Jack found his prison too confining. For one, he quickly realized that any sort of investigating would be severely hampered by the necessity of his staying indoors. And two, he needed to talk to the queen again.
He could not pester Lady Katherine. Surely she had her own tasks to attend to. He knew he was also keeping her from traveling back to Essex to be with Henry’s wife and child, and he did not know how much longer he could depend on her beneficence and her presence. It was time to act on his own.
Suddenly he heard the admonishing voice of his master in his head, just as clear as if he were standing in the room with him. ‘Don’t do anything foolish, Jack!’ he heard him say. But with an apology on his lips and a prayer sent heavenward, he knew that he had no choice but to be as foolish as his master well knew he was.
Where would the queen be at this hour? He hoped against hope that she might be in the garden. With a quick look around to make certain no servants saw him, he made for the door to the little outdoor space and ventured outside. No one was about on Henry’s side and he quickly went to the wall separating them. He climbed, using a twining vine here, a tree branch there. When he was at the top with a view of not only the churning Thames and all the business of boats and skiffs spearing their way over the squat whitecaps, he saw the queen’s garden laid out before him. Carefully trimmed trees were situated in squares surrounded by low hedges whose flowers had only just gone to seed. Little paths and even a fountain delighted the eye. It all must have been a sight in the spring when it was in full bloom.
He knew he’d have to chance it. He swung his legs over the wall, measured how far it was, and leapt down.
‘I can hear you well, Master Crispin,’ he muttered when he landed. ‘There’s no need to shout.’
He crouched down, measuring where he was and scanning to see if he could catch sight of anyone in the distance. It was a large garden, larger than Henry’s or even Lancaster’s, which was very large of itself. It was a luxury extended to the wealthy, to the royal. He recognized it as a fine thing, though all he could think about was the work it took to get it this way and maintain it. A score of gardeners probably made a fine living at it, and Jack wondered idly how much they earned at such a task.
He would have a better chance of not getting caught if he found the door and stayed clear of it while still keeping it within view.
Skirting the path for his own way through the foliage, he maneuvered himself behind a late-flowering plant and watched the portal, hoping it wouldn’t take long.
‘You there!’
Jack froze. Maybe they didn’t mean him?
‘You! Boy, I see you.’
God’s blood! He slowly rose, standing amid the bushes like a lonely sunflower.
A maid frowned at him and stomped toward him. She wore the horned headdress that the queen had made popular, its veil fluttering behind her. ‘What are you doing here? You are not a gardener.’
‘Am I not?’ He tried to chuckle, but his throat was thick with fear. ‘Aye, well. No. I … I …’ He shrugged. ‘Demoiselle, I am a harmless lad. Truly. And you would scarce believe my course should I explain it to you. But might you tell your mistress that … that her “Goat” waits without?’
Her eyes widened and a smile replaced her scowl. ‘You are Goat?’ Her manner changed. She slid toward him almost seductively, eyes full of brightness and warmth. ‘Master Goat, I must say, I approve.’
He was not mistaken. She was all but leering at him. He tried a smile. ‘Now, now, demoiselle. You must, er, deport yourself. Wouldn’t do to, erm, delay my meeting with the … with your mistress.’
Disappointment swept over her features, but she offered a dimpled smile in return. ‘Well, there’s always later.’
‘There is indeed!’ he said with a wide grin, and brushed down his coat. In his head, he thanked Master Crispin profusely for procuring Jack his stylish new cotehardie of blue.
With a kittenish smirk, she wheeled and passed through the little arched garden door and Jack waited, smoothing down his hair and wiping at his face to make sure no crumbs marred his cheeks.
When the door opened again, the queen emerged. He bowed low and she reached forward to grab his hand. ‘Not here. Let us go farther in.’ She dragged him and finally pushed him to a bench, hidden by trees, bushes, and a trellis covered in yellowing leaves.
She sat beside him and Jack held his breath. Jack Tucker, you are sitting next to the Queen of England. Did you ever!
‘Why have you come, my Goat? Have you found out anything?’
‘I am sorry to say, your grace, that I have scarce begun my investigation. I have more questions to ask of you. I was afraid that I … that I was overcome by your presence and that of Lady Katherine, and my tongue was tied.’
‘Oh.’ She sank but lifted her chin to face him. ‘What do you need to know?’
Jack rubbed his palms over his thighs, trying to dry their dampness. ‘I need to know the names of those who were closest to you while you were in the abbey. Can you recall?’
Her expression turned thoughtful. ‘There was my Lady of the Chamber, Margaret, John Lincoln of Grimsby, Sir Baldwin Raddington, Henry Derby, and assorted retainers and monks.’
‘Who was closest to you when the explosion happened?’
‘I don’t remember. There was such confusion.’
‘Try, your grace. It is a matter of some importance.’
She screwed up her face, thinking. ‘When … when the explosion occurred, we all got to our feet. My lady’s maid was beside me, but she was soon crowded out by the monks and the king’s household guards.’
‘And … are you acquainted with these knights, your grace?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean, was any of them a stranger to you?’
‘Oh, I see. No. Not that I could recall … Wait. There was one man. I did not recognize him.’
Jack squirmed excitedly. ‘What did he look like? Did he speak?’
‘He was dark-haired, with a dark beard. I saw little of his face with his helm and aventail.’
‘Did he say anything?’
‘I do not think so. Perhaps … yes, perhaps he said simply, “Your grace, come with me.” But then the king was beside me in the next instant.’
‘What did his voice sound like? Did … did he sound as if he was from London?’
‘No. Not as Londoner’s speak.’
‘Perhaps … a northerner?’
She bit her lip, angling her head in thought. ‘I … yes. He could have been.’
Another damned Scot! They were crawling all over England, apparently. ‘Was there anyone else beside you, your grace? Anyone besides this knight?’
‘John Lincoln, but he was quickly thrust to the opposite side of his majesty and I.’
‘And who is he, my lady, for I am not as familiar with the court as I might be.’
‘Why, he is the king’s secretary. And the Keeper of the Jewels.’
‘Keeper of the Jewels?’
‘Yes. There are many official pieces that the king must wear for certain ceremonies, as well as his personal accouterments.’
Jack’s mind whirred. What if this man wished to help bring down the king? Could he be trusted? He had the keys to the wealth of the kingdom. Maybe he had a bone to pick with Richard. One never knew.
But this other knight. This was suspicious. How could Jack ever find him? And in almost the same instant he wondered, a spark of an idea lit in his mind.
‘Your grace, we need to find this knight, this guard. I propose that you ask the captain of the king’s guard to assemble them in the courtyard for your inspection.’
She looked at him aghast. ‘But I have never done such a thing.’
‘But … you are the queen. Can you not order it?’
She smiled gently. ‘You have a very unique perspective of what I can accomplish as queen.’
He reddened. ‘Forgive me, your grace, but I know so very little about you and what you may do. I assumed too much.’
‘Never fear, my Goat. All is not lost. Perhaps I may send my lady’s maid to inspect them. She can concoct a story to seem plausible.’
‘That would do very well, your grace. Does she … does she know …’
‘No. But she is discreet and will do what I ask without question.’
‘If this can be done soon and with all haste, I might be able to get somewhere. That is … I can pursue this line of attack and find your jewel all the quicker.’
‘You are a marvel, my Goat! Such ideas! I pray you can help me.’
‘But we must be swift about it, your grace. We cannot delay.’
She jumped to her feet. Jack scrambled to do so as well. ‘Lady Margaret!’ she called.
And the dark-haired beauty that had at first caught Jack appeared. She curtseyed to her queen and smiled at Jack. Jack could not resist grinning back.
‘Lady Margaret, Goat and I have an assignment for you.’
‘Your grace?’
‘It is a secret thing. You mustn’t tell anyone you are doing it and for whom. Do you understand?’
Her bright face paled. ‘Yes, my lady. Of course.’
‘Very well. Then you are to go to the king’s guards. Look at each one of them and tell me if any of them are from the north.’
‘My lady?’
‘Can you do that?’
‘Oh,’ said Jack, ‘and especially if they are knights you do not recognize. Perhaps newly come to court. And they would have been in Westminster Abbey when the explosion happened.’
She looked equally perplexed at Jack but nodded. ‘Yes. I can do that.’
‘Then go now,’ said the queen. ‘With all haste and get back to me. Then you can get a message to my Goat. He is in the employ of our dear cousin Bolingbroke.’
She nodded. Jack could see the new determination on her face. She spun and hurried away.
‘That is my signal to leave, my lady.’ He bowed low to her and headed back to the wall.
She called after him, ‘God keep you, my Goat.’
He walked backward, looking at the figure of the queen as she caught a falling leaf from the tree above her and studied it in her palm.
He almost took the main path but remembered in time to travel through the bushes along the Thames-side wall. He broke through the hedges and turned a corner … and found several guards waiting for him.