'Yes.'
Nothing he'd been taught at Oxford had prepared Harald for such an interrogation. Hugh Orpington rattled out the questions and the chaplain took notes. Both were awash with wine and slurred their words. Yet, when they'd finished, he had divulged everything he knew about Roger Knowles and the case he had against him.
***
Sir Hugh led them into Dorchester. He was dressed in a gown trimmed with white fur and mounted on a white horse. Harald's mother followed in a carriage with three other ladies. Harald rode behind with the rest of the party, including William. Heavily armed outriders guarded their flanks. Men in mail marched at their rear. His mother had insisted that William be present in court. That had added to Harald's embarrassment. His son knew where babies came from and was exhibiting an unhealthy interest in girls. William reminded him of Guy at the same age. People stopped and pointed as they rode past.
The case had sparked public interest and it wasn't difficult to imagine why. Disputes over wills and boundaries were two-a-penny. Sex sometimes reared its ugly head but rarely in such an intriguing manner. Harald took his seeing glasses from their pouch and held them to his eyes. His vision wasn't perfect but he could see enough of the courthouse to know that Roger Knowles was already there. His escort was larger than before but looked no fitter than those who had fared so badly against Robin.
They entered the court and went to the benches reserved for the plaintiffs. Eyes bore into the back of Harald's head. He couldn't hear but knew what people were saying.
That's him … he's the one who had his little brother do it for him. On the other side of the court, Roger Knowles was wrapped in conversation with his advocate. Every few moments they stole a glance at Sir Hugh.
A clerk entered the chamber and called for order.
'This Court of Sessions, in the County of Dorset, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Our Sovereign Lord Henry, sixth of that name since the Conquest, is now declared open. Pray rise.' Those who were not standing got to their feet. The doors at the rear swung open and a procession entered. Harald recognised the shire reeve. He was the king's chief executive in Dorset and a man of considerable power and influence. The others were not so well known to him.
'Pray be seated' The proceedings commenced. Sir Hugh opened with the case for the plaintiffs. He argued that Roger Knowles had acted illegally and with criminal intent in extracting rent from tenants on the Gascoigne estate. Harald couldn't fault him. Sir Hugh held the jury entranced as he spelt out the agony of a young boy robbed of his birthright and a father accused of denying his young wife the tender embrace of true matrimony.