AnderonHouseTeaAndHellipA brisk double knock on the door of Giulian's sitting room heralded the arrival of Peterson, his manservant, escorting another Anderon servant with a tea cart. "Ah, here's your tea, Xavier," said Giulian. He noted that a coffee service was also loaded on the cart. "And a message has arrived for Lord Decuma," said Peterson. He produced a sealed envelope and presented it to Decuma. Harry raised his eyebrows in curiosity, and perhaps a slightly jealous look crossed his face as the envelope was given to his half brother. Renata, who knew her brother fairly well, saw the look, but felt it was natural and also noted that Harry was keeping the feeling to himself, which reflected well on him. Decuma's eyes widened just for a second before he recovered. "Thank you, Peterson." He glanced down at the thick envelope of the sealed letter. "Could you tell me who brought it?" "A servant in Lagoran livery, from Blackheath, sir," Peterson replied. Decuma opened the outer layer swiftly, thinking it might mean trouble at home, and noted that the outer envelope encased a worn and crumpled letter addressed to him in a familiar hand, and as he read the original address was surprised enough to blurt out to Giulian, "It's from your father!" Giulian straightened in his chair. "Father? Where does he write from?" "Lagoran livery?" Renata asked quietly, wondering why a Lagoran servant would carry messages from Lord Anderon. Harry looked from Giulian and then looked at Decuma expectantly. Decuma's brow creased slightly as he read the return location, "Carlysle House." Decuma looked around the room at each person, and stopped at Giulian. He felt a chill of fear as he wondered momentarily if the Regent had been captured by the Carlysles. However, reasoning that had they captured him they wouldn't then be giving him free access to write a letter, he shook off the fear, and peeled away the plain wax that held his letter closed. "You said earlier he was with the Haldane," Giulian reminded him. "Yes, and when I left them, I said I was heading to Blackheath to check on the wellbeing of my mo..." He stopped himself from saying 'mother' and glanced at Harry and then Renata, apologetically for treading so carelessly on their pain. He then turned to Giulian, "The servants at Blackheath knew I was coming here to find you, Jules... I'm sure your father probably thinks you are safely with Aunt Bea and your siblings." "Probably. And if he had to guess at Harry's whereabouts, he'd probably have sent either to the hospital or the Grand Hotel," Giulian hazarded. "Come to that, the hotel is where I directed my letter to him. I expect Lord Tremontaine will send it on." Decuma glanced through the letter quickly, skimming for the salient news, muttering, "Well, that is a relief," and then, "And this is bothersome..." before raising his eyes to look around the room once again. "He writes that Lord Carlysle was apparently not involved in the insurgency, and the Regent and the Haldane are with Grayson now." Giulian nodded. That jibed with what Xander Windhaven had said. "Apparently Colonel Maltravers-Sym, and Colonel Jim Carlysle-Black who were involved wished to use Grayson as a figurehead. Colonel Maltravers-Sym is now in custody, and Colonel Jim Carlysle-Black, who is the Black Raven, has not been apprehended and his whereabouts are unknown." "Maltravers-Sym is a name I've heard before, but not this 'Black Raven,'" commented Giulian. "Perhaps I'll try that one on our prisoners and see what the reaction is." "I've not heard of either," Harry said. "Who is this Colonel you have heard of before?" Harry asked Giulian. "The guard took some prisoners last night," answered Giulian, "would-be assassins. I had a little talk with them before Decuma got here. They told me they were given their orders by Colonel Maltravers-Sym -- who claimed to be speaking for Lord Carlysle, but apparently that was ... wishful thinking, shall we say?" Harry nodded. He looked at Decuma briefly, a frown crossing his face before Harry schooled his reaction to cool it and return regarding Giulian instead. Knowing he truly had no say in all this, Xavier kept his mouth shut and just listened, something he did very well in his family. "Might be a good idea to 'mention' these names to... Sanford." Decuma's slight hesitation before saying his old fencing instructor's name was punctuated by a darkening of his countenance and a hardening of his eyes. Harry glanced at Decuma quizzically. "That's right, we still have to question him," said Giulian. A look of illumination then crossed his face as Giulian repeated his half-brother's words. "I see," Harry said, keeping his voice as free of doubt as he could. "What are you three talking about?" Renata asked. "And if you tell me not to worry, or remind me that I'm 'just a girl,' I will throw something at someone, I swear it..." Harry turned his gaze toward Renata. He hesitated to answer. "Sanford is the one of your kidnappers that we took prisoner," said Giulian. "We're hoping he may tell us something about the conspiracy he was part of. Come to that, Renata, did you overhear anything about their ultimate goals while you were in their hands? Did they say anything about Carlysle-Black, or the 'Black Raven'?" "Or anything else that might be of use?" Harry added, prompting, and continuing to regard his sister. |
