The Ringed Castle - Dorothy Dunnett [229]
‘From the lady Elizabeth,’ said Kate shortly.
After a while, he let out his breath slowly and began, equally slowly, to shake his head without speaking. Kate said, ‘Well?’
Francis Crawford got up and lifting his cloak, tossed it on her bed. Then, edging round furniture, he worked his way across the small room thoughtfully and stood looking at his mother-in-law, with a sober expression for once. ‘What do you know?’ he said at length.
Kate said, her eyes very large, ‘I find your rudeness abominable and your politeness obnoxious but my goodness, Francis Crawford, what terrifies me more than a jungle of tigers is the moment when you look worried. I know only what Richard has guessed, and if Richard has guessed it, then you have been over-relaxing with your secrets also. What is your interest in Elizabeth and the late William Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire?’
There was a pause. ‘Academic,’ said Lymond.
‘I don’t believe you,’ said Kate. ‘There is something to connect Philippa with the Queen’s sister. Now there is something, academic or not, which connects you to Elizabeth too. It only needs a shred of evidence to send you both to the headsman for spying. And Elizabeth with you.’
‘Perhaps I should go back to Russia,’ Lymond said. But she did not smile, and after a moment he said, half to himself, ‘How she must hate me.’
Kate said quietly, ‘Margaret Lennox?’ and he nodded, his back to the wall. ‘I suppose she is older than me by … oh, about the same as the difference between Philippa’s age and mine. I was sixteen. Seventeen, perhaps. She has never forgiven me. And now she wants Elizabeth out of the way. For that, of course, leaves the child Queen of Scots as the next heir to England and Scotland. And if anything happens to her …’
‘Margaret Lennox,’ said Philippa’s mother.
‘Or the boy. Darnley. It must seem very tempting to get rid of me as well. But she won’t do it.’
Kate said, ‘How can you be sure?’
Lymond said, ‘If I were unsure, I shouldn’t be going to London.’
‘And Philippa?’
‘The divorce,’ Lymond said. ‘The divorce, somehow, as quickly as possible. And get her into church with young Tristram Trusty.’
‘There are quite a lot of young Tristram Trusties,’ said Kate. ‘One of them Spanish.’
‘Well, if she can stomach it; that,’ said Lymond without compunction, ‘would without doubt be safest of all. In any case, leave the other side of it to me. I shall see they don’t touch her. What about money?’
‘Well, she has all yours, if that’s what you mean,’ said her mother. ‘The entire possessions of the Donatis and another fortune waiting to be picked up, I gather, in France. From a witch?’
‘Not a witch,’ said Lymond. He made his way back again and picked up his cloak. ‘She can keep it. I have enough in Russia to do several lifetimes over.… They told me that if I didn’t come back, they would force you to marry?’
In the plain, sensible face, the brown eyes were derisive. ‘Is that why you came back?’ said Kate Somerville.
‘No. I knew you could handle it.’
‘Thank you,’ said Kate. ‘I thought perhaps you had had one of Philippa’s persuasive letters.’
He stood with the cloak in his hands, quite still, looking at her. At length: ‘I had two,’ he said.
Kate said, ‘I’m glad. She wanted you to know how things were. She told Richard she would be writing.’
Lymond said, ‘Kate. Do you know what you are saying?’
Kate said sharply, ‘Of course I know what I’m saying. Philippa has been worried sick, and so has Richard and so have I. Now we have you back, at least for a visit. You’re here, and still nothing happens. It’s a thousand times worse for her.’
Lymond said, ‘You promised——’
‘Not to talk about it. I’m breaking my promise.’
‘Because,’ Lymond said carefully, ‘of what Philippa wrote in her letters?’
‘Because the person who brings you up matters,’ snapped Kate. ‘And it’s time you thought less