The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [354]
The caress, in its experimental delicacy, was almost more than he could endure. When she vanished, and every door proved to be bolted save the one that had given him entrance, he plunged into the mist, and took himself to the nearest whorehouse that he knew of.
Simon de St Pol was there, on his way from one grand house to another, and in acrimonious mood. He relented in time, when assured once again of Jan’s eager support; when convinced that their plan was unassailable. St Pol hated the Banco di Niccolò even more than did Jan and his father. He also loathed his own parent, de Ribérac. Jan wondered if the vicomte his father went whoring, or had his own supply of Venetian ladies.
Antonio Cavalli, diligent in his service to the elderly guest of his family, recollected his French and reported. ‘Nothing has happened as yet. Master Gregorio spends his time watching for boats from Chioggia.’
He did not say, because he did not know, that Master Gregorio had gone without telling anyone to call on Katelijne Sersanders while her uncle and cousin were absent.
Her chamber was a mess: the nuns at Haddington would never have countenanced it for a moment. Entering, Gregorio made it clear at the outset that he wanted no secrets: only to know if she had heard any news of Gelis van Borselen. She had not. She had not even known that Gelis was expected in Venice. He felt a pang of guilt for having told her at all. When she asked after Margot he saw that she knew nothing of her movements either. They finished by talking of Scotland.
She missed it, he gathered. If the Princess Mary was ever allowed back with her babes – assuming the second was born – Katelijne would not mind returning with her. She missed Whistle Willie and Betha Sinclair and dear Phemie Dunbar.
‘Do you ever hear from them?’ Gregorio asked.
She had smiled. ‘Phemie writes. She sends poems. They are meant for me, but I rather think she likes my uncle to see them. He sends her back commentaries sometimes.’ She turned aside and began to show him some music.
He made some sort of response. He had wondered, hearing nothing, but assumed that communication from a priory was difficult. He began to think back.
The girl said, ‘You must rest before Tuesday. You are all so busy, my uncle too. What are you wearing for the last day of the Carnival? My uncle won’t go. Jan is to be dressed as a cockerel.’
Gregorio said, ‘I don’t know. Something very ordinary, I’m afraid. Julius is going to parade as a Venetian Senator, and Tobie as a fisherman, or so he says.’
Native caution, even at this moment, warned him not to mention the disguise he thought Nicholas might have chosen. Nicholas had thanked him for allowing Margot to depart.
Gregorio took his leave of Katelijne Sersanders and, instead of going back to the Casa, walked to the quay to which the boats from Chioggia usually came.
Monday arrived, and the solemn meeting in the Doge’s Palace between the Senate and the Persian Envoys, attended by delegations from the House of Niccolò and from the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Rhodes, represented by Tobias Lomellini. The magnifico Marco Corner spoke for the interests of Cyprus and Venice. And, of course, of the prince Uzum Hasan, to whom his wife was related.
It was noted that the Bank had pledged itself to supply, at the stated prices, a reduced quantity of artillery, ammunition, handguns and other offensive weapons, together with four trained artillery officers, as per the lists the lords had placed before them.
It was noted that the Bank, contrary to the trend of the preliminary discussions, was providing no shipping, and no band of mercenaries. Further, to the distress of the Signory and the Ambassadors, it had notified its intention of lodging a claim against the Knights Hospitaller for the very sum of money which the Knights had proposed to devote to the purchase of most of these items for the war against the Grand Turk.