Then I rolled over and saw Maxixca standing at the foot of the bed.
He wore full uniform, and there were four armed guards with him. He was smiling, of course, a broad, satisfied smile.
Slowly I sat up, letting him see I was fully clothed.
‘How good to see you again,’ I said.
In his hand he held a small device, a tape recorder, which he promptly switched on.
Alex had always been a demonstrative lover, but I had also ensured that there could be no doubt about my willing part in the seduction. Every intimate sound was perfectly captured, so that even if we had not been found in bed together, there could have been no mistake about what had happened.
Maxixca plainly relished playing the tape in front of us. He turned the volume up until Alex stirred and sat up blearily. When he realized what was happening, he was horror-struck.
I smiled sweetly at him and sat back.
It was true I hadn’t expected Maxixca, whom I assumed was still in Russia. But somehow he was perfect, though I admit I was now more frightened than I had anticipated. When the tape finally fell silent, he switched it off with a contemptuous flourish.
Alex looked like a cornered animal. He was too terrified to say anything. I also remained silent.
‘Just like your sister,’ Maxixca remarked.
I manufactured a smile. ‘Is it normally your habit to burst into the bedroom of a husband and wife?’
‘The marriage is null and void,’ he replied instantly. ‘Perhaps you weren’t aware that the good duke has been living here in Mexico with your own sister for almost two years.’
‘Oh, yes,’ I replied. ‘I was aware of it.’
Alex recoiled at this, gazing incredulously at me. A mixture of raw emotions flooded across his face – shame, guilt, anger, but, above all, fear.
‘I came here in good faith,’ he announced to Maxixca in his halting Nahuatl. ‘The tlatoani wants to see me.’
‘Get dressed,’ Maxixca told him in English.
‘I must protest. This is outrageous treatment—’
Maxixca pulled a pistol from his holster. ‘If you do not get dressed immediately, I will shoot you myself.’
Alex had no option. In full view of everyone, he was forced to stumble around, gathering up his scattered clothes and pulling them on.
I got out of bed and stood up. I was dressed even down to my shoes. Immediately a guard took me by the arm.
I could see Maxixca thinking; he was obviously surprised by my preparedness, yet his dignity would not allow him to enquire further.
We were marched off, Alex doing his best to maintain some shred of dignity. Not once did he look at me.
We were taken down the long corridor which led to the council chamber. As we approached its serpent-decorated doors, I anticipated our final humiliation in front of the entire tlatocan with Motecuhzoma presiding. What would they do to us? A real exile this time, no doubt, somewhere truly remote and Spartan. Would Extepan be there? I hoped so. He had deceived me, and I wanted to see his face now that I had betrayed him.
When we entered the chamber, however, only Tetzahuitl was there. Maxixca and his guards led us forward.
‘Well,’ the cihuacoatl said to me. ‘An interesting turn of events.’
He wore a charcoal-coloured mantle with a silver scorpion clasp. Clusters of white-tipped crows’ feathers hung from his hair.
I found the fact that we were alone with him and Maxixca ominous. In his dark colours, the cihuacoatl looked even more fearsome, very much a figure of retribution. I did my best to appear, if not defiant, then at least unintimidated.
It was Alex who spoke. You must forgive me if I’ve offended anyone. I certainly didn’t intend it.’
‘I brought him here,’ I said. ‘I fooled Chicomeztli into thinking he was doing it for Extepan. I don’t intend to justify my actions, but you must believe me that Chicomeztli is blameless. He thought he was doing his duty.’
‘I understood I was coming here to see Motecuhzoma,’ Alex said. ‘I was told that my marriage to Catherine had been restored by him.’
Tetzahuitl gave him a withering stare.
‘I think I would have known, had that been the case. You were given strict instructions never to come to Tenochtitlan.’
‘She came to my home. She told me the tlatoani had sent her. What was I to do?’
He sounded firm and forceful, but underneath I could hear his fear. I was determined to do nothing to help him.
‘He wasn’t aware I knew he’s been living with my sister,’ I said. ‘That arrangement didn’t stop him from sharing my bed last night.’
‘You bitch!’ Alex blurted.
I merely smiled at him. ‘That must be the first honest thing you’ve said to me since I turned up at your door.’
I expected him to bite back again, but something changed in his expression. In place of anger, I saw a final acceptance of his defeat. He was thoroughly compromised, and he knew it. Mustering all his composure, he took a step towards me and laid a hand on my arm.
‘Catherine,’ he said softly. ‘Forgive me. Forgive me for everything.’
I couldn’t forgive him, of course, but I had no desire to humiliate him further.
‘What are you going to do with us?’ I asked Tetzahuitl.
‘That remains to be seen,’ he replied. ‘There’s much to consider. You must tell me how you learned about your former husband’s whereabouts.’
Women’s intuition,’ I said scathingly.
‘Surely you see it will make no difference to you now?’
‘I won’t give you the satisfaction.’
A smile of imperturbable calm. ‘Such hatred. From someone we were prepared to take into our hearts.’
He had a chilling way with the most commonplace expressions. I was not going to let him frighten or rile me.
‘Does Extepan know?’ I asked.
‘That would be difficult,’ Maxixca interjected. ‘He’s under siege in Potomac.’
Tetzahuitl glared at him, and he fell silent. He had obviously spoken out of turn, revealing something the cihuacoatl preferred me not to know. And there was glee in his voice.
‘Under siege?’ I repeated.
‘The war has not progressed as smoothly as we had hoped,’ Tetzahuitl said, smiling.
What did the smile mean? Were they both glad that Extepan was in difficulty?
‘Are you intending to relieve him?’ I asked.
The cihuacoatl waved the question aside. ‘We’re here to discuss your conduct, not that of our armies. I’m intrigued to know – why did you do it?’
‘Revenge,’ I replied. ‘When I’m lied to and betrayed, I strike back.’
‘But you’ve sacrificed yourself in the process.’
I tried to ignore the possibility that he meant this literally.
‘What was the alternative? To continue to let myself be manipulated by you?’
Tetzahuitl tut-tutted. ‘Would you have expected us to let you into our complete confidence until we were certain of your loyalty?’
‘You faked my husband’s death. For him to take my sister as his lover. What was in it for you?’
Tetzahuitl glanced briefly at Alex. ‘There were reasons. There were reasons. Unfortunately you’ve gone beyond the point where you might have a proper appreciation of them.’
‘What’s going to happen to us?’ Alex asked.
The cihuacoatl seemed loath to address him directly. He contemplated his fingernails. ‘You’ve brought great shame to this household at a time when we have far graver matters to concern us.