Caprice and Rondo - Dorothy Dunnett [76]
It had seemed merely an aggravation of all they were suffering when, once they were seated, their nearest neighbour proved to be Julius of Bologna. Adorne had barely responded to his bow, and had conveyed coolness, rising, when his German wife Anna approached. But no man with blood in his veins could long withstand that level, deep gaze. ‘My lord, may I speak for my husband? He wished me to say that we have nothing but friendship for you, and hoped you would forgive us our loyalty to a still older friend, Nicholas de Fleury.’
Kathi, listening, thought how fortunate Julius was, and felt a surge of love for her uncle who, taking the girl’s fingers in his, did not hesitate. ‘Gräfin, of course. It is not for me to say where your husband’s loyalties should lie. I know you have been kind to my niece.’ And, making a space, ‘Will you give us your company for a little?’
She sat as he asked, her eyes holding his. She said, ‘There is something else. It has become necessary for Julius to settle a dispute in the Genoese colony at Caffa. It is between his branch of the Bank and the notary of a man who is dying. Of course, we shall not travel at the same time as you — we have to move fast, and at once — but it is not impossible that we shall meet when you come. We should try not to trouble you.’
And her uncle, after a moment’s silence, had looked into those wonderful, dark blue eyes and said gently, ‘You need have no fears. As it happens, my own journey is in doubt. The King has left Thorn, and all my plans are suspended. Even if de Fleury were with you, our paths would hardly cross.’
Anna’s eyes were wide with concern. She answered, half automatically, ‘Nicholas? Oh, we expect him to stay, working for us, or the Queen. But do you mean it, my lord? The King has gone! What will you do?’
The solicitude of a pretty woman worked its charm. Adorne’s face softened. He said, ‘There are various possible courses. One cannot quite brush aside an accredited ambassador. But none of that need concern you.’ Then he paused. ‘You say de Fleury may work for the Queen?’
It had startled Kathi as well. Beside her, she could feel Robin’s stillness. The Gräfin said quickly, ‘You hadn’t heard? Then I may be quite wrong. But he spent the morning, I’m told, at the Burgh Halls with the Queen and Callimaco and the Venetian envoy. Someone claimed that money changed hands. Julius hoped he might choose to work with us, but others, of course, could offer more. My lord, might I bring Julius to speak, once the shooting is over? He has always admired you, and would not wish to be estranged.’ She turned a little. ‘Kathi and Robin would not mind?’
Kathi shook her head, hearing her uncle agree. She did not mind. This winter, however shallow his motives might be, Julius had stood by Nicholas de Fleury, as he had many times in the past. He had upheld him at Berecrofts five years ago, when a young woman died in the ice of a dark Scottish river, and Nicholas had been blamed. Anna, she thought, had a right to learn some of that, if not all.
She knew a little already, and Kathi answered her questions as the guild’s heralds blew their flourish, and the contestants strode out, and the long, worthy succession of archers began to take shots at the papingo. Speaking like this, as she seldom did, it was clearer than ever to Kathi how much of Nicholas’s character could be explained by his