I turned back to Stephen. Martha had stripped away all his clothes, which lay in a bloody pile on the floor. Martha was inspecting his torso, and I gasped at the sight, for he seemed to be more blood than skin. I joined in the examination, and while most of the wounds were of little consequence, several would require sewing. Without a word, Martha dashed from the room and returned with my sewing basket and an armful of linen.
“We must vinegar the bandages before we apply them,” I said.
“Aye. I bound more than a few of my brother’s wounds in our time together,” she replied. “If we add saffron, they heal all the quicker.” Saffron was indescribably dear, but I nodded in agreement.
For the next hour or so, Martha and I worked our way from wound to wound, washing, sewing, and binding. In the distance I heard a knock on my door, but paid it no mind. By this time Martha and I were both covered in Stephen’s blood and in no position to explain ourselves, regardless of who had come. By the time we finished, we’d wrapped Stephen in linen nearly from his waist to his neck. Martha pulled a blanket up to his chin, and we took a step back.
“Viewed from here, he could just be suffering from the ague,” she offered.
“And that’s what we’ll tell the Town Watch if they should ask to search the house,” I replied. “They’d want to come this close but no closer. When he wakes, try giving him some caudle. If it’s good for a woman who’s bled overmuch, why not a man?”
“I’ll make some now.” She paused. “What about Will and Tree? We should go to Helen Wright’s.”
“That will have to wait,” I said. “I must stay here until the constables come, and I cannot let you wander the city alone, not until we know what has happened.”
“You know I would be safe,” Martha replied.
“You cannot hold off a squad of the Town Watch. And there has been enough blood spilt already.” I could only pray that none of the blood was Will’s or Tree’s. “Come, let us change our clothes. If we are going to say that Stephen suffers from the ague, we cannot answer the door covered in his blood.”
We did not have long to wait for the constables. This time they did not knock, but pounded hard enough to shake the door in its frame. I looked at Martha and raised an eyebrow. She nodded in response. We were ready.
I descended the stairs and threw open the front door. “What is the meaning of this?” I bellowed. The constable stood on my doorstep, his hand still raised for the knocking. His mouth hung open in surprise. “What is it?” I demanded. “If you are going to crash through my front door, you should have a reason.”
After a few moments gibbering, the constable found his voice. “My lady, we are here for your nephew,” he said at last. Two beadles stood behind him, their eyes as wide as the constable’s.
“I have two nephews,” I replied. “And neither is here.”
I started to close the door, but he would not be so easily dissuaded.
“I have been ordered to search your house, my lady. By the Lord Mayor.”
I considered my choices. If I refused, it would simply draw more attention to my house, and he would surely return with more men to force the issue.
“Very well,” I said. “But you must tell me why.”
A look of relief crossed the constable’s face. “I do not know,” he replied. “I was sent to find your nephew William Hodgson. The town’s constables and beadles all have been called in to search for him.”
“He is not in Ouse Bridge gaol?” I asked. At that moment I wished for nothing so much as Martha’s skill in dissembling, for I felt as false as new-clipped coin, my edges shiny, sharp, and impossible to miss.
“Apparently not, or they wouldn’t have sent me here to find him, would they? I’m to look for him and a boy. I didn’t ask questions beyond that, and the Lord Mayor didn’t invite any.” My heart raced at the news, for it meant that both Will and Tree had escaped. I tried to hide my pleasure.
“Then you must come in from the cold,” I said. “He is not here, but I’ll not keep you from your duty. Perhaps you should start with the stable.” The words died on my lips even as I spoke them. With all the morning’s trouble I’d entirely forgotten about the bag of clothes and money I’d left for Will. Was it still there? I’d find out soon enough.
Keeping my face as still as possible, I led the constable and his men to the kitchen and let them into the courtyard behind my house. They crossed to the stable and went inside. I held my breath for an age before they emerged. My guts roiled and I swore to myself when I saw that the constable held the bag of clothes.