Caprice and Rondo - Dorothy Dunnett [155]
To which Kathi could only reply, however unwillingly, with the truth. ‘It was Nicholas, I believe, who suggested it.’
‘Really?’ said Gelis.
‘To combine the two inheritances, I suppose. The Bank was in pieces. Nicholas might have felt grateful to Julius, who had invited him to join his own company …’
‘And then Nicholas shot him?’ remarked Gelis, with not unreasonable scepticism.
‘Anna hasn’t withdrawn the idea of a union, that I know of. Of course, Jodi is young. No steps have been taken. Talks would have to take place. It was understood that your wishes would be fully consulted.’
‘When?’ Gelis had said. ‘Now that Julius is on his sickbed, and Anna and Nicholas are in Caffa?’ Her colour was suddenly flagrant.
‘Send and forbid it,’ Kathi had said. ‘If that’s what you want. Letters do get there eventually. And you can trust Nicholas, surely, in this. He would never commit Jodi to something as important as this unless you agreed. You know he wouldn’t.’
‘Do I?’ said Gelis.
‘Well, I do,’ Kathi had said. ‘What is it? You’re not concerned about Anna? She’s the sensible sister Nicholas ought to have had. And after what he did to Julius, Nicholas will treat her like the eleven thousand virgins all rolled into one. At least he still has the grace to be remorseful.’
But Gelis had not immediately replied.
‘Well?’ Robin was saying now, persevering. His hand oscillated in front of her eyes. Blinking, Kathi directed her gaze at him. ‘What did Gelis think of the marriage proposal?’
‘Oh. That it’s ten years too early, of course. And privately, she must be afraid that it marks a rejection of Jodi. At any rate, she won’t take steps until she hears from Nicholas. She doesn’t want to write to him herself.’
‘In case he burns it,’ said Robin.
Kathi laid down her brush. ‘Gelis didn’t know about that. A lot of friends are honoured with poems by Jodi: Anna must have picked up one of these, and thought it would overwhelm Nicholas with nostalgia and lead to a reunion.’
‘You told Gelis exactly what happened?’
‘I told her that he couldn’t bear to keep it, he missed Jodi so much. At least she would know, despite the marriage nonsense, that he wasn’t uncaring.’
‘You and Anna want Gelis to take Jodi and join him. It’s too soon, Kathi.’
‘I know that. Anyway, Gelis is determined to work for the Bank all this winter. Do you know what she is going to do?’
‘Diniz told me. He was stiff with anxiety, and Govaerts and Moriz weren’t much better. She’s going to consult with them in Bruges, and then go and join the Duchess’s household at Ghent. Gelis used to be maid of honour to Margaret of Burgundy. She can speak English. She can do what even Nicholas couldn’t. She can stay where the financial decisions are being taken — for the war, for the future of the towns and the Burgundian states. And she can act as the voice of the Bank.’
‘And the Bank’s army,’ Kathi said. ‘You know she’ll make her way to the war front. You know she’ll deal with Astorre, and talk to John, and work out their contracts. You ought to be in the field. It’s what Nicholas was training you for.’
In recent times, with mild horror, she occasionally heard herself giving voice to some feminine plea of this kind. It was unfair, for he couldn’t give way. Robin was a conscientious young merchant, worthy successor to the business and lands of his family. However poor the country might be, fatherhood called him to Scotland and duty would chain him there: cheap fanfares of renunciation wouldn’t help him at present.
The fact remained that the brief training for war under Nicholas had shown Robin to be ideally suited to the chivalrous arts. It had been one of the happiest times of his life. Even the military structure of Poland had entranced him. After this baby was born, she must release him for a little, to put some of his youth and talents at venture, so that he would return yet