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but I told him what else I had learned from the town crier.
    He was as uneasy at the news as I had been.
    â€˜The Woodvilles are taking the crown treasure from the Tower? Can they do that?’
    â€˜I don’t rightly know who could stop them,’ I answered. ‘If the young king can be conveyed from Ludlow to London before the Duke of Gloucester has a chance to get there, he’ll endorse anything his mother and Woodville uncles tell him to.’
    Jack chewed a grimy thumbnail. ‘Didn’t the late king name Gloucester as protector?’
    I shook my head. ‘I don’t know. No one’s said anything about that. But once the new king’s been crowned and anointed, he won’t need a protector. He can rule in his own right.’
    â€˜You mean the bloody Woodvilles can!’
    â€˜Unfortunately, yes.’
    â€˜Bugger!’
    â€˜I agree, but there’s nothing the likes of us can do about it.’ I clapped him on the shoulder. ‘I’ll see you in the morning then, at sun-up. Oh, I nearly forgot. I’m bringing my daughter and Hercules with me.’
    Jack turned a dismayed face towards me. ‘I don’t mind Elizabeth. She’s a good enough little soul, but I’m danged if I’ll have that wretched dog of yours fouling my cart. He’s a menace, he is.’
    â€˜I’ll pay you extra,’ I offered.
    â€˜How much extra?’ he asked warily.
    I named a generous price. Jack thought it over and finally, if reluctantly, agreed. ‘But I’m holding you responsible for that hell-hound,’ he snapped.
    â€˜He’ll be as good as gold,’ I assured him with what I trusted was a confident smile.
    Jack snorted and turned back to his task. ‘I’ll keep you to that. And don’t forget. I’m leaving first light. If you’re not here, I shan’t wait.’
    â€˜We’ll be here,’ I said.
    During the short journey back to Margaret’s cottage, I was accosted by at least three people, including Burl Hodge – who had been none too friendly these past four or so years, ever since Cicely Ford had left me her house – all of whom appeared to be labouring under the impression that I knew more about events at court than I was prepared to say. They all seemed offended by what they regarded as my secrecy and looked sceptical when I said they knew quite as much as I did.
    â€˜All right! If you want to be like that, Roger!’ Burl grunted, and stomped off more out of charity with me than ever.
    â€˜Why does everyone think I’m in Duke Richard’s confidence?’ I demanded angrily as I closed the cottage door behind me with a bang.
    â€˜Well, aren’t you?’ Margaret countered. ‘Twice in the last two years you’ve been hauled off up to London at his behest, once by no less a royal personage than the Earl of Lincoln. And that spy of his, that Timothy Plummer, or whatever his name is, is for ever lurking around in corners. And on top of it all, you were missing from May until nearly Christmastide this past year. How did it happen that you, a common pedlar, became so friendly with a duke, and the king’s brother to boot? That’s what I’d like to know.’
    â€˜There’s no secret about it,’ I answered, sitting down on one of the stools and taking Elizabeth on to my lap. ‘Twelve years ago, on my first visit to London, and not long after I’d left Glastonbury, it just so happened that while I was trying to trace Alderman Weaver’s son, I accidentally stumbled across the hiding-place where the Duke of Clarence had concealed his sister-in-law in order to prevent his brother, Gloucester, from marrying her. Duke Richard was very grateful, as you might imagine, and has made a friend of me ever since. Well, “friend” might be overstating the matter, but he’s always trusted me and has—’
    â€˜Used you to do his dirty work,’