Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [183]
‘We all did you a service,’ Nicholas said. ‘Yes, yes, I know. I do understand. My lord.’
‘Well, who better,’ Argyll said. ‘You, of course, were never over the Border. The King thinks you rode south to dissuade Sandy; you and Liddell are here to be questioned, after which you will be released. Sandy will stay until we know the damage that’s in it, and can see what best to do. Why is he cheerful?’
‘Because he’s won,’ Nicholas said. ‘He did what he was forbidden to do, and showed his disagreement with the English peace policy, and quite a lot of March lords agreed to ride with him, at that. I’ll give you a list of their names. No surprises. He’ll be a lot less cheerful as the weeks go by.’
Argyll said, ‘I’ve asked Bishop Spens to come and talk to him. ’Tis known to me that he’s seen as the universal peace-maker, whateffer, but he and Sandy came through that business in England together, and he knows how Sandy thinks. If Sandy would agree to keep quiet, he could disappear into Annandale for a few weeks while this is all sorted out. So long as the English think he’s in prison, that’s all that matters.’
‘But that’s all that matters to Sandy as well,’ Nicholas said. ‘He expects a rap over the knuckles and freedom. If he doesn’t get that, he’s going to be the noisiest martyr we have all ever known.’
‘Faire, faire! I wish I didn’t believe you were right,’ Argyll said.
He left. Liddell came back, followed by a supply of superior plenishments, including writing materials and books. Food arrived, wrapped in cloths, which was rather more satisfying than the Castle’s usual provender and came, Nicholas suspected, from the Argyll tavern.
Bishop Spens arrived, wiping his face. ‘Man! He’s a thrawn devil, young Sandy!’
Liddell got him a seat. ‘My lord, it’s not from lack of principles, or respect. He’s acting as his conscience directs.’
‘Aye. I ken,’ said Bishop Spens. ‘Rogues are easy. Ye can aye sink your teeth in a rogue, but a principled man can be poison. Which reminds me. All yon at Craigmillar is safely over? Cortachy came away without blame, like the rest of ye? That’s a good man. I’ve said before, someone should try to keep him in Scotland. He could earn his keep. He’s got my Linlithgow franchise, and welcome. And I’ve nine and twenty prebendaries floating about in the north that could offer a position for one or two sons, when the time came. Tell him that.’
‘I shall,’ Nicholas said. ‘Although I don’t think Lord Cortachy feels he can make plans just yet.’ Spens knew that. The previous year, the Duchess of Burgundy had had a son, Philip, delivered with promptitude the summer after her wedding, but her husband had still produced no decisive victory against the French, nor a new form of combined rule for Flanders in Burgundy.
Spens rubbed his big-nosed, high-coloured face. Rising seventy, Bishop of Aberdeen but tied to Edinburgh by his skills as a judge, Thomas Spens was a former protonotary at Rome, a lord of Council, an auditor, a broker of truces and marriages who had, in his time, asked for and received a papal bull which exempted his bishopric alone from the superior rule of St Andrews. He got on well with Will Scheves. He simply liked to go his own way, and had earned the right to do it. Now he said, ‘Oh, it’ll open out some time, if only we exercise patience. I’ve every sympathy with Sandy Albany. He’s proud of his country, and so am I. How did he take it, the stramash at Craigmillar? The Prestons had a lot to say, I’ll be bound.’
Again. Liddell was up, pouring wine. Nicholas said, ‘They’re a formidable crew.’
‘Aye,’ Bishop Spens said. ‘Yon John, he made a good marriage. Ah! A cup of Bordeaux! Jamie, your very good health, and may this all be settled by Christmas.’
It was March. Liddell laughed, and so did Nicholas, and presently Bishop Spens left, and it was soon time for bed. In the darkness, Nicholas lay thinking. John Preston. Who was his wife? Then he remembered.
GELIS SAID, ‘NICHOLAS is still at the Castle: they want him to keep Albany happy, and Liddell under his eye.