Leandro looked at his father and saw him raise his cup to his future daughter-in-law. Peace be on all houses.
Sigismondo was at the end of the table, perfectly placed to survey everyone and to be seen. He was wearing, besides the Bandini chain, a splendid collar of faceted links from which hung a pendant jewel. It was obvious that he had been greatly instrumental for the present happy safety of the state and everyone would have liked to know how.
Benno spoke from behind Sigismondo, but with his mouth full, so that he had to repeat it, leaning over his master’s shoulder. ‘I’ve been wondering about that nun you tied up. What d’you suppose will have happened to her?’
‘That will depend on her Mother Superior.’
Benno took a flagon officiously from the hands of the approaching server and filled Sigismondo’s cup to the brim. Sigismondo drank deep, Benno holding on to the flagon until he could pour again.
‘I fancy it will all come out how little she left the world behind when she entered the cloister. She was too used to power to give it up.’
The server got hold of the flagon and bore it away.
‘My lady says you told her the nun was a Bandini, but I never heard of no Bandini taking the veil in Castelnuova.’
‘I didn’t tell her it was a Bandini. She was suggesting we should confide in her; I asked what she would say if I told her the nun was a Bandini. To ask her for help would have been indiscreet, as she’s Lord Paolo’s mother.’
Benno’s face lit with pure pleasure. ‘Was she then? The old Duke’s bed-warmer.’ He was struck in the back by a platter carried past, and bumped into Sigismondo’s chair. He clung on to it to support him in his surprise. ‘Now I come to think of it, of course she turned nun when he died. So she was working to make her son Duke.’
‘Mothers are like that. Remember Poggio’s mother — she’d do anything for her son. Dangerous things, mothers.’
Benno squatted beside Sigismondo, the better to carry on the conversation amid the din of the feast, and was given a drumstick pulled from the fowl on his master’s plate. He asked, obscured, ‘How’d you know she was Lord Paolo’s mother?’
‘You might have known for yourself if you’d got a good look at her in the stables. Her son and grandson have the same eyes.’
‘Sort of sad look, you mean? Wonder what’ll happen to the young one, then. I mean, life didn’t hand him a good deal from the start.’
‘It seems the Lady Violante has taken charge of him. I dare say when she marries,’ and Sigismondo glanced at the blonde head near the Duke Ippolyto’s shoulder, ‘that she will take him with her. He’d be happier away from here — as happy as he’s able to be.’
Benno cogitated, which gave him an expression of complacent idiocy. ‘You can do what you like now the Duke is so grateful to you, can’t you?’
‘No. The gratitude of princes is limiting. You must be there to display it. Princes need it to be seen that deeds done for their advantage are rewarded.’
Benno was silent, sucking the joint of the drumstick. The music broke out very plangently as a new course was brought in, and he had to wait to be heard. Then he said, ‘I suppose you’re saying that this is my last feast for a while.’
Sigismondo smiled and drank his wine. ‘What makes you think I’m going to take you with me?’
Benno pointed the drumstick. ‘Two reasons. One, I can look witless, so people say things in front of me they wouldn’t say in front of anyone else. Two-’
‘Even if they know I employ you?’
‘Two, if they know you employ me, they think you must have a soft heart.’ Benno belched. ‘And that gets them dead.’
Sigismondo offered him another drumstick. ‘Eat while you may. We leave tomorrow.’