Too late now, Manfred.
But, he reminded himself, he must not let Sophia come between himself and Manfred.
Daoud put out his hands, palms up. "Sophia is with Cardinal Ugolini. The cardinal's courage fails him at times. We thought it best for one of us to stay and give him strength. And Sophia can help him run his household and entertain the men of influence he must see."
Manfred nodded, a small smile twitching his blond mustache. "Yes, she would be good at that."
Daoud thought of Simon de Gobignon and felt a flash of hatred for him. But he must report about him, too.
"She has captured the heart of a young French nobleman, the Count de Gobignon, who commands the Tartars' military escort. When Charles d'Anjou invades Italy, de Gobignon will surely be one of his captains."
"When Charles d'Anjou invades Italy? And a moment ago you said when a pope of the French party is elected."
Daoud was about to reply, but Manfred raised a hand for silence. He rose from his high-back chair. With a glance, as if for reassurance, at the portrait of the red-bearded man hanging behind him, he strode out in front of the table with his hands clasped behind his back. Daoud and Lorenzo made way for him. He walked the length of the marble floor to the door at the end of the hall. The dwarf Erculio sank down cross-legged on the tabletop, his long arms clasped around his knees, watching Manfred sombrely.
Daoud prayed, Oh, God, help him to judge wisely.
"King Louis has always held Charles back," Manfred said, turning suddenly to face Daoud and Lorenzo. "Louis does not believe that the pope should set Christian rulers against one another."