Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [176]
‘I feel like a tailor,’ Nicholas said. ‘It sounds a good idea. What inducement can we offer? Viewing his fortified castles? Not, I hope, salmon?’ There went through his mind an elaborate consortium deal brokered by Luss and Tam Cochrane, and involving Cawdor, Ross and the Cumming brothers in the Nairn area. But of course Adorne would know all about it. Marchmont Herald, a Cumming, was married to a Craigmillar Preston, who was thereby related to both Leithie and Cochrane. And Cawdor was in the salmon business with Alex Innes, who was married to Phemie’s sister. It was amazing what connections Phemie had had.
He had an appealing idea. He said, ‘Don’t the Bishops of Caithness have salmon rights? Bonar Bridge? That impossibly rich bailery of St Duthac? Where’s Camulio?’
Prosper de Camulio, Bishop-elect of Caithness, was moving in a distracted way through Europe, performing unpopular errands for the Pope and King Ferrante of Naples.
Adorne said, ‘I believe he is currently moving between Switzerland, the Tyrol and the Emperor, attempting to form a papal alliance against Milan. His plans beyond that are not known. Simpson, you will remember, was encouraged to believe that his employer was returning this spring, but we have no reason to think so. He has been sent a report of Simpson’s death.’
He stopped, looking at Nicholas. ‘While we are on the subject of Craigmillar and after: no one but Simpson will be held accountable for what happened, unless an exception is made for the destruction of Beltrees. I should like to affirm here and now that I personally will support what you did to the hilt, and will support you at law if it comes to it. Meanwhile, is there need of a lawyer? Should you not send for Julius, for example?’
Adorne could often surprise him. Nicholas said, ‘Thank you, sir, but no. Failing the departure of most of the Council, it seems unlikely that anyone will prosecute. Unless, of course, my lord of St Pol has other plans.’ He was looking at Wodman.
The Conservator said, ‘I left him at Kilmirren, with Henry. I rather think it would be best if you didn’t meet again for a very long time. I don’t think he will take your throat out immediately, but you know the old man. He keeps his plans to himself.’
As he was keeping Henry beside him. Nicholas could understand that.
Andreas left. Wodman asked about the Colquhoun ship, and the pirated cargo for Benecke’s family, and Nicholas told him, without unnecessary details. He had no regrets. If there had been Newbattle goods on the Star as well as Simpson’s, it was unfortunate, but he was prepared to answer for it. Wodman said, ‘I wish I’d thought of it first. But you be careful. I got the impression that Simpson had prepared one or two slow-matches that might be burning away in a corner, all ready to go off one of these days.’
Nicholas thought so as well, and respected the warning. Wodman had said very little about Simpson’s death, or about St Pol. It was an avenue that Nicholas, too, was content not to explore. Wodman had always expected Nicholas to kill Simpson for him. Perhaps there was some code of honour that had prevented him from doing it himself. Or perhaps the old man had forbidden it.
There was, however, one thing that Andro Wodman did have to answer for, but not before Adorne. When the Conservator next left the room, Nicholas followed him. He remembered, from the sludge of the past, another meeting in a latrine in Poland, and what had happened immediately afterwards. No, he did not need a lawyer. He leaned against the door and said, when Wodman turned, ‘The copper bowl.’
Wodman finished replacing his ties and sat down again where it was most convenient. The misshapen face looked quite undisturbed. He said, ‘That’s an eerie gift you’ve got there. Tobie was sure you’d be made to divine. I had the bowl in my luggage. You remember where you saw it last.’
Nicholas knew. Seven years before, at the court of King René in Angers, when