The Master of Verona (55 page)

Cangrande brought the crowd's attention back by asking, "Then what happened?"

"They fell in love," said Marsilio simply.

"And how did you become a party to their affections?"

"She told me early this morning."

"What did you say in response?"

The crowd pressed forward to listen to Carrara's answer. "I said that if she truly loved this young man, she should marry him."

Ludovico made some burbling sounds of indignation. The Scaliger paused for a long moment. "So marriage between them was your idea."

"Love is a rare commodity these days. It should not go unnourished."

"You felt it was your responsibility to nourish this couple's affection."

"Exactly. I felt it my knightly duty."

"I may be a little rusty," said Cangrande without a trace of humour, "but I do not recall fostering love as one of a cavaliere's duties."

"Does the great Capitano wish me to refresh his memory?"

"I pray you, do."

Marsilio's back was spear-straight. "The rules of courtly love are explicit. 'No one should be deprived of love without the very best of reasons.' Rule Eight."

"And a contract of marriage between your family and the noble Capulletti household is not reason enough?"

"No formal betrothal ever took place. I felt — and still feel — that a love as rare and pure as that between my cousin and Ser Montecchio is worth a dozen such alliances."

As Ludovico snarled, Cangrande said, "You spoke with the young man, assured yourself of his honest intentions?"

"I visited him early this morning. I found him to be of good character. Rule Eighteen. 'Good character alone —"

"— makes any man worthy of love,'" Cangrande finished for him. His eyes were narrowed.

"I also found him to be jealous of her betrothal. He had not eaten since laying eyes on her, nor had he slept."

"I trust he was not vexed by too much passion," said Cangrande with heavy irony.

"No, my lord."

"Did you consult the girl's betrothed? Perhaps the same could have been said of him."

"He was not the object of the girl's affection, my lord Capitano," said Marsilio, bowing his head in mock obeisance.

Pietro saw Antony sag slightly.
So he is listening. Too bad.

"Ser Capulletto's feelings on the matter did not weigh in your mind?"

Marsilio shook his head. "They did, my noble lord. But then I recalled the last rule of Courtly Love — 'Nothing forbids one woman from being loved by two men.'"

Cangrande pursed his lips. "I suppose the real question, Marsilio da Carrara, is why did you not consult your uncle? He is the
paterfamilias
, the head of your line. He had made the arrangements for the girl's wedding. Should he not have been consulted?"

"He was closeted with your lordship this morning, discussing matters of state," said Marsilio. "I did not feel it appropriate to disturb you both for a private family matter. As for needing my uncle's approbation, my uncle has repeatedly told me that I should be more interested in family affairs. I was trying to solve this problem in a way that would best honour my ancestors."

"I see. And why such haste?"

"The girl was going to be betrothed at supper this evening. I wanted to resolve this unfortunate conflict before it went any further. Once the formal betrothal had taken place, it would have been more difficult for the girl to extricate herself from an unwanted arrangement."

Antony flinched again. Cangrande said, "So you moved to forestall that event by marrying her off."

"To the man she loves," confirmed Marsilio. "
Amor ordinem nescit
."

Giacomo da Carrara said, "My lord, may I?" Cangrande nodded, and Il Grande turned to his nephew. "What makes you believe this young man was worthy?"

Marsilio blinked. "I thought that would be obvious, uncle. He is from an ancient house, full of honour. His ancestors have been consuls and
podestàs
, a few of them even emissaries and citizens of Padua. His family estates are almost at the border between Padua and Verona, just south of Vicenza. I thought it a good symbol for our two cities to be united through such an alliance. As for the man himself, I have seen him on the field of war. He is brave and noble. During the race yesterday he was every ounce what a knight should be."

Pietro was unable to contain himself any longer. "You tried to kill him!" The ugly smirk Marsilio turned on him goaded Pietro on. "Both at Vicenza and during the Palio!"

Marsilio's answer was humble. "At Vicenza we were at war. I assume he would have killed me had the chance arisen. As for yesterday, we rode as we should have — in competition. Many knights lost their lives. It is his credit that he didn't."

"They lost their lives thanks to you!" cried Pietro.

Carrara shook his head sadly and looked at Cangrande. "I don't know what he's talking about."

Pietro was about to shout again but Cangrande interrupted. "Ser Alaghieri, you are not on the city council. Your rights as a knight allow you to proclaim a formal hearing, if you so choose."

Marsilio spoke before Pietro could reply. "My lord, young Alaghieri is obviously unwell, to make such accusations. The collision that caused so many noble Veronese to lose their lives was an accident. You said so yourself."

"Are you calling me a liar?" asked Pietro hotly.

Marsilio gazed at him pityingly. "I say you are mistaken. You've taken one too many knocks to the head. No doubt your leg keeps you from ducking in time."

Pietro twisted, facing the Scaliger. "To prove the truth of my words, I challenge him to—"

"No!" Cangrande fixed Pietro with a hard look. "Perhaps you didn't hear my earlier dictate, Cavaliere. There is no more recourse to the Court of Swords." His eyes swept the whole crowd. "Let me make this clear. Dueling is illegal. Anyone caught dueling will be exiled from Verona's walls, denied food and fire in all of my lands. That is one choice. I also reserve the right to declare summary execution for the offense of dueling. In this warlike time, I will not see the future nobles of my lands cut down in the haste of youth!"

His eyes scanned for any possible dissent. Seeing none, Cangrande returned to the Paduan. "Marsilio da Carrara, both times you saw young Montecchio in action he was in the company of this young man," he indicated Antony. "Is he not as qualified as his friend?"

"Ser Capulletto is brave, no doubt, my lord," said Marsilio. "But I felt he lacked a certain — well, a certain quality that only the nobility can recognize. He lacks the true spirit of chivalry. That is only my opinion, of course."

Pietro groaned inwardly. Here in this chamber the assemblage was made up of men of noble descent. Exclusivity was their passion. Newly made nobles like the Capulletti were necessary evils at best. There was no argument Carrara could have used that would score him more points. He was winning the crowd by preying on their prejudices.

Clearly thinking along the same lines as Pietro, Cangrande dismissed Marsilio to one side, effectively silencing the Paduan. The Scaliger called forward the Franciscan bishop and asked after the credentials of this Friar Lorenzo.

"The fault is mine, lord Capitano," confessed Bishop Francis. "This young Paduan knight called upon our order this morning, and I told Lorenzo to provide any service Ser Carrara might require. He was only following my instructions." Francis looked stern. "It goes without saying, I knew nothing of any marriage. But if anyone is to be punished for the Church's role in this, let it be me."

"That won't be necessary," said Cangrande. "Still, we must speak to this Lorenzo and discover if there were any irregularities in the —"

He was interrupted by a flurry of movement at the back of the crowd. Whispers became muffled exclamations of "They're here!" and "Look at her!" The rows of nobles parted to make way for Mariotto Montecchio and his bride, Gianozza.

They were a stunning couple. Though they must have known they were walking into a lion's den, nothing could penetrate the armour of their delight. The girl positively glowed. Walking to her right, Mariotto was dignified, straight and sure of his step. What Marsilio's exclusivity argument had begun, their appearance clinched. No one in that crowd could deny that, as a couple, they were perfection.

Marsilio da Carrara was grinning broadly. Nothing would have given Pietro greater pleasure than making the Paduan eat that smirk. Pietro knew Mari's mettle. Mari would never have gone so far as running off with the girl without the active connivance of Carrara. Mari was a lovesick fool. The real villain of the piece was Carrara, trying to sow discord among the Scaliger's knights.

But had he succeeded? What would Antony do now that the couple was here, right in front of him? Holding his breath with the rest of the crowd, Pietro watched as Mariotto knelt before the Scaliger, careful to keep his hand in his beloved's, curtsying beside him. To Mariotto's right sat the friend he had wronged so severely. To the left, the father whose honour he had soiled. He didn't look at them, keeping his gaze on the impassive face of the Scaliger.

The invitation to speak wasn't long in coming. "Ser Montecchio, Verona thanks you for your swift response to our summons. I imagine you know why we sent for you."

"I do, my lord," said Mariotto. "I have married this young woman against the will of her family and without the knowledge of my own. I will never be made to regret this decision. But I do understand that I have caused injury to many people, most notably my best friend in the world. I —" He faltered, unable to look at Antony. "I will make whatever reparations I can to the Capulletti family, and bend under the weight of whatever punishment you decree. Even death."

Pietro imagined he saw the Capitano sigh. "I don't think you will be called upon to die for your love." He then explained for the third time his decree regarding dueling. Antony sat hangdog as ever, broken leg sticking out in front him. His eyes had come up briefly as the couple passed, then returned to gazing blankly at the floor.

"I do not know if punishment is within my purview," concluded the Capitano. "You have not committed a crime against the state. You have transgressed against two families."

"Three," Mariotto corrected. "I have broken faith with my father. I am certain that, had I spoken to him, Lord Montecchio would have been adamantly against this union. Which is why I did not consult him."

The crowd stirred again, and to Pietro's ears these murmurs were approving. Mariotto was not shirking his responsibility. He was the perfect model of a chivalrous young knight in love.

"Three families, then," said Cangrande. "Your punishment lies with those families, as does your forgiveness. First, we must ask the girl's guardian if he wishes to press charges." He turned. "Lord Carrara?"

Il Grande was stroking his trim beard. Technically the girl was his property, and he could try the boy for theft if he wished. Though Marsilio's connivance made that matter less clear. "I am of two minds in this affair. My quandary lies not in the behavior of this young Veronese, but that of my nephew. He overstepped his authority in the family, usurping my right to choose the girl's husband. However, it is possible that he was correct. The amity between this young couple is clear. It is possible, then, that she might not have been right for the match with Capulletto. If that is true, then my nephew acted correctly." Lord Carrara took a deep breath. "Whichever is true, this young man is cleared from blame as far as the Carrarese are concerned. He acted with the implied consent of the girl's family. Knowing his father and hearing the lad himself speak, I am satisfied that he is a worthy youth. The Carrara family accepts the match."

The assemblage let out something akin to a collective sigh.

Ludovico Capulletto leapt back up to his feet. "The Capulletti do not! Do you hear me? We do not! The Capulletti — a name we only undertook to oblige the father of this bride-thief — does not accept this match! We demand justice!"

"I understand what
you
demand, Ludovico," said Cangrande with hard patience. "But I have not yet heard from the member of your family most wounded in this affair." His voice became gentle. "Antony. What do you have to say?"

The moment dragged out. Pietro could plainly see Antony didn't want to speak at all. He looked at Gianozza, then at Mariotto. His head shook slightly, his lips parted, but no words came out.

Mariotto released his bride's hand and crossed to his friend. Ludovico moved to intercept him, but a sharp look from Cangrande froze the aggrieved father in his tracks.

Reaching the place where Antony sat, broken leg extended, Mariotto halted. Bowing his head, he knelt before his best friend.

Antony's head raised slightly, and it seemed for a moment he might actually speak. But his head sagged again, eyes falling away from Mariotto.

This was too much for Ludovico Capulletto. Grasping one of his son's crutches, Ludovico swung it at Mariotto's head, catching Mari across the temple.

The crack split the silence in the hall. Mariotto hit the floor, poleaxed. Gianozza cried out and ran to kneel by Mariotto. Gargano Montecchio stirred, then kept resolutely to his seat.

The Scaliger leapt to the elder Capulletto's side, gripping the brandished crutch with white knuckles. "Ludovico! Stand down! Stand down, or I'll have you arrested!"

Purple-faced, sweat streaming, Antony's father released his grip on the crutch and stepped back from the Capitano. "See what this has done to my son! He is unable even to speak! I demand justice! It is unfair to deny us recourse to the Court of Swords. If the law was fit enough to mete out justice yesterday, let it be today. Enforce your new rules tomorrow, Capitano, but for this one day allow us to avenge our honour in the best way we know how!"

Ludovico's voice was joined by a score of the gathered nobles as he clamored for a duel. The nobility wanted this duel carried out, even if Cangrande did not. Searching for an objection, the Capitano observed, "Antony is not well enough to stand, let alone fight a duel. And I will not permit you, Ludovico, to face a man a third your age in this ridiculous matter."