The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [116]
‘Then I shall have you killed now,’ said the fat man.
Nicholas lifted his free hand. It had the silver knife in it. He said, ‘You could have used this. So could I. I could still make you a hostage. You would only kill me if you had lost your own sense of importance. You have never been afraid of me. You are not afraid of me now, or you would hardly have amused yourself with that offer. So why not let the race run its course? Surely you are certain of winning?’
The face opposite, the veined face with its swollen chins and broad brow and pursed lips slowly relaxed. Jordan de Ribérac dropped his grasp and, moving deliberately, crossed to the jug and poured wine. He filled a second cup. He said, ‘You invoke my pride. You have some wits. Yes, I admit it. Your threats are immaterial: I have heard a thousand such in my life. But I also like battle, and can enjoy it from my chair as well as in the saddle these days.
‘So, yes. I shall let you go free. You shall have a horse, and will complete your successful homecoming to Bruges, and carry my familial greetings to Diniz my grandson and his industrious spouse. Which reminds me. You have a ring of mine?’
‘It is on the table,’ said Nicholas. ‘I doubt if you will find it suits any finger but your own.’
Since Godscalc could not, Gregorio waited, hour after hour, at the gate by which Nicholas de Fleury would re-enter Bruges. So, long after dark, he was there when de Fleury, with the rights of a burgess, passed over the bridge and was permitted to make his way into the town. Gregorio waited until he was a pace or two away from the guard, and then stepped out and took his horse by the reins. De Fleury stopped.
For a moment, looking up, Gregorio was unable to speak. Then he said, ‘I have to warn you of something.’
The mask above remained a mask. Then it changed in the wavering light. The other man said, ‘First my news. Margot is well. She will come back when Gelis does. Back to you.’ He waited and then said, ‘Not in the street. There is a tavern.’
In Bruges, they were known in every tavern. But a remote corner was found, and some ale neither wanted, and Nicholas de Fleury sat, his tattered cloak cast aside and the mud drying on his torn doublet and said, ‘What?’
Gregorio said, ‘The vicomte de Ribérac came.’
‘So I believe,’ the other man said.
‘You knew?’
‘I have seen him.’
His voice, his face, everything about him was wrong. Gregorio threw out his hands. ‘Tell me. Tell me what happened!’
‘Later. The vicomte de Ribérac came?’
‘To the house. I wasn’t there. Diniz was out. Godscalc was sleeping. The servants … He forced his way in. He had heard about Lucia and Simon. He knew you nearly killed Simon; he thought you had trapped Lucia too. He accused Diniz of – of certain practices … with you, with the young men who come to the house.’
‘With Umar. Simon’s theory. I know,’ the other man said. ‘Who heard him?’
‘Everyone. Julius. Tobie. Tobie told him he was talking nonsense and Julius punched him. Or tried to. Then de Ribérac left. But Tilde had heard, too.’
‘Heard how Lucia was supposed to have died? Heard about her husband’s reputation with men?’
‘To do him justice,’ Gregorio said, ‘I don’t think the vicomte realised she was near.’
‘He did,’ Nicholas said.
‘You have seen him? He told you?’
‘In his own way. What happened?’
‘She collapsed. The baby was born. A boy. Dead.’
‘And Tilde herself?’
‘Tobie is with her. He says she’s safe now. He says the infant wouldn’t have survived in any case. Nicholas?’
The other man stirred. ‘You want to know about mine? My wife’s? Nothing but excellent news. The birth is over. Gelis has never looked better. The child is a vigorous boy. Or so Margot tells me. It is hidden.’
‘Because it came early?’ Gregorio paused. ‘You haven’t seen it? But I thought she promised to –’
‘To leave its fate in my hands? She has reconsidered, it seems. I have asked her to bring the child to Bruges in a month. I may have to leave before then. In which case she should join me in Scotland.