Phileas had been in a poor mood since his game with Von Kessler. Getting palmed a message without signature by the British Ambassador only added to it. Seeing his brother's handwriting made it worse.
He snuck out of the palace walking through the streets of Berlin in a biting cold wind. A carriage took him two hours away to the foot of a mountain in a wooded countryside village.
Cold, out of sorts, and tired, he was beyond making pleasantries. His bad mood owed more to the two long weeks he had spent watching the movements of the new Baron Von Kessler. The man befriended the Princess Vicky and openly defended her against cutting comments. When he wasn't doing that, he escorted General Hohenzollern to closed-door meetings with high-level court and Army officials.
Phileas gave the signal knock.
Ras opened the door.
Without preamble, Phileas said, "What are you doing here?"
Erasmus shewed Phileas in and closed the door. "Carl sent me a message. It said the prince and princess are in danger. I am meeting him in the morning. Father sent me to talk to him."
Phileas removed his coat and gloves and shook off his hat. The room was Spartan. Its only luxury was a roaring fire. The furniture and other appointments were utilitarian: one chair, two beds with a good stack of blankets for both. That looked inviting.
Phileas took the chair.
His brother took a seat on the nearest bed.
Phileas's expression and the irritation in his voice showed his displeasure at Carl's part in this. "Carl needs to learn the rules of this game and stop trying to dictate to us. Weasel of a man, always sulking about when he is at court. You realize, Erasmus, using an Army officer for a contact is risky, even for you? Using him after he has been dressed down…"
Phileas stopped his lecture before it went further. "Coming here was a mistake. I'm shocked father agreed to it."
Ras said, "Don't get in an uproar. Carl is completely loyal to the prince. I know he is being watched. He told me so the last time we spoke. His note confirms it again. That is why he stays away from you. Going to the trouble of sending a message to me in England, I'd say, proves he has a need. You can trust him."
"So, you are taking back the assignment?" Phileas's eyes went sharp.
"No, of course not. I'm just here to talk to Carl. This ball of wax is still yours."
"I have seen no danger to the prince and princess," Phileas said. "Efforts have been made to defend Vicky against her detractors. Where is Carl getting his information? I haven't seen him at court in over a month."
"I'm sure all will be answered at the meeting, Phileas," Erasmus said. "I'm to take his information straight back to father. I am staying out of sight. No one knows I'm back but you. Glad to hear Vicky has new friends. Anyone I know?"
"A new defender, not necessarily a friend," Phileas said. "Baron Von Kessler is out to woo her into the fold."
"That old recluse?" Erasmus said. "Last I heard, he had a foot in the grave. When did he come down off his mountain?"
"He has both feet in the grave," Phileas said. "Baron Von Kessler's heir is the one getting close to Vicky."
"That is odd," Erasmus shifted on the bed. "And then… maybe not. He could lend her protection. The departed Von Kessler was spoken of as a self-serving sort, but loyal to the crown. Vicky is Prussian royalty now. The younger, I've only heard rumors of, but most say he is a dangerous enemy."
Phileas didn't go into his experiences but said, "Dangerous is a good word for it. He is ambitious and tenacious. It is wisest not to turn one's back on him or underestimate him. Something his superiors should know. He all but told me two weeks ago he is after General Hohenzollern's position."
"Carl has something important to impart." Erasmus leaned forward. "Don't sell him short, Phil. Come with me and hear him out, if you must, but don't dismiss him."
"Perhaps you are right." Phileas stood, moved closer to the fire to stare down at the coals. "Perhaps Von Kessler didn't tell me the whole of it when he said would lend Vicky support. He might be protecting her from some inner faction."
Phileas sat down again on that inviting other bed. The conversation had drained him. He needed sleep. "Are we meeting him at dawn? Do I get any sleep tonight?"
"Most of it. And no, we are meeting him around mid-day tomorrow up the mountain at a hunter's cabin."
Phileas nodded and worked his way out of his boots. "How is Rebecca's romance going?"
Erasmus made an impolite snort. "She glows like a new bloomed rose and Sutton struts about behind her, the peacock. For the life of me, I don't see what the attraction is. He will have her resign from the service within an hour of their engagement and bury her for the next fifteen years, marrying off all those girls of his. It's a match made in hell, I say."
He didn't mention his talk with their father. He had finally found the courage to ask for Rebecca. Sir Boniface had just looked at him with sour contempt and called him a fool to his face.
"Rebecca has no business marrying anyone, not you and not Richard Sutton," His father said. "I don't care how much she has convinced herself to the contrary."
His vehemence took Erasmus by surprise.
"She has her life set up just fine already, just as she wants it. Rebecca will be bored with Richard Sutton within six months. Mark my words, this courtship will never see an engagement announcement."
"And you." Sir Boniface moved around his study desk to stare his son down, toe to toe.
"You will make no woman a decent husband. Not until you can walk through a ballroom and light your eyes on one girl for more than a minute. Richard would bore Rebecca to tears as a husband, but he would at least honor her. You would not, and she would murder you in a fit of righteous outrage. If you feel the call to marry Ras, find yourself some timid, trusting soul you can keep in the country and blind to your carousing."
After that brutally honest dressing down, Erasmus had left his father in a rage, retreating deep into several bottles of good whiskey. When he woke up the next afternoon, both his head and the truth hurt, but he had accepted it. He only hoped his father predicted Rebecca true, and she came to her senses.
Phileas gave his brother an amused smirk and kept his thoughts to himself. His father had written of putting Ras's misbegotten crush on Rebecca down. Years away from home had given him at least some perspective on things. Ten years ago, he would have been just as opposed to this marriage. Phileas wanted to agree with Erasmus. Richard Sutton was far too conventional for their unconventional cousin. Yet, he also felt a powerful draw to defend Rebecca's choice.
Phileas had always had a soft spot for her. He could never deny her anything as a child or since. He and Erasmus had agreed to train her when no one else would. As she set herself to be an agent, he had given her field training before leaving for China. Ten years ago, Rebecca would have run screaming from the very threat of a domesticating influence. Her heart had belonged to the service and nothing else.
But now…
Perhaps she is ready for a home and family. If Richard Sutton is what Rebecca wants, I won't stand in her way. I will even run interference for her. The Lord knows, I wouldn't mind for at least one of us to take on more peaceful pursuits. I hope Rebecca is ready to give it up. I have never challenged her decision to follow us into the service, but I've never been comfortable with it.
Chivalry… It just didn't seem right; but she does it and does it well.
Rebecca would hand my head back to me for voicing that. Wish I could get over the odd feeling she will be lost to me when her vows are said.
Silly thought.
Stupid thought.
I'm not after her. There's no reason to think such things.
Phileas undressed and piled the blankets over himself. Enough thinking for one night–Sleep.