The Tapestry Read Online Free

the mob fell back, sullen-faced. A few of them made a great show of resuming their tasks on the site.
    Master Gwinn leaned down again to make inquiry and then told us, “That man is an agent of the Court of Augmentations.”
    â€œA court?” Agatha asked, bewildered.
    â€œNot now. We must leave—we have no place here,” said Oliver Gwinn with unusual curtness.
    My fingers tightened on the reins. I knew what the court was and what this man represented. Thomas Cromwell had created it to administer the revenues of the monasteries. “Court of Augmentations.” Such fine words to describe theft , to justify taking all the holy objects within the abbey churches, the chalices and plate and books and illuminated manuscripts, along with all the land. Which toady of the king’s would receive Bermondsey as a reward for his loyalty?
    Master Gwinn paused to wipe his face with a cloth as soon as we were clear of the fallen abbey, sagging in his saddle with relief.
    We were safe now, but I was not glad of it. I was ashamed. Cromwell’s agent hadn’t stopped the mob from defiling the woman’s statue because it was the right thing to do but in order to preserve a valuable piece of pillage. A passage of Scripture flooded my thoughts, about the apostle Peter’s anguish after Jesus was taken. “I do not know that man,” Peter swore to those who pointed at him in the courtyard of Gethsemane, and then, when he realized he had denied Jesus Christ out of fear and weakness, just as had been predicted, hewept. Hot salty tears pricked my own eyes. I brushed them back with a furious hand.
    â€œStop,” I called out. I was so loud Agatha jumped in her saddle. Everyone halted.
    â€œI will go to Whitehall today—or not at all,” I said.
    â€œMistress Joanna, my cousin’s house is not far from here,” said Master Gwinn. “We are expected. We’ll stay there tonight and escort you to the palace tomorrow morning, as planned.”
    â€œNo. Today or not at all.”
    Agatha nudged her horse to get closer. “Joanna, I know how disturbed you are, and I share your sentiment. But we need to rest, all of us. You cannot go to a king’s palace in those clothes.” She pointed at my garments—a plain, dark gray riding kirtle and bodice, layered with the dirt of the road. In the travel satchel carried by a Gwinn servant were my finest clothes, appropriate for the occasion.
    I said in a rush, “It does not matter what I wear, and after what we’ve witnessed, I could not bear to don finery to go before the royal household. With all my soul, I do not wish to proceed at all.” Arthur’s round face appeared in my mind. “But there are sound reasons to continue. If you would be so good as to point the way to London Bridge, I can manage the route to Whitehall alone. You can ride to your cousin’s house to rest, or return to Dartford, whatever you wish.”
    After a hushed conversation, the Gwinns, obviously reluctant, said they would accompany me to Whitehall this afternoon.
    â€œBut what if no one will see you today?” Agatha asked.
    â€œThen I leave Whitehall having carried out my duty, which was to wait upon the keeper of the wardrobe. The summons didn’t say how long I had to wait. An hour or two will do. If he will not see me, so be it.”
    Master Gwinn opened his mouth to say something more, but Agatha shook her head. She knew how little likelihood there was of my altering course.
    Riding faster now—or as fast as we could up crowded streets—we made our way to London Bridge. As the horses plodded throughthat square tunnel stretching across the Thames, it happened. The sensation returned. While I was near blind with rage in Southwark, I had no awareness of being observed. But now that my anger had banked, I felt eyes burning into the back of my head once more. I didn’t bother to turn, for I knew that I’d see