To Lie with Lions - Dorothy Dunnett [78]
The woman said, ‘I am Clémence de Coulanges, demoiselle. I shall see to her, Alonse. Give me the parrot.’
‘You know about it?’ said Kathi, pleased. The woman, thin as a scaffold, had the same look as Phemie Dunbar: a tutelary look. It could be good, or it could be bad. If she had survived eight months with M. de Fleury, it was probably good. Kathi added, ‘Perhaps you would give it to Jordan? I’m really here to see his mother and father.’
‘M. de Fleury is away,’ said Mistress Clémence. ‘He thought you might bring the bird. Madame is here. I have to take you to her in the orchard.’
A door opened behind her. ‘But since you are here,’ the nurse continued calmly, ‘I am sure that Master Jordan would like to be presented. Jordan, this is the demoiselle Katelijne Sersanders.’
‘Demoiselle Kathi,’ said Katelijne. The child came forward, instantly friendly. Since Venice, his resemblance to his father had grown. She knew he would not remember her. He smiled, nevertheless, with both dimples, although his eyes were already fixed on the cage.
‘Bonjour, demoiselle Kathi,’ he said. ‘Qu’est-ce que c’est?’
‘It belongs to your father,’ said Kathi. ‘I hope he will let you have it.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Mistress Clémence. ‘We shall place it here, Jordan, and you and I will show the demoiselle Kathi how to reach madame your maman in the garden.’
‘Thank you,’ said Kathi, turning to follow. The child, parting from the cage with reluctance, ran ahead. She added, ‘He looks well.’
‘The climate suits him,’ said the nurse. ‘Children are resilient creatures, so long as they receive sensible treatment. He has made a great friend of the boy Robin.’
Kathi grinned. ‘In that case,’ she said, ‘there is nothing you don’t know about me. The parrot swears.’
‘In Greek and Spanish, I am told,’ said the nurse. ‘As yet, Master Bouton is not conversant with these tongues.’
‘Bouton?’ said Katelijne.
‘His father’s name for him. Mademoiselle?’
The nurse had stopped walking. ‘Yes?’ said Kathi.
‘Forgive me, but as the lady Margaret’s attendant, you must visit the Castle at times?’
‘The King is fond of his sister,’ said Kathi slowly.
The woman lowered her gaze. ‘And you, like M. de Fleury, speak the tongue of the Queen, and so must be especially welcome at Court.’
‘I have met the Queen once or twice,’ Kathi said. ‘I expect M. de Fleury knows her much better.’
‘He is at the Castle now,’ said the nurse. ‘The King likes to bring them together. The King has asked to see Master Jordan tomorrow. I am to take him to their chambers.’
‘And the lady Gelis?’ said Kathi.
‘Only the child. As mademoiselle perhaps knows, the Queen … is young.’
She said nothing more. Kathi looked at her. She said, ‘You will be with Jordan?’
The woman said, ‘Perhaps not all the time.’
‘I see,’ Kathi said. ‘When do you go?’
‘In the evening,’ said the nurse. ‘After supper. It is late, for a child.’
‘We are often there in the evening,’ Kathi said. ‘My mistress will snatch any excuse to attend a feast, or a dance. If we happened to be there, I might see you.’
‘It would be an honour,’ said Clémence de Coulanges. ‘If there is any change, the lad Robin makes a good courier. You know it is his dream to be a page to M. de Fleury?’
‘I should never have guessed it,’ said Kathi wryly. She paused, to gather her courage. She said, ‘Mistress Clémence. You were at Hesdin. What happened?’
The woman’s eyes met hers directly. The woman said, ‘You were in Alexandria, I believe, when M. de Fleury was told that his