City of Swords (15 page)

They had not seen Arianna quite so ducal in manner since she had been elected Duchessa. She was sitting on the new throne and was elaborately dressed, still wearing a silver mask, though she usually dispensed with one when just with her closest intimates.

‘We are gathered here to discuss the situation in Fortezza,’ she said formally. ‘As I understand it, it is an internal, family matter for the di Chimici.’

Rodolfo made as if to speak but she held up her hand.

‘Princess Lucia di Chimici,’ she continued, ‘has been challenged as to her right to the title and her older half-brother, Ludovico – known to us as Ludo the Manoush – is holding her hostage in her own castle. Naturally other members of her family are raising an army to defeat Ludo and assert her rightful claim to the throne.’

Arianna, Duchessa of Bellezza, looked round the room. ‘Am I correct so far?’

Only her father nodded.

She went on. ‘This army is likely to be headed by Grand Duke Fabrizio himself, declared enemy of Bellezza –’ she looked at her mother – ‘of the Stravaganti –’ here it was Dethridge who got the look – ‘and in particular of my future husband the Cavaliere.’

Luciano did not feel singled out for especially pleasing notice; she hadn’t used his name.

‘Other di Chimici leaders will leave their cities and head their own military divisions,’ Arianna continued. ‘Alfonso, Duke of Volana, Ferrando of Moresco, Filippo of Bellona. And there will be soldiers coming from Remora to join them. A vast di Chimici army will almost certainly destroy the upstart without help from any other quarter.’

There was a heavy silence in the room.

‘And yet my chief adviser and sometime regent informs me – not consults with me – that Bellezza will go to Fabrizio’s aid and offer the services of himself and the Cavaliere. That is what we are here to discuss.’

‘May I speak now?’ asked Rodolfo.

Arianna inclined her head stiffly.

‘You are right to chide me,’ he said.

Luciano wondered if Rodolfo would address his daughter as ‘Your Grace’, but the Senator stopped just short of that.

‘I spoke as if the decision was mine to make, when I should have asked your permission. But I was speaking not for Bellezza but for the Stravaganti. I think we should do whatever we can to help the di Chimici restore order in Fortezza.’

‘Meaning “restore Lucia to the throne”?’ asked Luciano.

‘It wull be one from thatte familie of chymists, whichever factioune winnes,’ said William Dethridge.

‘Yes, it will,’ said Rodolfo.

‘What makes you think Fabrizio would accept your help?’ asked Arianna. ‘Even if you were free to give it?’

‘That’s what I want to know,’ said Luciano. ‘I mean he hates me and I don’t think you are his favourite person either.’

‘I don’t know that he will,’ said Rodolfo. ‘But with the Duchessa’s permission I think we should try.’

‘What do you think, Silvia?’ Arianna asked her mother. ‘You know the di Chimici history with Bellezza – better than anyone.’

‘I think that the Grand Duke will trust to his army, but that, if it fails, he will be interested in parleying with the Stravaganti.’

‘Arianna, if I may?’ said Rodolfo. ‘I did not mean you to think that Bellezza should raise an army.’

‘But we could if it was needed, couldn’t we?’ she said.

Rodolfo shrugged. ‘Yes, we could. Any city-state with enough money can raise an army. But that is not what I propose.’

Arianna relaxed her rigid posture for the first time since the meeting began.

‘Ye were afeared for their saufetee?’ asked Dethridge.

Arianna sat upright again. ‘I was afraid I would be prevented from joining them,’ she replied. ‘But if they are not going to head an army, it will be easier for me to stay here.’

‘Don’t imagine they won’t be in danger all the same,’ said Silvia grimly.

Laura had gone back to school the Monday after she had ended up in hospital, and the rumour mill was churning overtime.

‘They all think I tried to kill myself,’ she whispered to Isabel.

‘Well, they’re wrong – aren’t they?’ answered her friend. Isabel had never been a hundred per cent sure what had happened a week before.

‘I really didn’t mean to hurt myself that badly,’ said Laura. ‘But this is awful. I feel as if everyone is looking at me and talking about me.’

‘That’s just ordinary paranoia,’ said Georgia, who had joined them at the school gates. ‘Don’t worry about it. In a day or two they’ll have someone else to gossip about.’

‘Can you do me a favour?’ asked Laura. She was still a bit intimidated by Georgia. ‘Could you try to spread the word it wasn’t – you know – a suicide attempt?’

‘Sure,’ said Georgia. She had known what it was to be unhappy.

‘Have you made up your mind what to do about the talisman?’ asked Isabel.

‘I’m having my stitches out this afternoon,’ said Laura. ‘Can I meet you guys afterwards, at Nick’s?’

Rodolfo and Luciano had left Bellezza with their relationship with the women more or less restored. William Dethridge had agreed to stay behind and keep watch over Rodolfo’s mirrors so that they could get messages easily to Silvia and Arianna.

‘How many more of these crises can there be before Luciano and I are married?’ Arianna asked her mother, after they had waved the two Stravaganti off. ‘It’s only just over two weeks now.’

‘Then we should take your mind off it by seeing how your grandmother is getting on with the dress,’ said Silvia.

Arianna snorted. ‘I can’t believe you said that,’ she said, glaring at her mother. ‘Do you think I am some – GIRL, to be distracted by clothes when Luciano is going to walk up to Fabrizio, the man who wants him dead, to offer his services?’

‘Well, you are still a girl, I suppose,’ said Silvia. ‘But no. I just thought it might do you good to get out of the city and back to the islands. I know you miss your old life there.’

Arianna softened. ‘I do,’ she said. ‘Everything was so much less complicated when I lived on Torrone.’

‘I don’t think it’s where you live that’s the problem,’ said Silvia. ‘But can you go to the island today?’

There was nothing that could not be postponed, so later that afternoon the two Duchesse accompanied by Marco, the loyal footman, went down to the lagoon and took the ducal boat to the islands.

It was not far to Burlesca where Arianna’s grandmother, Silvia’s mother, lived. Paola was the finest lacemaker on the island and the obvious choice to make Arianna’s dress. But she was also a shrewd observer of human emotions.

‘You are not happy, child,’ she said, pinning Arianna into a lace confection like a cloud. ‘What is the matter?’

‘Luciano has gone off to Fortezza and I must stay here and play brides by myself.’

‘I thought you had a city to rule,’ said Paola. ‘Surely that doesn’t give you much time for moping and pining?’

Arianna felt completely wrong-footed. She was the one who didn’t want to be treated like a silly girl, after all.

‘Of course!’ she said, sounding petulant to her own ears. ‘But you asked what was wrong and that’s it.’

‘Mother,’ said Silvia, ‘I’m going to make an announcement in the city about what really happened to me.’

‘Really?’ said Paola. ‘And where will that leave Arianna?’

‘I hope exactly where she is now,’ said Silvia. ‘It will just mean that she was elected after my retirement rather than after my death.’

‘Let us hope you are right,’ said Paola. ‘Keep still, Arianna, or you will end up full of pins.’

Laura’s arm felt a lot better without the stitches but her most recent wound was an angry red line that would serve as a reminder and a warning to her for a long time. She pulled her long T-shirt sleeve down over it and set off for Nick’s house.

It was only just over a fortnight since she had bought the paperknife in the antiques shop and become a member of the Barnsbury Stravaganti. But already she felt as if they were like a second family to her, closer than her real family and more of them than the tight little threesome she was in at home.

She had been beginning to feel like that about Fabio and Ludo and Fortezza, before it all got too difficult and painful. And it seemed so unfair: no one else from their group had fallen in love with a Talian, if that was indeed what had happened to her. Well, Lucien had, she supposed, but that didn’t count because she couldn’t really remember him from school and had never met him in Talia.

But ever since she had ended up in hospital Laura had regretted her decision to give up on Talia and now she was deeply frustrated that her talisman had been removed and she no longer had the choice.

‘Hi, Mrs Mulholland,’ she said when Nick’s mother opened the door. ‘Can I go up?’

‘Of course – Nick said to expect you,’ said Vicky. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m OK,’ said Laura. She had no idea how much Nick’s mother knew about what had happened to her. But she did suddenly remember that Vicky Mulholland knew about stravagation and Talia, and she was forever separated from her son, who lived there.

Vicky was smiling at her sympathetically and Laura felt that here was someone who would understand about Ludo.

‘Ellen told me what happened,’ said Vicky. ‘I’m sorry. I hope you don’t mind.’

They all know each other, these Barnsbury mums
, thought Laura.
I should have guessed
.

‘No, that’s OK,’ she said. ‘I’m OK now – really.’

‘Well, if there’s ever anything I can do to help,’ said Vicky, as Laura went up the stairs.

The attic was warm and welcoming. Nick had the swing-window open to let in a breeze, but the warm May sunshine was making the atmosphere sleepy and comforting. And the group of friends were smiling a welcome to her. She sank on to a beanbag and felt herself enveloped physically and emotionally. It really did feel like having brothers and sisters.

‘Hey,’ said Ayesha. ‘How’s your arm?’

‘Really much more comfortable,’ said Laura but she wasn’t going to show any of them.

‘Coffee?’ asked Nick.

He had an electric kettle, bottles of mineral water, a little fridge for milk and a cupboard with mugs, spoons, coffee, biscuits and sugar. As Laura nodded, she wondered if his predecessor, the mysterious Lucien, had organised this set-up or if the Mulhollands had arranged it all for Nick. It wasn’t quite living as a prince but it was more luxury than the others enjoyed. Which was why they always met at his house when they weren’t at the coffee shop.