To Lie with Lions - Dorothy Dunnett [336]
It occurred to him that he had missed the arrival of Anselm Adorne and Jan his son, and of course Dr Andreas. He had not missed, but had deliberately avoided the other astrologer. And among all that vast crowd representing the flower of Burgundy there was one man, he realised, who must have been there all along, but had remained out of his sight until this moment when he waited, amiably sitting his horse by the towered portal, and who took off his hat and waved it as they passed.
Julius said, ‘Wasn’t that …?’
‘Martin of the Vatachino,’ Nicholas said. ‘Tommaso’s informant, no doubt.’
‘I smelled the sulphur,’ said John le Grant. ‘I hope he’s got David de Salmeton with him. By God, I’ll …’
‘No, you won’t,’ Nicholas said. ‘Or not until I’ve finished with them both.’
Chapter 46
THE MESSAGE FROM Nicholas to his wife arrived in the other town of Augustus among an assortment of missives, some to his agent, and one to Tobias his doctor. He had also dispatched a small saddle, to which was attached a packet containing a drawing, a verse, and a note. Jodi pounced on them all.
During the four weeks they had been waiting in Augsburg, Nicholas had communicated with them quite often, and they had not been neglected. Tobie knew the city a little, and the agent was anxious to please. Twice, the former Anna von Hanseyck had travelled from the castle where she was staying to introduce them to friends; on a third occasion she had brought her host and kinsman, who had pressed Gelis to come and stay, an invitation she had refused with regret.
Tobie had been relieved by the refusal. He had been extremely taken with Anna, and had been forced to recognise the urbane, civilised company that Gelis could provide when she liked. But this was a family far more vulnerable than most, and for this space, he had been appointed its guardian.
Nicholas, leaving, had implied as much, without being explicit. He had talked of Jodi, and of the other boy who, unknown to most, was also his, and of the promise they had given to protect Henry.
‘You have kept it,’ Tobie had said. ‘So far as you could.’
And Nicholas said, ‘Not at Veere. If he had killed Jodi at Veere, I would have killed him.’
‘But Henry isn’t here?’ Tobie had said.
‘No.’ After a moment, Nicholas had said, ‘Tobie? Once, I gave you a paper. Do you have it?’
He had it. It was a document, drawn up and signed, which would prove, if it had to be proved, that Henry was the son of Katelina van Borselen and Nicholas vander Poele, now de Fleury.
Tobie said, ‘It’s with my notary. Why? Do you want it?’
‘Not if you don’t mind keeping it. But I wondered. Would you consider it a good idea to give a copy to Father Moriz?’
‘I think it would be an excellent idea,’ said Tobie slowly.
‘You shouldn’t have to bear all the onus. Did you know that Moriz was a native of Augsburg?’ Nicholas had asked.
‘I’d forgotten,’ Tobie said.
‘He might have friends; even kinsmen,’ Nicholas said. ‘I only mention it in case you come across them by accident. Both my sons, I am sure, are quite safe. But after Cyprus …’ He let the sentence tail off. His face, for a moment, had looked younger than it was, whereas apprehension with most was an ageing emotion.
Tobie said casually, ‘I was sorry to hear about Tasse. She might have helped you.’
He could see Nicholas draw breath, and then release it. Then he said, ‘I was sorry, too. Jodi would have been as fond of her as I was.’
That was all. Then he had gone, and now the message had come, summoning them all to the Abbey of St Maximin outside Trèves, where the Duke of Burgundy, its protector, was taking up residence. Gelis brought it to Tobie, and with it, a note from a different quarter.
‘From Anna,’ she said. ‘To tell us she’s gone to join Julius in Trèves. He and Nicholas are attached to the Emperor.’
‘She is German,’ he said. ‘She is almost in the position of hostess. And the message from Nicholas? He wants you to stay with the Duke, not the Emperor?’
‘He seems to think it is safer,’ Gelis said. She paused, and Tobie looked up. She had pale blue eyes, very clear.