Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [326]
‘If de Fleury has disappeared, it hardly matters,’ the Secretary said. ‘So who will stop the King? You are confident that somebody will?’
‘I shall make sure that they do,’ Avandale said. ‘A little more rain, Will, would help, if you are praying. A thunderstorm, even. Let’s make it unpleasant for Dickon and Harry Percy and all those brave Englishmen crossing the Tweed. Come.’ He slapped his hands on the board and stood up. ‘Let’s go to it. If we can’t meddle ourselves, we can send someone who will. Archie, you spoke of de Fleury? Has anyone told his wife that he’s safe?’
The Secretary got up, removing his spectacles. ‘Adorne is coming tomorrow.’
‘Of course. But he has achieved prodigies, Nicol, and has been lost to his folk for a month. Someone should tell them tonight.’
• • •
A CHAPLAIN WENT, braving the rain, and paralysed the de Fleury household by chapping insistently on the front door at midnight. When the door finally opened on a firm, compact man with a stick, the chaplain in turn was alarmed. Then the man, a superior servant called Lowrie, fetched his mistress, and the chaplain received his reward in Gascon wine and raisins (great grape, not currants), and a comfortable chair, and the anxious services of a tall, dimpled child with courtly manners, who put his arm round his smiling lady mother, and brought her a kerchief when her tears trickled into her smile.
EARLY NEXT MORNING, forcing her way down the sluicing gutters to Kathi’s house, Gelis presented her bulletin: Kathi’s uncle was well, and would be back by late morning; Nicholas was safely in Scotland but still in the south; Andro Wodman was hurt and would be brought to the Floory Land by Adorne’s men.
During all this recital, Kathi, sitting firmly by Robin, had gone very pale and then flushed. ‘Damn you,’ she said.
‘I know,’ Gelis had replied, with a scowl. Robin had given a laugh.
Jordan, who had come with his mother, looked surprised. Margaret was not there. Everyone younger than himself had been bundled off to their homes in the country, along with their valuables. Those who didn’t have homes in the country sent their children to friends and dug holes for their silver. Some got permission to store their goods in the Castle, or one of the other stone towers. Robin was here because people thought him a cripple, when he was as capable as Jordan’s father, or nearly.
Robin’s wife said, ‘I’ll go across and prepare Saunders’s household. Perhaps they’ll let us have Dr Andreas from the Castle. Uncle will have to go there first.’
The demoiselle’s brother was at Linlithgow. Dr Tobie was with the King. Jordan had wanted to march with the King, but he had promised his father to stay. He had been taught how to fight. Robin had trained him, and his friends. If the English army marched into Edinburgh, the militia would stop them. Jordan and his friends were in the militia. Rankin and Hob were still babies.
While the women talked, Jordan stayed with Robin. He wished to ask about hackbuts. Sometimes Robin’s attention wandered, as it did when he was tired.
Andro Wodman arrived just before midday, brought to the Floory Land by one of Adorne’s men, who immediately left. There being a shortage of fully grown men, Jordan crossed the road to help his mother and the demoiselle Kathi, who were putting Master Wodman to bed. Lord Cortachy had gone straight to the Castle, but was supposed to come soon, with the doctor.
Master Wodman had been hurt in the thigh, and was feverish. He kept trying to talk. He had grown a black beard, which made his squashed nose look worse, and his cheek-bones were red. He had saved Jordan’s life once. He was the best man Jordan had ever seen with a bow, apart from his father and Robin. When he did manage to speak, it was to say what they already knew: that Jordan’s father and the demoiselle’s uncle were safe. He added that Jordan’s father had been to York and back, and had spoken to the Duke of Albany and the Duke of Gloucester, and had found out what they were likely to do. It would be