I found Anne Goodwin sitting on a straw pallet inside.

“Lady Hodgson!” she cried as she leapt to her feet.

“I’ll be upstairs,” Samuel said, and shut the door behind me.

“Anne,” I said. “What in heaven are you doing here? You tried to escape the city? What has happened?”

“Please help me,” she said, and tears began to stream down her cheeks. “They killed my baby, and I’m sure they will kill me as well.”

I put my arms around her as she collapsed into my chest, sobbing. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Who killed your baby? Who is going to kill you?” I knew the answer, of course, and at the same time my heart wept with Anne, a part of me thrilled that I had found a witness against the Hookes.

“I don’t know,” she said. “One of the Hookes. James said he loved me, but my baby’s gone. One of the Hookes killed him. My mother told me.” Anne’s words came out in a rush and caught me off guard. I had suspected the child in Coneystreet had been Anne’s and that the Hookes were involved in his death. But James hardly seemed to be cruel enough to murder a child. And he had told Anne that he loved her?

“Calm yourself, Anne. Tell me what happened from the beginning.” I eased her down onto the edge of her bed.

“You know I was servant to Mrs. Hooke,” she said, trying to regain control of herself. “She is a hard mistress, and I tried to do my work without attracting overmuch notice. After a few months, James began to court me.”

“Court you,” I repeated. It seemed unlikely that a wealthy young man would court a maid in earnest. It was far more likely that he intended to seduce her and then move on to another maidservant. Then again, James had never been known for his judgment.

“He told me I was beautiful and gave me presents,” she said. “He wanted to have knowledge of my body, but I denied him. He said he loved me and promised to marry me, so I let him.” I found yet another reason to pity Anne, for this part of her story was far too common. Countless maidens bore bastards after a man broke his promise of marriage, and for this they lived lives on the poor rolls. “When I discovered I was with child, I told him.”

“And he turned you away?”

“No, my lady!” she said, apparently horrified that I held James Hooke in such low esteem. “He swore he loved me, and that he would marry me. He took me to his mother and told her of our plans.” I admit this surprised me. At the same time I wondered at James’s silliness—promising to marry his maidservant?—I admired his loyalty. He was a dull boy, to be sure, but not so cruel as his mother.