Scales of Gold - Dorothy Dunnett [294]
‘I am sorry,’ he said.
‘Don’t be,’ said Bel. ‘Is she not beautiful?’
She was beautiful. He had never thought to consider her so, and never cared. He watched Gelis step from the boat, bare-shouldered, her hair in the jewelled coif of a maiden, her body come to perfection within the folds of her gown, the muslin band, the collar of pearls. He gave her his hand as she stepped up beside him. He said, ‘I thought it was going to take twenty-five years.’
‘It probably will,’ Gelis said. ‘But I thought I should like to spend them with you.’
He kissed her hand, being unsure what else he might be permitted to do. Someone was trembling. He said, ‘Does anyone know?’
The fine brows rose. ‘You have changed your mind? Then I have to tell you, Meester Nicholas vander Poele, that I shall take you to law. I have told all these my friends that I am to marry you.’
‘You have? Then there is no escape,’ Nicholas said. ‘I shall have to admit it to my friends as well. Tobie? Gregorio? Julius? Godscalc? Diniz?’
‘He simply wishes to tell you,’ Gelis said, ‘that I made such a very amenable mistress that he has decided to promote me to wife.’
‘Nicholas?’ Julius said. ‘Well, of course. I’m delighted. We all are. But what a damned funny place to propose.’
‘I didn’t propose,’ Nicholas said. ‘I accepted.’
It was wrong, since heaven had relented at last, that he should chafe because he never had her alone. First, the extempore intimation to her van Borselen relatives who expressed genuine pleasure, he thought, mixed with equally genuine relief. There, at least, he could stand on the wharf with his arm about her, and his fingers not so still as they appeared, so that her colour came and went, and she smiled. Then she had to go with her family, and he arranged to call, with due solemnity, on the seigneur of Veere.
He visited Louis de Bruges, seigneur of Gruuthuse, as well, and received his measured congratulations, and the excited regard of his wife. He wondered exactly how many people had found occasion to wander about the new wing of the Hôtel Gruuthuse at night.
He talked, perhaps most importantly and at greatest length, with Father Godscalc, alone in his chamber that evening. The priest lay in his chair, his feet propped, his twisted hands on a book. He said, ‘I am glad for you.’
‘It is against the laws of the Church,’ Nicholas said. ‘I thought you didn’t want it.’
‘Katelina and you were not married,’ Godscalc answered. ‘That was all that concerned me. And more important by far, the girl knows, and has forgiven you. Her struggle has been far greater than yours.’
‘I know that,’ he said. ‘Her struggle sent her to Africa. Without that, she would have hated me still.’
‘Did Umar know?’ Godscalc said.
‘Yes, he knew of it,’ Nicholas said. ‘It was one of the reasons he sent me home.’
‘Sent you?’
‘Oh, yes,’ Nicholas said.
‘And hence your provision for Henry. You and Gelis are agreed about children?’ Godscalc said. ‘You should have them, and soon.’
‘It has been difficult avoiding them,’ Nicholas said frankly.
He pulled a deprecatory face, and Godscalc laughed, and covered his hand with his own. ‘So all Bruges is aware. The Duke should be as fortunate. So you wish to marry as soon as you may?’
‘Sooner,’ Nicholas said. ‘But I suppose there are rules.’
‘They can be stretched,’ Godscalc said. ‘If you have a friend who knows an amiable bishop.’
‘You would help? Do you by any chance know how I love you?’ Nicholas said.
‘Perhaps you do,’ Godscalc said. ‘Sometimes love is very close to good planning. It can be whenever you want. Give her some days to prepare.’
‘Then will you ask her?’ Nicholas said. ‘Otherwise she will find herself here tonight, in her travelling clothes, being made wife over your portable altar.’
‘She might not mind that,’ Godscalc said. ‘But it is wise to consider her family. And Tilde and Catherine will, of course, wish for expensive new dresses. I don’t think you can afford to get married.’
‘That’s all right,’ Nicholas said. ‘I’ll save the price of a bishop, and get myself some priest who will do it for nothing. When?