“Thank you. We part in French ship,” Silvio said as Colombo kissed her hand. She glared at the interpreter.
“French? How long have the French been involved?” Her voice wavered in suspicion. After all they"d done for him, he was courting the French?
“No, no, not French people! French ship, French ship…” Silvio corrected, shaking his head, hands flailing.
“Oh, friendship!” She laughed as the men nodded and then shook her head in wonder. “How badly can we interpret one another? So where do you go now?” They re-entered the solar and Silvio gathered their mappae.
friendship!“Back to Portugal and my young son.”
“Have you no wife?” she asked, out of curiosity she hoped he didn"t take as more.
“I did, but Felipa, she is dead.” Silvio"s voice carried a note of sadness as he translated.
“I am
