‘That is the strange thing. We guard secrets very carefully in the Queen’s household.’ Cranmer looked at the Queen. ‘Her majesty inspires great loyalty, which was tested during the heresy hunt. We can identify no one who could, or would, have done this.’

There was a moment’s silence, then Lord Parr said, ‘Begin now, Serjeant Shardlake; try to unravel the threads. Go to the printer’s this afternoon. Come back this evening and I will swear you in, give you your robe and brief you further.’

I hesitated again. ‘I am to work entirely on my own?’

‘Young William Cecil may be useful, he has contacts among the radicals and is trusted by them. But he does not know of the Lamentation, and we will keep him out of it for now, I think.’ He continued, in a lighter tone, ‘Would you believe Cecil is already twice married, though only twenty-five? His first wife died in childbirth, and now he has a second. A woman with good connections. I think he will soon be a rising man.’

The Archbishop added, ‘And where the printer’s murder is concerned, you may employ your man Barak to help you. I understand he has been useful in the past.’

‘But – ’ Lord Parr raised a warning finger – ‘he must know only that you are acting for the dead man’s parents; make no mention of the Queen or the Lamentation.’

I hesitated. ‘Barak is married now, with a child and another on the way. I would not put him in the way of even the possibility of danger. I have a student, Nicholas, but—’

Lord Parr interrupted. ‘I will leave that to your discretion. Perhaps he can be employed in routine matters. So long as you tell him nothing of the Lamentation.’ He looked at me intently again.

I nodded agreement, then turned to the Queen. She leaned forward and picked up the pearl on its chain round her neck. ‘Do you know to whom this once belonged?’ she asked quietly.

‘No, your majesty. It is very fine.’

‘Catherine Howard, who was Queen before me and who died on the block. A quicker death than burning.’ She gave a long, desperate sigh. ‘She, too, was foolish, though in a different way. All these rich things I wear, the cloth of gold and silken tissue and bright jewels, so many of them have been passed down from Queen to Queen. Always, you see, they are returned to the Department of the Queen’s Wardrobe, to be preserved or altered. They are worth so much that they cannot be discarded, any more than the great tapestries.’ She held up her richly embroidered sleeve. ‘This was once worn with a dress of Anne Boleyn’s. I have constant reminders of past events. I live in fear now, Matthew, great fear.’

‘I will do all I can, put all other work aside. I swear.’

She smiled. ‘Thank you. I knew you would succour me.’