The Spring of the Ram - Dorothy Dunnett [297]
Julius said, “Then he was crazy. The girls are no threat. Two scheming husbands would be.”
“Time enough,” Gregorio said. “Once, Tilde was interested in a man, but since she learned of Catherine’s flight, she has changed. And Catherine has had enough of men meantime.” He looked round them all. “There is another provision the demoiselle made. If Tilde dies unmarried, the Bruges business goes to Nicholas. I have told him.”
“And Tilde isn’t interested in men,” Julius said. “If Nicholas wants to set up his own company, he should have no shortage of people to join him. His future seems rosy. I only wonder he didn’t take the chance to get rid of Simon. I should have done. Simon attacked first, after all. And there’s an heir coming along to make trouble one day.” He looked round. “Here’s an idea. Simon marries his son Henry to Tilde and takes over the company?”
There was a silence. It usually meant that he had overstepped the bounds of good taste. He remembered that Marian de Charetty, a reasonable employer for a woman, had recently died. All right, he was sorry. But it meant that Nicholas had no bonds, no restraints, no one he had to account to. Claes was free. He said, again, “How did he really take it? What did he say?”
Gregorio said again, “Simon told him. I wasn’t there.”
Godscalc said, “Without much thought of sparing him, I should suppose.”
“I don’t think he realised that it mattered,” Gregorio said. “And Nicholas received it in that light. Almost as a point that had levelled a game.” He dealt again with the cough which was troubling him today. He said, “There is something else I want to put before you, while we have privacy. In advance of instructions, I have drawn up papers for the creation here in Venice of a new banco grosso. A company for dealing with international merchandise and exchange: that is, trade in bills of exchange, and trade in commodities. If my recommendations are accepted, the financial control, the risk and the policy-making will be in the hands of the owner and major shareholder, Nicholas; and the rest of the capital would be contributed and the profits drawn accordingly by a group of partners, in number not exceeding six. In addition there would be senior employees with no investment. I would suggest drawing these partners and these employees primarily from those members of the former Charetty company now in this room. In principle, would you be interested?”
Julius jumped to his feet. His face was scarlet with pleasure. He said, “No!” and gave Gregorio a buffet that spilled his ink. “A company of our own! And Nicholas has agreed?”
“He doesn’t know,” said Gregorio. “I want it decided beforehand. Who, then?”
Astorre said, “You’d want money?” He was scowling.
Gregorio said, “Would you want to leave the girls? If you want the new company, your stake could come from a loan, and you’d get it back with a profit. But of us all, you could have both worlds if you want. Look after Bruges, and draw your salary, and come to us when we need you on contract.”
“That’s what I meant,” Astorre said. He looked pleased.
“Us?” Julius said. “Gregorio, leading shareholder?”
“Equal with everyone else, apart from Nicholas. But yes. The Charetty sisters don’t want me. Not yet, at any rate. I take it you’ll come?”
“Stop me if you can. And John. You need an engineer.”
Le Grant said, “Too recent. It wouldn’t be fair. I don’t know if I’d get on with you.”
Godscalc smiled. Gregorio saw it and said, “I’m going to count you in just the same. Or come, and take a partnership later. Unless they all make you too nervous.”
“It’s the other way round,” Godscalc said. “Will you employ me? I won’t be a partner.”
“I thought not. Yes. Tobie?”
“He won’t agree,” Tobie said. “What are you thinking of, all of you?