Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett [99]
Before they left, she overheard a single exchange between Sinclair and Nicholas which was not about salmon, or timber.
‘Adorne is in prison?’
‘He was, in April. Gruuthuse and the little Duchess were determined to have him released.’
‘I am told,’ Sinclair said, ‘that the Duchess ran crying into the square when they executed Hugonet. It did not stop them … You know that Albany has begun a consanguinity divorce against my half-sister? Ostensibly so that he may marry the Dowager Duchess?’
‘But your reading is different?’ Nicholas had said.
‘I may be wrong,’ said Nowie Sinclair. ‘I am sure that if a miracle happened, Sandy would bed the Dowager with equal delight. But if she declines, he is then free in the marketplace.’
‘But not as the heir to the Scottish throne,’ Nicholas said. ‘King James has two sons.’
‘Both called James. How fragile is life. How unpredictable is life,’ Sinclair had said.
RETURNING TO EDINBURGH with Nicholas, Kathi allowed the conversation to find its own level, and soon it dwindled to nothing. Ahead lay the long, rolling range of the Pentlands; beyond the plains to the right lay the sea. From time to time she glanced at Nicholas, who was riding at a hard, steady pace, his face absent. They passed Newbattle, and rode down and up from Dalkeith. She kept what she wanted to say until they were close to the green crag beside Holyrood, and the Castle shone, small and clear on its rock.
‘Nicholas? Why did Jordan allow Henry to join you?’
Then, he glanced across. ‘I told you. I threatened him.’
‘And he agreed meekly. I know. So Henry is spying for Jordan?’
‘And I am feeding him false information. Yes, all of that.’
She hesitated. ‘I thought he tried once to claim you molested him.’
‘In Bruges, when he was young. It didn’t stick. He’d look a fool trying it now: an armed Royal Guardsman unable to escape the advances of a man twice his age?’ His voice lightened a little. ‘In fact, it’s the other way round. He was kind enough to mention that his wittier friends had accused him of falling in love with me. I won’t tell you what answer he gave them.’
‘It seems to me,’ Kathi said, ‘that you won’t tell me anything. I am able to direct my weakened mind to subjects other than Robin: I’ve proved it. Now I want to know what is wrong about Henry.’
‘John of Mar tried to kill him,’ Nicholas said. ‘Avandale and Sandy have gone to see Mar, and I have locked Henry up, until he agrees not to challenge him.’
It had been the only way to get an answer. With Nicholas, you didn’t do that very often, and it hurt. ‘I am suitably abashed,’ Kathi said. ‘That, then, was what you were doing this morning. Was Henry injured?’
‘A painful mauling, but it could have been worse. Next time it will be.’
‘So Jordan will want him back in his house?’
‘When I left, Jordan didn’t know,’ Nicholas said. ‘And I promised not to tell him.’
‘Because Henry is planning to do something nasty to Mar, and you don’t mind if he does?’
‘Because I know that a secret like that can’t be kept. I’ll wager anything you like that Jordan de St Pol of Kilmirren is enthroned in my house at this moment, brooding until I come back.’
There was a silence. ‘Anything I like?’ Kathi said. ‘May I come and see if he’s there?’
‘No,’ said Nicholas. ‘Go home to Saunders. By the way.’
‘Yes?’ She knew the tone, and was thankful.
‘Ask Saunders why he used to go to Berwick so often.’
‘Berwick?’
He didn’t answer. His gaze dwelled on her, restored, and she felt the responsive colour tingeing her nose, not her cheeks. ‘All right. Berwick,’ she said.
LOWRIE SAID, ‘I’M sorry, my lord. They brought a hatchet. I had to unlock the door.’
‘So Master Henry has gone, and my lord of Kilmirren is still here?’ Nicholas said.
‘Merely to make Master Henry’s excuses,’ remarked Jordan de St Pol from the parlour doorway. ‘You expected it.’
He filled the doorway. It became light when he retreated and sat down. Nicholas followed him in and took the