Free The Butcher of Smithfield by Susanna Gregory Page B

were silent for a moment, each wrapped in his own concerns. Absently, Thurloe nodded a greetingto one of his fellow benchers, then turned back to Chaloner.
    ‘You were asking about Smegergill before we became sidetracked with Mary. He is an excellent virginals player – or was, before
     age stiffened his fingers. He is still very good, but nothing compared to what he was in Cromwell’s time. He and Maylord were
     friends, because both performed for the Commonwealth’s court, and then joined the King’s after the Restoration. Maylord may
     well have confided any worries he had to Smegergill. However, before you interview him, I should warn you that he has a reputation
     for being difficult.’
    ‘Difficult?’
    ‘Eccentric and unpredictable. At times he is charm itself, while on other occasions he is moody and sullen. The artistic temperament,
     I suppose. You can be rather like that yourself.’
    Chaloner had only ever been ‘moody and sullen’ with Thurloe when he had had good cause, and felt it was an unfair observation.
     It was not the time to discuss past misunderstandings, though. ‘I do not suppose you have heard any rumours about what might
     have been bothering Maylord?’
    ‘Unfortunately not. However, I met him at White Hall about a week ago, and he asked if I knew where you might be, intimating
     that there was a matter with which you might be able to help him. I offered him my services, but he declined. So, I have no
     idea why he was distressed, although I think we can safely assume that it relates to his murder. Of course, he died two days
     after Newburne, so it is possible that Maylord’s killer latched on to cucumbers
because
of Newburne.’
    Chaloner nodded slowly. ‘You mean no one thoughtit odd that Newburne died of eating cucumbers, so the killer assumed – rightly – that no eyebrows would be raised when the
     same thing happened to Maylord. That means the two deaths are unrelated, that Maylord’s killer just heard what happened to
     Newburne and used it as an excuse.’
    ‘It means he took a cucumber with him when he killed Maylord, which shows a degree of premeditation. Other than that, there
     is no connection between the two victims that I can see: Newburne was a corrupt and hated lawyer, and Maylord was a popular
     musician with many friends.’
    ‘The verger at St Margaret’s mentioned three other recent cucumber deaths …’
    ‘Actually, there have been four.’ Thurloe’s extensive circle of ex-colleagues, former employees and acquaintances still kept
     him well supplied with gossip and intelligence. ‘A royal equerry named Colonel Beauclair, Valentine Pettis the horse-dealer,
     and two sedan-chairmen. There was no suggestion of foul play with any of them, although they have all died within the last
     month.’
    ‘Did they know each other? Or were they acquainted with Newburne or Maylord?’
    ‘Beauclair was interested in riding, the army and virtually nothing else; he would have had nothing in common with a musician
     and a solicitor. I suppose he might have met Pettis the horse-dealer, though. Meanwhile, Beauclair rode everywhere, Maylord
     walked, and Newburne had his own carriage, so I doubt any of them knew the sedan-men. What do you plan to do? Look into Maylord’s
     death, as well as Newburne’s?’
    ‘Maylord was my father’s closest friend, and whoever smothered him with enough force to break teeth deservesto face justice. I
will
hunt down his killer. And I have no choice but to investigate Newburne. The Earl pays me, and I cannot pick and choose from
     the commissions he dispenses.’
    ‘All I can tell you about Newburne is that a man called Heneage Finch was almost the only person in London prepared to spend
     any time in his company.’
    ‘Do you know why?’
    ‘Even the most villainous of men have
some
friends, and I think Finch was just that – a fellow able to look beyond Newburne’s corrupt, sly manner to see something worthy
     of companionship.