Niccolo Rising - Dorothy Dunnett [227]
Nicholas, who still had his boots on, looked quite pleased and said he would arrange it all for tomorrow. And meanwhile, did Felix want to come and watch him deliver dispatches? Weariness fought with the dregs of suspicion, and weariness won.
“You do it,” said Felix; and fell asleep almost at once. When he woke, it was dawn and Nicholas was slumbering peacefully on the truckle bed and refused to waken. He had arranged a cold meal, half of it eaten, on a chest with a guttering candle. Felix demolished it, dropping things now and then, but as Nicholas still didn’t wake up and the wine was excellent, he decided to get back into bed with a bottle. After all, he had to be fresh for business tomorrow. This morning.
Later that morning Cicco Simonetta, head of the Milanese chancery, might have been alarmed to find himself discussing Charetty business with a sharp-featured eighteen-year-old with a more than uncertain grasp of his language, had he not received ample warning beforehand. As it was, the required payments for the revised condotta were smoothly computed, and the necessary papers changed hands. What other papers had changed hands the previous night, when the reports oral and written had been delivered, did not fall to be mentioned.
Messer Cicco, busy man that he was, was disposed to be friendly. He was interested in all Felix had to tell him of his recent visit to Genappe. He asked Felix if he had met the Dauphin’s chamberlain, M. Gaston du Lyon, in Geneva. Felix’s negative clashed, to his surprise, with an affirmative from Nicholas, who had not only met the man, but owed him a favour.
They were joined by another member of the ducal household: Messer Prosper Schiaffino de Camulio de’ Medici, the Duke’s right hand (said Messer Cicco, smiling) in diplomatic missions abroad to the French. They talked of the defence of the kingdom of Naples (which the captain Astorre was so ably assisting) and the growing hopes that the enemy would find himself starved of money and troops as France and Savoy found themselves unable to keep their fine promises.
Felix mentioned the lavish armour and weapons of the Charetty squadron, and the excellence of Astorre and his secretary Julius and his physician Tobias Beventini of Grado.
Cicco Simonetta di Calabria, who couldn’t be expected to remember everything, said that it had been much admired, Messer Tobias’ help with captain Lionetto.
Felix, who was already encased in buckram and bombast as in Egyptian bandages, couldn’t sit up more stiffly. But he did say, “Lionetto!” in a voice of alarmed astonishment.
Nicholas said, “Messer Tobias, knowing captain Lionetto of old, was entrusted by His Holiness the Pope with a message entreating him to leave the wicked forces of Count Giacomo Piccinino and cross to our side. He was successful. Captain Lionetto changed his mind. He deserted Count Piccinino and is with the Count of Urbino at this moment.”
“But you forgot to mention it. And Tobias?” demanded Felix.
Lifting languid fingers, Messer Cicco replied instead of Nicholas. “The brave doctor has lost his chance, I fear, of fighting in Naples. If I know anything of my lord of Urbino, he will have kept your Messer Tobias in his service. If he has, you will be paid his worth, to enable you to hire another physician. Meanwhile, the service you and he have performed will not be forgotten. Do you join the fighting, Messer Felix?”
Messer Felix flushed. He said, “There’s nothing I’d like better.”
“Why, I commend your courage,” said Cicco Simonetta. “And we should honour it. You have had a long journey, and perhaps feel your skills require refreshing? I should be happy to make you free of the tilting-yard, and of any practice our masters might offer you. Our gossip Niccolò here knows what exercise we can provide.”
Felix didn’t need Nicholas (Niccolò?) to tell him what the Milanese masters could do for him. Deep in making appointments, he heard Nicholas humbly accepting for them both an evening in the company of Messer Prosper de Camulio de’ Medici. He was angry with Nicholas. Nicholas