Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [298]
Parliament had just met and, prodded by all those who knew, had addressed at last the prospect of serious war, and had provided for it. Nicholas said, ‘I came, of course, to hear your position, and it is as one would expect. England’s plans, however, may change. We have heard from Flanders today. There has been another death in the dukedom. The young Duchess took a bad fall in the hunting field, and has died. The Estates have taken her children, and may refuse her husband the means to go on fighting the French.’
‘In which case,’ said Knollys, ‘the Archduke Maximilian applies to England for help with an immediate, pre-emptive campaign. If England agrees, she will have no time for Scotland. If she refuses, she will.’
‘She’ll refuse. Edward wants to keep his French pension,’ John said.
‘I think so. It means,’ said Nicholas, ‘that information from England will be welcome. The Abbeys are being very helpful, and you have already mentioned hearing from Albany. As you pass between Leighton Buzzard and Clerkenwell, you may hear other items of use.’
‘I have been wondering,’ said William Knollys, ‘why this little conversation is taking place now, instead of at the council table with my usual colleagues. But now I see. You have friends in the Abbey of Newbattle, and especially among the Sinclairs?’
‘Like yourself, my lord, I have friends everywhere,’ Nicholas said. ‘In Newbattle, perhaps, fewer than usual, since they harboured our mutual abomination, David Simpson. No. I have not come to grind a Newbattle axe; just to ask for your help. Simply, because of the King, news is best gathered outside the Court. If you hear anything, let me know and I shall come.’
‘Or I shall have difficulty with my salmon?’ Knollys said. ‘But then, as a merchant yourself, you must know how prolonged—and expensive—a trade dispute can be. I should hate to incur one simply because there were no secrets to be had.’
‘Fortunately,’ Nicholas said, ‘in my experience, there is always gossip where men are gathered. Did I not hear that one of the late Sultan’s sons has promised the Knights total immunity provided they put him on his father’s throne? Rhodes would become quieter than Scotland then.’
‘I prefer Scotland,’ said Knollys. ‘The conversation is better. I was just about to partake of a meal. Will you join me? I feel we have hardly plumbed our relationship yet.’
At table, thank God, John le Grant found his voice and ended up arguing over Middle Eastern artillery and military architecture, not forgetting Cyprus, Constantinople, or the St Nicholas Tower in Rhodes. On all of these, their statuesque host was sufficiently primed to be challenging: he had, after all, been listening to individual Knights on the subject for fifteen years. When Nicholas deflected the conversation to the present Scottish war, the Preceptor was equally sure of himself. ‘You heard the garrison numbers: too small; but all that can be spared for the Borders.’
‘And yourself?’ Nicholas said. ‘Will you be raising troops?’ The Order had property everywhere. They were overlords, in the west, of Robin’s family.
‘In Aberdeenshire, yes, as I am sure you have heard,’ Knollys said. ‘The rest must wait on events. I have no difficulty in serving under others. I could perhaps help most on the east, but John Darnley is a good choice for West Warden. I hear your St Pols have gone back to Annan and Threave?’
‘My St Pols?’ He said it with amusement.
The Preceptor emitted a kind of sonorous snore. ‘Only through being linked, of course, in notorious dissent. Eck Scougal told me how the lad Henry took your best horses. The colts are back in the stud under guard at the moment: that Liddell land is good grazing, but too tempting for soldiers.’
‘Then, if need be, you move the whole stud?’ Nicholas said. ‘Where?’
‘To various places. I have some of the horses here now.