Read Online A Murder on London Bridge by Susanna Gregory - Free Book Online

Bishops’ Dinner – the occasion I have been organising for weeks. Tell me something I do not know.’
    ‘I have a feeling there is more to it than a ball. And I think it might involve Lord Bristol. There is a report that he has renounced his Catholicism, in the hope that the King will forgive him for—’
    ‘Never!’ cried the Earl furiously. ‘He will never be allowed to return to this country – not as long as I am alive. Are you sure he is not in Wimbledon?’
    ‘Certain. He might be in his Great Queen Street mansion, though, and—’
    ‘Rubbish! He would not dare come to London. I know he is brazen, but hiding not a mile from White Hall would be wildly stupid, even for him. If you visit Great Queen Street, you will be wasting your time, and I forbid you to do it.’
    Chaloner nodded acquiescence, although he thought the Earl a fool to tie his hands so. The Earl scowled when he made no other reply.
    ‘What else did you hear at Somerset House?’ he demanded.
    ‘Is that not enough?’ asked Chaloner uneasily. ‘That your enemies plan to make a concerted move against you on Shrove Tuesday, and that it probably involves Lord Bristol?’
    ‘I suppose it is useful intelligence,’ conceded the Earl ungraciously. ‘But you must learn more. Meanwhile, I am late for a Privy Council meeting. It is to be held in the King’s Presence Chamber today, because His Majesty wants to play cards while we discuss affairs of state.’
    Chaloner regarded him askance, not sure if he was joking. But the Earl was not noted for his sense of humour, and it seemed unlikely that he would jest about the King. ‘Play cards with whom?’
    ‘The Lady,’ replied the Earl through gritted teeth. So deep was his dislike of the King’s mistress that he could never bring himself to utter Lady Castlemaine’s name: she was always just ‘the Lady’. ‘And Buckingham, Progers and that revolting little Chiffinch.’
    Chaloner was horrified to think that such feckless, hedonistic people should be in a position to listen to Privy Council debates. It was hardly good for national security. But it was not for him to criticise the King, especially to his Lord Chancellor. He changed the subject.
    ‘I will return to Somerset House tonight,’ he began, ‘to see if the servants have—’
    ‘Not tonight,’ interrupted the Earl. ‘They will have posted additional guards, and your capture would be embarrassing so soon after last night’s debacle. Leave it for a day or two.’
    Chaloner inclined his head, and turned to another matter. ‘I met two men named Phillippes and Kaltoff yesterday. They are—’
    ‘They are making me a ring-dial,’ interrupted the Earl. He frowned. ‘Or is it a tide-dial? I cannot remember now, but it is a scientific instrument that deals with tides and dials and rings. I will not bore you with an explanation of its function, because you would not understand it anyway.’
    ‘Right,’ said Chaloner. ‘Do you know anything about these men? Such as whether they knew Blue Dick or—’
    ‘Of course they did not know Blue Dick!’ cried the Earl. ‘What wild idea is this? They are scientific fellows, who discuss mathematics with the King. By contrast, Blue Dick was a fanatic who smashed cathedrals and who was clearly in London to cause trouble. They never met.’
    ‘You seem very sure of that, sir,’ said Chaloner. ‘How—’
    ‘Because it is obvious!’ snapped the Earl. ‘What can dial-makers and iconoclasts have in common? The very idea is preposterous, and you will dismiss it from your mind immediately. You will not catch the real killer if you hold silly preconceptions, and I order you to forget them.’
    ‘Very well, sir,’ said Chaloner, bemused by the vehemence. He bowed a farewell and turned to leave, not sure what to think. He knew the Earl was withholding information from him, but did it pertain to Phillippes and Kaltoff? Or did his master genuinely believe that the two men had nothing to do with