I myself knew no more than what Bevan had gleaned from the network. Alex had been transferred to Mexico only a matter of months after our capture, and he had been living in Quauhnahuac ever since. Victoria was sent to join him there when she was ‘exiled’. Her message was a fake in the sense that she had pretended she was in Beijing, whereas I now knew she had never set foot in China. Of course, she may have been forced to lie by the Aztecs, but I doubted this. I was now certain they were not only lovers, but had been so ever since those long-ago days of Ty Trist.
How I had deluded myself about Alex from the very start! My father had never really approved of him, I knew. Though he had not once said anything specific to me, I had always felt that he considered Alex charming but untrustworthy, a user who would do anything to elevate his status. And what better way than by marriage to me? I could never have accepted that at the time, and my father must have agreed to the marriage because he knew I was in love with him. He had been prepared to surrender me to a man he considered worthless because to do otherwise would have ruined my happiness. And Alex had turned out to be more despicable than even he imagined.
Despite all this, I continued talking, telling Alex about my life over the two and a half years of our ‘separation’. I wondered how much he already knew. According to Bevan’s information, he and Victoria had never been prisoners in Quauhnahuac, although there were apparently certain restrictions on their movement. I talked to maintain my grip on the situation, to keep him guessing.
At length I said, ‘Did you know Extepan wanted to marry me?’
His mouth opened, but I rushed on.
‘I think that’s why he arranged to get you out of the way. But Motecuhzoma told me you were alive. He realized he couldn’t let his son marry me under false pretences. Urgent action was needed, which is why he told me the truth and sent me here. Now he wants to see you, but of course things are rather tricky with Extepan still believing he’s going to marry me. We have to go back secretly to the palace, sneak you in. Motecuhzoma doesn’t want Extepan to know anything about it until he’s had a chance to speak to you.’
Alex looked suitably cautious at this farrago. ‘Isn’t he in New England? Extepan, I mean. The war’s been all over the television.’
‘He has his own men at the palace. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of intrigue at the moment, and Motecuhzoma wants to do what’s best for us. I think he’s going to try to get us out of the country as quickly as possible and back to England.’
Alex was in a corner, but he came out fighting.
‘Kate, do you realize how risky all this sounds? Have you any more reason to trust Motecuhzoma than any other Mexican?’
‘I have the best reason. He doesn’t want his son – who might be the next tlatoani – to marry me.’
He stroked my hand in his paternal way. ‘I understand that. But how do you know we’re not being set up? It all sounds very underhand and suspicious.’
‘Of course it is. The emperor wants as few people to know as possible. Do you think I would have been told about you and allowed to come here if he didn’t?’
Alex nodded sagely. ‘Nevertheless, I think you should let me check. I’ve established one or two useful contacts since I was here, people I know I can trust. I’ll make a few phone calls.’
He was on his feet. I jumped up. ‘Alex, we have to leave immediately. There’s an escort waiting for us outside.’
‘It’ll only take a few minutes, Kate.’
‘We don’t have the time.’
He was obviously surprised by my vehemence. In the past, I had always been the one to give way in the face of his wishes. He hesitated, still unsure, but perhaps concerned that Victoria might at any time return from her shopping and ruin everything.
‘At least allow me to pack a bag,’ he said.
‘Alex, we have to go now.’ I couldn’t allow him out of my sight. ‘Don’t worry, we can arrange for everything to be shipped on to us if necessary. It’s imperative we get you to the palace.’
Still he was cautious. ‘What about the servants?’
‘They don’t need to know anything. We’ll just leave. We have to maintain the utmost secrecy until your audience with the tlatoani. It’s better if they don’t even know you’re gone.’
Naturally my story was muddled and filled with inconsistencies, but Alex was in no position to argue. He could only refuse by telling me the truth: this was the challenge I had set him.
‘Are you absolutely sure about this, Kate?’
I noticed a pair of Victoria’s shoes under an armchair.
‘Of course,’ I assured him. ‘Who can you trust if you can’t trust me?’
Reluctantly, he let me lead him out of the palace and across the square to Chicomeztli. Already I was thinking ahead. I warned Alex not to speak of either our discussion or our true relationship, telling him that the escort knew nothing and that he had to maintain his anonymity. I was acting for the tlatoani, and him alone.
To my surprise, Alex raised no protest. Suddenly his confidence seemed to have evaporated, and what I saw in its place was bewilderment and even fear.
Chicomeztli came out from under the awning to meet us. I was already confident that he would not know who Alex was because he hadn’t been aware that he was living in the palace. And so it proved.
‘We have to take this man back to Chapultepec,’ I told him.
Chicomeztli scrutinized Alex, then took me aside.
‘Who is he?’
‘I can’t tell you that at the moment, and he’s under instructions to say nothing. He’s a friend of Extepan’s, that’s all I can say. An important friend.’
‘If he was a friend, then I would know of it.’
‘Please, you have to trust me. We must get him into my apartment without anyone else knowing. And without further delay.’
‘This is a great trust you are asking of me.’
‘I know. I know. Please help me.’
Chicomeztli glanced at Alex, who looked unnerved by our whispering. I indicated to him that he had to keep silent, that I knew what I was doing.
Chicomeztli’s erratic gaze darted between the two of us. I felt ashamed because he was an innocent whose loyalty I was betraying. But it was too late for conscience now.
‘We must leave immediately,’ I insisted.
‘Do you understand what you’re asking?’
‘I’m asking you to do as I say without explanation. For my sake. And for Extepan’s.’
‘And what then?’
‘Then you go back to your normal duties, and wait. When the time’s ripe, everything will be explained. That’s all I can tell you now.’
I had stretched his good faith to the limit, and I was sure he was going to refuse me.
But I was wrong. He turned to the escort and informed them we were leaving.
Seven
Throughout the flight back to Tenochtitlan, I made sure that Alex and Chicomeztli had little opportunity to speak to one another. We sat together like strangers, and I was aware of playing a multiplicity of roles: one for Alex, another for Chicomeztli, still another for myself. I had no justification for using Chicomeztli in this way. The fact that he did not know Alex merely emphasized that he had had no part in any of the subterfuges which had been played on me. But I had to use him to gain my revenge.