Ilario, the Stone Golem by Mary Gentle Read Free Book Online Page B

nothing else he can say, I admitted to myself. Anything else will smack of trying to win concessions, either from the Alberti family or
    the Doge himself, and this Foscari is likely to find some way to remove
    Leon again if he thinks his decision is being used for advantage.
    The Doge looked across the vast chamber at me. ‘As soon as you are
    wed and able to bear the journey, you will leave Venice and join your
    husband in Florence.’
    Leon Battista choked. ‘Florence!’
    ‘You may join your family there,’ Foscari said amiably. ‘Other
    members of your family are also returning, I understand. We will miss
    them, after so many years in our Republic.’
    The candlelight showed his face all innocence as he taunted Leon
    Battista.
    ‘As I understand,’ Foscari concluded, ‘the ban against your family in
    Florence has been lifted. Your exile is over. There are already moves to
    make your father one of Duke Ludovico’s councillors. Of course, the
    agitation and rabble-rousing will stop; it doesn’t become the Alberti to
    act against their own Duke. As I’m sure your family will tell you.’
    It was clear enough to me: the Alberti family have been given a place
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    in Florence again – on the condition that they keep their insurrectionary
    son under control.
    Leon was close enough between his guards that I read the realisation
    in his face. No more pamphlets, no attacking the Republic of Florence
    for its injustices, because the Albertis have a stake in the city again – as it
    stands. No more talk that might lead to revolution. The poor will stay
    poor, and at the mercy of the powerful.
    Leon’s expression closed. He bowed.
    He might continue to think his family had sold him out. Or he might
    tell himself that ideals of good government are a naive man’s illusions. I
    didn’t know him well enough to know which way he would go.
    Once again , I thought. I’m marrying someone – and I have no true idea of who they are.
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    6
    ‘It’s arranged.’ Honorius threw off his cloak, and came to stand by the
    hearth. ‘The banns will be read thrice, and then you’ll be married.’
    I sank further down on the settle, easing my shoes off. My toes were
    hot and cold at the same time, and I wriggled them in my stocking-hose,
    presenting them to the fire. ‘Good! Tell Neferet she and Leon can leave
    as soon as we’re done.’
    Honorius nodded soberly. Rekhmire’ shot me a questioning look.
    Dear god, I thought.
    He wants to know if I’ve told Honorius what happened in Rome—
    ‘It won’t be legal,’ I blurted out.
    Honorius turned his back to the fire, hitching up the skirt of his
    doublet and warming his backside. ‘How could it be? I’ll be honest,
    Ilario, I don’t know if you can marry. As a man-woman—’
    ‘I can marry.’
    ‘What?’ He suddenly frowned.
    ‘This gets Leon safely out of Venice,’ I said. ‘But you should know . . .
    I went through a Christian marriage ceremony in Rome. To an Etruscan
    woman, Sulva. I was married: that time as the groom. This time, it will
    be the bride.’
    I have rarely seen such an expression.
    ‘Groom?’ Honorius stared at me. ‘Bride.’
    ‘You should reassure Leon it’s in name only,’ I emphasised dryly. And
    then, as the thought occurred to me: ‘Although it may not bother him:
    he’s with Neferet, after all.’
    His face made me itch to reach for my chalks, in the same way as I had
    wanted to in the Doge’s hall. The difference being that Honorius, unlike
    Foscari, made me want to smile.
    Rekhmire’ crossed the room in answer to a soft knock at the door.
    Tired enough to watch without seeing, I barely registered one of the
    house servants pass a note to the Egyptian.
    ‘Life.’ Rekhmire’ observed as he came back from the door.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Our assassin – Secretary Ramiro Carrasco de Luis. The Doge’s
    Council have committed him to prison for life. I suspect he’ll end up on
    one of those islands.’
    The Egyptian’s nod towards the