Corrected chapter "oe" became "oo". Thank you Leslie.
I
-°-oOo-°-
Chapter Twenty-three: Pretenders
I
-°-oOo-°-
Munich, Madrid, Stockholm and Moscow
I
-°-oOo-°-
1th October 1826
I
-°-oOo-°-
Munich
I
-°-oOo-°-
Carl-Theodor looked at his father and shook his head.
- Of course, I'm interested in her, but not for political reasons…
- There are always political reasons in these matters, son. And when the Darcys are involved it goes a lot farer than just political. Those people have overwhelmed the world in less than two decades. That sort of players doesn't do things just out of a whim. Something has been brewing, son, and I really hope we will be able to use the opportunity they gave us.
- The last time I visited her in Pemberley, she was jovial and accessible, but she didn't seem very interested with me. We had a fun stroll and the dinner with her family was interesting. I had the impression that they approved.
He snickered.
- Even my snide comments about d'Arcy didn't generate frowns…
- Fitzwilliam Darcy's relationship with his brother-in-law is not an easy one, son. They know that they must work together to further the family's interests but that doesn't mean that they love each other dearly. They respect each other and they have learned to appear as brothers when in public but there is an undercurrent of vexation with the Prince of Wales that is always present.
- Said brother-in-law made him King of Wales…
- And that is exactly where the grudge can be found. Darcy is a man who loves to be in charge, who needs to be in charge, and the fact that d'Arcy manipulated the whole Welsh aristocracy to get him on the Welsh Throne still lets a sour taste in Darcy's mouth. I know that Darcy has been a good King and that he is loved by the Welsh population who loves that he is always ready to defend their sense of Wellness, but it still irks him to have been made by d'Arcy.
- I saw them together, they didn't look antagonistic.
- Next time try to be more observant, son, and you'll see that their spouses are always around when they are together. Those two know exactly what to do to avoid any public éclat. I'm quite sure that in private the men do argue with each other, but that part of their life will never be made public. It would be inappropriate, and it would cast a bad light on the family. And familial links are for all of them an especially important issue. And that's where you will have the occasion you need.
Karl Theodor couldn't help but shake his head.
- I'm not sure I want to become a member of that family, father… You know that I'm no cowards and that I've done my duty whenever necessary, but they are scary…
- Of course, they are, son, d'Arcy has pulled them out of the shadow and they have shown that they were up to the task. As I said, that family has become a major player in the current world and thanks to the marriage between Alexandra d'Arcy and the Heir of Napoleon we do have the guarantee that the current peaceful situation in Europe will last for quite a long time.
Maximilian couldn't help but laugh out aloud.
- Look at me son, I'm seventy and, thanks to the progress in medical science the Bennet Health Centers had provided I'm still alive today when I should have died last year. Without their emergency medics my heart would have stopped and I'd have died.
He made a face.
- I don't like the new diet at all but I'm ready to follow it since it could provide me with a few more years.
- Max would have been able to take over…
- Of course, he would have, there is no doubt there. Especially now that Bavaria is a Puppet of the French, but I still have called him at my side to be sure that he knows everything about the affairs of the Kingdom. But it still is pleasant to have been given the possibility to live a few more years. And whatever scandalously opposed to beer -and wine- that new diet is, it seems to have brought results. I no longer have arthritis problems and I walk again quite efficiently.
- We are no Puppet…
- Of course, we are, son! But that's not really a problem since we have been granted the right to stay an independent land. I'm not sure the Prussians who were looking at us with greed in their eyes would have been as lenient. I had the good luck to accept Napoleon's Alliance proposal and that puts us in a much better situation than Prussia and Austria.
- Who are still really independent, protested Karl Theodor.
- And the laughingstock of the Planet, countered Maximilian. They could have worked together to build a last German Free Kingdom that would have been a sad reminder of what Germany could have been without our surrender to the French. But, thanks to their pettiness and foolishness they have shown to all the Germans in the world that we had been right to choose to cooperate, and they had been wrong to oppose the French Ogre.
- We are still Puppets, even you agree…
- Indeed, my son, but we still are masters of our language and most of the decisions that impact the Bavarian population are made by me.
- Each year we take over more French rules…
- Indeed, but most of the time, I take them because they work better than what we had before. It's not because they have been created by French Legislators that they are bad per se! And because we have been allies for quite a long time, Napoleon trusts us and accepts to let us rule our people without trying to make us to French Nationals.
Maximilian pointed at the map and more specifically at what had been integrated by France into its territory.
- Look at what is currently happening in the Palatinate and Julich and the Austrian Netherlands. There they are forced marched into Frenchization! In less than ten years everybody under the age of twenty has been taught to speak and even often think in French. Those bloody Alsacians Napoleon has sent out to proselytize the old Rhine Principalities are very efficient and get results I wouldn't have thought possible. And what's even more damaging is the fact that so many of them have gladly embraced being French! They are the living testimony that France's way has been better than the Chaos we've lived in for centuries.
Karl-Theodor couldn't help but laugh at his father's antics.
- What is even a better testimony is the map's new colors! There is a lot of blue everywhere and from what I have seen in Köln last time I was visiting; the people there love their new situation. The taxes are the same for them than the rest of the Consulate and the French have pumped huge sums into the newly created German départements. They do everything they can to show that with them life is better and easier. And since they get results, the people are more than satisfied.
- One fault Napoleon doesn't have is stupidity. He knows how to win people over and he knows how to convince them that he respects them. It is probably since even in France he was a stranger who always needed to prove that he was one of them. What he learned in France is even easier to use in Germany.
- Why would that be?
- Because of the Chaos we Germans have created in our own country, son. Too many different small and defenseless territories who could way too easily be crushed and conquered. And the memories of the thirty years war are still very present all over the Land. Germans have seen what it costs to be defenseless. They are in love with a strong and successful ruler. Napoleon has invaded half of the world and, even if he is a despot, he isn't more despotic than the German Princes he has replaced. Even less so since the new civil laws are a lot more modern than what we all had before.
- So, you believe that there will never be a free and united Germany?
- Free? No! Not as long as the Consulate exist and I really don't see how it could fall. Napoleon has been upgraded and, if the rumors are true, he's there for at least another century and his Heirs are charismatic and benevolent people who happen to be very easily approached.
He let a sarcastic smile appear on his lips.
- And, what's even better, most people in Germany, at least those from the more popular strata, earn at least twice as much as before and, since, thanks to the Company, a lot of very expensive things are now easily available, wealth is a lot more common than before. Even workers are now able to buy a home or a house for their families. It doesn't look like much, but it changes everything.
Maximilian who had quite a lot of new factories all over Bavaria had been able to see the results of the increasing general wealth.
- Wealthy workers are a lot more intent at protecting their environment than poor ones. All those would-be revolutionaries who would have loved to stir up unrest to get a part of the pie are now facing house-owners who don't want to see their small part of wealth be destroyed by rebelling rabble.
He looked his son in the eyes.
- It really makes a huge difference. We didn't see it before, but our people's wealth is a dynasty's best defense. And that truth comes in direct line from Great Britain where Edward Gardiner has thought it all over. It's not policing that maintains law and order in a country, it is economic justice. And if you manage to add some political rights into the mix, you'll get yourself a very tame society where everybody knows that it is better for the whole if the status quo is maintained.
- We still have people who manifest in the streets.
- Mostly to accuse us of working with Napoleon against German Unity. But those are easy to circumvent since they are a very small minority most people don't understand or support. Nobody really believes that a united Germany -that would have been a Prussian Germany- would have been a better place to live. But everybody knows -they have lived there after all- that the new progressive and European Society we've created has brought a real leap towards economic equality.
Maximilian shook his head.
- As long as we don't have the workers out in the streets shouting to eliminate our privileges, we are safe.
- We still have those father… And we earn a lot more than those workers ever will.
- You are right but even a frustrated worker knows that incomes differ with the responsibility you accept to bear. It's normal that a man who wields a lot of power get's a reward for that. They all accept that, and, thanks to Napoleon, there is already a proof that, when you do what's necessary to get what you want and you are better than your competition, you'll end up at the top with an aristocratic title. Sixty percent of Napoleon's Field marshals weren't part of the aristocracy at the end of last century and one hundred percent of those who survived are now Dukes or Princes! At the very top of the Consulate's hierarchy while their parents have spent their lives earning their livelihood being cobblers or farmers or whatever.
He snickered once more.
- There is no longer the iron ceiling of patronage or nepotism over their heads. It isn't easy but if you are good enough, work to get what you want, and survive, you'll get a place at the very top! And that's the best thing that could ever happen to us! As long as people have enough means to feed their families and the hope to be able to climb up we'll have a good working and quiet society. And as long as we don't crush either the hope or the wealth, we will be safe.
- It wasn't the hell you imply before…
- No, no hell but a really screwed up closed society. And the revolution blew that society up and we were lucky that we got to the next step without going through the killing and the madness phase France had to go through. Better the French than us… I've looked up the figures, they lost around a million people the ten years following the revolution. And still they are Europe's leading country. I'm not sure we would have got back on our feet after having lost so many people and almost all our elite.
- You are misled, father, France is not the shining beacon you believe. It is a Despot's country who has invaded a quarter of the planet.
- You are right and I'm perhaps wrong, but France is Europe's current alpha dog and to protect us from its greed an alliance with the Darcy Clan would only have pluses.
- I know, father, I know, but I'm clearly not alone to woo for Jane Darcy's attention.
- I've looked up your competition you are the only one who's affiliated to a current ruling House. That should be of importance when you look at d'Arcy's political goals. He clearly wants to have family links with as many ruling houses as possible. Which is an old and efficient way to ensure that your own ruling House prospers.
- We are small players in the current game…
- And what about that? Once you've gotten the links with the top ruling houses, you don't stop, you look at the next layer and you go on! The only better situated ruling House -apart from Prussia and Austria but those bigoted fools are out of the game for a long time, believe me- is Spain and luckily for us Karl the Fourth of Spain is as bigoted as foolish. Would he still have a son he could trust, he would be a prime candidate for d'Arcy but since those two idiots have chosen to work against their father, this lane is closed.
There Maximilian stopped and frowned just before swearing loudly.
- Fucking scheming bastard!
Karl Theodor couldn't help but frown at his father who was, normally, the most polite man around.
- Karl the Fourth?
- No, the fucking d'Arcy! I just fathomed what he's scheming, and it proves that he is an unbearable schemer. How many Spaniards were at that table, last year?
- Five, answered Karl Theodor. Why has it any importance? They were all good and proud men but without any dynastic importance.
Maximilian who was already regretting his little outburst made great efforts to calm down and become his usual quiet self.
He would have to look into the whole affair and launch a little counterplot. But not yet and not with anyone witnessing it.
- You are sure about that?
- I spoke with them, they were all titled but all low aristocratic links. The most titled was the son of an impoverished Count. But like the others he had quite inspiring morals. I will admit that I quite liked them. From what I could imply all nine of the male guests were rather uncommon when compared to what I've encountered before coming out of the European aristocracies. I wouldn't want to toot my own horn, but at that table that night the level of honesty and trustfulness was way over the normal rates in the world!
- You already said as much, son. And I will agree that I'm proud to have you been chosen based on those criteria. No reason why you shouldn't play your hand till the end of the game. Go on and visit her. I'm quite sure the others will already have done so…
- And so, did I, father. You remember I saw her twice.
- And the last time has been a few weeks in the past. It is perhaps time to see her a third time, it will show her that you are still interested. As long as she hasn't decided which one she prefers, you have all your chances, son!
I
-°-oOo-°-
Stockholm
I
-°-oOo-°-
Carl XIV August wasn't a happy ruler. Never had been since he had climbed on the Throne seven years ago.
But even if he wasn't happy, he still was in agreement with his role.
He was now sixty-six and had never married, nor had sired an illegitimate child, he was sure of it because of physical problems even the Stockholm Bennet Health Center hasn't been able to cure. They had saved his life at least twice but they had no cure for his barrenness.
He had, as soon as he had taken over from Carl the Thirteen's looked into the Kingdom's affairs and had spent quite a lot of time bartering with the nobles from all three origins to secure the current Kingdom's size.
He knew that Denmark, Norway and Sweden had been forcefully married by Swedish Kings and that Norway and Denmark -for quite different reasons- hated their current subordinate positions.
But he knew also that with Napoleon lurking in the South the least sign of unrest within the Kingdom would be used by the French to accelerate the Kingdom's implosion and disappearance.
For a time, he had thought -and made a few discreet calls- about asking King William of Great Britain to become his Heir and take over the Swedish Crown once he died. But William had refused rather firmly since he believed the Northmen wouldn't accept to bow to a foreigner even if said foreigner could prove that his ancestors had been born in Norway and Denmark before invading Normandy.
For a time, Carl had looked at young Jonathan d'Arcy and had even been able to speak with the boy during an official tour of Great Grand Britain.
He had been impressed by the boy's clear mind and even more by his warnings.
He remembered very well the boy's words while he and his sister were drinking tea with him and the Duchess their mother.
Making him the Heir of the Swedish Throne, had he said, would be a bad idea at a lot of levels but primarily because of Napoleon who was more than a little peeved by the present situation and who would never accept to have another d'Arcy taking over another European – or not European- throne.
So, as of now, Carl the fourteenth -who was in reality Carl the Eighth but like the other Carls he had refused to take up the task of explaining to the world that Carl the Ninth had been a gullible idiot- was still facing the problem of his succession.
He knew that, even with the help of the Health Center's very good doctors- he wouldn't survive for a lot more years and he had been for years now looking at the Nordic aristocracy to find an heir to follow him on the Throne.
And he had begun to despair when, a few months earlier, he had learned that two members of very minor noble houses had been invited to the Lambton LIT New Year Event by Elizabeth Darcy herself.
After having learned about that he had, of course, tasked a few of his most discreet and trusted agents to investigate about those two young men.
And what he had seen in his agents' reports had been a lot more satisfying that what he had feared to discover.
Not only weren't they spies or traitors, but they had clearly been selected by the Darcy Matriarchs -who had all been present at the dinner table- to be presented to the last marriageable maiden of the family, Jane Darcy.
After having discovered that his Swedes had been only two out of nine candidates -but still two out of nine, aka more than twenty percent, which was a proof that Northmen still were predominant amongst the best-, he had used his little spy network to get information about the other seven men who had been invited by the Darcy Clan's Matriarchs.
And he had been impressed.
Very impressed.
He had immediately recognized the pattern. Five Hidalgos and two Swedes, but only one Bavarian and one Russian, probably to give the girl a little more choice, pointed at a plot to get said Darcy Clan another foothold within another reigning dynasty.
Clearly, they had been targeting the Spanish Throne -which Carl could understand since not only was Carlos master of a fifth of the Earth but also a renowned idiot who was, since his sons' treason, heirless- but that didn't worry Carl.
Not at all.
First because Carlos was an idiot who would probably refuse to adopt an heir just out of sheer idiocy, which would probably cancel the wanted-for marriage.
Carl made a face.
Or not…
The Darcy Matriarchs were quite renowned to be very lenient with their daughters and should Carlos be his usual idiot it could very well be that the chosen Hidalgo would still get his bride even if he never got himself on the Throne.
Yes, they will probably regret Carlos' decision, but they won't stop the girl to get the man she wants. Its not as if they needed to get one of them onto Spain's Throne! It would have helped Spain not them…
Which wasn't a problem for Carl's very new plan. There were other girls available in the Darcy Clan and both young Harald and Thorwald were striking enough to make a girl dream about them.
He would have to send one of them -or both of them if they could work together- to Pemberley in order to work in the right direction.
Once more he stood and walked to the -rather extended- genealogic tree of the Darcy Clan. Sarah d'Arcy was a few years too young but with fourteen she was probably already at the age where brawny smiling and bold young aristocrats could have a chance to impress her. They would have to show patience, that was all, and since patience was one of the virtues Carl thought highly about, it would be a good learning experience.
But luckily there were other girls of the right age within the family.
Rebecca Rose Duroc would be an interesting candidate. Especially since Napoleon, who was Rebecca Rose's and her brother's Godfather would probably appreciate to have a daughter of the French aristocracy becoming Queen of a not-yet allied foreign Kingdom.
And like young Janet, Rebecca was pretty and upgraded. And if the queen was upgraded there was no doubt in Carl's mind that the King would be upgraded too. The Clan Matriarchs would see to that. And an upgraded King -if he wasn't a total idiot but that was clearly not the case for either of the young men- was a blessing for any country. A curse for the King's Heirs but that was of no importance for the Kingdom and its people.
Should Jane Darcy fall for one of the short skinny Spaniards -girls had, from time-to-time, weird preferences- Rebecca Duroc would have been the choice Carl would have preferred. Because of Napoleon, of course. The fact that the Queen's godfather was the true master of Half the world could be the masterstroke to ensure that the Kingdom would survive. And the Kingdom's survival was preeminent in Carl's mind.
Always had been.
Carl's eyes moved along the tree and stopped at the next name. Deirdre Bingley Biorna. Not his first choice but an interesting match, nevertheless. With the Bingley wealth behind her she was an asset even if she had no aristocratic title to back it up. But then Queen of Sweden should be title enough, now, wouldn't it? And like Rebecca, Deirdre was upgraded.
Here Carl couldn't help but guffaw at himself. In itself, the upgraded part was the most important feature of all those girls. They were pretty, they were smart and they had the right connections. But what would really change the Kingdom's fate would be the fact that they were bearing the gift of upgrading. And that was worth a lot more than money and length of the girl's list of titles.
And there was, for young Deirdre another advantage, with her, the Biorna blood would come back towards the North.
He had investigated the Royal archives and what he had learned about that Clan hadn't made him very happy. They had been ousted -because they had challenged and the King and the Ting and the new Christian Clergy- for very good reasons but those reasons were no longer of importance in this new Darcy and Napoleon era. It was perhaps time to rescind the old condemnation and offer them a truce.
He would have to organize a meeting with the Biorna Matriarch, officially to get her blessing but in fact to explain her what he wanted and convince her that it was a good idea. He had no doubt that she would agree. The Biorna had a reputation of power hunger and greed that would help but it was said that she liked the girl who liked her in return. Not a good plan to antagonize the old hag.
He sighed. He would have to cross that bridge when he would face it.
He searched for the last candidate and soon found her.
Regina Douglas Darcy. Good old Scottish aristocracy and Fitzwilliam's goddaughter. A few evident advantages to have her at the Swedish King's side. Beautiful like her mother and upgraded like her mother and father. The fact that she was the Vice-Roy of Asia's goddaughter was perhaps the most important advantage she had in this odd situation. Fitzwilliam Darcy had shown, these last twenty years, that he was a man of his word who was very ready to do whatever was necessary to avoid armed conflicts. He was a superb diplomat and seen, all over the world, as the man you need to defuse any bellicose situation.
Jane Darcy being his daughter had, of course, the same access to his superb negotiation skills but this secondary list had been opened because it could be that his Swedes would have been unable to woo the daughter.
There were indeed quite a few possibilities and, if what he had found out about the two pretenders was right, they should be able to catch one of those fair ladies' eyes.
He went back to his desk and rang the bell.
Time to have a look at Sweden's last Knights in shining armor.
I
-°-oOo-°-
Harald Carlsson, Knight of Hyllaby and Thorval Eigisson had been surprised to find themselves waiting in the same parlor at the Royal Castle of Stockholm.
They didn't live in the same Region, one was a Swede and the other a Norwegian, and they hadn't seen each other since the New Year's event in Lambton but they remembered having sympathized and hadn't been reluctant to renew their acquaintance while awaiting the King's good pleasure.
The one thing, aside from hunting, which was a passion for the both of them, they had soon drifted back to that very special night they had spent at the LIT new year's Event last December.
They had only met the women of the Clan, but they still had both been impressed by the seriousness of said Ladies. Of course, since they hadn't lived behind the moon, they had already known quite a lot about most of them. Mostly about the mothers but what they could observe had convinced them that even the younger were worth to be known.
- How do you feel about that evening, asked Harald. I, for my part, must admit that if it was interesting, I don't believe I have been able to get Lady Jane's attention. She was polite and smiling while we danced but it was clearly an exercise in duty and not a dream come true.
- I danced twice with her, answered Thorwal who was with his long blond braids, his full beard and his brawny seven feet four, the epitome of Vickingness. And it was more than amusing since we spent quite a few moments mocking our fellow dancers. I wouldn't have thought it, but Miss Darcy has an acerb sarcastic trait that was quite refreshing. She confessed that she did inherit it from her mother and that she was delighted to have found in me a fellow practitioner.
- You like to mock your fellow neighbors?
- Of course, I do, I'm from Stavanger, what else but mock my neighbors is there to do if, like me, you find drunkenness and bar-fights unappealing?
- You don't drink?
- Not if I can avoid it. I will, of course, sip half a glass of wine or half a pitcher of beer when I'm invited, but it will be out of politeness for my host or hostess not because I like wine or beer. My father died at Sea because he fell overboard while drunk and I gave my word to my mother that I would never let alcohol reign over me.
He shrugged once.
- And when all is said, I prefer staying sober! It helps to avoid making bad decisions.
- In that I must agree with you. I did let myself get drunk a couple of times and since it both times ended to my consternation, I prefer to avoid letting myself be surprised again in such a sorry state.
- My, my, laughed Thorwald, I'm beginning to understand why we were there this night last December. We are clearly not built like most our fellow Northmen.
Harald could only agree.
- You've seen the nine of us, I'm not very fluent in English or Spanish but from what I could collect the nine men gathered there that night had all in common such rare virtues as honesty, loyalty and trustworthiness. It looks like the women of the Darcy Clan are looking for those qualities within the men they wish to see their young women spend time with.
- Judging on my experience it is rare enough to understand why they would look out for the type of men they wish for. If you are right about the nine who met, I will admit that I'm surprised that they even did find nine of us.
- They do have means that are a lot more important than what other ruling dynasties have.
- And even with those means they only found nine of us…
- I'm quite sure that there are more but those nine were those they believed could be accepted by the Lady they are looking to marry.
Thorval couldn't help but nod his agreement.
- You are probably right, none of the other was as handsome as I, but all were a lot better looking than the average normal male…
- Aren't you a little full of yourself, my friend?
- Vanity is my only fault, acknowledged Thorwald. I do like what God offered me to grace the eyes of the maidens…
- That's a lot more th…
They were interrupted by the opening of the door.
- His Majesty the King is ready to see you, gentlemen, said the Butler. Please follow me.
They both stood and left the parlor.
- We've not finished our conversation, whispered Harald.
- Indeed, let's dine together after our meeting with the King. I don't know why but I'm quite sure that we are about to speak about last New Year's Event in Lambton.
I
-°-oOo-°-
Carl XIV August wasn't an impressive ruler. He was on the short bulky side and had like most man his age a tendency to store fat around his paunch.
But he was a King appreciated by his people since he had never shown the slightest preference for any part of his three thronged Kingdom.
- Please take a seat, gentlemen, said he when they entered and had bowed in his direction. You probably know why I wanted to see you?
Harald, who was the Knight, chose to take the floor.
- Since we are together, we believe we are about to speak about last December and our little journey to England.
- That's exactly why you are here but we won't speak about what happened there since I already know a good part of it. I don't know what you said while you danced with your numerous dancing partners, but you'll pardon me if I confess that I'm not really interested in those parts of your night.
Both men looked at each other and Thorwald nodded once.
- We do pardon you, Sire…
Carl, even if what he had learned about the two young men, couldn't help but frown at them.
Frown that did nothing to ruin their apparent good mood.
He took a long breath and let a smile appear on his lips.
- You are indeed as uncouth as my reports said…
- We are incredibly low Northern aristocracy, Sire, said Thorwald. Uncouth comes probably with the package.
The frown was back on Carl's face.
- I'm still the King…
- We know and we don't blame you for it, said Thorwald with a smile. Everybody has his cross to bear and if we remember well King Carl XIII's proposition to adopt you wasn't the kind you dare not to accept. We all must live with the consequences of our decisions and since we quite like the King we've got, we aren't going to complain. Hopefully our King isn't about to complain that his subject are disrespecting, uncouth and less sophisticated than those others nobles from the South.
- And, added Harald, said sophisticated nobility even invited us to compete in the race to woo their last marriageable maiden. Not bad for disrespecting, uncouth and not sophisticated peasants…
- You didn't win the race, snipped the King…
- Race not yet over, countered Thorwald. As long as said maiden isn't married we still have our chances.
He shot a disparaging look at his partner in mischief.
- At least, I have still my chances! With Southern Beauties Physique counts a lot. Apart from that huge abnormal Kazak Monster I haven't seen a real male during the whole fiesta. No wonder we Northern Warriors could conquer the world! There are only dwarves out there.
- Some have learned to compensate their less impressive Physique by using their minds, countered Harald. You should try it from time to time. Once a month to begin with, to get the gist of…
He was interrupted by an impatient cough coming from Carl.
- Sorry to interrupt your little party but I had important reasons to summon you here this afternoon.
Not really impressed Thorwald couldn't help to wonder.
- English important reasons?
- Or French ones, answered the King.
And to Carl's satisfaction his comment had the wanted result: they both shut it up.
After almost a minute of silence it was Harald who spoke up.
- French ones?
- Indeed, French ones, said the King.
He opened a drawer, put out a magazine and turned it to give them the possibility to look at the front page where the six eldest girls of the Darcy Clan were posing in relaxed summer garb.
He put one finger on a very pretty black haired teen and another on the second red hair of the picture.
- The black-haired one is Rebecca Duroc, Princess Rebecca Duroc who also happens to be Napoleon's goddaughter! And the red-hair is Deirdre Bingley Biorna. Since the Darcy Matriarchs have already authorized you to enter their territory, I want you to use that opportunity to extend your hunting territory to include those two. Should one of you win over one of them, let it be known that I'll give him the same opportunity Carl the Thirteenth has given me.
The pranksters looked at each other just before smiling at the King.
- What happens if we are both successful? Will you focus on the Physique or on the brain?
I
-°-oOo-°-
Moscow
I
-°-oOo-°-
- Again?
Regent Elizabeth d'Arcy Romanova had a few difficulties to hide her smile.
Alexei Tossarov was a smart and dedicated man whose love for Mother Russia was only capped by him being a workaholic. And, perhaps, by some new passion that pulled him into journeying to the Southwest.
In the last three months it was the third time he had asked for a vacation.
- Indeed…
- And would it be that once more your trip will bring you in Pemberley's vicinity?
- Indeed…
Alexei was also a rather discreet man who had no love for lengthy conversations.
- Still trying to woo Janet?
This time he frowned at her just before shaking his head.
- She's not interested in me, answered Alexei. And it is a good thing since I never was interested in her. We had a few fascinating conversations and I believe she found pleasure in speaking with me about Russia, but it's not me she'll like to see coming back, your Majesty. I'm not sure which one of the others it will be, but I would bet on one of the Spaniards or the bulky Swede. That one made her laugh quite a lot. And since it is often with humor that a maiden's heart can be conquered, I wouldn't be amazed to see them together in the future.
Elizabeth nodded while letting a dreaming smile appear on her lips. William had used his humor quite a lot to woo her even if he had no need to convince her at all. She had already been his, the moment she had arrived at Pemberley.
- So, since it isn't Janet, who are you wooing?
- I'm not sure wooing is the right word. I'm fascinated by her but I'm not sure she feels the same about me. She never refused an invitation but I'm not sure that the cultural gap between us will not be too wide to let us consider something more…
- There are differences, Alexei, that's for sure, but England and Russia have a lot in common, you'll just have to give her the time to discover the differences.
- She's not English, your Majesty, she's even of Russian ascent but that won't help us a lot. She's Omok, you know…
- Omok? She's one of those Demon Hunters?
- She's what they call a Grass Whisperer. She speaks with plants.
- Well, if her usual conservationists are plants you should have your chances, Alexei.
A small smile came and vanished on Alexei's face.
- I do think so, too. Even if, should I believe her, plants have quite a huge range of topics at their disposal. She doesn't speak with a particular blade of grass whose conversation would be rather dull, but with the whole forest floor. And a forest floor does master an interesting range of different topics. It knows what animals live on and within it, it knows where to find edible plants and where it needs human interventions to correct problems.
This time the smile took hold.
- It's not what I dreamt about when I met her the first time but since she is very passionate about it, I did find some interest in me for those topics.
- And what does she do at the LIT?
- She's a part of the Botanic department where she's the interface between the plants and the scientists. And she's the specialist the department sends out to "investigate" why certain zones' plants are under stress or die out… And it seems that she has some success. The LIT Botanic department has quite the reputation in Great Britain.
- I suppose that they don't boast about how she does it. Does she speak about her real gift?
- If you ask her, she answers but I suppose that towards outsiders she's more discreet about how she does it.
Elizabeth took a long breath.
- Should you come to an understanding, how do you envision your future?
- She wants to come back to Russia, that's not the problem, answered he. And since there are rumors that the LIT is about to open an outlier here in Russia, it could even be that her relocation could be included in the whole foundation operation. It won't be next month or even next year but there is a good chance that she could come back to Russia while staying in the LIT's employ.
Elizabeth who had signed a few contracts in relation with the LIT outlier here in Moscow nodded her acknowledgement.
- There are more than rumors, Alexei. I have already chosen where the RIT will build his first buildings at Sokol'niki. The only reason the works hadn't began is because I want a metro line there before the first hole is dug. I want the students to have an easy trip from Downtown to the University buildings.
She winked in his direction.
- You should perhaps look at the land around Sokol'niki, Alexei. For now, nobody's interested in what looks like a stretch of swampy forest. But that could change in the near future and if you envision a house with a great park, which, considering the Lady you plan to woo, should be considered as a must, there still is quite a good range of interesting real estate available. It's more or less Imperial property and I'm quite sure that I would be open to some suggestions…
This time it was Alexei who frowned.
- Wouldn't that be using illegal insider knowledge?
- Or I could just make you a gift of a few thousand acres of swampy forest situated somewhere in the Northeast? For services rendered…
- That would be nepotism…
- Considering the worth of said acres it would be a small almost worthless gift from a clearly thrifty Regent to a key underling.
- I would feel guilty…
- If that's the case, let me inform you that a part of that swampy forest belongs to a pair of Boyars who have, not yet, found the courage to come back to Moscow or even Russia after having chosen the bad side during the last civil war. You could make an offer to those men to buy their swampy forest in the Northeast of Moscow. I'm quite sure they would agree to an honest offer.
- Could you give me the names of said Boyars? I will make an offer…
- Don't offer more than that forest is worth today, Alexei! Offering more would give them undue information about what is about to happen there and it would probably entice them to ask for more.
He took a long breath.
- I will offer them an honest bargain, I promise.
- I'm sure of it, Alexei but before you make your offer, you should invite your Grass Whisperer to come over and have a lengthy conversation with your future swampy forest. Who knows, the forest has perhaps secrets to reveal to a friendly soul?
- I'm not sure it will be possible, your Majesty. She's quite busy.
Elizabeth took another long breath and shook her head.
- Let's finish with your initial demand, first, Alexei. I agree with your four days leave of absence. Go to Pemberley and let your whisperer discover what a fine specimen of trustworthy maleness you are.
He looked at her with a shocked look.
- Your Majesty!
She shooed him out of her office.
- Go to Pemberley Alexei and come back with a smile…
I
-°-oOo-°-
- Hello, love, some problem?
Elizabeth smiled at her husband's smiling voice. He could do that like nobody else.
- No problem at all, dear, quite the contrary in fact. I think my dear Alexei has, finally, met a kindred soul.
William who was quite fond of the young Russian Aristocrat, nodded in the phone.
- That's good news. Do I know her?
- You remember the Omok Grass whisperer?
- What they call an I'skan'na? I had no idea that it could be translated into Grass Whisperer. It's amusing. And to answer your question, yes, I do and her name is Kalita, isn't it?
- Indeed, and she's currently working at the Botanic department of the LIT. And I'd like you to see with the Head of said department if she could be sent on a special mission to Moscow. I have a swampy forest in the Northeast of Moscow that needs a special survey by a Witch specialized in Plant Lore.
She could feel her husband's frown.
- And why don't you ask for it yourself?
- Because if you ask I'm quite sure that whatever else she has been tasked with for the next days will easily be postponed.
She heard him sigh.
You re playing matchmaker, aren't you?
No, they already know each other, but since I'm interested in getting her skillset back to Russia I'm very decided to do what's necessary to give those two enough time to clear their minds about what they want to do.
It still could not work out...
Indeed but it won't be because I didn't do what was necessary.
- I'll see what I cand do, my love.
- Perfect and make a mental note that you'll be at my side when I marry them.
I
-°-oOo-°-
Next chapter soon to come… A Chapter about Janet' possible choices
I
-°-oOo-°-