Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [266]
‘At Chouzy,’ Nicholas said. Adorne was courteously listening.
‘Robin remembered the name of the family: Bernard de Moncourt of Chouzy, and his wife Claude. He explained to Julius they were relatives of Clémence, and that you had called, since you were passing, because you knew so little about her, and she was so important to Jodi.’ She paused. ‘Was that awkward? Do you mind Julius knowing?’
‘Not at all. I actually went to make enquiries at the convent where Clémence was reared, and arrived at the seigneur’s house quite by accident. No, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure Clémence wouldn’t mind, if she knew. Julius is thorough, isn’t he?’ Nicholas said. ‘Who else is suffering?’
‘Well,’ said Kathi, munching reflectively. ‘He went straight to Tobie, of course, but Tobie just repeated what Robin said. Then Julius went and got hold of Oliver Semple. Your old factor? Who’s gone back to work for Sir Thomas Semple? He thought he might remember the scandal—’ She broke off. ‘I’m sorry. This is very difficult.’
‘Not at all. It was a scandal. Sweet young Scottish lad is tricked into marriage by Burgundian harridan thirteen years older, who gives premature birth to his dead child and, plunging into promiscuity, tries to saddle him with her next. That was what everyone in Scotland was told, and what they believed. I wish he’d leave it alone.’
‘He won’t. It’s what the monks in Paisley were told as well. Julius asked them. They said Simon was notoriously wild, but that the girl he married was shameless. The St Pols said that if she’d tried to come to Scotland, she would have been thrown out.’
Kathi had begun to look rather hot. She said, ‘It’s no wonder you felt crucified by everyone here, Nicholas, and not just the St Pols. They were told atrocious lies, and they believed them.’
‘And Oliver Semple?’ Nicholas said. He kept his voice friendly. He didn’t know why she was saying all this with Adorne there.
‘Bel got to him first: he wouldn’t pass on gossip anyway. But, of course, Julius is now hunting for Bel. He knows Bel was in France at the time when you and Adelina were still with your mother, and St Pol was becoming the vicomte de Ribérac. Julius is planning to question the French Archers who have retired back to Scotland. There was an Erskine among them. Even a Lisouris.’
‘Kathi, what do you think they could know?’ Nicholas said. ‘Anyway, to listen to Wodman, they retire with enough claret to preserve them from thinking clearly ever again. As for the two Princesses, Eleanor is dead, and Julius is very welcome to try to talk to Joanna.’
He suddenly realised why Adorne was here. He sent a flicker of apology to Kathi, and spoke to her uncle. ‘Julius has bothered you, too? I am sorry.’
Adorne was more tranquil than he was, or Kathi. ‘The situation has been created by Julius, not by you. He asked me about Venice, and my visit to Montello, where my brother is buried, and where your maternal grandfather was then being nursed. I saw the vicomte de Fleury at the time, but he could not speak, and I had nothing to add to what Gelis and Tobie learned later. Julius did also ask, however, whether I had sent a servant back to ask further questions, as someone claimed. I had to confirm that I had not. Then he asked me if I had heard any rumours about the old lady called Tasse, the retired servant who died, drowned in a Venice canal while staying with Gregorio.’
He stopped. After a moment he said, ‘Nicholas?’ Kathi was looking at him as well.
Nicholas said, ‘I’m sorry. She was one of the few friends of my stay in Jaak de Fleury’s house, and her death was a blow. What rumour did he mean?’
Adorne said, ‘Apparently, Gregorio was not satisfied that her death was an accident, and he was right. Investigation showed that she had suffered a blow before falling, and might possibly have been held underwater until she died. But no reason for her killing was found, and no murderer. Julius wondered if the mysterious man at Montello was implicated, and if Tasse had been killed because she