WE ENTERED THE TOWER by the main gate. The constable left me with a pair of red-uniformed Tower guards, the edges of their halberds honed to razor sharpness, the rising sun glinting on the polished steel of their helmets. I remembered the twist of fear I had felt when I entered here a few weeks ago with Lord Parr, to see Walsingham. Now the fate dreaded by all, being brought here a prisoner, had befallen me again. The ground seemed to sway under my feet as they led me across the manicured lawn of the inner courtyard towards the White Tower. Far off I heard a roaring and yelping from the Tower menagerie; the animals were being fed.

I pulled myself together and turned to the nearest guard, an enormously tall, well-built young fellow with fair hair under his steel helmet. ‘What is to happen now?’ I asked.

‘Sir Edmund wishes to see you.’

I felt a little hope. Walsingham was a friend of Lord Parr; perhaps I could get a message to him.’

I was marched through the Great Hall, then upstairs. Sir Edmund was engaged and I had to wait nearly an hour in a locked anteroom overlooking the summer lawn, sitting on a hard bench trying to gather my scattered wits. Then another guard appeared, saying brusquely that Sir Edmund was ready.

The elderly Constable of the Tower sat behind his desk. He looked at me sternly, fingering the ends of his white beard.

‘I am sorry to see you again in such circumstances, Master Shardlake,’ he said.

‘Sir Edmund,’ I answered, ‘I am no heretic. I do not know what is happening, but I must inform Lord Parr that I am here.’

He spoke impatiently. ‘Lord Parr cannot interfere in this, nor anyone else. You are brought by the authority of the King’s Privy Council, to answer questions from them. Lord Parr is not a member of the council.’

I said desperately, ‘The Queen’s brother, the Earl of Essex, is. And I was with the Queen but four days ago. I am innocent of all wrongdoing.’

Sir Edmund sighed and shook his head. ‘I had you brought here to me first as a matter of courtesy, to tell you where you will be spending today and tonight, not to listen to your pleas. Leave those for the council. My authority comes from them, under the seal of Secretary Paget.’

I shut my eyes for a second. Walsingham added, in gentler tones, ‘Best to compose yourself, prepare for the council’s questions tomorrow. As for tonight, you will be held in a comfortable cell, together with the others who will answer accusations with you.’

I looked at him blankly. ‘What others? Who?’

He glanced at the paper on his desk. ‘Philip Coleswyn, lawyer, and Edward Cotterstoke, merchant.’