Race of Scorpions - Dorothy Dunnett [72]
‘They must be deeply concerned,’ Nicholas said. ‘If Carlotta prevails, they will lose them. Which Venetians hold them at present?’
The vice-Bailie looked at the pointed toes of his ankle-length boots and, receiving no help, back to Nicholas. He said, ‘You met Luigi Martini on the Doria. He and his brother hold both of the franchises. They manage the Kolossi crop for the Knights, and the cane fields at Kouklia and Akhelia for the King.’
Nicholas kept his face solemn. It was difficult. Hence, therefore, the grim face of Luigi Martini on shipboard. It was by no wish of his that Nicholas was to be tempted with sugar. It explained why sugar had vanished so soon from the offer. Nicholas said, ‘I could hardly remain to serve Zacco in war and Carlotta’s allies the Knights in the sugar fields. That seems to leave only the King’s farm as an option. Do you imagine both the King and the Martini would consider leasing it to me?’
Loredano said, ‘If they did, would you bring your army to Cyprus for Zacco?’
‘I don’t know,’ Nicholas said. ‘But I certainly shan’t if they don’t.’
He watched the pale fawn frown on Loredano’s smooth face. Loredano said, ‘It will be difficult. I cannot speak for the King.’
‘But you could try to persuade the noble Martini?’ Nicholas said.
And Loredano said stiffly, ‘I shall speak to them.’
‘And hoping for a happy outcome, I in turn shall mention the matter to the serene King,’ Nicholas said. ‘I might even ask about dyeworks. I hear there is a yard in Nicosia, at present out of commission. Unless that, too, is already spoken for?’
Loredano said, ‘I think, Messer Niccolò, that you would find the sugar franchise, should you obtain it, would occupy as much of your time as you would wish. The dyeworks, it is true, have not recovered since the last fighting. But their management is traditionally Venetian.’
‘I wondered,’ Nicholas said. ‘And, of course, there is a great deal to be said for traditions. On the other hand, we should live in caves if tradition were not sometimes broken. Perhaps I should mention this, too, to the King. I must commend your wine. It is the best I have tasted.’
He felt very pleased. He allowed Loredano, murmuring something, to pour him more wine, and watched him fill his own cup and quickly empty it. For him, the crux of the visit was over. Now, he didn’t mind drinking with Vanni Loredano.
Long after, just before he retired to his sumptuous chamber, Nicholas put some idle questions over the exhausted bottles of wine to a host no longer so dapper and almost equally exhausted. ‘So you manage the estates for Marco Corner. I am told you and he married sisters?’
The face of Giovanni Loredano was flushed and his lids sank now and then. He made an effort and opened them. ‘That is so. Marco – Marco will be sad to have missed you. He is often in Venice on business.’
‘Cyprus owes much to his family, and those others, like your own, that have been long settled here.’
Loredano laid his cup heavily on the table beside him. Its cloth was made of velvet fringed with gold, and a white lapdog was half-asleep in its shadow. A lute lay unstrung by the window, and some sheets of music beside it. Like every Venetian building, this one spoke of their women. Loredano made a visible effort. ‘Where would Cyprus be without Venice? We all have the East in our blood: Corner, Contarini, Duodo; Zorzi and Michiel; Bembo, Barbarigo and Loredano. We were traders in the Crusades, and we remained traders after the Mamelukes conquered the Holy Land.’
‘Zorzi?’ Nicholas said. ‘I knew two brothers once of that name. Bartolemeo,