Chapter 18

The reception with the Queen was now two weeks passed and this year Phileas only received one request a day asking to court Rebecca. Last year, there were six in all. By now, he would have thought her disinterest in marriage would have ended such requests.

He had, as usual, notified her as they came in. She asked him to discourage the misguided fools. That was part of his duty as her guardian, and he had become quite good at it. All amorous fools left his study with no hopes at all and never tried again.

That yearly duty taken care of, they settled into their own homes and routines, seeing each other for their biweekly tea.

Jules Verne's request asking to visit Phileas concerning his part in the mission was waiting for Phileas as soon as he returned. He declined to deal with it immediately, as he had been consumed with keeping up appearances. Now, he picked it up to read again. He had to leave that to the Paris agents since winter was so harsh, but there was no reason for him to be distant now. The reports suggested an end to that part of the mission. Getting back to business, Fogg replied with a cable back to Paris, telling Verne to await his arrival.

Phileas set Passepartout to the Aurora, preparing her for a brief trip. While Passepartout was making his preparations, Phileas took a carriage to one of Whitehall's alternate offices for a scheduled meeting with Chatsworth.

They discussed how he planned to deal with the Paris side of the operation. The discussion was brief and surprisingly congenial. Since having to work with the man directly, Phileas had grudgingly made a point not to allow his dislike for Chatsworth free rein. Evidently, Chatsworth had made a similar effort because their meetings had been tit-for-tat free.

There is something more going on here. Phileas listened to Chatsworth's conversation but paid more attention to the man himself. He seemed in uncustomary, congenial spirits. The few barbs Phileas indulged in had rolled off the director like water off a duck. No point in matching wits with someone who refused to play the game. Fogg gave up baiting him and finished his report.

When all had been said and done, Chatsworth nodded and approved it all; even on the parts Fogg had not expected cooperation. He relayed orders to Flintcraft, who handled the necessary paperwork. One hour later, Phileas left with all he had asked for.

"Wonders never cease."

Rebecca received a message from her cousin saying that he was going to Paris to check on Verne. He expected to be back in a week. She took the news with the same irritation she had the last time he took off without asking her to accompany him; peevishly.

Two days later, Rebecca received a letter from Isaac Jordan requesting a meeting concerning her business ventures. She sent him a note in agreement, allowing him to join her for afternoon tea.

Mr. Jordan was shown into the parlor when he arrived. It was the home Phileas's father had bought upon his marriage and the one his children had been raised in when living in London. It was a stately Georgian in a neighborhood of other stately Georgian homes. It was big, boasting twenty-four rooms, including two large reception rooms, a front parlor, a well-stocked library, and a ballroom. It was meant for showing off and entertaining. Jordan looked it over as he was shown into the door, knowing about what it would fetch if he sold it and what it would be worth to him if he kept it when its present owner was plucked clean. All calculations, however, ceased as he was shown into the parlor to meet Rebecca Fogg. At that point, he became the ever proper, if somewhat patronizing man of business, taking the teacup and sandwiches offered with a formal air.

"Thank you for allowing this meeting," he said as he nodded to her over his cup.

Rebecca ignored the implied comment on the requests she had refused. "How are things going with Verne's research?" she said?

"Oh, well enough," Mr. Jordan said, unenthused. "The engine work has slowed down. Our Mr. Verne's improvements on the battery are quite promising, as I said earlier, but not so much that it would bring much profit to us. I know these things come in spurts and problems come. But honestly," Jordan said, sounding hesitant. "I am worried about his staying power. Your cousin went to see him on the matter. I hope that helps."

"What do you mean?" Rebecca said.

"It is just that… The matter is coming into some sticky problems. You and your cousin have already invested a great deal of time and money into it. I am concerned about the success of the venture. I am sure your cousin knows what he is doing. He has a reputation for making fine investment decisions. Mr. Fogg takes significant risks, and often, they give fine returns. Your cousin wanted this to work out for you. He set it up for a fifty-fifty venture. I am just concerned for you, especially as you are not in the same position as he to take such risks."

Rebecca wondered if his praise of Phileas's investment savvy was true. She could only think of the mines in America as an investment he handled on his own. She didn't know he had a reputation as a successful investor. Jordan makes it sound like a noble thing, despite the high risks.

This wasn't anything Rebecca could comment on. She deflected. "I am sure that he knows what he is doing."

"Of course, I meant no disrespect to your cousin. You must excuse me for thinking in the short term. It is a hazard in my profession. Yes, I am sure it will all work out fine."

After that, the conversation changed to small talk, and pleasantries until he left.

That conversation continued to bother Rebecca for the rest of the day. She did not understand what he had been getting at, not really. She kept repeating the conversation sentence by sentence throughout the day.

"His improvements on the battery are quite promising, as I said earlier, but not so much that it would bring much profit to us."

"I know these things come in spurts and problems do come up…"

There were problems with the engine and that the advances in the battery he spoke of earlier were not exploitable, she deduced.

"I am a little worried about his staying power. Your cousin went to see him… I hope that helps."

Whatever the problems were, Rebecca assumed they were getting Jules down. Maybe the problem could cause the research to come to a stop altogether. Why had Phileas not taken me with him to see Verne? My presence might have helped, in no other fashion than to cheer him up.

"I am sure your cousin knows what he is doing; he has a reputation for making fine investment decisions. He takes significant risks and makes fine returns."

A bit of flattery for Phileas, Rebecca dismissed it.

But was it just flattery, or was it a facet of Phileas I don't know?

Rebecca did not know if he deserved it or not. The way he dealt with missions and other problems had been in the manner implied, but as with most men of his class, Phileas did not speak of business matters.

"Your cousin wanted this to work out for you… he set it up for a fifty-fifty venture. I am just concerned for you, especially as you are not in the same position as he to take such risks."

That's another compliment for Phileas. The last part was an understatement of grotesque proportions. Rebecca did not know what Fogg estate was worth, but it had to be a growing thing as Phileas was always adding to it with houses and other things from his gambling winnings. One thing she was sure of; her inheritances had to be pocket change in comparison.

The more she thought about it, the more the fifty-fifty part concerned her. Rebecca assumed Jordan had meant that they were investing equal parts into the endeavor. If that were the case, it took little for her to see that her assets were a smaller pool of resources. She couldn't possibly invest toe-to-toe with him.

Does that mean I'm in danger of losing my assets if this problem lasts too long?

How much have I spent on it already?

I needed to talk to Phileas about this… but the notion seemed impossible as the day wore on. No … I have already decided not to talk to him about it. I have long since turned over the running of my funds to Sir Boniface and, after his death, to Phileas. It was stupid not to ask questions; but they both seemed to know so much better about how to deal with such things.

Years ago, a younger Rebecca had attempted to learn how it all worked from Sir Boniface. He told her it was a very complicated thing and that even he hired professionals to handle it. He showed her how to budget her pin money and explained how investments grew through interest earnings. The rest he said not to worry about. "Your inheritance has been set up in a conservative manner to keep you comfortable as long as you do not gain a taste for the extravagant." He said.

That was the last time I ever questioned him.

Rebecca wondered how Sir Boniface had always gotten around her like that. There had been other things she had asked about that he had never given suitable answers to. Sir Boniface had such sway over me. I never questioned it until now. And I trust Phileas the same way. He went to Paris to deal with the problem. If he needed me, he would have had me come.

Isaac Jordan sat in his coach on the way back to the offices, well pleased with himself. He had just finished the first stage of reeling Rebecca Fogg in. It had been a gentle play of the bait. Isaac had planted the seeds of worry. He had no concerns that they would not take. She would have to be an idiot, which she was not, to not understand her resources were not the same as her cousins. What Phileas Fogg could shrug off would bankrupt her.

Fogg had gone to Paris to see Verne after our conversation about the Frenchman's project. My auditors had warned Isaac of a problem back in February. The young man was working his way to a snag that current technology could not deal with. Verne might make the leap and get through it, if he were truly brilliant. I don't have that kind of faith in him. No, I give the matter another few weeks at the most. The project will have to be scrapped. Such things happened.

Today's meeting let her know she was about to be ruined by her cousin's strategies. Rebecca Fogg will not hold much love for someone who gambled with her assets as if they were stakes in a poker game. She will turn away from him and I will show up to console her and build up her anger. If I do it well enough, she will sooner die than see him again. And then she will be all mine.

My plan was to have her for myself, but things have changed. St. Pierre's interest could be much more useful. If I were to offer him a chance at Rebecca, there would be a huge favor owed. I have my aspirations. I want access to the decision makers, admittance into circles St. Pierre could open to me. He's been willing to give me information out of camaraderie so far, but I want more.

To build the other half of my plan, I have another meeting with St. Pierre coming up. This could be a good time to move my pawns together.

Jordan's meeting with Nathaniel came with the usual business talk and chitchat. Jordan reminded him of their earlier conversation and mentioned a distancing he had seen between Rebecca and her cousin. "They are coming to an impasse I'm not sure will be overcome. She's going to need a friend, a protector, one might say."

Nathaniel frowned, stared at him in surprise. Protector had long been a term used when a man kept a mistress. Nathaniel was more of a gentleman in character than Jordan had thought. He rebuked Jordan's use of the term.

"Rebecca Fogg is a respectable lady, and a favorite of the queen," Nathaniel said. "I couldn't take her as if she were one of the highborn trollops at court. She is not, you know. If you didn't, you need to pay more attention to society news. You will have never heard her name mentioned in the fast circles we travel in. That proves it. I would very much like to gain Rebecca Fogg. I told you I have already asked to court her, but Phileas Fogg refused me. I cannot approach her."

Jordan was not as sure of her virtue as all that. "Rebecca is two and thirty-years-old," he said. "Surely by now she would have had a lover or two. You told me you wanted the woman. I have knowledge of changes coming in the lady's situation that you could take advantage of. Changes that will get rid of her cousin's influence and make her more accessible."

"I am not above pressing advantages," St. Pierre said. "If you really know of something that would give me access to her, I won't hesitate to use it. But whatever changes in her station you are talking about would have to be devilish awful to do what you suggest. Bring me specifics and we will talk about it. Until then, I must go by what I know."

Nathaniel tried to put it away, but couldn't. "I have never heard a single word against her. If Miss Fogg has ever gotten past her cousin and compromised herself, it was done quietly. And even if he were out of the picture; Rebecca has the queen's favor. She is untouchable, if only for that. These problems would have to change that as well."

"Financial ruin, perhaps?" Jordan said.

Nathaniel laughed. "If indebtedness were an offence of that nature, half the titled families in England could not show their faces. No, you would have to prove murder or treason, something of that nature."

Nathaniel drained his glass and shook his head at the vagueness of the conversation. Isaac had started this chat in a friendly enough manner, but he knew what sort of man Isaac was and knew he was after something. That something involved him. That something was important enough for him to dangle a very attractive carrot haired lady in front of him to get it.

Nathaniel choked on a nervous laugh and said, "Let's stop dreaming. By all accounts, Rebecca has the virtue of a saint. I hear from a friend who lives near her cousin's estate that she spends a great deal of time away on the continent visiting and taking care of infirmed relatives. How much more saintly can you get than that? Old Phil is not going anywhere, and Rebecca is beyond reach."

Jordan left his friend that night with many things to think about. He had no belief in feminine virtue past the age of twelve. Rebecca may not have had any English lovers, but what about European ones? Did she really spend all her time nursing relatives? He had access to people who could find things out. Those people were contacted later with instructions to find out what Rebecca Fogg really did on her trips to Europe.