Scales of Gold - Dorothy Dunnett [279]
‘Is that wise?’ Godscalc said. Since Nicholas came, he had been smiling most of the time.
‘She was coming anyway,’ Gregorio said. ‘For the ducal wedding. The Vasquez connection. All the Scots who trade in Flanders are coming. I’ve also written to the Vatachino and Simon. But you don’t want to talk business.’
‘Yes, I do,’ Nicholas said. ‘Tomorrow, perhaps. I want to hear what you’ve done in Madeira; and what Simon said when he saw Diniz was alive, and he had to hand back half the business. And what he did when he found he was sharing the profits of the Fortado with David de Salmeton. I wish I’d been there.’
‘It was quite a satisfying experience,’ Gregorio said. ‘He is, I fear, a vain, naughty man. And his son Henry, I can tell you, is his unpleasant mirror.’
Nicholas remained leaning back, without blinking. Godscalc said, ‘Children grow up. This Henry is young. Why don’t you make Nicholas wretched with the rest of the news? Tell him about the two ships.’
‘Simon’s son was in Madeira?’ Nicholas said. ‘Why?’
‘To see you executed, principally,’ Gregorio said. ‘As a treat. The child should have been put down at birth. He cut Bel’s shins to ribbons when she wouldn’t do what he demanded. And angelic, withal. All the wonderful looks of his father.’
‘Bel took him north,’ Godscalc said. ‘He is only a child. The problem, as I understand it, is that ownership of the Ghost may be harder to prove than we thought. Even with Tobie and ourselves to swear to what happened. Jordan says he gave Simon the ship, and you killed his factor and stole it in Trebizond. Everybody else who knew the true facts is dead.’
‘How awkward,’ Nicholas said.
‘You don’t want to know. It’s late,’ Gregorio said. ‘We’ll fight it, of course. But the other difficulty is the lost cargo. You see, even if we won our claim for the ship, we still couldn’t admit she’d been trading. There is no way we can claim the lost gold if we found it. And as for the Fortado …’
‘Spare him the Fortado,’ Godscalc said. ‘At least – you might as well know that absolutely no uninterested spectator will depone that the Fortado’s crew slighted your ship or your men on the Gambia. The survivors all swear the crimes were committed by natives. Have we spoiled your day for you?’ His smile was not really a smile.
Nicholas said, ‘I think it’s spoiled for Gregorio rather than for me: he’s the man whose work is being frustrated. I don’t know if I mind.’
Gregorio sat up. He said, ‘That’s tonight. You’ll feel differently tomorrow.’
‘I’m not sure,’ Nicholas said. ‘I’ve felt much the same about it ever since I came back. But if you think you can get anywhere, go on with it.’
‘You don’t want the Ghost?’ Gregorio said.
‘I should quite like it. I don’t need it. There are other things to be done. The Charetty business to be properly integrated. The Bank. I think,’ Nicholas said, ‘we have perhaps paid too much attention to Simon.’
Gregorio said, ‘This is new.’
‘Then let it keep until tomorrow. Or later today. Shouldn’t you be in bed?’
These days, Gregorio needed little persuading. He left. Nicholas remained, sitting over the brazier, the poker in his hands. He said, without looking at Godscalc, ‘I gave Tobie a paper to give or send to you. Did he?’
‘What was in it?’ said the priest.
‘A deposition,’ Nicholas said. ‘Signed by Katelina in Cyprus. A statement that Henry de St Pol is my son.’
‘It has not reached me,’ Godscalc said. ‘But if it does, what do you want? You cannot claim the child, Nicholas.’
‘No. I know that.’
‘Then shall I destroy it?’
‘No!’ said Nicholas. ‘That was not why I spoke.’
Godscalc looked at him. He said, ‘You may have other children. What then?’
‘You know the truth,’ Nicholas said, ‘and can swear to it. And Tobie. And my wife, if I have one. I should like the paper to be kept. Not for myself, but for the boy, in case he needs to claim me.’
He saw Godscalc consider his words. The priest said, ‘In case, you are saying, Simon