Race of Scorpions - Dorothy Dunnett [232]
Nicholas said, ‘What do you think Zacco is like? I had to choose between Carlotta and her brother, and chose Zacco because he appeared a strong ruler. But he’s also immature, and he’s spoiled, so he has to be led, and tempted and coaxed, or he loses his way. I don’t sleep with him. You have that advantage with Simon. I have said to you before: help him. You know a lot about trade. Has he built refineries, or has he fallen into the error I have, of finding myself held to ransom by others who got there before me? I shall make a good profit this year, but not the profit I should have made. Warn him.’
Katelina looked up at him thoughtfully. ‘You mean it? But you ruined his plants?’
Nicholas said, ‘I’ll return an attack. But I won’t stop him developing his own, legitimate trade. He needs that. He needs you.’
‘And the name, then, of the predator?’ said Katelina.
He said, ‘There is only one firm. You have named it.’
She was sitting so still that he was afraid he had been wrong to speak of it. But her thoughts, it seemed, were on something different. She said, ‘How can I advise him? I should need help. I should need to write to you, or see you. I could come to Bruges. You would have reason to pay visits to Bruges. We could meet.’
‘And Simon?’ Nicholas said. ‘He would find out. We couldn’t meet without coming together like this. Or I couldn’t.’
She rose and kissed him in the way he had just taught her, which was brutally unfair. ‘No?’ She left her arms round his shoulders, and all her body fitted into his. She said, ‘Then come to me. We would take the child. We would marry, eventually. Or does it frighten you, owning a family?’
He took her hands and held her off, without releasing her. ‘You know as well as I do,’ Nicholas said, ‘that Simon will kill to keep his son; and would kill Arigho himself if he thought he was mine.’
In his vehemence, he had used the Italian form. Katelina said, ‘Is that what you call him in your mind?’
He squeezed her hands lightly and dropped them, turning. ‘I know, of course, you named him after your uncle. Jordan must have been very displeased.’ He knelt to pack his small possessions.
‘The Heart as Love’s Captive,’ she said with dislike. ‘He was helping King René to paint it, and mocking Simon with every breath. Why doesn’t Simon kill Father Jordan?’
Nicholas stood with the packages. ‘Because,’ he said, ‘Father Jordan is probably waiting for Simon to kill you, and me, and the child. He plays games.’
‘Like you,’ she said. Now they were ready she had turned very pale.
Nicholas said, ‘No. I invent puzzles, and their solutions. The solution to this one says that you go straight to the monastery of Kalopetra – I’ll take you there – and describe how you fled after the ambush. You will be amazed when the escort turn up, much dishevelled. You will obtain some respectable clothing – how?’
‘My servant,’ Katelina said. ‘She’s already there with my baggage.’
‘I wondered,’ Nicholas said. ‘So then you set off, well protected, for the City where, I am told, you will find a ship for the west already awaiting you. Get on board. Get on board, and delay for nothing.’ He had no more instructions to give, but he went on rambling as he laid the stole over her loosened hair and folded it over her chemise. ‘For she was clad in a robe out-shining the brightness of fire, enriched with all manner of needlework, which shimmered like the moon over her tender breasts, a marvel to see.’ He stopped rambling and said, ‘No … We mustn’t …’
The silk cord had gone, so he plaited rushes quickly together and set the band round her brow, over the linen. He stood, admiring what he had done. ‘And poor broidered zone; but not much the worse. Was it made for you?’
‘It was sent me,’ said Katelina. ‘A gift from the Queen, sent to Lindos. And after I sail for Portugal?’ With his help, she mounted, and he vaulted up behind her and, reaching round her, collected