“Yes. Very,” Alec interrupted. “I do not think it serves our purpose now for me to relive that most unpleasant episode, Herr General. Your Highness.”
Both men agreed and said no more about it. The General adding,
“But what you propose once we enter the castle and are brought before Ernst—of coaxing Joanna out of the shadows—that will not only be unpleasant for you, but dangerous, Herr Baron.”
“Equally so for you, Herr General. And for His Highness,” Alec replied quietly. “And we agreed, it is the only way to open Captain Westover’s eyes to the truth. So we will carry out the plan as intended, and succeed. We all have too much to live for.”
The Prince clapped Alec’s shoulder and squeezed it affectionately. “That is very true, my friend! And so, on that note, let us finish our toilettes and make our way to the chapel! I for one am looking forward to an afternoon and night of festivities and frivolity!”
“There are two matters that remain unresolved, Highness,” Alec apologized. “Firstly, and most importantly, is rescuing my good friend Sir Cosmo Mahon, his servant, and a Mrs. Carlisle, Miss St. Neots’ companion. They have now been held against their will for almost three months. God knows what state they are in, if indeed they are—” Alec swallowed hard and cleared his throat before continuing. “—if indeed they are still alive…”
“We have not had any reports to the contrary, Herr Baron,” General Müller told him gently. “And we have agents within the walls of Herzfeld Palace who have smuggled out many reports since the death of the Margrave, and I can assure you none have mentioned the death of any Englishman, or any foreign captive.”
Alec nodded. “Thank you, Herr General. That is reassuring. I trust then that you, Highness, will have your men locate and rescue him and those others mentioned, and keep them safe while the castle is made secure by your men?”
“Yes, Herr Baron. Of course. Fraulein St. Neots has so often spoken to me of her cousin Sir Cosmo Mahon, that I feel I know him already. You can be assured I will make it a priority to discover his whereabouts.” The Prince glanced at his general and added, “What Müller did not add, but I think you should be made aware, is that your dear friend, while he is still alive, he has not been treated—well. You must prepare yourself that he may not be—
himself
.”
Alec was startled. “He’s been tortured?”
The Prince closed his mouth and nodded.
Alec wiped a hand across his mouth and breathed in deeply. “Thank you for telling me.”
“The second matter…?” the Prince prompted.
“I am aware a flotilla has set sail from Emden and is due in Herzfeld harbor any day,” Alec stated. “My godmother—Fraulein St. Neot’s grandmother, and my uncle are aboard
The Caroline
. So, too, is the English special envoy to Midanich, Sir Gilbert Parsons. I want a boat sent to intercept the ship and my family removed, along with any other civilians, and taken out of harm’s way. Your Highness, this is not negotiable. They are to be removed or I do not go to the castle tomorrow, but to the docks, to row myself if necessary, to save them.”
General Müller and the Prince exchanged a look. It was the General who spoke.
“I regret that members of your family have been caught up in this war, Herr Baron. But I do not regret requisitioning
The Caroline
for our purposes. As you know, I have removed the pigeon post, and thus communication with Emden is cut off, and so Prince Ernst will be unaware that town has been overrun and taken by rebel forces. More importantly, he will have no knowledge that a flotilla is headed this way, with cannon and men should they be required. And so the cannon facing out to sea at Herzfeld will not have been primed in readiness, and the grenadiers ready for such an eventuality—”
“You do not know that. For all we do know, the flotilla has already been spotted off the coast and the cannon made ready.”
“But even if ships are spotted,” the General replied patiently. “They will be flying the English ensign and so not seen as hostile. Herzfeld Castle will not know that these so-called English ships carry cannon and soldiers from Emden.”
“If all goes according to our plans, Herr Baron, there will be no need for the ships—
The Caroline
specifically—to engage with the castle. The castle will be ours, and there will be peace declared, there and at the docks, where I have soldiers in readiness. One of the ships with cannon aboard has been told to fire a number of warning shots near the castle, but only once the majority of the flotilla has sailed into the harbor.
The Caroline
will simply anchor in the harbor, its cargo, men and equipment disembarked all in good time, and safely.”
Alec was not to be placated. “I concede that what you say will in all probability happen. But as it cannot be guaranteed, I want your word that a boat will be sent out to
The Caroline
, and the civilians removed and brought safely to shore, and kept safe, until such time as we are reunited.”
When the Prince and the General did not immediately jump into the silence to agree to Alec’s demand, assistance came from an unexpected quarter.
“Lord Halsey! Herr Baron! I volunteer. Allow me to collect Her Grace and Mr. Halsey and such persons who need to be disembarked from
The Caroline
.”
It was Hadrian Jeffries. He stepped forward when all three nobleman at the map table turned to stare at him. Alec was the only one not to be startled into speechlessness to hear a servant speak—and a foreign one at that—without first being addressed, and who spoke acceptable German.
“You would do that, Jeffries?”
The valet nodded, nervousness creeping into his voice to now be stared at as if there were visible food stains down the front of his waistcoat. And none stared harder than the Prince’s own valet, who was a gentleman in his own right.
“Yes, my lord. Someone should go who is known to Her Grace and Mr. Halsey,” Hadrian Jeffries explained, reverting to English. “To my mind, they will be apprehensive enough having been kidnapped and taken against their will out to sea, and not, as they had expected, to be set down in Holland and safety.” He did not allow his gaze to wander to General Müller, the architect of the Duchess’s and the old man’s distress. “They are unlikely to want to disembark into a boat if requested to do so by persons equally foreign to them. But if I was to be in that boat, and able to deliver a short missive from your lordship, then I believe they would gladly come with me, and to any destination of your choosing.”
“Thank you, Hadrian,” Alec said with a smile. “You have relieved me of a great anxiety. If I can get the Prince to agree, I would be most grateful to you—”
“That is an idea most excellent!” the Prince announced, also in English. When Alec and his valet now stared at him, stunned, he laughed. “My English it is not good, but I understand better than I speak.” He leaned into Alec and winked. “But please you not to tell Miss St. Neots. We enjoying to converse in French. So! It will be arranged,” he continued in his native tongue, including Hadrian Jeffries in his conversation. “Your valet will travel with us tomorrow. I will send a small party of soldiers with him to the dock, and they will take a boat out to
The Caroline
, collect all who are required to be collected, and return with them here, to safety. Agreed?”
Alec bowed to the Prince. “Agreed… And thank you.”
The Prince clapped his hands then rubbed them together. “Good! And now we must hurry and dress, or your bride she will be at the altar before you, and that would never do. We do not want her and the congregation thinking you are a reluctant groom, now, do we, Herr Baron?”
Alec could think of nothing that was further from the truth.
A
LEC
WAS
BEING
woken from a deep sleep. He didn’t want to wake up. He was exhausted. He was sure he had just set his head upon the pillow five minutes before. With his eyes still closed, he drew the coverlet up to his chin. He then put out a hand across the bed, felt warm flesh beside him and smiled. He remembered now why he was so tired. He shifted his naked body under the covers to curl himself around Selina’s naked warmth. Her curves were glorious. He snuggled in, face buried in her mussed curls, which smelled of lilies, and with a big grin splitting his face fell into a sound sleep.
He was shaken awake again.
A voice hissed in his ear that it was time.
Oh God, must he? What time was it precisely? Why had he agreed to it? Surely, on this of all mornings, the morning after his wedding night, he should be allowed the deep sleep required after lust and love are celebrated with vigorous gusto until satiated. He needed a few more hours with his wife cradled in his arms, just to savor that fact alone. His wife. Selina was his wife. He was her husband. Selina and he were now married and that fact had the power to make him pause in wonder if indeed the events of the previous afternoon and evening had actually happened.
They had been brought before the English parson—the Reverend Samuel Shirvington Shirley—and exchanged vows in front of upwards of a hundred foreign nobles dressed in their best silks, furs, and velvets. A royal Prince in a golden ensemble and a golden mustache to match stood beside him as best man, and half a dozen highly-decorated mustachioed Generals in all their medals and gold braid finery stood to attention at his back. He had then led Selina out of the chapel into the crisp air of a sunny winter’s day to the deafening sound of a musket salute, and cannon fire. They had walked the snow-covered quadrangle, back across the fairy bridge that spanned the frozen moat, lined from chapel to banqueting hall with soldiers in full regalia and standing to attention. Sophie Shirley as flower girl, with Emily on the arm of Prince Viktor following, both carrying a bouquet of silk flowers. The Countess Rosine, refusing a sedan chair and wanting to be part of the procession, leaned on her husband’s arm and followed at a sedate pace, her advanced pregnancy making her take deliberate steps in the snow. And trailing this little wedding party, the nobles of the foreign court, who had patiently sat through a service conducted first in English and then in German for their benefit, and who were now wanting an evening of wine, song, and entertainments that went with the celebration of a noble marriage.
Alec could not remember if he ate what was put before him or not. He must have. Plates came and went. Crystal glasses were filled, emptied, and refilled; he had no idea how much he drank, if anything. He was just so happy. He couldn’t remember when he had been happier. His happiness, and he was sure the exuberance with which the revels were entered into by everyone in the room, were more acute because of what was to come the following day. Most of the men present would be setting off for Herzfeld Castle before dawn, all with their particular tasks to perform, all hoping that by the setting of the sun, the castle would be in rebel hands, Margrave Ernst usurped by his brother, and Prince Viktor acknowledged by one and all as the new Margrave of Midanich.
For now, though, all anyone cared about was eating, drinking and having a good time. To that end, once the speeches were over with, Prince Viktor called for his gift from the English King to be brought out and uncrated in the middle of the room. He then asked the groom if he would do the honors of unveiling this most extraordinary present. Alec agreed and asked Emily to offer him her assistance in demonstrating the gaming table to His Highness and assembled guests. Selina had squeezed his hand in understanding, tears in her eyes at the gesture, for the last time this marvel of mechanical engineering had been demonstrated, Cosmo had been with them, and it was he who had proudly shown the mechanism to Emily. Having Emily occupied throughout the demonstration would surely divert her attention and not let her dwell on Cosmo and his situation, which was uppermost in all their minds.
The crate was duly brought to the banqueting hall by four liveried footmen, who carefully placed it upon the parquetry flooring. Those seated at the back of the room stood for a better view, while others craned their necks from behind fluttering fans, and quizzing glasses to gaze at this gift. All were intrigued. But when the crate was unlocked and a polished wooden box extracted, none were impressed. Next, out came four turned, polished wooden legs, and these were carefully screwed into place, which allowed for the box to be elevated and become a table. But again it was nothing special.
Yet, the Prince was all wide-eyed excitement, perched on the edge of his spindle-legged chair, in anticipation of what would happen next. That Emily was giggling behind her fan and hunching her shoulders, elevated the Prince’s excitement to breath-holding level.
With the turn of the first leaf, Alec and Emily had the attention of every person within the banquet hall. They had never seen the like before. This gaming table, which could be packed away in a nondescript crate and taken anywhere, was made up of many polished wooden leaves, which could be turned like the pages of a book that, when laid out flat, revealed a different playing surface with each turn. First there was a table of inlaid felt that allowed for the playing of all card games. With the next turn of a leaf, a surface inlaid with leather was revealed, for the writing of letters. Not only that, but with one finger, Emily lifted a corner of the inlaid leather to reveal an easel that when set up allowed for a book to be propped and read without needing to be held by the person sitting at the table.
While Emily turned the leaves, Alec provided a commentary, in German, then in French, and finally in English, which in itself was a marvel to those present. And with each turn of the wooden leaves, more and more of the guests moved their chairs closer, or brazenly walked up to the table to stand behind Alec and Emily to take a closer look at this mechanical marvel.
Of course the most startling revelations were left to last, as Emily turned over a leaf to create a table that had in its center a chess board and to each side of the inlaid wood, she rolled away lids to reveal two hidden drawers where the chess pieces were kept. But not only chess pieces but backgammon pieces.