The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [331]
He was smiling. Nicholas said, ‘Never ask an innkeeper the way.’
‘Of course. But it will benefit yourself as well.’
‘Perhaps. I hope I shall be able to accept by tomorrow,’ Nicholas said, just loud enough to be heard by the Patriarch, who was not unconversant with that language.
The door had opened and servants were bringing trays of pastries and Candian wine. He seemed to remember that Corner was paid in sugar and wine: it was not the thick, sweet Commanderie wine of the Knights, whatever his new fondness for the Order. He wondered if the meeting were formally over, and decided that it probably was. He said to the Patriarch, ‘Are there still some Greek bishops in Cyprus?’
After barely one bite, the Patriarch seemed clothed in sugary hair. ‘Four,’ he said. ‘And the Church of St Sabas, over at Karoni in Paphos. And the Karpass, up in the north-east. The Bishop of Famagusta has his home in the Karpass. Beside the monastery.’
‘The monastery?’ Nicholas said. Someone had refilled his cup, but exhilaration still won over tiredness. Zacco was lying back, staring at him.
‘The one you’re thinking of. The monastery of the monks of St Catherine’s of Sinai. A couple of cabins in the Karpass, since your day.’
‘Brother Lorenzo must go there occasionally,’ Nicholas said. ‘Who else do you know? Father Moriz?’
‘Everyone knows Father Moriz. I’m going to take the Turcomans home. Can you hold off getting drunk till I call on you?’
‘Nikko?’ said the King’s voice.
‘I don’t know,’ Nicholas said. ‘Call on me and try. How do you get on with my wife?’
‘Ah,’ said Ludovico da Bologna. ‘You’d need to be sober to hear that.’
‘Caro,’ said the King; and this time he was standing beside him, his cloak over one shoulder. ‘We are riding back.’
The King, at least, had decided that the meeting was over. Everyone stood. Farewells were said. Outside, the fountain played and the horses, their escort, were waiting. The Florentine agent had stayed behind and only the chamberlain Rizzo di Marino rode silently at the King’s other side. The King said, ‘If you loved me, you would kill him.’
It was not clear whom he meant, or even to whom he was speaking. Then the Sicilian said, ‘You know it is impossible.’
The King turned to Nicholas. ‘When Charlotte died, I stripped him of everything. Everything.’
‘I am sorry,’ Nicholas said. Now he knew. Careless father, perpetual lover, Zacco adored his natural children. Charlotte, aged six, had been promised to Sor de Naves, his Constable, as a bribe, and had died at twelve, the previous year, on the verge of her marriage. She had been the eldest of his illegitimate children and, of course, he had none yet by Catherine Corner, to whom he had not yet been introduced.
Nicholas said, ‘You blame Andrea Corner?’
‘Oh yes. He poisoned her. I stripped him of all his possessions. But I had to give them back,’ Zacco said. ‘I owe him too much money. You don’t wear the Order I gave you?’
‘I couldn’t take it to Sinai,’ said Nicholas.
‘And you are married to a van Borselen? My grandfather married a Charlotte de Bourbon. We are related,’ said Zacco and laughed. ‘Are you not glad that I –?’
‘No,’ said Nicholas. They had come to the gates of the palace.
‘She was barren,’ said Zacco. ‘Your wife. And dead, of course, now. We are here. Come in.’
‘Forgive me, roi seigneur,’ Nicholas said.
His arm was gripped. ‘No. That I will not,’ said Zacco. ‘Unless you are afraid?’
‘No, roi seigneur,’ Nicholas said.
‘Because you are cleaning Andrea Corner’s boots with your tongue? You know that he sends every month to know why I am not receiving my bride?’
‘He is afraid you will marry King Ferrante’s daughter,’ Nicholas said.
‘Monseigneur,’ said Rizzo di Marino, and laid a hand on his reins.
The King continued studying Nicholas. ‘You know a lot, don’t you? Or you think that you do. I was told that you called at Naples on your way to Alexandria and were kind enough to discuss my marriage with Lorenzo Strozzi.’
‘I wanted you to go ahead with it,’ Nicholas said.