The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [41]
‘You know more than I do,’ said Nicholas. ‘I thought they were all dead.’ He took the wine and nursed it without a tremor.
‘I hope not,’ said Simon. He had a beauty, still, that women would die for. ‘Of all people, Thibault and Adelina de Fleury should dote on the coming child, should they not? Should we not raise a cup to it ourselves? Come, Bel. Henry, a taste of wine with some water. Now. A toast to the first child of Gelis van Borselen, whatever sort it may be.’
He drank. Bel said, ‘To your child, Nicholas; its safe birth, and a fair life and long. Henry, take a big drink.’
Henry took a small drink. His father said, ‘And I suppose you long for a son? I often wish I had a brother for Henry. Indeed there are times – aren’t there, Henry? – when I wouldn’t object if someone left me a changeling. But then of course I relent.’
Their guest said, ‘I should be pleased to have a son in the very image of Henry.’
‘You couldn’t,’ said Henry.
‘No, I couldn’t,’ said his uncle by marriage.
She had come hoping to prevent this. Anger at the two men overwhelmed her. Then she collected herself and entering the conversation wrenched it, with steely determination, into civilised channels.
Simon listened more than he spoke. De Fleury humoured her with minor gossip about Father Godscalc’s health and Gregorio’s growing position in Bruges; and sustained rhapsodies about the longed-for child to be born to Lucia’s son Diniz and his wife. All the news was second-hand and he spoke as if he were little involved.
Asked about his own business, he mentioned Captain Astorre and his army, on the verge of taking the field with Duke Charles. Henry came back to life all at once. He said, ‘If I had an army, I’d lead it.’
De Fleury said, ‘You could, if it were a unit like mine. Captain Astorre has been its captain for a long time, and has been in many great battles. He has an Englishman, Thomas, to help him, and a master physician called Tobias. But, of course, that is only one company. The Sire Louis de Gruuthuse – he’s famous, he’s been in Scotland – commands all the Burgundian armies, and the Duke himself often goes into battle. You’re interested in war?’
‘I’m going to lead armies,’ said Henry. ‘And be a knight and fight against other knights. And challenge them. You’d be afraid to do that. If your wife had a son, he’d be afraid to do that as well.’
‘I fought a Saracen once,’ said de Fleury thoughtfully. ‘And I’ve taken part in big wars now and then. Everyone is afraid when they fight. But I’m not sure about single combat. If I want to put someone down, I often do it in ways that last longer. It can be quite satisfactory.’
‘Gentlemen fight,’ Henry said. ‘Gentlemen marry ladies and have gentle sons.’ He got up and went out.
‘Returning to Gelis,’ Simon remarked. His eyes were bright. ‘Thinking of poor Gelis again, I ought to give you greetings from her former mistress. The lady Mary, you know? My near neighbour. Seventeen now and childless, poor lady. She wept to hear your wife is with child. March, isn’t it due? Or even in April? Her husband thought it essential, like you, to get out of the country.’
‘Thomas Boyd? So she misses him?’
‘Cries for him all the time. No one else does. The marriage only took place because the Boyds had their hands on the King at the time. Now it’s different. If I were Tom Boyd, I shouldn’t have risked going to Denmark. A lot can happen in a few months. Or so they tell me. Do you hear from Bruges much?’
‘Often enough,’ Nicholas de Fleury said. He stirred with sudden decisiveness. ‘I’ve stayed too long. The Scottish champion has to prepare for his triumph. I look forward to that. I’ve never seen you in the lists.’
‘No,’ said Simon. From outside, clearer now, came the sounds of a distant commotion.
‘But you