The Spring of the Ram - Dorothy Dunnett [244]
Doria stood where he was. He said, “I’ve just come from the Palace. I had to break into the Gynaecum. Catherine isn’t too ill to be visited. She isn’t there. She hasn’t been there for two days.”
The priest said, “You are owed an explanation, and will have it. But what Nicholas says is correct. Madonna Catherine is out of the City, and you should be thankful. We have just heard. The Turkish fleet is coming to Trebizond. She is well away.”
“I’m sure she is,” said Doria. “You son of a whore, you’ve got rid of her. I was afraid you would, in the end. Something subtle, I thought, that the old woman couldn’t blame you for. I never thought you’d throw the girl to the Turks.”
“Didn’t you? You said she could serve a squadron all winter, and still be eager,” Nicholas said. He heard Tobie draw in his breath. “You even offered to lend her to me. What made you think I wouldn’t use her if you did?”
Doria smiled, without charm. He said, “Ah. She’s here, then?”
Nicholas said, “No. You quelled my interest in women. She came to complain of your general performance, and asked our help to get her home safely. We gave it. She was knocked unconscious, but that was all that was wrong. As soon as she recovered, she escaped the Palace and we helped her leave Trebizond. She is in no danger from Turks if she travels to Georgia.”
“I suppose not,” Doria said. “Unfortunately, she is my wife and has no leave to travel anywhere unless I permit it. The law and I must therefore pursue her. The law and I must therefore punish, of course, the man who separates wife from husband. Return Catherine. Or I shall take the case to the Emperor.”
“Why not?” Nicholas said. “Although he does have other things on his mind. In fact, I’m not sure that he believes that you and Catherine are married. He would be entertained, I suppose. He’s never met a Genoese consul before who couldn’t satisfy the wants of a thirteen-year-old.” He kept his voice low, although clear enough. There was no point, now, in having this out somewhere else. The others stood where they were, in absolute silence.
Doria said, “If I told you that you were right, and the marriage was never made legal, would you tell me where she is?”
Nicholas laughed. He said, “Hardly. What would you want with Catherine de Charetty if she weren’t your wife?”
“I trained her,” said Doria. “It’s a pity to waste it all on a party of Osmanli seamen. But no. You sent her east, you say, in the opposite direction. Where she’ll be safe until she can get back to Bruges and reap half of the Charetty inheritance. Of course, I believe you.”
“I’m afraid you will have to,” said Nicholas. “And now, we are busy.”
He had been watching Doria’s hand at his side. For a moment he thought he was going to draw the knife from its sheath, as a different man might have done. But Doria only looked at him, frowning, as if the face he saw was not the face he expected. Then he recollected himself, and became the sea prince again. “My poor, dear Niccolò. If she is about, I dare say I shall find her. If not, consider the report I shall have to make to your wife. You have, of course, made trial of the girl as I offered. Perhaps you appealed to the commoner parts of her ancestry. Perhaps she has a taste, already formed, for her mother’s apprentices. Perhaps she even thinks you will make her richer than I should. What a story for Bruges, and the lord Simon my patron.”
Since there was nothing in that to worry about, Nicholas let it all pass over his head. Doria knew about Marian. He didn’t know about Simon’s wife Katelina. It was a pity that Tobie and Godscalc both did. “Indeed,” Nicholas said. “I hope Catherine will be able to tell it herself. If you prove to be married, you will have every right to claim her in Bruges. But not until the proof is produced. And meantime, you’ve seen the last of her here.”
Doria said, “I see you have no idea who you are dealing with. I shall see you in a Flemish law court. If not in a court a little more summary,