Scales of Gold - Dorothy Dunnett [253]
‘From the sound of it,’ the doctor said, ’you need all the lawyers you can get. A shipload of gold disappears and you can’t even trace the ship’s master? The ownership of the Ribérac herself is still in dispute three years after Jordan stole her? The claim against – at’s her name? – the Fortado is still unsettled and the Genoese and the Vatachino are getting away with murder, because no one can find Michael Crackbene?
‘By God,’ said Tobias Beventini, getting angrier. ‘I don’t know what golden cloud you think you’re sitting on, but I tell you, it wouldn’t have stopped me hunting down all those bastards and making them pay for it all. Godscalc broken. Nicholas stuck somewhere sick on this river. What has it done to that stupid girl? And what about Diniz? Has old man Jordan got him again?’
Margot had come in while they were speaking. Julius gave her a cool look, which she returned with a half-lifted eyebrow. He would have preferred to tell Tobie all that news himself. In time. And not all at once. And not from Gregorio’s point of view.
Margot sat down beside Tobie. She said, ‘You’d quite like Gelis van Borselen. They all had a bad time, but she’s well enough. Lucia de St Pol took her with her to Scotland, and I suspect she’ll end up at Court like her sister.’
‘Why Scotland?’ said Tobie. His nose twitched. Julius remembered how his nose twitched.
‘Not for any of the reasons you’re thinking of,’ Margot said. ‘The van Borselens are related by marriage to the monarchs of Scotland. Gelis didn’t have any money. And David de Salmeton was taking a very great interest in her.’
‘What?’ said Tobie. He sat up, and a belch of horse emerged from three different gaps in his cuirass.
‘Really, Tobie,’ said Margot. ‘You must go off and get yourself clean. I know all about David de Salmeton, and I’ve seen what Martin his partner can do. I gather Gelis knows even more. The interest wasn’t reciprocated.’
‘De Salmeton goes to Scotland?’ Julius said. He hadn’t heard that item of gossip. Because, obviously, Gregorio hadn’t told him. Gregorio had been to Venice once, briefly, and had divided his time between the business and Margot, which suited Julius. He had left Margot because he was coming back.
Margot said, ‘He’s not in Scotland at the moment, with Tommaso Portinari throwing his weight about in Bruges.’ She turned to Tobie. ‘Remember Tommaso?’ Julius wondered if she had a soft spot for Tobie.
Tobie’s short pink mouth widened, as if he had a soft spot for Margot. ‘Finger-rings. I always said he would kill to get control of the Bruges Medici. How’s he enjoying it?’
Margot laughed. She was a handsome woman, if over-opinionated. ‘Remember Controller Bladelin’s palace in the Naalden Straate? Tommaso’s bought it. For the Medici. For visiting officials. For himself to entertain in. He’s one of the Duke’s counsellors now, did you know that? And a diplomat. He’s one of the envoys arranging the English marriage for the Duke’s heir. If it happens, there’ll be enough velvet on order to keep the Medici in profit for years. And the rest of Bruges. Diniz is ecstatic at the mere thought of it.’
‘You mean Gregorio,’ Tobie said. ‘But tell me first. What happened to Diniz?’
Margot laughed again. She said, ‘How do you remember him? A frightened boy, swept from Cyprus by the hated Jordan? You will be surprised. He works for the Charetty company.’
‘The …?’ said Tobie. He stopped.
‘As their deputy manager. In Spangnaerts Street, but with special reference to the dyeshop. Why are you laughing?’
‘At Nicholas,’ Tobie said. ‘Nicholas the glorious, the devious bastard. Oh, where in God’s name is he? It’s a feast, it’s meat and drink, it’s the greatest game in the world, but it isn’t the same without Nicholas.’
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