Müller shook his head. “No. No. You are too modest. But then that is the problem with modest men, they do not fully appreciate their strengths, and often see these as a weakness, which of course they are not. And as I am not so modest, I can tell you now, that while you thought yourself in control of the situation in Emden as the Herr Baron, I was controlling you.”
“I may be modest, Herr General, but I am not dull witted,” Alec quipped. “You were very willing to fall in with my orders, no questions asked. That in itself was a highly suspicious circumstance.”
“Agreed. But make no mistake. Had your orders not been to my liking and helped the rebel cause, there would have been a very different outcome. You certainly would not be sitting here enjoying dinner at my table. I used your sense of justice, of fairness, of doing what is right, to my advantage. I allowed you to be the Herr Baron, to carry out your good deeds, to have the port open and those merchants and their families who had been stranded in Emden due to the civil war, to return home to Holland, or wherever it was they were travelling to and from. I am a reasonable man. His Highness is a reasonable man. Our cause is reasonable. We do not want any unnecessary bloodshed. This country and its people have suffered enough through the Seven Years’ War, and the wars before that. Indeed, your country drove out the French occupying forces and then used Emden for its own purposes.
“I could not open the port. Only a direct order from the Margrave could do such a thing. And then you arrived, the Margrave’s brother-in-law, a member of the House of Herzfeld, and it was a simple thing to convince my subordinates, and the town councillors that your word was the word of the Margrave. Having the port opened was a priority for the rebel cause, and in the end, you did that for us, too.”
“I gather then that the petition-waving display outside Luytens’ house the night before our departure was staged by your good self?”
Müller shrugged a shoulder. “I wish I could say yes. For it would have been a brilliant ploy, but no. In essence it was a spontaneous demonstration, begun by your English priest and his deaf granddaughter. But it caught on, like a grass fire at the height of summer. And then, yes, we helped to fan the flames of dissent.”
“I presume then that Prince Viktor has gathered forces on the other side of the Ems, who were just waiting the opportunity for the port to be opened, to cross and take Emden?”
The General’s eyes shone.
“Precisely! A large contingent awaits at Delfzijl They are dressed as civilians and will enter the port in the ships that you permitted to leave with the citizens bound for Holland. The soldiers will infiltrate the town, distribute arms, and when the time is right, rise up. And while Emden surrenders or burns, ships will be sailing around to Herzfeld, ships carrying cannon, weapons, men, and food supplies for the rebel army stationed just outside the Castle. All that remains is for your good self to show us the way into the castle, and then justice will be served—on Ernst and his supporters at court.”
Alec nodded, but he had only heard the first half of what the General had been saying because with the revelation that some of the ships leaving Emden’s port were headed north around to Herzfeld, he had a sickening presentiment.
“Müller, tell me you kept your word and allowed my godmother and uncle to leave on
The Caroline
and disembark at Delfzijl.”
When the General hesitated and shot a look at the two soldiers closest to him, and they came forward, hands to the hilt of their swords, as if expecting the Herr Baron to react with violence, Alec had his answer without a word spoken. He threw up his hands, feeling foolish and furious with himself for believing Müller would honor his promise. But of course, why would he set free the two people, who, with Selina, Alec loved most in the world, when they could be much more useful as a means of keeping him compliant?
“You came to a country in conflict,” Müller stated. “You and the members of your party were aware from the outset of the dangers.
The Caroline
, its crew and passengers, are on their way to Herzfeld, along with a number of smaller ships. A veritable rebel flotilla. No harm will come to your uncle, the Duchess, and the English Ambassador, as long as you are cooperative—”
“No harm? You have put them in harm’s way by turning their schooner into a warship! You cannot offer me such assurances with any degree of confidence, so it is pointless to try!”
Alec was done with talking, and with keeping company with this soldier. He needed to see Selina, to make certain she was all right after her ordeal, and to make certain the other passengers were being treated well. He had lost all faith in leaving the welfare of those for whom he felt responsible in the hands of others, particularly those with a political agenda.
“If you would allow me to see the other passengers, to satisfy myself they are safe and do not need for anything before we bed down for the night, I would be most grateful, Herr General,” Alec said at his most formal, napkin put aside on the table, and rising up, a signal dinner conversation was at an end.
General Müller also set aside his napkin. He stood with a sigh. He had enjoyed the dinner and Alec’s company. In fact, he admired the man, and wished they could have been friends, though he knew under present circumstances, that was unlikely. Lord Halsey, the Herr Baron, or whatever he wished to call himself, was too honorable, too bound by what was right, rather than what was expedient and necessary. And as such he would judge him, Müller, by his actions rather than the circumstances which had brought them about. And thus Müller considered him weak, and he had no time to offer up explanations. He gave Alec the response that was necessary rather than what was right or just.
“I cannot allow that, Lord Halsey. You will remain here, under guard, until it is time to leave. Which will be at first light. I will send you your valet when it is time to dress, and to pack you a small portmanteau for the journey. Regrettably, the sledges cannot accommodate your lovely traveling possessions, so they must remain here. I will give the order for them to be distributed amongst the men, and put to good use. Though you will be relieved that I have found room on the cargo sledge for the mechanical table. There are some spoils of war worth keeping, and His Highness will appreciate such a generous gift from your English government.”
Alec stared out the window; there was no point in commenting, and so Müller made him a formal bow and turned to leave. And then something on the camp bed caught his eye.
“You did not enquire about the jewels and coin found hidden in Mrs. Jamison-Lewis’s ingeniously made bodice.”
“I presumed they, too, are spoils of war.”
Müller smiled thinly. “Yes, they are. And your strong box is now under guard, and all the pieces accounted for.” When Alec looked puzzled, Müller added, “You have the deaf girl to thank. She may not hear, but she does have sharp eyes. She saw Horst Visser steal several pieces of jewelry which had spilled from the corset to the ground when Mrs. Jamison-Lewis was struck. She rightly alerted her grandfather, who rightly told me. When Horst Visser could not be found, I sent a search party. The fool was captured walking back towards Emden with his booty, and has been dealt with.”
Alec could well imagine how, so did not ask, but Müller told him anyway, and managed to surprise and shock him, too.
“There is no place for looters in time of war—at any time. You saw what happened to that imbecile who tried to steal a sack of coal at the wharf. He was made a necessary example of. There is also no place for traitors. Luytens betrayed you. He offered me the mechanical table, which is why I know of its existence. He also offered to split the jewelry and coin with me. He says you had no idea about such a ransom, and that it was his idea, and not something Prince Ernst demanded in return for the lives of your friends. Yes, I thought that would surprise you. It did me. What won’t surprise you is that I consider a selfish duplicitous wretch with no beliefs worse than a thief. But I am not cruel by nature. I assure you that their deaths were quick and painless.”
“Not painless for their families!”
“They should have thought of nothing but their families
before
they committed treason and theft. Now you must excuse me, there is much to do before our departure.”
“I have a request, Herr General.”
Müller paused at the steps leading up to the deck and waited.
“I wish to get married—tonight.”
M
ÜLLER
CAME
BACK
into the cabin, surprise writ large on his features. He wondered if he had heard Alec correctly, but when the Englishman just looked at him, he grinned.
“What a romantic you are!”
“The English priest on board has agreed to marry us,” Alec told him.
“But—are you not already married to the Princess Joanna?”
“No. I explained that to you,” Alec said with great patience. “That marriage ceremony was a ruse on the part of the Margrave to keep his daughter compliant.”
“Does the lovely Mrs. Jamison-Lewis know about your earlier marriage—Ah! You have yet to tell her. Thus the urgency in marrying her without delay. You intend to tell your bride
after
you are married that you
were
married? Is that any way to begin married life?”
“Aurich has a fine church in which the Reverend Shirley can conduct the ceremony,” Alec continued, ignoring the General’s tongue-in-cheek question.
“These are indeed uncertain times. But you have my assurance you are more valuable alive than to be put up against a wall and shot, if that is your concern.”
“I gave Mrs. Jamison-Lewis my word we would be married tonight.”
“Then I will break the disappointing news to her. The town is under siege conditions and is now off limits, even to me. Our little collection of barges, and my soldiers who guard us, are on their own. Perhaps His Highness will grant your oh-so-romantic request before he passes sentence on you for your part in the Margrave’s war?”
“My part? I had no part. I am here on a diplomatic mission to negotiate the release of my friends, nothing more,” Alec argued. “And you said yourself, my actions at Emden have helped, not hindered Prince Viktor’s bid for the margravate.”’
“I have no doubt that will be taken into consideration by His Highness,” agreed the General. “Though, regrettably, the moment you stretched out your hand to me wearing the Herzfeld intaglio you became very much a part of this civil war.” The General bowed politely. “But it is not for me to pass judgment, that is for His Highness. Tomorrow you will have the opportunity to put your case to him. For now, I suggest you get some rest. You will be woken before the dawn, and we leave at sunrise.”
Alec followed the General across to the steps. He could not keep the anxiousness from his voice. “We are journeying to Herzfeld as planned?”
“Eventually. But not immediately.”
“I
must
travel to the Castle. If I’m not there on time, my friends—”
“Lord Halsey, it is best that you come to terms with your altered situation,” General Müller replied from the steps, two soldiers with their bayonets crossed at the mouth of the stairwell keeping Alec from following. “Your travel plans are unimportant. What matters is winning this war. Your fate now rests with His Highness Prince Viktor, not Prince Ernst. As for your English friends locked up in the Castle…” Müller stuck out his bottom lip and pulled a face of unconcern. “For all anyone knows, they are already dead.”
“I won’t believe that. Ever!”
“You may believe what you like. But you had best prepare yourself. Prayer is now the only recourse left to you—and to them. Good night.”
A
LEC
SPENT
A
RESTLESS
night and was woken when it seemed he had just managed to fall into a deep sleep. It was Hadrian Jeffries, and it was still dark outside. His valet had set out a change of clothing, but apologized for not being able to shave him. On the orders of General Müller all gentleman were forbidden to be shaved.
“As one of the soldiers explained it to me, sir, officers in the rebel army have put aside their razors and taken to growing facial hair as a gesture of support and solidarity for their leader Prince Viktor, who wears mustaches in defiance of the Court edict banning facial hair.”
Alec rolled his eyes and bit back a retort about wondering if the Prince was old enough to grow pubic hair, least of all a set of mustaches. Thus dressing was accomplished in silence until Jeffries was buckling the straps of Alec’s over-the-knee leather boots, and Alec said,
“I don’t see my sword. I presume it’s been confiscated along with my razors?”
“Yes, sir. One of General Müller’s aides has it,” Jeffries replied, helping Alec shrug into his seal-skin coat. He handed him his gloves. “Something about you publically presenting it to the Prince as a gesture of the defeat of the Margrave’s armies…?”
Alec suppressed the desire to roll his eyes again, and explained while putting on his gloves,
“Offering up one’s sword to the leader of an opposing force is indeed the usual grand gesture of capitulation. But as I am neither a commander of an opposing army, nor will it see Prince Ernst’s troops surrender and Prince Viktor become Margrave, it is a hollow gesture at best. My guess is that Müller hopes such a theatrical display will serve to bolster confidence amongst Prince Viktor’s men. Just as his callous treatment of Luytens and Horst Visser will serve to instill fear in the local people to refrain from looting, even in the bleakest of winters and circumstances, or face being shot—Sorry, did you know?”
“Yes, sir. No need to apologize. Müller’s aide-de-camp made the announcement at supper last night after the absence of Herr Luytens and Horst Visser was remarked upon by the Reverend Shirley. Callous, if you ask me.”
“He made this announcement with the ladies present?”
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. He did,” Jeffries replied and instinctively winced when Alec swore under his breath.
“The Reverend’s granddaughter, too?”