Trudi pulled out her compact and examined her makeup while she said, “Where is he?”
Jack told her and she adjusted the mirror so she could see the man. One thing Jack really liked about Her Serene Highness was how quick on the uptake she was.
“Yes. I think I’ve seen him around too. Three days ago when I was at the beauty shop, he was across the street. I remember the patch on his jacket.”
“Well, Felix knows about him now. We should get a report.”
“Good enough. What were we talking about before you went all paranoid?”
“Susan Logsden and Moses Abrabanel.”
“He finally introduced her to his baby daughter and his family, you know.”
“No, I didn’t. How did it go?”
“Quite well. You know that each of us gets to set the rules for how our families handle differences in rank. Not completely. Susan can’t make Moses an imperial prince by marrying him, but any kids they have will be imperial princesses or princes, and if she adopts his little girl, she will become one, too.
“Apparently, when Moses’ mother found that out, she suddenly decided that, gentile or not, it was time for Moses to get married again. The thing is, Susan isn’t used to being on that side of the social equation. She was looked down on in Grantville, even after she got rich, because of her mother.” Trudi giggled. “Having people thinking of her as Her Serene Highness is freaking her out a bit, but I think she likes it. But you know that wasn’t what we were talking about. We were talking about the fact that I will be moving after the wedding. The only question is where will I go.”
“It’s fine, Trudi. I will follow you.” Jack reached over and touched her cheek. “I’ll follow you wherever you go. I doubt you will be setting up your branch of the Imperial Bank of Austria-Hungary in a village that doesn’t have a law school. And with the change in my family fortunes, I will be able to finish my schooling. Besides, I have been involved in the writing of a constitution, so I can probably get a place on the faculty of a law school at this point.”
Trudi covered his hand with her own, pressing his palm against her cheek. “You really will?”
Jack nodded his agreement. “I can be replaced here.”
“That’s right. You said you have a law professor who can take over for you. Why is that?”
“Partly, it’s a good job. But also because, in this principality, there is freedom of faith in the constitution. Doctor of Jurisprudence Aigner is a Catholic only because you have to be Catholic to hold that position in the University of Vienna. I expect that Lutheran and Calvinist groups will be applying to Princess Hayley for permission to set up churches.”
The waitress brought them hot chocolate and strudels, curtsying after she placed it on the table.
“Good,” Trudi said, once the waitress was gone. “The churches, I mean.”
“I’m not so sure. There are a lot of people who are upset about the freedom of faith in the principality constitution. They are going to be even less happy.”
“As it happens, I’m Catholic. But I became one after the Ring of Fire, because of Father Mazzare. My father is Lutheran, and my brothers fought for Gustav. I would be the last person to try to force anyone to change their faith.”
“I don’t object,” Jack said, which was almost true. “I’m the one who put the clause in the constitution, after all. I’m just worried about the political fallout. Hayley and her family were pushing things pretty hard even before the rest of the Barbies got here. And since then-” Jack shook his head at a loss for words. “There’s going to be a reaction. Just like there has been in the USE.”
Trudi shivered and Jack wanted to scoot around the table and hold her protectively, but they were in public and it was still early in their relationship.
Guard Station, Race Track City
“I know him, at least by reputation. He’s one of Adorjan Farkas’ men.”
“What would one of Farkas’ men be doing at the water park?” Captain Erwin von Friesen, the newly made chief constable of the Race Track City principality, scratched his graying hair. “That’s not the sort of entertainment that Farkas’ men usually prefer. Put out a list of all his troop. I want them watched for.”
“Herr Pfeifer asked me to tell him what we learned.” Felix said.
“I’ll have a talk with Jack,” Captain von Friesen said.
Jack Pfeifer’s Office, Race Track City
“Welcome, Captain. Or should I call you Constable?”
“Just don’t call me late for dinner,” Erwin said, and Jack felt himself smile.
“So what brings you here? You need a warrant?”
“I might. I’m still not sure how that part is supposed to work,” Erwin said.
“And even less sure you approve of it, I would imagine,” Jack agreed. “The best I can tell, those laws are designed to make it difficult for the police to do their jobs. But Her Highness insisted.”
“The reason I came by is one of my men recognized the description Felix gave of the man you saw watching Princess Trudi.”
“Who is he?”
“I don’t have his name yet, but he works for a man named Adorjan Farkas. Farkas runs a smallish mercenary company and they take odd jobs between campaigns. His bunch and others like them are why a lot of people find it hard to distinguish between soldiers and criminals. I will say that Farkas has his own sort of honor. He does what he’s paid to do. But if you have the money, he will do just about anything.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Jack said. “What do you think we should do?”
“Not that much we can do with the constitution. A year ago I probably would have dragged the man with the cloak in and beaten him till he told me what he was doing. Now?” He shrugged, indicating that he wasn’t sure.
Jack felt real regret, but he shook his head. “I’ve talked to the Fortneys and the Sanderlins enough to know that Princess Hayley wouldn’t stand for anything like that. Look, get me descriptions of the rest of-what was his name, Farkas?”
Erwin nodded.
“Farkas and his men. I’ll give them to Moses, Amadeus, Marton, and Prince Karl. Perhaps one of them will have a suggestion. And I’ll tell Hertel about them, too. He has a good eye for detail and might have some ideas. Meanwhile, just keep your eyes open for them.”
Marton von Debrecen’s Townhouse, Vienna
Over the next few days, several of Adorjan Farkas’ men were spotted in places where they could observe the Barbies or Sarah. Those sightings led the gentlemen to have chats with the Barbies on the subject of direct action and law.
“No, Marton,” Her Serene Highness Vicky Emerson von Up-time said seriously. “Bill talked about this a lot. Not all the down-time cops liked the up-time laws protecting citizens’ rights, but a lot of them did. Mostly the ones like Bill, who had seen the results of their lack. I don’t care how noble you are, if there aren’t any laws like that on the books, it ends up bad. Mostly, people like you and me are protected by our wealth. And now rank, I guess,” she added with a grimace. “But everyday people? Before you know it, every shop owner is being shaken down.”
Marton listened politely, but he wasn’t convinced. “But I am not a police officer. I have no judicial position at all. If I were to hire some people to go have a chat with this Adorjan Farkas, how would that be a violation of his rights? Twice in the past four days, I have seen members of his troop watching you. I respect your beliefs, but I will not stand idly by while what happened to Polyxena happens to you. I can’t!”
Vicky looked at him and he could see her weighing her words. “Just go ahead and say it,” he told her.
“What happened to Polyxena was perfectly legal and an excellent example of why those protections were instituted in later centuries. Maximilian had a suspicion and he was the duke, so he wasn’t required to prove it-at least not with the rigor that should have been required of him. If Bavaria had had a constitution like Race Track City’s, Polyxena would never have been executed. She would have had a lawyer and there would have been a court and rules of evidence. What you’re proposing is just the strong brutalizing the weak. Your strength, in this case, is hired-but that doesn’t change what it is.”