Daughters of the Doge (63 page)

This was good news indeed. Spurred on by the removal of a major obstacle, I wanted to move to the next part of the arrangement. I decided to rely on Thomas’s assurance that the place at Padua University would be forthcoming.

‘It is my intention to ask Yasmeen Ahmed to become my wife, and to live with me in Padua. If she accepts, then she will no longer be able to act as manager of the Bottega Tintoretto. The purpose of today’s discussion is to determine whether this opportunity would meet your needs, Faustina, and whether you would be suitable for Tintoretto in that position.’

Faustina’s face hardened, and I realized, with a chill down my back, that she thought the last question had already been settled. Tintoretto saw it, too, and came to our rescue.

‘On the last point, Richard, Suor Faustina and I have already come to an agreement; I have made her an offer.’ Faustina relaxed, but Jacopo continued. ‘A conditional offer. The offer is, of course, dependent upon Yasmeen deciding to leave me.’

He looked at Faustina. ‘I only need one business manager.’

Faustina sat upright in her chair and I waited for the counterproposal. It appeared that she had not been as careful to address Felicità’s position with Tintoretto as she had been with me. Yet I found it hard to believe that she had not considered the issue, and surely Jacopo would have been made aware of the problem by Veronica? There was a little game being played here and one I appeared not to be party to. Faustina’s eyes flashed at me as she replied, her tone carefully measured.

‘Signor Tintoretto has indeed made me an offer which I am considering. However, I must consider Felicità’s position also.’ She looked at Tintoretto for his response.

Jacopo’s expression was bland and now I knew that he and Veronica had, indeed, been plotting away in the background. He ignored Faustina and looked directly at Felicità, who wilted at his gaze until he reassured her with a fatherly smile. ‘A few months ago my wife gave birth to a lovely daughter. Her name is Marietta. The child is strong and she will live. We would like to have more children, many children, including sons I could teach to paint, but Fausbina will need help – with the house and the child. Would you be happy to do that, Felicità?’

Felicità looked at Faustina for guidance.

Tintoretto saw the uncertainty. ‘You would be working together in the same house. My family lives upstairs, above the studio.’ Faustina gave a small nod and Felicità reddened, a glow of pleasure competing with a flush of embarrassment.

‘Yes please, sir. Nothing would please me more. I love children.’

Tintoretto turned back to Faustina. ‘Is it agreed?’

Faustina stood and walked behind Felicità, putting a protective arm round her shoulder.

‘It is agreed.’

For a moment I felt as if my life – and, more importantly, Yasmeen’s – was being decided by others. I cleared my throat to speak, but Jacopo got there first.

‘Then we have an agreement. It is, however, conditional upon Yasmeen deciding to marry this man here and living with him in Padua.’ He winked at Felicità, put his hand over his mouth and pretended to stifle a laugh, in an expression which clearly suggested she would be mad to choose me.

This time, even Felicità laughed.

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September the 3rd 1556 – Fondamenta dei Mori

‘Richard!‘ Yasmeen stood in the doorway of our house and called me. ‘My father wishes to speak to you.’

Ayham welcomed me formally and bade us sit on one of the rich carpets.

‘You have been very busy – it is clear you have a businesslike brain and the courage and persistence to overcome problems. I have discussed your proposal of the double marriage with our mullah. He has given me a ruling.’

I tried to swallow, but my throat hurt. Ayham continued; it was clear he had thought about what he was going to say before I arrived.

‘For centuries Muslim communities have survived in Al Andalus, in Salerno and in Venice, by working in partnership with people of other faiths. Whilst we remain loyal to our own faith, business situations allow us legal partnership with those of other faiths.’

My heart began to lift.

‘Marriage is more difficult. The Koran forbids a man to marry a woman who is not from “the people of the book”. Therefore, by implication, although it does not say so specifically, it must allow marriage to women, including Jews and Christians, whose religions recognize what you call the Old Testament. However there are contrary opinions and it is by no means certain that what is written for a man applies in reverse for a woman. Our mullah has taken soundings and has decreed that it would be in order for me to accept such a proposal to my daughter from a man who was a Christian if that man was also my business partner.’

For a moment, my world wavered around me. Was he telling me he had made an arranged marriage for Yasmeen with a business contact, a Christian? I was prepared for anger, but held myself back, as he was still speaking.

‘I am, therefore, offering you a business proposal of my own: that you and Yasmeen join in legal partnership with me and help me expand this business, and agree to carry it on after my death, for, as you know, I have no sons. Together I believe we could expand our trade, to include not only spices, but also pigments for artists and herbs and medicines for physicians. By so doing, we can offset the effect of the Lisbon trade.’

I looked at him blankly. ‘Are you saying that if I accept this offer of partnership, both you and the mullah will agree to my marrying Yasmeen in the manner proposed: two ceremonies, Muslim and Protestant?’

He nodded. ‘I am saying precisely that.’

I wanted to rush forward, to embrace him and his daughter together, but I had learned to contain my natural impetuosity.

‘It is a wonderful and generous offer, Ayham, but before I accept it, I must be fair to you. I have, as you know, a desire – an intention, even – to study medicine in Padua. And although the portents are good, they have not yet offered me a place.’

Ayham smiled. It was the calm smile of a man who has considered all the angles and already satisfied himself beyond doubt.

‘There is no difficulty. Think about it. My lovely daughter has a detailed knowledge of the world of painters, and the materials they have to buy to make their colours. I have knowledge of spices, many of which are also dyes. You are to study medicine and how to cure people with medicinal herbs. These, too, are similar and often obtained from the same places and through the same merchants. I believe my plan has merit. It has a balance to it – a structure. It would match the elegance of the plan which you have concocted, of marrying my daughter and saving the nun at the same time – yes, she has explained it all to me, and I have spoken to my friend and neighbour Tintoretto, who agrees.’

It was strange. For so long I had been beset by constraints, difficulties, hurdles, pressures. Yasmeen was watching my every move. Time to make a decision.

‘Ayham.You have my agreement. I will become your business partner, and make my financial contribution to the expansion of our business. I will also pursue my medical studies if the university invites me to do so, and I will marry your daughter, cherish her, respect her and her religion, and love her with all my heart. My hand on it.’

We exchanged a long and emotional handshake, which contained many unwritten agreements.

Yasmeen kissed her father, then me. Then she burst into happy tears and ran from the room.

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September the 4th 1556 – Fondamenta dei Mori

‘Ayham has congratulated me on the elegant symmetry of my solution. If only I was truly the architect of that solution.’

Veronica smiled. ‘It is . . . clean and tidy, yes. You did very well. One way and another, you had put yourself in treacherous waters, but you navigated them very well.’

‘
I
navigated! You mean I rowed and you navigated. It was only when I came here to see Tintoretto to try to persuade him to let Faustina replace Yasmeen I discovered that you had already introduced them and effectively made the agreement.’

She put a motherly hand on my cheek. ‘Richard, please forgive me; I simply had to do it. You were making such hard work of everything that I decided you needed a helping hand. It’s nothing – what any friend would have done. Besides, you did most of it – the proposals for expanding Ayham’s business, for example. I just threw in a few ideas and chatted to a few contacts. I have the advantage of knowing more people in Venice than you do. Besides, it was fun.’

‘Fun‘ was not the word I would have used. It was alright for her to talk as if everything was in place. It was by no means finished yet.

I leaned over to Veronica and whispered conspiratorially. ‘I still have one more piece to put in place, the interview at the university. If the earl isn’t fit enough to travel tomorrow, I shall go anyway. Too many people’s futures are dependent on it. As far as I am concerned, he is no longer part of my life and the sooner I see the back of him the better.’

She nodded. ‘You have spent enough of your life in service, one way or another. Now you have responsibilities of your own. It is time to break away, to move on and live your own life.’

As usual, Veronica was right. Tomorrow I would go to Padua, one way or another.

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