“Yes, but it was several millions short of acceptable. Clara is a true jewel of this bash’, and Perry has little in the way of funds, though they are growing.”
Perhaps, reader, your stomach turns at calling this a bash’? Much as it turns at thinking of the ample payment the birth bash’ of Sidney Koons received for sending their infant off, first for set-set rearing, then to be Eureka’s partner governing the cars. But if you turn Nurturist on us, distant reader, Caesar will fight you through every generation of the Empire.
“That makes things simple,” the King continued. “I propose a meeting, all of us with the Outsider, here where such things are untraceable. If Perry is, as I hope, a good person like ourselves, then we can reach a compromise, wherein either Perry or myself will accept a different office, perhaps in Romanova, in return for Perry’s admission to our circle and our help securing their desired bride. If, on the other hand, Perry is the villain some of you suspect, then Epicuro will soon unmask them, and we can crush them in good conscience.” Spain smiled at Jehovah as he called Him by the name His Majesty himself contributed to the Prince’s list.
Bryar Kosala pulled her lover’s arms more firmly around her. “Your Majesty, exactly what degree of … inclusion do you imagine for Perry? Our little company here is more than political.”
The Comte Déguisé seconded with a nod.
“I imagine it as a strictly political gathering at first, and each of us will see in time whether we become comfortable sharing more.”
Danaë hugged her brother closer, as if he were her knight in dark days, or her teddy bear. “I don’t like admitting someone who would think to threaten His Majesty. What a horrid mind!”
Hotaka Andō Mitsubishi wrapped a comforting arm about his wife’s shoulders. “It’s all right, Danaë. I’ve met with Perry many times, they’re inelegant but not offensive. I support the idea of their political inclusion, and we can make very clear that it comes with no expectation of sharing other things.” He reached deep under Ganymede now, and the Duke President’s eyes lost focus for a moment as the hidden hand touched home. “Agreed, Ganymede?”
The Duke wriggled away from the distraction. “Acceptable. Shall I do the inviting, as usual?”
The Anonymous pursed his lips. “I don’t want to reveal myself until we are sure of Perry, but I’m willing to attend by speaker.”
Caesar frowned. “Jehovah, what is your impression of Casimir Perry? Should we invite them to join us?”
Jehovah awoke again from His inner solitude. “Perry fights for power more fiercely than most fight for their lives. You invited danger by leaving the man outside this long.”
Now the frown spread to Kosala. “Have you gotten to know Perry during your work at the Senate, Jed?”
“Barely, Aunt Kosala. This man performs in public, always. Here I should hope to see him without his intention mask.”
MASON breathed deeply as all digested the words. “Then we’re agreed. How soon can we do this?”
Madame shrugged, the tightness of her breath-strained bodice commanding the attention of both her gentlemen. “I’ll need a day or two to make arrangements, but since you are all agreed on it, my friends, I shall act as fast as possible.”
His Majesty nodded. “Thank you, Madame. I am sincerely grateful.”
The Anonymous was last to nod consent. “Be careful not to reveal me to Perry before we’re ready, Jehovah. Do you understand? Perry doesn’t know.”
His nervousness may seem excessive, but the Anonymous has been burned by Jehovah’s acumen before. How else do you imagine Madame added this most elusive Prince to her collection? It was before I joined the house, but I have heard the story. The Anonymous frequented the middle level in his everyday persona, socializing in tea rooms and wooing Madame’s ladies, when one day the Young Master, only six years old, addressed him across a card table: “I disagree with such-and-such you wrote in the paper, Monsieur l’Anonyme.” The startled guest tried in haste to contradict the boy, “That wasn’t me!” but children and sages both grow more stubborn when they know they’re right. Jehovah presented proof after proof, and a century and a half of perfect secrecy was no match for Him. Madame silenced the lesser card players with bribes, but Caesar, Andō, and Ganymede, who frequented the middle level too for variety’s sake, saw at once the value of being able to negotiate in person with the Seventh Power. Thus was born the guise of Déguisé. Madame was overjoyed; she had expected to have to work much longer to capture her Anonymous.
“Excellent, we have a solution,” Madame proclaimed. “Now, I’m sure you all have a thousand things to be getting on with, unless there are other concerns.”
Only Felix took the invitation. “One last thing, since we’ve strayed rather far from my original topic. I want to make sure, Director and Princesse, that we’re parting on good terms. Whatever my opinion of those things you have adopted, my affection for the pair of you is unchanged.”
Andō could not smile here, but what are wives for if not to be forgiving when husbands cannot? “Of course, Felix, of course. We could never be angry with you.”
“That said,” her husband added, “I do not intend to block my ba’kids from careers in high office just because of your … opinion, Felix. I know what they are doing, it is no harm to you. If their presence inside one office or another”—he nodded to Kosala and the Anonymous—“gives me some small insight into your Hives, it is far less than you yourselves already willingly extend. If nothing else, I hope that, as the children mature, they can become liaisons between us, and help advise me about your own Hives’ interests.”
Bryar Kosala smiled her approval. “That makes sense.”
Faust did not. “Will you at least get them to stop applying to my Institute? I don’t know how many times I can restrain myself from shouting ‘set-set’ in public.”
A pause for thought. “Yes, Felix. I shall inform Jun that they are unwelcome at Brill’s Institute.”
“Oh, they’re welcome enough as a test subject.” Felix rubbed his hands. “For progress and humanity and all that.”
A grim frown. “I will think about it.”
“Good,” Madame proclaimed, “we are all friends again. And now”—a kiss on the cheek for MASON—“I shall contact you all”—a kiss on the cheek for Spain—“when I have made arrangements with the Outsider. Meanwhile, dear friends, please, for your own health, do take some minutes to enjoy yourselves.”
Joy followed. The Anonymous attacked laughing Bryar’s bodice, which their earlier haste had left intact. It was Spain’s turn with Madame, and His shy Majesty prefers a private room, so they departed, while MASON stretched back to watch modest Danaë help her brother get into position for her husband’s sport. Faust, meanwhile, invited Jehovah to join him at the crack of the window curtains, the Brillist itching to take notes on His observations of the lives below. Jehovah, Aristotle still in hand, complied.
I knew my office, and offered Caesar wine. His glance at me seemed tired, though it may just have been the richness of the room. He did not have the stomach to use Latin, not today, not with someone with so little right to it as I have. “I hear you were almost killed in the street today, Mycroft.”
“Yes, Caesar. The Utopians saved me.”
“You were seen, in uniform. Word is already spreading. This may end your days walking the streets.”
I swallowed down my sob. “I know, Caesar.”
“The attackers were friends of Apollo’s. Thirteen years they’d been planning how to get at you. I’ll see to it they’re acquitted.”