Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [379]
So that was it. Gelis said, ‘Before he was Pope. When he survived a near-wreck, he kept his vow to walk barefoot to the shrine of St Mary at Whitekirk. Ten miles, he said. Tobie’s uncle not being as brilliant as Tobie, his feet were never the same.’
‘A healing well and a very fine church,’ Nicholas said. ‘Also a large number of cabins for pilgrims and others. The Abbot of Holyrood holds his courts there: it comes under the regality of Broughton, which makes Archie Crawford little King of Whitekirk. Adorne is proposing to walk from the Abbey kirk and cloister of North Berwick, unarmed, without servants, and meet Sandy at Whitekirk. Adorne will apologise for the King, excuse him on the grounds of sickness, and ask Sandy to come back on the same terms as before, and with no charges against him. He will also explain to him what has happened abroad, and why he can expect no help from England. He might even offer to have the King himself come, if Sandy asks.’
‘Would he?’ said Father Moriz.
Nicholas said, ‘Probably not. But it might help to safeguard Adorne’s life in the meantime.’
John said, ‘But it’s a trick. The King hasn’t relented. You say you talk to him daily, but he’s still enraged.’
‘We all talk to him,’ Nicholas said. ‘He will come to agree, when he is calm. Until then, we are fending off war. We’re not trying to trap or cheat Albany. He can stay away if he likes: perhaps he will. Or he may want to come with a fully equipped cavalry troop. Regardless, Adorne will be there, and on foot, and unarmed. There will be no hidden soldiers. If Albany loses his head, or takes bad advice, he may simply kill the King’s envoy. But it would be a very bad move. Think how bad.’
‘So Adorne is really safe?’ Gelis said. She spoke like an enemy. She knew Nicholas.
Father Moriz looked at her and then back to Nicholas. He said, as a statement, ‘You are going with him.’
Nicholas was still holding Gelis’s eyes. He said, ‘Yes. We all have a better chance if I go. Adorne, and Albany, and the country.’
He didn’t add anything. He didn’t ask her forgiveness, or say he didn’t do such a thing lightly, or explain at all. She understood.
No one spoke. She supposed they were all struggling with the same realisation. Then Julius said, ‘You’re mad.’ He sounded resigned. When he continued, it was with mild decision. ‘All right. They’ll kill you, but they might hesitate if they’ve heard from me beforehand. I’m still going to send Liddell that letter. I’ll even add, if you like, that you really will be unarmed.’
Tobie drew breath. Nicholas said, ‘What’s got into you? You just want to get out and build snowmen. All right. But if they capture you, I’m not paying more than I won off you last night at cards.’
John released his breath. He said, ‘Christ. That’ll get about one finger back.’
‘Well, why not?’ said Nicholas illogically. ‘The Pope turned his toes in for nothing.’
Later, he got hold of Julius.
‘You don’t need to go. Look, I’ve chosen this country, you haven’t. If all this becomes hopeless, you can go back to Germany, or give Gregorio or Diniz a hand.’
‘How exciting,’ said Julius.
Nicholas sighed. ‘Sugary pastries? Embroidered doublets? No Bonne?’
‘So why don’t you go back?’ Julius said.
He tried to think. He tried very hard to think of an answer that Julius would understand. In the end he just said, ‘I don’t know.’
JULIUS LEFT. ALEX Home of Home, to the general amazement, sent a messenger to the Netherbow Port asking leave to enter with his company of kinsmen and friends. It seemed that he had become disenchanted with Albany’s chances, and wished to return to the King. The King, his emotions assiduously tended by his doctors and friends, agreed to see him, forgave him, and promised him Chirnside in Berwickshire, which at that moment belonged to the Duke of Albany.
John said, ‘Julius must have got his letter in, and they believed it.’
Nine days later, they had stopped joking about Whitekirk, since the insubstantial proposal had suddenly solidified. Albany had replied to the approach to negotiate. He had accepted the rendezvous