Scales of Gold - Dorothy Dunnett [16]
He fumbled for it in his purse, while trying not to miss any reaction. He could never understand how Nicholas hid what he was thinking. My God, he must have come all the way from Cyprus knowing that Simon was the first person he’d hear from. He found the packet and handed it over, expecting Nicholas to open it, or walk off to read it. Instead he said, ‘Why not tell me what’s in it? You know already, I’m sure.’
‘Well, you can imagine,’ Julius said. Gregorio was glaring at him, and that pretty woman didn’t look very pleased. He cleared his throat. ‘Not knowing any different, they do blame you for everything. They say they will deal with you here if they have to –’
‘Deal with me?’
‘Kill you. They will come to Venice if need be, but they would prefer you to come west and face them.’
‘They?’
‘The bereaved families,’ Julius said.
‘Oh. One by one or all together?’ Nicholas asked. He glanced at the hour-glass.
Julius said, ‘The old man likes to lay his own traps. His son is the lad who’ll come after you. Really, you’d better explain. Whatever you tell them, we’ll back you.’
‘So Simon has challenged me,’ Nicholas said. He still held the letter unopened.
‘You killed his wife,’ Tilde de Charetty said. ‘You killed his sister’s husband. You imprisoned his father and nephew, and you would have killed them as well if they hadn’t escaped.’ Margot got up and put an arm round her shoulders. The girl trembled.
‘On the Bank’s very own ship. Well, they got their own back,’ Nicholas said. ‘I take it you don’t want to come to Murano? I’m enjoying the talk, but it is getting late.’
‘You’re not answering?’ the girl blurted out. Margot’s hand tightened.
‘You didn’t ask me anything,’ Nicholas said.
‘She was wrong to ask you,’ said Julius. ‘But –’
‘She was wrong to ask me,’ Nicholas said. ‘This is my house, and this is something I will not at present discuss. I should have thought the reasons were obvious. If you think you can talk about something else, I shall be delighted to have your company. Excuse me, if you will, while you think about it.’
In the end they went to Murano, largely because Tilde, although shaken, was determined, and nothing, really, would have stopped Julius. Waiting while Nicholas changed, and Margot took Tilde to her chamber, Julius strolled with Gregorio to the landing-stage. He said, ‘Do you know what happened?’
‘In Cyprus? I know what happened, but not why it happened. I don’t know why he won’t explain either, but he always has reasons: I’m not going to push him.’
‘Perhaps you don’t want to know,’ Julius said. He waited, and then said, ‘It affects the Bank. Rumours.’
Gregorio said, ‘Of course he knows that. Otherwise he wouldn’t have written to me. He’s said he’ll decide in four weeks if he’s leaving. I’m willing to wait until then.’
Julius said, ‘I hear a whisper that he’s taken an island.’ He didn’t say how he knew.
‘It doesn’t mean he’s going to stay,’ Gregorio said. ‘He has a factor and two fiefs in Cyprus. He’s free to go anywhere.’ He paused. He said, ‘Would it be breaking a confidence to tell me what was in the letter from de Ribérac’s son?’
‘Breaking a confidence!’ Julius said. ‘He wanted me to read it aloud as he wrote it, and make copies for Catherine and Tilde. That letter was written in sulphur.’ He fell silent a moment, remembering.
Gregorio said, ‘It was his wife who died. The worst thing that could possibly happen. Nicholas and this violent man, at war with each other for years. And now this.’
Julius said, ‘If Nicholas told me he had nothing to do with the death of Simon de St Pol’s wife, I think I should believe him. So why doesn’t he? The wretched man is convinced it was part of some great murderous scheme to leave him a widower, and that his only child will be the next victim. The grandfather thinks so as well. They’ve even sent the boy off to some hiding place.’
‘They don’t usually agree, Simon and Jordan de Ribérac,’ said Gregorio absently.
‘This time, they do,’ Julius said. ‘By God, they do. Although it was apparently all