lover-like glance at Juliana. “I will take the greatest care of this precious cargo.”
“I have no fears whatsoever. For the ‘glorious
dona
’ remains my charge throughout her travels.”
Puzzlement replaced Luigi’s grin. “I do not know how that could be. Passage was arranged for five persons and four mules. You will have to find another ship, if you plan to accompany
La Dona
to Sicilia.”
Juliana stepped between them. “Please, Don Luigi, the baron is our guide to Palermo. Can you not find room for him as well?”
Robert pulled her behind him. “You will make room for myself and my destrier on your ship, lest we find need to take our money to another captain.”
Don Luigi gave a stiff laugh and gestured to the docks, empty of all but his own ship. “But
mi baron
, no other ship is in harbor.”
“We can wait.”
“Ah, but the longer you wait, the less money you will have, no?”
“Aye.” Robert stepped forward, crowding the smaller man. “And if you hope to receive more of that money, you might keep that in mind.”
Luigi stepped back, rubbing his chin with thumb and forefinger. “I see. You drive a hard bargain, sir.”
“Excellent…”
“Nonetheless,” Luigi lifted his palms outward, “I fear I must ask for greater incentive than the lovely
Dona Juliana
has offered. An extra passenger and a horse will occupy much space that would otherwise be used to take additional cargo.”
Juliana sidestepped around Robert. “But, Luigi, we have no additional coin to offer.”
“Perhaps you have something else of value?” Luigi grinned and lifted Juliana’s hand to his lips.
Robert pulled Juliana behind him once more. He would have beaten Luigi soundly were the man not the only available means of sailing south. Instead, Robert smiled with all the geniality he could muster. “Perhaps my letters of safe conduct from the courts in Rome, Palestine, and England would provide the incentive you require.”
Luigi snorted. “I do not doubt, sir, that you have letters, but possibly you exaggerate.”
“Do you call me a liar?”
“Not at all,” Luigi backed down with a nod followed by a flourish of his hand through the air. “But I know how rarely such safe conducts as you speak of are given. In particular, the Palestinian emir is not known for his generosity to Christian knights. Pray, what entitles you to so unique an item?”
“His Royal Highness, Edward Plantagenet, Duc of Gascony, and King of all England and Wales appointed me envoy to the courts of the pope in Rome, and to the emir of Palestine. I doubt any of those men would care to hear that an envoy was denied passage on a ship bearing one of their flags.”
“I beg your pardon, baron. I had no idea. You wear only the marks of a simple pilgrim to Jerusalem, and you do not have the retinue an envoy would usually enjoy.” Instantly, Don Luigi fawned over Robert. No doubt in attempt to cover any offense he might have given.
“I travel as I do for my own reasons. Suffice it that I have letters that can be produced, if need be, to prove the truth of what I claim.”
“Of course, of course. Where is your horse? I will have my crew make arrangements immediately.”
Once given the information, the Saracen hurried off. Robert turned to Juliana, holding out his arm for her to take. “Come, let us get settled on board.”
“Aye, ’tis past time for this part of our journey to begin.”
As he escorted her up the gangway and onto the boat, Robert pondered the difficulties presented by the little Saracen. Don Luigi paid far too much attention to Juliana, and the lady was far too independent. The captain would need careful watching. Robert resolved to make certain the Saracen kept his distance from Juliana.
Chapter 5
A day later, Juliana stood at the ship’s rail and frowned at the sea. Everyone on deck was occupied this early in the morning, so a frown or two was permissible. But only while she contemplated the problems represented
“I have no fears whatsoever. For the ‘glorious
dona
’ remains my charge throughout her travels.”
Puzzlement replaced Luigi’s grin. “I do not know how that could be. Passage was arranged for five persons and four mules. You will have to find another ship, if you plan to accompany
La Dona
to Sicilia.”
Juliana stepped between them. “Please, Don Luigi, the baron is our guide to Palermo. Can you not find room for him as well?”
Robert pulled her behind him. “You will make room for myself and my destrier on your ship, lest we find need to take our money to another captain.”
Don Luigi gave a stiff laugh and gestured to the docks, empty of all but his own ship. “But
mi baron
, no other ship is in harbor.”
“We can wait.”
“Ah, but the longer you wait, the less money you will have, no?”
“Aye.” Robert stepped forward, crowding the smaller man. “And if you hope to receive more of that money, you might keep that in mind.”
Luigi stepped back, rubbing his chin with thumb and forefinger. “I see. You drive a hard bargain, sir.”
“Excellent…”
“Nonetheless,” Luigi lifted his palms outward, “I fear I must ask for greater incentive than the lovely
Dona Juliana
has offered. An extra passenger and a horse will occupy much space that would otherwise be used to take additional cargo.”
Juliana sidestepped around Robert. “But, Luigi, we have no additional coin to offer.”
“Perhaps you have something else of value?” Luigi grinned and lifted Juliana’s hand to his lips.
Robert pulled Juliana behind him once more. He would have beaten Luigi soundly were the man not the only available means of sailing south. Instead, Robert smiled with all the geniality he could muster. “Perhaps my letters of safe conduct from the courts in Rome, Palestine, and England would provide the incentive you require.”
Luigi snorted. “I do not doubt, sir, that you have letters, but possibly you exaggerate.”
“Do you call me a liar?”
“Not at all,” Luigi backed down with a nod followed by a flourish of his hand through the air. “But I know how rarely such safe conducts as you speak of are given. In particular, the Palestinian emir is not known for his generosity to Christian knights. Pray, what entitles you to so unique an item?”
“His Royal Highness, Edward Plantagenet, Duc of Gascony, and King of all England and Wales appointed me envoy to the courts of the pope in Rome, and to the emir of Palestine. I doubt any of those men would care to hear that an envoy was denied passage on a ship bearing one of their flags.”
“I beg your pardon, baron. I had no idea. You wear only the marks of a simple pilgrim to Jerusalem, and you do not have the retinue an envoy would usually enjoy.” Instantly, Don Luigi fawned over Robert. No doubt in attempt to cover any offense he might have given.
“I travel as I do for my own reasons. Suffice it that I have letters that can be produced, if need be, to prove the truth of what I claim.”
“Of course, of course. Where is your horse? I will have my crew make arrangements immediately.”
Once given the information, the Saracen hurried off. Robert turned to Juliana, holding out his arm for her to take. “Come, let us get settled on board.”
“Aye, ’tis past time for this part of our journey to begin.”
As he escorted her up the gangway and onto the boat, Robert pondered the difficulties presented by the little Saracen. Don Luigi paid far too much attention to Juliana, and the lady was far too independent. The captain would need careful watching. Robert resolved to make certain the Saracen kept his distance from Juliana.
Chapter 5
A day later, Juliana stood at the ship’s rail and frowned at the sea. Everyone on deck was occupied this early in the morning, so a frown or two was permissible. But only while she contemplated the problems represented
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