Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [67]
This time, hearing the roar of the crowd, Gelis van Borselen did not go seeking help, because no help could reach Bruges in time. On the other hand, the waterways were now clear, and the Hof Charetty-Niccolò had a boat that could be carried down to the canal and launched, with herself and John le Grant and eight armed men to propel it. She had left Jodi behind, in a house that was full of men, and well protected, and in no danger of serious attack. Diniz had never held civic office. In the Hof Charetty-Niccolò he was safe, and so was she, wherever she was. She was a van Borselen.
The walls of the Hôtel Jerusalem were manned, but she was recognised and allowed into the grounds. In the house, they were met immediately by Kathi. She said, ‘Go back. The town guard is coming, and we are not to defend ourselves, or resist. Our men are there only in case others try to burst in.’ She was without colour, her eyes enormous as they had been in the Hospital.
Le Grant said, ‘Where is your uncle?’
‘Here,’ said Kathi. ‘They are coming to arrest him. They have found some authority; he says it is necessary to let the law take its course. He is here to surrender, so that there will be no reason to harm the rest of us.’
‘You have a boat,’ Gelis said quickly. ‘We have ours. We could take you all and escape.’
A little of the starkness left Kathi’s face. She said, ‘Thank you, but no. We should be caught, and it would only cause bloodshed. And there are the children, and Robin.’ She paused and said, ‘You are such good friends, to have come. I’m sorry to seem ungrateful. I thought Uncle should escape too, but he won’t. He says he will stand by his record. After all he has done for Bruges, they will surely be ashamed, and release him.’
John le Grant said, ‘I don’t understand how they can make a case of any kind. Is he the only one?’
‘No. He isn’t the only one,’ Kathi said. ‘They’re rounding up the magistrates, the burgomaster who worked with him—Paul van Overtweldt, Jean de Baenst, Barbesaen … everyone in office when the Duke was raising money for his wars. My uncle gave money himself—do you think they have forgotten the forced levies? Two hundred, two hundred and fifty pounds he paid for the Duke’s wars out of his own pocket. Even Dr Andreas had to pay.’ She broke off. ‘They’re not all mad. He has only to stand up in court, and it will all be judged in his favour. But it would be best not to be here when they come. Please go, John. You saved Robin for me. I can’t let you do more. He’d blame me if you did.’
John le Grant was red-headed, and Scots. He said, ‘I’ll go if Adorne tells me to go.’
‘You know he will,’ Kathi said. ‘Not to resist is our best protection. And as someone who fought at Nancy, you can speak for him better outside prison than in it. Do you want me to wake him, do you want me to disturb Robin so that they may both tell you that?’
‘No,’ said John. ‘If you’re sure.’ Since he came back, he had changed.
Gelis said, ‘John has to go. But, Kathi, would anyone object if I stayed? An innocuous female? Would you mind?’
‘No,’ Kathi said. ‘Please stay.’
John le Grant went, silently, taking Diniz’s men. Gelis waited to make sure that he did. Then she turned back into the house, where Kathi waited. She said to Kathi, ‘Does Robin know what is happening?’
Kathi said, ‘It would be rather hard for him not to know.’ It sounded like a rebuke, and she caught herself suddenly. ‘I mean it’s best, if you think of it, to tell him everything. He isn’t fond of being protected.’
Of course he wouldn’t be. Gelis thought suddenly of how he must feel, a man helpless in the presence of another man’s crisis and even, by his impairment, preventing the other from flight.
But no. Adorne had stayed not because of Robin, but because he was a magistrate, and had spent his life upholding the law. He must trust the law to uphold him now.
They stayed in the public rooms, she and Kathi, from which the road could be watched. They talked, in a desultory way. Occasionally