Free The Westminster Poisoner by Susanna Gregory Page B

sure the King will be impressed by your dedication.’
    George curled his lip, jammed his turban on his head and began to totter away. He called back over his shoulder as he went.
     ‘The wind is picking up again, and we all know what that means.’
    Chaloner had no idea what he was talking about. ‘What?’
    ‘That a great person will die. People said it blew for my father, but it persists, so obviously it gusts for someone else
     – old Dreary Bones was not a “great person” after all. You had better make sure the Lord Chancellor is tucked up safe in his
     bed.’
    Chaloner darted after him, gripping his shoulder hard enough to make him squeal as he jerked him to a standstill. ‘Are you
     threatening my Earl?’
    George was frightened – by the spy’s speed, strength and the expression on his face. ‘No! I was just blathering. I did not
     mean anything by it, I swear!’ His bloodshot eyes lit on a nearby lane, and he jabbed a desperate finger at it. ‘Look, there
     are Thomas and Matthias Lea. Go and interrogate them – they also benefited from the murder of a kinsman, and I am not the
     only one who is suddenly rich.’
    Chaloner peered into the gloom, and saw Chetwynd’sheirs climbing into a hackney. They were looking in his direction, but when he released George and took a few steps towards
     them, one said something to the driver and they rattled away. He could have caught them, had he run, but it was not worth
     the effort. They had left abruptly because they did not want to deal with him, and chasing them was not going to change that
     fact. He would simply have to wait for a more opportune moment.
    He lingered a while longer, standing in the shadows of White Hall’s largest courtyard, and watching gaggles of courtiers set
     off towards Westminster together. Most wore costumes that showed they had not the faintest idea of what Babylon had been like.
     Eventually, only the stragglers remained. One trio comprised a girl with woolly hair who wore nothing around her midriff and
     bells on her ankles, a youth dressed as a genie, and an old man whose sole concession to the occasion was a fez. He appeared
     to be deaf, and kept turning questioningly to his companions, who made no effort to speak at a volume that would help him.
     Chaloner knew they were rich when a coach came to collect them, although it was too dark to make out the insignia on its side.
     He could tell from their gestures that the youngsters were annoyed about being late, while the ancient gave the impression
     that he would rather be at home with a good book and a cup of warm milk.
    But then even they had gone. There was no point in remaining, so Chaloner set off for Westminster himself, not to spy on the
     ball, but to see whether the Painted Chamber was empty at last.
    When he reached New Palace Yard, the twang of foreign-sounding music and a cacophony of voices emanatedfrom the Great Hall. A few revellers spilled into the street, one or two to vomit up the unpalatable mixture of wine and rose-flavoured
     jellies, and others to snatch kisses and fondles in the darkness outside. Several enterprising businesses had stayed open
     in the hope of attracting late trade, although Chaloner could not imagine many courtiers being interested in legal books or
     porpoise tongues, which seemed to be the two main commodities on offer.
    The area around the Painted Chamber was deserted, though. It was illuminated by the odd lantern, but not many, because fuel
     was expensive and the government saw no point in spending money on a part of the complex that was usually abandoned at night.
     The occasional clerk risked life and limb to work late – the Palace of Westminster was surrounded by tenements and hovels,
     so violent crime was rife – but they were not many. One shadow sidled up to Chaloner with the clear intention of relieving
     him of his purse, but it melted away when he started to draw his sword.
    The Painted Chamber was unlocked, and he