Chapter 13

Sir Boniface's hidden heart condition was coming under control.

Phileas's return took much of his work, taking over Erasmus's place.

Pride in the self-confident man he had become unwound Sir Boniface's usual stiff air. His warmer attitude took Phileas by surprise, but he accepted it gladly. A warmth replaced their past relationship that Sir Boniface hadn't felt in many years.

Hadn't allowed myself, he corrected, not since the boys started their training. That needs changing.

Phileas settled into his old office, with his old and new mementos about him. He was reading reports when a dazzling beauty walked in and said hello. She jumped into his arms when he stood, greeting him with all the vibrant enthusiasm he belatedly remembered in a much younger Rebecca. Gone so long, Phileas didn't recognize her. The confident beauty she had become took his breath away.

He and Rebecca walked into Sir Boniface's office together for a briefing on her present assignment. Sir Boniface had the man she was protecting in a chair before his desk.

Phileas greeted him with a nod. Rebecca's tone introducing them caught his by surprise. He looked at her and saw Rebecca's face light up, staring at Richard Sutton like he was the only man in the room.

Phileas felt something akin to disappointment, seeing his cousin's affections so openly settled. For the life of him, he couldn't understand why. Was it some sense of lost time? He had intended to spend more time with her and his brother.

Yes, that's it. I had planned to get reacquainted with Ras and Becca before getting busy again. I've come home to find Ras out of the country and her on assignment.

Life isn't not fair.

Phileas buried those disappointments and sat through the interview. When they left, he kept his opinions about what his father called Rebecca's little romance to himself. His father is exercised enough for them both about the way her assignment had developed.

I can't believe the way he has set himself against it, hunting for reasons to refuse the match… even having me investigate the man.

Phileas smiled and took the task. He could do that in my sleep, and already knew where it would lead. Unless Lord Robert's brother had developed bad habits since his wife's death, there would be no issues.

The year ended with Erasmus still in Berlin. He visited with the princess often. Her time was coming near. It made her so happy to see a friendly face.

Her birthing came… long and troublesome. Erasmus sat with the prince through their long night watch. The babe came breach. The princess nearly died during the ordeal. In the birthing, one of the child's arms had been injured. The royal physician had said it was treatable. Erasmus sent off a note to Queen Victoria, explaining it all, with a copy to his father.

As winter continued, the princess remained on bedrest.

Carl disappeared to his regiment in late January for training exercises. When he came back to court, his demeanor had drastically changed. He acted nervous, distracted.

He stood beside Ras in the back of the parlor, scanning the room. "Something is up Ras. I won't be able to speak to you freely anymore. My association with you has been reported. My brother showed up at regimental headquarters and gave me hell about it. What he was doing there, I can't imagine. Last I knew, Eric was out of the country. Now, he shows up to bite my head off."

Erasmus didn't say anything. He was looking around the room too, to see who might be watching.

"This morning, I received a message. He is home with father on his deathbed. I should be there too, but Eric tells me to stay here and send him reports."

"Are you sure you shouldn't go, anyway?" Erasmus said.

"No. Eric will refuse me father's chamber," Carl said. "My mother married his father late in life. Eric has never accepted either of us."

Carl caught an older man at cards looking up at him. "Ras, he has ordered me to stay away from you. He has eyes all over to make sure I do; this will be our last meeting. I will send you word through Marie when and where we might meet. For now, I must be more careful."

Carl walked out of the room. Erasmus saw one person taking notice of his parting. He watched Carl leave with a frown under his heavy mustache.

Erasmus didn't know anything about Carl's brother. He asked about. He was also an Army officer, named Eric, a highly placed major. No one seemed to know which regiment he served. He had not been seen since last spring.

Phileas completed his investigation of Richard Sutton. He hoped to speak with Rebecca about her suitor, but didn't get the chance. Erasmus's reports concerning the princess's difficult pregnancy and birthing came. They were heartbreaking, but Carl Schmidt's vague warnings caused grave concerns.

Sir Boniface sent him to Berlin to replace Erasmus at court. Phileas agreed with that decision completely. A change in personnel would not be amiss if Erasmus had been getting his informant noticed.

His father said it would give him a chance to learn about the prince's reunification project firsthand, so he could take it over. He frowned at that. This was the sort of political project his father kept for himself. Phileas had already noted how his father was delegating.

What's going on? Is there something he hasn't told me? He choked on the answer. If there was something wrong, he wouldn't tell me. He had no chance to search it out. He was on his way across the channel the next morning.

Sir Boniface sat in his office, building a pile of reports for Phileas to read before he left the country. The more he knew, the better. This mission was too important, too vital.

He would take over that too, as my successor. I had so hoped to have it completed before health forced me to retire–A fine last act for a long career.

The disappointment was set aside. He finished reading Phileas's report on Richard with a critical eye, looking for reasons to refuse the man.

Richard Sutton had asked for a meeting. That meant he was going to ask for Rebecca's hand. He knew as surely as the snows would melt in the Prussian mountains. There was nothing he could object to, nothing at all. Phileas had the gall to say so on an attached note.

No skeletons in this closet.

Sir Boniface tossed the file aside, sour faced. Richard isn't good enough for Rebecca. They aren't well-matched at all. Yet wealth, social position, and excellent character were all on Sutton's side. Rebecca was too old and too independent for him to refuse him on general purposes.

Oh no. That would make my headstrong ward run right into his arms.

He sighed and sat back in his chair. I will have to have to approve him, at least for courtship. From there, perhaps closer association will make Rebecca come to her senses. Richard is a fine man, but a conservative fellow. He would stifle her. He'd insist she leave the service. After all I've done to give her a place, I can't believe she doesn't see that.

"Yes. A long courtship will be just the thing."

He looked up at the Queen's portrait hanging over his shoulder; "with all the proper formalities, as you, her godmother would insist upon. We will give this time to come to a proper death on its own."

Sir Boniface picked up the folder with Rebecca's most recent report. The assassin who paid a call on them back in November hadn't been seen since. Maybe he knows our plans have been put on hold. Oh well, he's gone to ground as thoroughly as a weasel to its winter den. I will end Richard's protection soon–Not good having Rebecca constantly in his company like this.

Sir Boniface looked over Erasmus's newest reports from Prussia. "Somebody is making life very hard for Princess Vickie." Since her birthing, she has been kept isolated, shunned. The baby's birth injury wasn't getting any better. The birth of an imperfect first son was a mark against her. Could be Queen Augusta's doing. The woman has a vicious streak.

Aside from that, Prussia's Army was doing constant winter exercises in the mountains.

Whispers around the court were getting tense. I had hoped Ras had something better for his last report.

When Erasmus returned to England, his father interrogated him for details as soon as he stepped in the door. Everything, no matter how small, had been gone over with a fine-tooth comb. After light praise, Erasmus was given charge of the projects Phileas had been dealing with.

He looked everything over and saw Phileas's hand in the changes. They were things he hadn't considered, but could see value in. Differing approaches. Big brother has become a plotter after dealing with the Imperial court for so long.

Ras let the changes stand. Those projects could go on without input, which was fine.

I've been in Prussian for so long, it's where I want to be. Father's replacing me isn't appreciated. Well, I suppose the warning Carl gave me required a change in personnel. It's still frustrating. Phileas won't fit into the network I built. The way I was pulled out… That smacked of distrust in my abilities, favoring Phileas.

Ras listened to how that sounded, even spoken in his head, and frowned. You know that's not the case. However, he is back. You won't be second in command much longer. Or maybe you will. Just to a different boss.

Has Phileas caught on to father's pulling back? I still don't know what's wrong, but Dr. Slater consults with him too much not to wonder. Wish he'd tell me about it.

Ras shook his head and sighed.

You know full well he won't admit to anything.

He picked up Phileas's first report. Carl was still sending notes through his fiancé. Phileas isn't getting on with my contacts, as expected. Ras read the last lines and smiled.

When you read this Ras, know I'm too old to play with your friends. I can drink and gamble with the best, but our styles are too different. I'll let you know when I get my bearings.