The Quality of Mercy (10 page)

“You say that Cat brought you into town?” Fottingham asked. His black beard, spangled with droplets of ale, spread over his chest like a bib.

“Cat?” Shakespeare asked.

“The stew.”

“She told me not her name.”

Fottingham’s eyes brightened. “Flesh of a woman who has no name. How lusty.”

Shakespeare smiled. “Why do they call her Cat?”

“Because she purrs like a kitten during the rutting. Her Christian name is also Catherine.”

“She tells an interesting story.”

“Marry,” the alderman said, dismissing him with a wave of his hand. “She’s a notorious liar. Her mother lives, as does her father. He’s a whoremonger. Cat is his best moneymaker.”

“I’ve been gulled,” Shakespeare said dryly.

Fottingham laughed. “Fell for her pathetic tale, did you? Paid her twice as much as necessary?”

“I think so.”

“Not to worry,” Fottingham said. “Others have been her coney. Besides, your face would be pleasing to the young girl. I’m sure she was quite enthusiastic with her favors.”

“Quite,” Shakespeare said. “Though she did remark that the hair on my head was scant… the hair on my chin as well.”

“Tact is not the whore’s forte,” the alderman said. “She chides me constantly for my growing belly.” He patted his stomach. “Once I was as trim as you. Once I was as young as you also. The luxury of aging. One may grow fat and content and sport with merry young wenches without bitter tears from the wife. Mine has served her purpose. Fifteen children, ten which still live. She is grateful for the punks. They give her much rest.” Fottingham belched out loud, spied a leftover piece of meat on the floor and popped it in his mouth. Rabbit. Delicious.

“And now I have the pleasure of asking what has brought the player and bookwriter William Shakespeare to Hemsdale.”

“I’m looking for acquaintances of a man — one Henry Whitman — Harry, as he liked to be called.”

“The famous player Harry Whitman?”

“Yes.”

“Are you his friend or his enemy?”

“His friend,” Shakespeare replied.

“His company played here six years ago,” Fottingham said. “The troupe was very well received. Whitman was particularly impressive. He and that other one, who was quite a bit younger.”

“Richard Burbage.”

“Yes, that was the name,” said the alderman. “But you weren’t with them.”

“I wasn’t in London at the time.”

“Where is your birthplace?”

“Warwick.”

“Never made it this far north before?”

“Not until this day,” Shakespeare said. “Mayhap Harry passed through here recently?”

“Harry passed through here yearly,” Fottingham said. “On his way down from his visits with his cousin, Lord Henley.”

“You knew Harry well?” Shakespeare asked.

“Hardly at all,” said Fottingham. “But Harry is hard to miss. He’s a noticeable man physically — big and hairy. But as big as Harry is, tis his voice that is most memorable.”

Shakespeare said, “He played it as if it were a viol — deep and beautiful. His soliloquies could bring one to tears.”

Fottingham saw moisture in the younger man’s eyes. He stared at Shakespeare and said, “What happened to Harry?”

Shakespeare whispered, “He was murdered.”

“God’s blood, that’s horrible!” Fottingham seemed genuinely surprised. “Henley never said a word. When did this happen?”

“About two weeks ago.”

“Where was he done in?”

“In the open countryside about fifteen miles from here. He was found dead, stabbed, left to rot in a sheep’s cot.”

“Good heavens!”

Neither one spoke. Fottingham suddenly squinted his eyes with suspicion and asked Shakespeare,

“And why are
you
here?”

Shakespeare replied, “I’m trying to find out what happened to him during his last days. Perhaps you know of someone who had talked to him as he passed through Hemsdale?”

“Not I.” The alderman lifted a thigh and passed wind. “I don’t even recall seeing him two weeks ago, although I know he passed through Hemsdale every year right before Mayday.”

“But you had spoken to him in the past?” Shakespeare asked.

“A word or two,” the alderman said. “Harry never resided at our local inn — The Grouse. He literally passed through the town.”

Fottingham paused. Shakespeare knew there was more but like the line well-acted, timing was of crucial importance. He waited for the alderman to continue. A minute later, Fottingham said, “It might be wise if you let the dead rest in peace, my friend. It’s possible you’ll discover things about Harry that are best left buried.”

“Such as?”

“Things.”

“Specifically.”

“Just things.” The alderman closed his mouth stubbornly.

Shakespeare chose not to push him further. He said, “A poor outcome is a consequence of gambling. I’ll chance the game.”

“Why is this bit of intrigue important to you?” the alderman asked. “It won’t restore breath to Harry’s nostrils.”

“I have reasons.”

“Revenge on his murderer?”

“Perhaps.”

“It will eat you alive, Shakespeare. Rot the flesh off the bones. The fiend could be anyone — a man with a personal grudge, a hot-headed drunk, a madman. Leave revenge to the hands of God.”

Shakespeare said nothing.

“Revenge is a wily bastard, goodman,” said Fottingham. “Be careful or you’ll suffer the same fate as your friend.” The alderman paused, then said, “Go to the Fishhead Inn and talk to the innkeeper — Edgar Chambers. Harry often stayed there. I’ve even heard him recite some of his bawdy poetry there. It was quite clever and very randy. I shall write you a letter of reference for Chambers.”

“Thank you, sir, for your sound counsel and help.” Shakespeare stood up. “Is Lord Henton in his residence?”

Fottingham stood and let out a rakish laugh. “Aye. But he won’t be telling you anything important. He’s weak in the head.” The alderman tapped his temples. “And old and feeble. His quill has been quite dry for years now, though it doesn’t bother his young, pretty wife. Her parchment is well-saturated.”

Shakespeare smiled, noticed the gleam in the alderman’s eye.

“You’ll get nothing from the old lord,” Fottingham said, scribbling out a letter on a scrap of paper. “Speak with Chambers at the Fishhead. He’s a slippery man, Shakespeare. Selectively quiet. You may need to expend a tuppence or two before the innkeeper grows loquacious.”

“Rare is the man who dances not to the tune of jingling coins.”

“True words, my boy,” said the alderman. He closed the letter with his seal and handed it to Shakespeare. In return, Shakespeare drew his poniard from its hilt.

“A gift for your kindness,” he said, extending the dagger.

“Nay, insult me not, goodman.”

“But the insult will be mine, sir, if you accept it not.”

“If I come to London, treat me as I treated you.”

“But I cannot hope to entertain you in such a splendid manor.”

“Then invite me to witness you on stage.”

“Done a thousand times.”

The Fishhead Inn lay on the rocky banks of Loch Gelder, a small shadow of the steely, blue water. From time to time the smooth surface of the looking glass would crack open and up would jump an industrious gilded-scaled gudgeon or a silvery loach sided with streaks of pastel pinks and blues. Long seasons of heavy rainfall were common, and flooding of the inn from the lake was warded off by a barrier of piled boulders.

The hostel was modest in size, holding one hundred fifty able-bodied men. The architecture was simple — two stories of plastered walls, roofed with rifts of oak timber. A fine brick chimney puffed out clouds of muddy brown smoke.

The welcome sign — the hallmark of a quality inn — was fashioned from a solid block of walnut. Carved out of the center was a loach painted in bright reds and greens, with its tail curved under its belly.
FISHHEAD INN
was carved about the loach in bold, blue letters. The rest of the block was smooth, finished wood, sanded and varnished to a high gloss. Three feet in length, six inches in depth, the sign was too large and heavy to hang. Instead it was propped up by two oak posts.

Excessive and costly, thought Shakespeare.

He went inside, sat down at a small, round table and ordered a bottle of the cheapest port on the fareboard — two shillings sixpence. His money was draining, and he hoped his luck at the hare races would continue as it had the past year. He drank half the bottle then, fueled by the warm glow of the spirits, asked the tapster if he might have a word or two with Edgar Chambers. Shakespeare handed him his letter of reference. Minutes later a man sat down at his table and introduced himself as Chambers.

Young, Shakespeare noticed. Perhaps as much as ten years younger than himself. At the most twenty. Ruddy red cheeks and a fleece of strawberry-blond wool for hair. Shakespeare extended his hand and Chambers took it.

“I thank you, kind innkeeper, for permitting me the pleasure of your company,” Shakespeare said.

“The honor is mine, goodman,” Chambers replied. “Welcome to my humble little hostel.”

“Nay, it is a splendid hostel,” Shakespeare argued. Such deprecation was not expected to pass without comment. “Full of scrumptious food, fine wines, and company fit for the Queen. Tis truly
English,
goodman.”

“You are too kind,” Chambers said. “How can I be of service to you?”

“Did not Alderman Fottingham’s letter explain the purpose of my visit?”

“Nay. He wrote simply that you wish an audience with me.”

“Then I shall tell you the purpose,” Shakespeare said. “I’m trying to find out if a friend of mine passed through this town — Harry Whitman.”

Chambers paled. Shakespeare leaned forward.

“What do you know about him?” Shakespeare asked.

“Yes, well… He’s a great player, of course,” Chambers stammered.

Shakespeare said, “He lodged here often—”

“No!” cried Chambers. “Who told you that?”

“He stayed overnight—”

“No,” Chambers insisted.

Shakespeare took out a shilling.

“No,” Chambers said, hitting it out of his hands. “Not for love or money did he lodge here. Good day, sirrah!”

Chambers stalked away, but Shakespeare followed him. He grabbed the hostler’s arm.

“Are you challenging me?” Chambers said with sudden viciousness. His hand was clenched around the hilt of his rapier.

“I pray you,” Shakespeare said, “understand that I loved Harry, that he was most dear to me. If the tendrils of compassion wrap around your heart, let them squeeze it to remind you of the pain of untimely loss — of murder most fell.”

“Murder?”

Shakespeare nodded. Chambers had turned ashen.

“We cannot talk here in public,” Chambers whispered. “Too many open ears. Come with me.”

Shakespeare followed the hostler down a dim hallway dotted with rushlights housed in rusty wall sconces. At the end of the hall was a small, almost hidden door. Chambers took out a large, brass skeleton key and opened the lock.

Chambers’s private closet was spacious and brimming over with natural light. The walls were wainscoted with walnut panels below, forest-green silk cloth above the wood. Framed pictures of fish — all kinds of fish — abounded. A large mounted whitefish rested on a wooded mantel. Chambers pulled out a chair from a round table, offered it to Shakespeare, then sank wearily into his own chair, positioned across the table.

Shakespeare said, “Tell me what happened to Whitman.”

“I don’t know anything about a murder!” insisted Chambers. “As God is my witness, I speak the truth.”

“Then what do you know?”

“He lodged here.”

“For how long?” Shakespeare asked.

“Three… no, four… four days.”

“A long time,” Shakespeare commented. “Was that his usual length of stay?”

Chambers shook his head rapidly. “His longest visit ever. In the past he had stayed only a night. Last year he stayed two days. This time four.”

“Then why did you deny knowing him?” Shakespeare asked.

“I had my reasons,” Chambers said.

“And they were?”

Chambers didn’t answer. Shakespeare let it go and asked,

“How did Whitman pass the hours here?”

“In pursuit of pleasure,” Chambers said. “Your friend was fond of dicing.”

Shakespeare frowned.
“Dicing?”

“Aye.”

Shakespeare said, “Harry enjoyed drinking, making merry. But
dicing
? You’ve mistaken him for someone else.”

“No mistake. Whitman diced, gambled. And lost a great deal of money.”

“Tell me.”

Chambers became animated. “The first night his hap was sweet, his winnings large. But the last days of his stay — he was here for five days—”

“I thought you said four.”

“Four days then. Yes, it was four days. On the fourth night, when Harry became involved with a group of rogues — unscrupulous men — his luck suddenly changed.”

Shakespeare felt suddenly ired, frustrated. “He became someone’s coney — a dupe.”

Chambers nodded.

“You didn’t stop the rogues from cheating?”

Chambers said, “In my business one never interferes with gentlemen dicing. They become most resentful.”

Shakespeare asked him to continue.

“The stakes grew higher,” Chambers said. His eyes darted from side to side. “I know not exactly what happened, sir. It was said that Harry’s luck took a sudden turn for the better.
Then
it was discovered that Harry held in his pockets several pairs of false dice.”

Shakespeare cursed inwardly.
Uncover things best left buried
. He said, “Harry was many things — a philanderer and a carouser — but always an honest man.”

“Then it grieves me to tell you this, goodman, but in his possession were a flat carter-treys, a flat cinque-deuces, a barred carter-treys, and high fullam.”

“High fullam?”

“Dice weighed toward high numbers.”

“I don’t believe it,” Shakespeare said. “He was duped.”

“I was not there when the accusations were made, sir.”

“Where were you?” Shakespeare asked.

“I have a brother,” Chambers said. “He was in charge of the inn’s business that evening.”