The Unicorn Hunt - Dorothy Dunnett [53]
Paper-white, the boy’s face didn’t change. ‘Defending my honour!’ said Simon.
‘Aye. A non-existent item, we ken, but he’s only a bairn. But since he’s about the only one on your side, it doesna make much sense to blame him. He beat Mar; it’s over; the King’s overlooked it, I’m sure, and we’d all be the better of a good night’s sleep.’ She touched Simon’s arm. ‘Leave it. I’ll stay. There’ll be time in the morning.’
‘He’ll be gone in the morning,’ said Simon. ‘Do you think I want him in Scotland?’
In a flurry of movement, Henry plunged to the edge of the bed. His eyes were wild. Bel said, ‘Well, I want him in Scotland. He can come to me, or to Lucia.’
‘Really?’ said Simon. ‘Well, why don’t you take him? See if you can train him to keep his place in a mêlée and refrain from chopping up princes who happen to rile him. I’ve been wasting my time.’
‘No!’ said Henry. He thudded down to the floor. His skin was so white, the red weals of Simon’s blows could be counted, as well as the darker abrasions of the fight. He said, ‘I killed him. The other boy’s father.’
Simon stared at him. Bel said quickly, ‘See, you’ve scared him out of his wits. Go on. Go to bed. Leave him to me.’
‘You’ve killed who?’ said Simon. Beneath his full attention, the boy began breathing deeply at last.
‘The other boy’s father. Claes,’ said Henry. ‘The man with the wife you got under you. The wife that’s birthing my brother. Now he can’t be a knight, can he, my brother? Now that baby won’t have a father like I have?’
‘Oh, my hinny!’ said Bel, and found tears of heartbreak and laughter creeping down her cheeks.
Simon said, ‘What is he saying?’
She could have lied. She could have pretended not to know. But Henry was not going to leave it. Bel said, ‘He means he stabbed Nicholas de Fleury. He seems to have had several reasons.’
‘Stabbed …’ Simon stared at the boy. You could see the anger leaving him.
‘I killed him,’ said Henry.
‘No,’ said Bel. Simon looked at her. She said, ‘He was hurt, I’m afraid, but not mortally. And he kept quiet about it. You owe Nicholas something this time.’
‘Good God! Henry stabbed Nicholas?’ Simon said. Surprise and pleasure dawned on his face. Henry’s face, too, slowly lit up.
‘You’re pleased?’ Bel said.
‘Well,’ said Simon. He looked at Henry. ‘But not dead?’
Bel said, ‘Your son would be in the Tolbooth if Nicholas de Fleury were dead.’
Henry said, ‘The other boy wouldn’t do that.’
Bel said, ‘For Christ’s sake … There is no other boy, Henry. Your father wants you, not a baby by anyone else. It’s not even born yet.’ She rounded on Simon. ‘How could you do this to him?’
‘What?’ said Simon. He hadn’t even been listening. He said, ‘Should I get Henry away? Who else knows what he did?’
‘No one who will tell. Don’t worry,’ said Bel with heavy irony. ‘You and Henry are safe.’
‘But de Fleury will want a price for his silence?’
‘Such as money?’ said Bel. ‘Or maybe a good suit of armour? I think de Fleury, being normal, was willing to spare a silly young child. He took the blow, and he didn’t cry murder. If you owe him a return, it’s one of perpetual gratitude.’
‘Yes,’ said Simon absently. He regarded the boy, and then stretched out to ruffle his hair. ‘So what have you to say for yourself? My God! Stabbing apprentices!’
‘I didn’t kill him,’ said Henry. Relief filled the painful chasm in Bel’s ample chest.
‘Well, you tried,’ Simon said. ‘I’ve reared a monster. And now I suppose I’ve got to hide you at Kilmirren. I expect you’ll try to stab the master-at-arms next, or your aunt Lucia. Did someone give you your supper?’
‘He’s had all he wants,’ Bel said. ‘We all need sleep.’
‘I don’t want her here,’ Henry said, his shining eyes raised. ‘Tell her to go away. This house is for men.’
‘How ungallant,’ said Simon. ‘But I suppose there’s something in it. I’ll find a nice horse to take Mistress Bel home in the morning.’
‘Why not tonight? There’s a good moon,’ said Bel.
‘Now you’re joking,