The Spring of the Ram - Dorothy Dunnett [209]
He was smiling, as always. Looking after Cardinal Bessarion’s dying mother had made him good at pleasing people, while doing much as he wanted, she suspected, behind their backs. But he was a very hard-working steward, and his wife and son were always respectful and neat. Now he said, “His excellency asks, madonna, that you will excuse him for a moment. The Venetian Bailie has called. It seems that the Tabriz caravan is only two or three days away, and they plan to send messengers to find out its size and its merchandise. His excellency has been to the Palace already.”
Catherine wondered why. Dismounting yesterday, Pagano had claimed never to wish to see a saddle again. It was even more amazing when, presently, free of his business, Pagano joined her in her parlour with the resilience back in his step and his handsome face again full of colour and life. He said, “Well, demoiselle: greet your wounded husband who does have the esteem of some people. Out of regard for us both, the Emperor has said he will never countenance a revolt by your mother’s servants. The Charetty company in Trebizond is now rightly yours, and you may do with it as you please, with the Emperor’s blessing.”
She considered. “Do we have to move out to their villa?”
He laughed. “Would you prefer a little fondaco to the Leoncastello of Genoa? No, sweetheart. Later, we shall appoint men of our own to see to the Florentine contract. Meantime, I hesitate to turn the poor fellows out of their compound. When the caravans come, they will simply find their gates locked until all the trading is done. The Emperor has ordained it. Otherwise it would be nonsense: two sets of people claiming to speak and buy for the Charetty company. Catherine. I am jealous of my privilege to buy you your rubies. Now you can have them. Now, when the camels walk over the bridge, you can have all you ever wanted.” He put his arm round her shoulders and in his glowing face was the look that she had missed for a week. He said, “The news has cured me already. We shall find some way, my Caterinetta, to honour these jewels you are going to have, so that they and you will recognise who is their master.”
It was all right again. She saw that he was a man who was upset by discomfort, and who liked to win at the games he played. Perhaps he had not been quite sure that the Emperor liked him better than the Charetty company’s men. Which was silly, for they were nothing but salaried servants, and he was a lord. She remembered then, with vexation, that in one way the lord Pagano Doria was a salaried servant himself. It was a subject she had tried to discuss several times, without much success. Now, she said, “What did that man Simon want you to buy?”
She sensed his irritation, but he replied, smiling as usual, “He left me a free hand. I’ll buy enough to make him some profit, sweetheart. Since he relied on me, I can hardly do less. But it is your fortune we are going to make, not my lord Simon’s.”
“Won’t he be angry?” she said.
“With Nicholas dead?” said her lord and husband. “Dear heart, no one could feel more for your mother than I do, but without Nicholas to compete with, my lord Simon will lose all interest in making his mark in Levantine trade. If he does little more than cover the costs of his voyage, he will be content. I am sure of it.”
“You mean he wanted Nicholas dead,” Catherine said. In awkward conversations, instead of avoiding her eyes, he sometimes held them as now, his own big and open.
Pagano said, “Whatever gave you that idea? The Scots lord thought him insolent, and decided to teach him a lesson by beating him at his own trade. I should never have agreed to anything else, even before you and I met. Nicholas took no harm from our sport. I am the one who suffered,