“How did the FLF get so close to our borders?” Piero Ardizzone asked, reaching for the stack of paper that Arinna kept pointedly out of reach.
“You mean so far into the wasteland,” Gilles Lieven said. “From what I’ve heard, it isn’t like they were even a day’s march from Europe.”
“I’d love to know what you’ve heard and from whom?” Arinna asked with a bright smile. Lieven paled. Her move to Rhiol suddenly made far more sense than aiding the illusion of peace that MOTHER tried to project. It was likely saving her sanity.
“Oh, just tell her,” Eldridge snapped at the closed mouth Lieven. “She’ll find out, probably more than you want her to if she needs to have you watched.”
“My son is seeing a soldier. She mentioned a fight being fairly deep in the wasteland,” Lieven spit out. Arinna made a mental note to have him watched. Eldridge did not usually allude to secrets so openly.
“Lovely. Thank you. I hope your son understands the relationship is about to become long distance. To answer your question, we didn’t see the FLF because it was a trap. A well thought out and very invested trap.”
The men and women in MOTHER had been through the thick of the war, leading the fight against the FLF even if the leadership had been poor at best and disastrous on most occasions. She didn’t spare them the tactics and nuances used by the FLF to screen their movements so that the Grey Guard’s surveillance only picked up what the FLF wanted them to see and when they wanted it seen.
“It was only when we went back over the satellite footage that we saw how long they had been laying the groundwork for this,” Arinna told them.
“Considering the preparations, our victory is impressive,” Ilse Boje said. She was the youngest member of MOTHER, about a decade older than Arinna, and usually the quietest when Arinna was present. That would have made her suspect enough, but Jared had told Arinna of the deep distaste he’d heard Boje voice. Now Arinna respected that at least Boje wore her dislike openly, at least more so than the others.
“Actually, it was very fortunate. Captain Vries was pinned down and thought himself overwhelmed. It took two sets of reinforcements and quite a few lives to manage a rescue and break the FLF line,” Arinna said. Silence blanketed the table.
“You’re saying it was a near loss,” le Marc said.
“Yes.”
“This is a level of planning we haven’t seen from the FLF in a long time,” Eldridge added.
“I know.”
Chairs shifted.
“To capture what?” Casilla asked. “A plan this involved must have been for something significant.”
“We are questioning the soldiers taken captive, but so far they haven’t been forthcoming. It could be soldiers, the Guard, resources,” Arinna replied with a shrug, not wanting to let on how much not knowing the answer bothered her.
“You?” Eldridge proposed.
“That would be very ironic considering the other matter that brings me here,” she replied. “Would you like to share the details, Miralda?”
Gerschtein hesitated before sitting up to the table and clasping her hands in front of her. “It seems a document outlining how we fund the Guard’s continued involvement against the FLF was accidentally left somewhere visible. A staffer saw it.”
Glances shifted around the table.
“Indeed. I’m very happy to know it was an accident. Do you know how far that information went ... and the rumor that was associated with it?” Arinna asked.
“I can guess,”Eldridge said, pinching the bridge of his nose as he squeezed his eyes closed. The gesture spawned uneasy déjà vu. She’d seen the same one made by his son. “What was said to reassure whoever supplied you or the Guard with this information?”
“That I had been working with Secretary Gerschtein to recreate the cost of the war. The codes related to battles and when equipment was lost, not programs where funding was being funneled from.”
“It’s a logical answer,” le Marc said. “We’ll make certain it is supported.”
“That is reassuring,” Arinna said dryly. “I had begun to believe that you were under the impression you didn’t need me anymore. Rumors of diverting money to buy more weapons for a ‘bored’ military are not exactly a distraction I have time for, considering the FLF is getting more active.”
“Yes, I’d hate for citizens to think you wanted to stage another coup,” Boje replied. “Though it would be beneficial if you remembered you did need us as well.”
“I don’t,” Arinna replied.
Ardizzone coughed. “We fund the Guard!”
“For a war that you keep secret. It would be easy enough to get legitimate funding if parliament knew the war was simply over the horizon and not ended.”
The silence this time was stony. “You are blackmailing us,” Casilla hissed.
“If you wish to see it that way. The only thing I have to lose is Europe. I protect you as well as the continent. Stop playing games with me and keep them among yourselves.”
Arinna left them to their plotting, knowing she should set up a meeting with Eldridge to better determine if he were using his son for information. His reaction to Gerschtein’s incompetence or manipulation hadn’t given her an indication either way. Derrick knew Byran had come to Kesmere to tell her. She was sure of it. That his father would immediately ask what her response had been was almost too artful. But Eldridge was clever.
Which was why his comment that the FLF had hoped to trap her had Arinna heading briskly back to Command.
Chapter 10
TATIANA GREKOV
RUMORS
“Thank you so much for inviting me, Corianne. My older sister married nearly a year ago, and the house is empty without her or my brother,” Eloise Waldrope said.
Corianne glowed. “We must spend as much time together as possible before you go south again. When will that be?”
“A month or more. Daddy likes the lakes. He says they are one of the few places that haven’t changed much since the war.”
“Where does your sister live now, Ms. Waldrope?” Tatiana asked, trying her best to mimic Corianne’s manner as she sipped tea and nibbled cake like a duchess.
“I told you to call me Eloise, silly! It is so lovely being with women my age.” Eloise grinned in a manner Tatiana was certain Corianne would declare as ungentile later. “She married a nice beau with a farm in Suffolk.”
Tatiana coughed on her cake. Corianne glared at her, which nearly started a fit of laughter.
“A landed gentleman then,” Corianne said, dreamily.
“No. Well, he’s a ‘sir’ from service in the war, of course. Eva said she didn’t care about any of that and father liked him. It is a very prosperous farm, I guess. They sell produce all the way to the continent!”
“Excuse me a moment,” Tatiana rasped, rising to her feet. She stumbled from the room and down the hall, pressing her hand to her mouth the entire way to muffle her laughter. Nearly to the rear door, she stood with her back against the wall and trembled in silent mirth.
“Maybe I would like to be invited to tea if it is that amusing,” Pyotr said as he paused in front of Tatiana.
Tatiana shook her head, wiping away tears. “You’d like Eloise too. She just insulted every dream Corianne ever had and didn’t even realize it.”
“Is she cute?”
Tatiana choked on another giggle. “In a very proper way, I suppose. But her brother-in-law was a soldier, and Eloise sounded a little smitten with that. She might be difficult to impress, especially when you look like a stable boy.”
“Haha. It isn’t my fault the war was over before I was old enough to join the Grey Guard.”
Tatiana stared at her brother. “You would have fought?” she asked, the merriment gone.
“Of course! You think I wouldn’t?” Pyotr asked her. “The FLF took away our home, Tatiana. I would have fought, and maybe found a chance to see what happened back in Russia, see if there is anyone left out there.” He glanced
at her face before heading toward the kitchen. Only then did Tatiana see the basket of vegetables in his hand. “You know, the Guard doesn’t discriminate. If the war were still going, you could have enlisted too. Still could in the Defensive Guard if Aunt Linda didn’t need us.”
Tatiana’s throat hurt for reasons other than mis-swallowed cake. But she wasn’t sure if it were from fear of losing her brother or because Pyotr had just upended all the ideas of Corianne’s that she’d believed. Such a simple answer to find what had become of her family. But the war was over, the Defensive Guard never left Europe, and the wasteland beyond Europe’s borders felt as far away as the stars and she was just as prepared to face what was there as she was of reaching the heavens. Tatiana sighed and went to get the glass of water she’d planned to use as an excuse for her uncivilized exit.
When she returned to the room, Eloise was describing life on the continent to a rapt Corianne. Tatiana smiled thinly as she listened with only half her attention. The stories of senators working to rebuild society sounded falsely heroic after her brother’s comment on fighting with the Guard.
“Why aren’t there any soldiers in parliament?” Tatiana asked without realizing she’d spoken. She blushed at the glare Corianne cast her for interrupting a detailed description of the balls that occurred over the winter. “You said your brother-in-law had been a soldier and was prosperous. Doesn’t he ... or your sister, have an interest in politics?” Tatiana floundered.
“Well, yes,” Eloise said, hesitating. “But until there is a vote again, they can’t be selected, can they? All the seats are hereditary, and the soldiers were fighting during the war, so, of course, they aren’t a part of parliament now.”
“The Earl of Kesmere was a soldier. He stopped fighting when he was selected for a vacant seat,” Corianne chimed in, smug again to have regained control of the conversation. “You must come with me the next time he asks me for dinner.”
“You said the Lady Grey had been there the last time you were there? That is an interesting alliance after all their years of avoiding each other,” Eloise said, tone dropping as she leaned toward Corianne and Tatiana.
“Oh, I don’t think it is anything like that,” Corianne said quickly. “They own neighboring estates.”
“True. I know you like the earl, Corianne. But you should be careful. You wouldn’t believe the rumor I overheard father discussing. They say the Lady Grey is moving to take over parliament in a coup! You know she is from the old USA and was part of the military takeover of that government?”
Corianne gasped in exaggerated shock. “Oh, but I’m sure Derrick, I mean the Earl of Kesmere, has nothing to do with that,” Corianne said with a modest blush.
Tatiana felt like they were children discussing grown up matters that they didn’t understand. Couldn’t ever understand really, not as removed as they were from everything. Her eyes stung with frustration and no one to direct it against.
“If she were there to see anyone, it was Baron Vasquez not the earl,” Tatiana said. Corianne and Eloise stared at her.
“Really?” Eloise asked. She leaned in closer; teacup balanced on her knee.
“You remember, don’t you Corianne? All through dinner they kept glancing at each other. I don’t think the baron took his eyes from her most of the night.”
“He looked at me once or twice in a most unwelcome way,” Corianne said, sitting up. She paused. “But you are correct. They did seem to know each other. How did the earl introduce them? As if they’d known each other quite awhile?”
“I think it was, ‘the Baron Vasquez, whom you know,’“ Tatiana replied.
“Oh my,” Eloise said, sitting back in her chair. A bright blush stained her cheeks. “You know his reputation. Well, that is a ... friendship I don’t even think my father knows!”
“I wonder if the baron’s wife knows?” Corianne asked with a giggle.
“That isn’t polite,” Tatiana snapped. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Baron Vasquez is very active in parliament. Maybe they know each other for other reasons?” Eloise said, her pale face and wide eyes indicating ideas too frightening to speak of.
Tatiana wished she hadn’t said anything. “She seemed nice, the Lady Grey.”
“Of course,” Corianne soothed. Eloise smirked. Tatiana began to think that being invited to her cousin’s social attempts was worse than being asked to deliver messages.
“Ms. Waldrope, I was asked to let you know the carriage is ready to take you home,” Pyotr said.
Tatiana had to glance at him twice to believe the young man standing at the door was her brother. His sandy blond hair was smoothed into place, standing out against hazel green eyes. She didn’t know where he’d found the gentleman’s clothes he had on. Even his hands, which had been covered in garden soil but fifteen minutes earlier, were pink they were so clean. Pyotr caught her stare and winked.
“I could walk you down if you like. Do you have anything that needs to be carried?” Pyotr asked, offering his hand.
“Why, thank you,” Eloise purred. “Corianne, I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“He is my cousin, Pyotr Grekov. Tatiana’s brother,” Corianne huffed, not properly finishing the introduction.
“Really?” Eloise turned large eyes on Tatiana before giving her attention to Pyotr. Eloise laughed lightly as she conversed with Pyotr as he escorted her from the sitting room, down the stairs, and into the front hall. Corianne trudged down the steps next to Tatiana. Which at least gave Tatiana a reason to smile again.
Eloise didn’t return her attention to Corianne until Pyotr had helped her into her father’s carriage and closed the door. “Thank you so much for the invitation, Corianne. I will see you at the ball, and we will have to get together soon too!” Eloise’s gaze slipped to Pyotr as she mentioned the ball. It was too much. Tatiana hiccupped.
Corianne waited until the carriage was beyond the bend of the drive before rounding on Pyotr. “How dare you interrupt! You are not to be visible to my guests. You are a servant in this house and nothing more. I shall speak to my mother about this.”
“I am your cousin, not a slave, and Aunt Linda asked me to inform your guest that her carriage had arrived.”
Pyotr’s calm answer inflamed Corianne further. Fist clenched, she stormed past him into the house. “Take off those clothes. They aren’t yours!” Corianne hissed before slamming the door.
“Where did you get the clothes?” Tatiana asked after listening to Corianne pound up the staircase.
“They were Uncle Robert’s. Aunt Linda gave them to me about a month ago. She thought they’d fit and that I should have something suitable for town ... and other things.”
“Like impressing young ladies? Poor Corianne. She probably had a shock seeing you in them.”
“Poor Corianne? I don’t know how you can always defend her.” Pyotr snorted, turning toward the stable.
“Where are you going?” Tatiana asked, trotting to join him after a quick glance at the now very quiet house.
“I told you; they are town clothes. I’m going to town.”
“But ... what? Why?” Tatiana asked. “You’ve not gone to town on your own before.”
“Yes, I have. You’ve just been too busy with ‘her highness’ to notice.”
“Pyotr, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to ignore you or have fewer chores or sit around while you work. Please don’t be mad at me.”
He stopped, turning to face her. “I’m not mad at you. Why would you think that?” To Tatiana’s surprise, he hugged her. “I love you, Tatiana. Seriously for being older you can be such a little girl.” He gave her a gentle push.
Tatiana dried her eyes before chasing after him again, feeling very much like a younger sister than an older one. “So what are you going to do in town in fancy clothes?”
Pyotr eyed her as he took down a bridle, sweeping his gaze along the length of her afternoon dress. “Come along and I’ll show you. You can ride behind me.”
“But ... Corianne, she is—”
“Probably sulking and will be having a fit the rest of the night. Aunt Linda isn’t feeling well and went to lie down. The servants will give Corianne some dinner if she isn’t too distraught to eat. You really want to stay cooped up in the house all evening with her?”
“No,” Tatiana said and grinned.
Pyotr was right. It felt like years had passed since the last time they had talked. For the first time in ages, Tatiana spoke Russian again. Memories of her home country flooded back on the cool spring air where the scent of wood smoke, fields, and forest was not so different to what she had known. They had been a family from the countryside even then.
Tatiana wasn’t familiar with the section of Stainton where Pyotr directed Aunt Linda’s horse. Not that it didn’t look safe enough. There just weren’t any dress shops or bakers to be seen, anything that would have held Corianne’s interest. Instead, they passed a blacksmith, a tanner, and a dry goods store. Tatiana caught her breath at the sight of a book and paper store. Pyotr laughed.
“Guess we are stopping here,” he teased. “I wouldn’t think you had time to read with all the errands you run for Corianne.”
“Idiot,” Tatiana said, swiping the back of his head as she slid down from the horse. It was a small store, holding mostly books from before the war though a few new ones smelling of ink garnished a front table. As she fingered a newspaper, she realized he was right and not just about the reading. Corianne kept her busy and her head full of dreams. She’d wondered earlier what really happened in parliament. Information existed if she bothered to learn.
Pyotr glanced at the paper in her hand with surprise when she came outside. “I thought you were going to get a book.”
“Why? So I can fill my head with more fancies? If you buy me dinner, I may let you have it when I’m done.”
“Depends on how fancy of a meal you’re expecting.”
After the War: Military Dystopian Thriller (Friends of my Enemy Book 2) Page 7
