Free Heartstone by C. J. Sansom

you a merry time,’ Rich said.
    â€˜I hope you have a full purse for the officials,’ Seymour said. ‘You will need it.’
    I expected that to earn a rebuke from Rich; he was a law officer and they took offence at mention of corruption in the courts. But Rich only smiled thinly. ‘But who will fill that purse, Sir Thomas?’ he asked. ‘The Queen’s servant, I hope. Were the Queen to pay herself that would be maintenance of someone else’s case, which is not lawful.’
    â€˜You may be sure the Queen will see the proprieties observed,’ I replied. ‘She is a woman of probity.’ It was a bold answer, but it was time to remind him who my patron was.
    Rich inclined his head. ‘I know this is not the first time her majesty has instructed you in legal matters. I find it a little strange, given the opinion the King showed of you at York.’ He turned to Sir Thomas, smiling. ‘Master Shardlake annoyed him there, and he suffered a public humbling for his pains.’ He cast his neat little head on one side, and I saw that beneath his cap his hair was greying.
    â€˜I know that tale,’ Seymour said. ‘He called Shardlake a bent bottled spider before half of York.’ He laughed again.
    Rich bowed slightly, dismissing me. ‘Take care, Master Shardlake.’
    I walked away, shaken, feeling their eyes on me. To meet those two together was a piece of ill luck. I had thought I was long since done with Rich. It frightened me to think his malicious eyes had been watching me all this time; but no doubt he watched all the little people, waiting to see whom he could entangle in his webs. Thank God I had the Queen’s patronage. I waited till I had passed under the arch, beyond their gaze, before I wiped my brow.

    I WENT STRAIGHT HOME; I knew Tamasin was calling to see Guy and Barak would be with her. To my surprise when I entered the house the hallway was full of people. Tamasin sat at the bottom of the staircase, her swollen stomach prominent under her dress, her pretty pale face perspiring, blonde hair hanging limp around it. Coldiron’s daughter Josephine had removed Tamasin’s coif and was using it to fan her face with broad sweeps of her arm. Barak stood by, biting his lip anxiously. Coldiron stood looking on disapprovingly, while the two boys peered out from the kitchen doorway.
    â€˜Tamasin,’ I said anxiously. ‘My dear? What has happened? Where is Guy?’
    â€˜It’s all right, Master Shardlake.’ To my relief there was amusement in her voice. ‘He’s gone to wash his hands. I just felt strange when I came in out of the sun, I had to sit down.’
    â€˜She walked all the way here by herself,’ Barak said indignantly. ‘I said I’d meet her here but I thought Jane Marris would be with her. Walking alone, in this heat, and at too fast a pace if I know her. What if you’d fallen down in the middle of Chancery Lane, Tammy? Why didn’t Jane come with you?’
    â€˜I sent her to the shops. She hadn’t returned when I was due to leave. It’s chaos in the markets with all the uproar over the new coins.’
    â€˜You should have told her to get back in time to fetch you here. Where are your wits, woman?’
    â€˜I didn’t faint, Jack,’ Tamasin replied irritably. ‘I just had to sit down - ow!’ She broke off as Josephine, fanning a little too wildly, accidentally hit her on the cheek.
    Coldiron stepped forward, grabbing the coif. ‘Watch what you’re doing, you clumsy mare. Get back to the kitchen! And try not to break any more pots!’ Josephine blushed and hastened away with her little scuttling steps, head bowed. Coldiron turned to me. ‘She broke the big butter pot this morning. I’ve told her it’ll come out of her wages.’
    â€˜It doesn’t matter,’ I said. ‘Tell her I’ll pay for a new one.’
    Coldiron took a