The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [103]
‘And so, as you have heard, obtained a counterhold against the entire St Pol family. I hope you are reassured, Tobie. Your patron, as you see, will spare no pains to safeguard his shareholders … So is that all? Is everyone satisfied? Is there anything else that is urgent? Or, Diniz, might we now send for some food?’
No one demurred. Diniz left. Gregorio collected his papers and Tobie, bending, helped the big priest to rise. Julius said, strolling over, ‘Well, Nicholas, you stood on some toes. So will you go to old man Jordan with Diniz? Go on. Now you can squeeze the brute for anything that you fancy.’
Gregorio caught the priest’s eye. The priest said, ‘The vicomte, of course, must be visited; but were you to ask me, it would be sufficient for Diniz to call in the morning. And alone, I should say. The death of a daughter – ’tis not a matter for strangers. As for Nicholas, I should appreciate a word in his ear.’ He looked towards the chair.
‘Yes?’ Nicholas said. He stood, resting one arm on his chair-back. It was apparent he meant to remain there. Gregorio glanced at him, and went out, taking Julius with him. On the way he caught up with Tobie who, lingering, seemed to receive some sign from Godscalc, and left. The door closed.
‘I am concerned for you,’ Godscalc said.
‘I know,’ said Nicholas. On the other side of the door, the footsteps receded. Tobie had wanted to stay. He said, ‘Come and sit in this chair. The back is better for you.’
‘The master’s chair?’ the priest said. ‘The chair of the lord who decides where and when we all go?’ He moved towards it and lowered himself.
‘You think I was hard?’ Nicholas said. He left the end of the table and taking Gregorio’s place on the long bench disposed himself along it, facing the priest across one uplifted knee, his wrist dangling. He saw Godscalc’s glance caught by his rings.
Godscalc said, ‘I think you are preoccupied.’ He paused. ‘This attack on you by the child. We were afraid, Tobie and I. We feared that the poor scrap had found out whose son he was.’
‘No. You know it, and Tobie, and my wife. Diniz suspects, but I have told him he is mistaken. Three people know there is proof. That is all.’
‘Gelis knows it!’ said the priest. ‘Since when?’
‘It was unintentional. I rambled once, when I was sick. She knew, of course, that her sister and I had been lovers.’
‘She didn’t think Simon ought to be told?’
‘There would have been no fun in that,’ Nicholas said. ‘Or rather, no point. Simon’s range of understanding is small. He has one resource: physical violence. To appear twice a cuckold would merely drive him insane, and probably end in the death of the child. Better growing up wild than not growing.’
Godscalc looked at him. ‘Better growing up to kill his own father? Nicholas, things are not as they were. We cannot lay on that child, all unknowing, a sin such as that. Sometime, you must tell him the truth.’
‘Sometime,’ Nicholas said. ‘But not while Simon is alive. We spoke of this once.’
‘Is that why you re-opened the quarrel?’ Godscalc said. ‘So that you can reclaim your son if you breed a dead child or children, or daughters? As you also said once, you have a fortune to leave, and your life is often at risk. Did you try to kill Simon?’
‘I will not deny,’ Nicholas said, ‘that I am trying to punish him. Or that I did once try to kill him as Henry did me. But not in cold blood. Or not yet.’
‘But why? You made peace,’ Godscalc said.
‘He broke it,’ said Nicholas.
‘And Gelis?’ said Godscalc.
‘What of her?’ he said. He released his knee and turned, laying his arms on the table. His rings shone with absolute steadiness.
‘Will you lay on her the strain of watching you pursue this ignoble duel? You have a young wife and family, and health and riches with which to sustain them. Can you not forgive this poor, silly man who has nothing but a boy who is not even his?’
‘I have rendered him helpless,’ Nicholas said. ‘Julius was right. They can’t harm me without harming Henry. My wife and my forthcoming child will have nothing to fear from