Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [268]
He had spoken calmly, but Kathi looked troubled. He sat.
Adorne said, ‘You mistake me. I am glad beyond measure that you have refused to divine. It is something that came between us in the past. Now, perhaps I trust you more than you trust yourself. I am only concerned that, between us all, we shall drive you away. I know something about defensive war. I know a great deal more about coinage and fund-raising taxes, but success in that—I think you are right—will not depend upon a sudden influx of bullion. It will depend upon the management of a healthy, developing trade that will continue through every political change, clandestinely if necessary. I know manufacturers, I know shippers, I know dealers, and I know men who are all three. I know of no one who combines them in all their most questionable aspects with the brilliance that you do.’ He was smiling.
Kathi wasn’t. Kathi said, ‘I think you should say to Nicholas what you said to me. That your work needs his, and his yours.’
Adorne said, ‘I think he knows that, but I hope he will absolve me from personal pressure. I assume, at least, that you are in Scotland, Nicholas, so long as the war lasts? Are you to be in Edinburgh, or irresponsibly in the thick of the fighting on the Borders? You know, you ought to place that young lady somewhere safe. Eccles is far too near the frontier.’
Nicholas emitted a short, alarmed groan. ‘Bonne? I sent to have her brought north before I sailed. Didn’t she come?’
‘Not for you,’ Adorne said. ‘What a shame. I had no trouble taking her from Edinburgh. Would you like me to go down and help?’
‘You’re not going,’ said Kathi positively. ‘But someone must. And if she doesn’t obey Nicholas, who?’
‘She,’ said Nicholas, ‘will obey Nicholas.’ He resumed his ordinary voice. ‘I suppose I’d better ride down. And the nun—oh God, the nun.’ He brooded, and then brightened suddenly. ‘I know. I’ll take Julius.’
‘Who then can’t search for Bel. You are obvious, aren’t you?’ Kathi said.
‘It’s why he’ll never get on. What about some music?’ said Adorne. There was a lute to his hand. He drew it over and brushed the strings, lovingly, with his tapering fingers. He began to sing under his breath, and when Nicholas joined him, he smiled, and then again, when Kathi brought in the descant.
It was partly improvised, the best kind of music: concentrated, pure, more demanding than anything the real world had offered that day.
Harmony is a maiden carrying a shield. As soon as she enters the hall, a symphony swells from the shield.
Come. Here is peace. Here is safety. Here are friends.
Part IV
Quhen I was zoung we had a tyrand king.
I askit than that sone he suld be deid
And so he was; a war come in his steid
And als fast than for his deid I besocht.
Syne come the werst that ever mycht be wrocht.
Chapter 34
Richt sad in moving suld thir women be
And of schort space and to no fer cuntré
NICHOLAS RODE SOUTH to Eccles next day.
At first, Julius had refused to concern himself with the plight of his step-daughter, driving Nicholas to fulminate. Then came news of fresh fighting on the Border, and Julius, bribed by the leadership of their small troop of cavalry, agreed to set off via Eccles, so long as nobody expected him to bring the wench back. Nicholas could do that, he said, and then return to the sheepfold in Edinburgh, and keep the King happy. To Julius, sometimes, Nicholas was still vaguely an apprentice, whose job was to look after children.
Nicholas, who occasionally shared this opinion, took Jordan with him. At the last moment,