“It will be Rebecca Hooke’s,” Martha said.
“Aye,” I replied. “Between the gossips, Rebecca Hooke, and her own malicious carriage, Mother Lee’s fate is sealed no matter what we say.”
As I expected, when we crossed the bridge into the Castle yard, we found it a hive of activity. Members of the Town Watch stood about awaiting instructions, while boys raced between buildings, wax-sealed papers in hand, cloaks billowing behind them. A few shopkeepers had already built their stalls and they cried out their wares as we passed. Martha and I fought our way through the crowd toward Samuel’s tower. Since he held Mother Lee, it seemed likely that he’d know when and where she would be tried.
Tree greeted us when he opened the tower door, and he quickly relieved us of our baskets of food. I knew that they would be considerably lighter—and he would be much the fatter—by the time he returned them, but there was little in the world that I could deny him.
Samuel called out a greeting as he descended the stairs, struggling under the weight of an overfull bucket of waste. “I know you were thinking about quitting midwifery for the life of a jailor,” he said, “but I should tell you that it is not all gold coins and dinner with the Lord Mayor.” He put the bucket by the door and turned to Tree. “Boy, empty this in the jakes before you eat.”
Tree wrinkled his nose at the smell but did not object.
Once he’d gone, Samuel turned to me. “I imagine you’re here for Mother Lee,” he said.
“Aye,” I replied. “I received my summons this morning. They are in quite a hurry to begin the trials. Have you heard other news?”
“That is why I sent Tree out,” Samuel replied. “The judges are moving forward with Will’s trial. It will start within a week.”
I stared at Samuel, my mouth agape. I could see the blood run from Martha’s face.
“A week?” I cried. “How so?”
“It is a blessing he has that long,” Samuel replied. “Joseph wanted to hold the trial today, but the judges denied him. They said they had been summoned to try witches, and would have those cases first. Thank God for small mercies.”
“And thank God there will be no trials on the Sabbath,” I agreed. “We have a few days at least.”
“A few days?” Martha cried. “What can we accomplish in that time?” Her eyes darted about the room, as if the keys to Will’s freedom were hidden somewhere within. “God only knows what evidence Joseph has conjured. You know that if Will is tried he will hang! What will we do?” She nearly shouted these last words. I tried to put my arms about her, but she shook me off and began to pace the room.
“We will save him,” I replied, though in truth I did not see how we would. “We must.”
“To hell with the trial,” Martha replied. “I’m leaving. They can hang Mother Lee without me.” She threw open the tower door and started across the Castle yard.
“If the bailiffs come looking for me, tell them you don’t know where I am,” I said to Samuel and raced after her.
I caught up with Martha, and together we hurried toward the gate. I did not know what she intended, but the look in her eyes told me that she would not be stopped for anything in the world. That is what I thought, at least, until Matthew Greenbury appeared before us, resplendent in the Lord Mayor’s finery. To my dismay, Joseph Hodgson stood at his side and Mark Preston loomed behind them both.
“Good morning, Lady Bridget,” said Greenbury with a bow. “It is a pleasure to see you.” I searched the leathery contours of his face for some sign of insincerity. Despite James Hooke’s belief that Joseph had arranged George Breary’s murder, the sight of the Lord Mayor reminded me that he, too, had his reasons to see George dead.
“Good morning, my Lord Mayor,” I replied. “I trust the winter cold is not discomforting you overmuch?”
The Lord Mayor smiled thinly. “It is hard on these old bones, but the Lord has his reasons, doesn’t He, Mr. Hodgson?” He cast a glance toward Joseph, who nodded solemnly and muttered something that sounded like Amen. “What brings you to the Castle?” Greenbury continued.
“My deputy and I have been summoned to testify in a witchcraft trial,” I replied. Even as I spoke, my mind raced to find a way to explain our hurried departure. “But it seems the trial will not be held until the afternoon. We will return then.”
“Oh, dear, I am so sorry for the inconvenience,” Greenbury said. His disappointment seemed genuine, but I could not be sure.
Joseph stepped forward and whispered a few words in the Lord Mayor’s ear. I could not hear them, but my stomach sank, for I knew they could not work in our favor.