Race of Scorpions - Dorothy Dunnett [239]
Nicholas said, ‘I was beginning to think that. Supply problems, then. This plain turns to mud. I’ll have to divide my time between there and Kouklia. And Zacco’ll get bored.’
‘Will he?’ said Astorre.
Nicholas chuckled. ‘So isn’t it lucky I’m married? What does Thomas say?’
‘I told you,’ said Astorre. ‘He’s soft on her. See his eyes light up. That’s the sort of woman he fancies for a – for a –’
‘For an employer. Well, he’s out of luck: she isn’t going to be his employer,’ Nicholas said. ‘She has no share in the Bank, and she has no share in Catherine’s trust, or anything to do with Bruges. So spread that around.’
‘Ah!’ said Astorre. ‘Master Tobie’ll be relieved.’
‘Master Tobie would be relieved if he believed a word of it,’ said Tobie’s voice. He sat down and took off his helm and his cap, so that his bald head glimmered faintly. ‘You’re a damned fool,’ he said. ‘She wants the money.’
‘Maybe,’ said Nicholas mildly. ‘But she signed it away with the marriage contract. I have it. In Latin. She doesn’t get anything but my personal possessions. I got the document drawn up in spring by Gregorio.’
Two pairs of eyes gleamed at him in the dark. ‘In case?’ Tobie said.
‘In case,’ agreed Nicholas.
‘In case you married which one? It seems to me,’ Tobie said, ‘that you’ve had every woman in the Levant just recently. What about Katelina and Queen Carlotta?’
‘In the same bed,’ Nicholas said. ‘I don’t know. I had a feeling someone was going to marry me, and I knew what a fuss you’d all make if I didn’t make sure of your futures.’
‘And Zacco?’ said Tobie.
‘He’s accepted the situation, pending a scanning by Cropnose. Who do you think will win that one?’
‘I think,’ said Tobie slowly, ‘that your new lady wife will be permitted to stay. You bastard.’
‘Young devil,’ said Astorre heartily. He was grinning.
Tobie was not. Nicholas said, ‘Oh come on. We’re keeping Astorre awake. I’m going back to bed.’
‘You do that,’ said Astorre. ‘But don’t wake me tomorrow. Did you get much of a catch?’
‘Depends what you’re talking about,’ said Tobie sourly.
He walked back with Nicholas, pausing when Nicholas paused, which was often, to speak to someone. At the tent, someone ran to help him undress, but he dismissed them. He said to Tobie. ‘Well, since you must, come in and say it.’
‘I’ve said it,’ said Tobie. ‘You bastard.’ He stepped into the gloom, sneezed, and stood uneasily watching Nicholas peel off his clothes. He added, ‘You’ve collected a few scars since I saw you last.’ He sneezed again.
‘I’ve been to Rhodes and back since you saw me last. The snake in its dust-hole, the cloud wandering over the sky.’ He sat down, stripped to his body linen, and said, ‘I didn’t harm Katelina, or she me. The boy had gone to Portugal, and she’s following him. Now Simon won’t trouble us. Nor, without the plants, will he flourish much. I’m sorry I had to leave you, but things had to be done, and they’re done.’
‘Yes, they are, aren’t they?’ Tobie said. ‘That’s what I meant. I can think of three reasons why you might want to marry this Primaflora, and all of them frighten me.’ He hesitated. ‘Is it the child? She could rear Katelina’s son if you got him?’
‘No,’ Nicholas said. ‘I’m not that much of a bastard.’
‘Then I don’t like the other reasons,’ Tobie said.
‘Try the simplest. She’s been my mistress, on and off, since September. She is, you will agree, rather exceptional. You’re pea-green envious; that’s all that’s wrong with you.’
‘I think,’ said Tobie, ‘that I want you to tell me she’s pregnant. Because if she isn’t, you’re playing some game again. A game I can’t understand. A damned, deep, devious game that’s going to hurt a lot of people. You are, aren’t you?’ He sneezed, with terrible emphasis.
‘She isn’t pregnant,’ said Nicholas. ‘Tobie, shall I put the flowers out, or will you now shift yourself out of my tent and let me get some damned, deep, devious sleep?’
He was mad, and not worth troubling over. Tobie went off dismayed, in a volley of sneezes.
Chapter