Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [285]
She studied him. He was right. It was what the others had said, more obliquely. Colville, choosing the moment, led from that topic to the second they had selected. ‘It is, in any case, hypothetical. There will be no army from France. At the same time, we do require to know what is happening there. You say his grace of Albany writes to his friends?’
‘This we have also heard,’ said the Queen. ‘And, of course, to his sister in particular. You were once closely acquainted with the Princess Mary, M. de Fleury, and your wife and son have both served in her household?’
‘Sadly, we see less of her now,’ the Burgundian said. ‘And my son, as you may know, is now back in Edinburgh.’
‘An excellent child. Jordan. We remember. You must bring him with you next time: he and the Prince have made sport in the past with the Princess’s children. How then would you answer if I suggested that Jordan should return to his post with the lady Mary and report what he hears?’
‘I should reply,’ said the Burgundian, ‘with regret, that my son is too young to spy, and I should not permit it.’ His voice was calm. He was used to opening moves. He was not, in fact, taking it seriously.
Colville said, ‘In that case, the Queen would be the last person to compel you. We have, indeed, already thought of a substitute. Lord Cortachy’s niece served the younger Princess, who often stays with her sister. It will be natural for the demoiselle Katelinje to take an appointment in the princess’s household. While there, she can tell us when the lady Mary hears from her brother.’
The Burgundian said, ‘I can see that it would be useful. As a friend of the family, I confess to the same misgivings that I felt over Jordan. It is not a pleasant assignment, and it could be dangerous. Is there no other way?’
‘Several,’ she said. ‘Were you less squeamish, you could renew your own friendship with the Princess, for example.’ They were talking of state matters. She had no patience with foibles. She knew, anyway, that Rob Colville would intervene, as he did.
‘My lady. Of course, it would be a valuable gesture. But M. de Fleury could not serve both the Princess and your grace, and he has already proved, in this room, how much he can help us. I am sure Mistress Katelinje will come to no harm with the lady Mary. It is a busy household. There are children. Their nurses know one another.’
They certainly did. Every ruler she knew of had to come to terms with that sinister international sisterhood of children’s nurses, heaped with honours, pensioned off into comfortable old age to encourage their successors. Nanse Preston, her merchant husband and clever young son drew the revenues from royal land close to Linlithgow which had previously succoured a needy kinsman of Colville’s. The nurse’s grant was annually renewed by her small charge, as were the words of noble thanks and affection which had been annually placed in his mouth since his infancy. Indeed, James had grown fond of the woman, and would certainly not cancel them now. No one ever offended a nurse in royal circles.
Colville was looking at her. She would, herself, have preferred to make the first interview more explicit, but it had covered the necessary points, and the next should be more instructive. She thought, as she drew the audience to a close, that she would invite the man and his son next time to Doune. He could