6.

There could be no question now of going to Anne. If the barn had been watched then her house, too, would have its guard, whether she knew it or not. All they could hope was that her innocence and her ignorance would give her protection. Once they reached Torcester, once they had talked to the bishop, once the wheels of justice had been set in motion – only then could they send her word that they were alive and well.

Meanwhile they must go upriver, carried by the tide, using neither sail nor oar in case the slap of canvas, the splashing of wood in water was heard by any who watched for them. Letty, hand on the tiller, steered the boat to the side furthest from Fishpool, not letting it stray onto the mudflats where they might become stranded. Caleb said not a word, letting her concentrate on this most difficult of tasks.

Going past Norton Manor, all was quiet. The house slept. But then they heard shouting. Pinpricks of light punctured the dark, as if torches had been lit.

Stanley and George must have reached the big house, Letty guessed. The alarm had been raised. Benson was no doubt calling for men.

But they were sliding past the manor now, heading for Tawpuddle. No pursuit came by water. And Letty’s ruse had worked. For when a voice did come from the jetty it was to declare that a boat was missing: the miscreants must have set out to sea.

Reaching Tawpuddle, they passed beneath the bridge, and now Letty deemed it safe to add manpower to tide. The river began to narrow here so sail was of less use than oars.

For the remainder of that night she rowed, and it was hard, hard labour. After an hour the tide turned and the river began to empty itself, threatening to push them back towards Tawpuddle and on to Fishpool. Letty didn’t know the river south of the bridge – once or twice she ran aground on the mud and it was a slow, messy task to free themselves.

As dawn approached, they neared the point where the river ceased to be tidal. It would eventually become much shallower, Caleb told Letty, and she said it would be wise to abandon the boat and proceed on foot. They’d better sink it so it couldn’t be found by any of Sir Robert’s men.

After unloading theatre and puppets onto the shore they stripped to their undergarments. Letty fixed a rope to the mast top and, holding it between them, they capsized it in the deepest part of the channel. And then they swam – Caleb towing Letty – and from there waded through stinking river mud and squelching marsh to retrieve their livelihood. Dressing once more, they turned their faces towards the city.