Checkmate - Dorothy Dunnett [280]
There was a small silence. Then Richard said, ‘I have never met Jerott Blyth’s lady. But at court, of course, there is always gossip. I have been told, yes, that she is extremely like Francis. I have even been told that in Lyon he called her his step-sister. More than that I do not know.… Why do you ask?’
Austin shook his head with a small, irritable movement. ‘Master Elder wanted to meet her. I hoped it would not be embarrassing.’
‘Not to me,’ Richard said. ‘I can’t, then, persuade you to leave France in the next day or two?’
Austin shook his head again. The outburst of violence had gone, leaving him spent with weariness. He said, ‘What if she needs help? You won’t be here for long.’
‘For long enough,’ Richard said. ‘In France, it seems, there is almost no term to the celebrations for a Dauphin’s nuptials. We have been told to count on a further stay of several weeks: more, if the Narrow Straits are still not safe for shipping. And meantime, we shall have news of Philippa in a very short time. Piero Strozzi is riding to Sevigny.’
‘Strozzi!’ said Austin, his voice cracking. ‘But——’
‘If you think it is undesirable,’ said Richard harshly, ‘try arguing with the King and his followers. The more ambitious captains may not want Francis back, but his own men do, and the mercenaries, and the ensigns who fought with him at Calais. The new season’s campaign is just about to open in Champagne and King Henri wants Francis there. Strozzi is being sent to tell him so.’
There was a long pause. Then Austin said, ‘You will tell me what he says when he returns?’
‘He will tell you himself,’ Richard said. ‘I shall bring him to the Hôtel de l’Ange and he will tell all of us. We deserve that much reassurance, at least.’
*
The French King was hunting when Piero Strozzi returned. He had been hunting, in fact, for ten days largely, it was rumoured, to keep out of the way of prying foreign ambassadors while conducting a war with one hand and a peace conference with the other. As a result, it was the middle of May before Strozzi made his report and was able, on his way back through Paris for his equipment, to call on the Hôtel de l’Ange with his bulletin.
He delivered it, nothing abashed, not only to the Crawfords of Culter and Lord Allendale but to Adam and three of the Commissioners who happened to be in the main salon at the time.
‘Well, you are wondering; you ask, did I see him in his asylum of the Muses and I have to say yes, I have seen him. And quel changement … quantum mutatus ab illo Hectore! Spells, spells has he cast, my enemy and traitor! I take God to record that if the little demoiselle did not look so appealingly, I would have pulled him from his bush of roses with my sword belt, I burn so with jealousy. But who would blame him? Appetite is the stay of life, and it is not given to a man to love and be wise.’
He paused for breath. Richard said flatly, ‘Is he coming back to the army?’
‘Ah! Chi mi! Qu’io no pensara di partime! I lie,’ said Piero Strozzi cheerfully. ‘At times I hoped very much he was able to leave me. It is not comfortable, when you are a great leader, as I am, and a veteran of many famous wars, to have a second Démétrius appear and sit at your master’s right hand. No, he is not returning. He is not planning to throw himself into the King’s arms and cry misericordia. He does not wish to take his wife to Lanarkshire, the Paradise of Scotland. He intends to remain where he is, multiplying the fornications and impurities before the idol of Aphrodite like the Agregentines, who gave themselves up to delight as if every day was to be their last. I beg you, Lord Allendale,’ said Piero Strozzi, ‘do you know of any other young maids from Hexham?’
He was a mischievous man, and not above malice. The Commissioners, having heard what they wanted to hear, moved away. Sybilla said, ‘You imply they are much in love. Did you see Mistress Philippa? Did she seem to be happy?’
‘I never saw them apart,’ Strozzi said. ‘They greeted