“Mon Dieu,” Renault said, collapsing back in his chair. “We’ve been isolated for years ... our chance of a percentage of the population having immunity would be low.”
“She and the Captain ... the other soldiers who were in America?” Ilse asked.
“Already went through quarantine,” David answered. “That is why we have had no report for several days though they’ve been back in Prague. They were undergoing medical tests and were in isolation. Ms. Prescot put the protocol in place for anyone returning, including those in the field in Asia.”
“We were looking for governments,” Piero said, placing a shaking hand against his forehead. “We wanted trade with the world to restore what we’ve lost: oil, metals, and food goods.”
“Not expecting to find that we are actually better off than most of the world, were you, Secretary of Foreign Affairs?” Ilse asked Piero coldly. “You should have paid attention in history class a bit better. There are reasons that civilization, as we’ve come to term it, advanced so well so early in Europe.”
“Shit,” Gilles responded. “What is the next step. There could be other countries. We aren’t just going to give up because of this?”
“We cannot risk exposing ourselves to new diseases!” Miralda argued.
David chuckled, earning him a searing look from Miralda. “Ms. Prescot is analyzing the remaining satellites in orbit. There are quite a few though some need rebooting. They are working on finding the access codes and software now.”
“Why wasn’t that done before?” Piero asked.
“What? When we were fighting the FLF in our cities?” Renault asked dryly.
“The Guard has access to the satellites NATO used early in the war. There hasn’t been a need for more until this point.”
“How long,” Gilles asked, “until we’ll have access and begin to survey the world?”
“The notes indicate a month. Perhaps more, perhaps less.”
The meeting ended with that. Renault, who had looked almost well at the meeting, wilted as the others exited. He waved away David’s offer of a drink with a promise of a different day. David was pleased with that.
The pace of the carriage to his modestly sized, but well appointed, three-story brownstone felt too slow for the first time since the war when he’d simply relished the ability to move about the countryside without fear. But he would not risk calling Arinna from the parliamentary building. There were enough things afoot. He couldn’t chance being overheard. It wasn’t until the carriage stopped that David realized he could have simply gone to Guard headquarters.
He made up for the oversight by calling the Chief Communications Officer and asking for a patch through to Rhiol. He needed to speak to her that night and knew she wouldn’t ignore a call from Command.
“I’d given up on you calling tonight, Eldridge,” Arinna said when the connection clicked through. “Captain Vries said he’d delivered the report to you this afternoon.”
“I’m not calling about the report. I’m calling about Miralda Gerschtein. What is she up to?”
“Trying to have me humiliated, scandalized, and replaced, of course. Possibly arrested. We discussed some of this the last time I met with MOTHER.”
“I didn’t know she had continued in that vein,” David said, gritting his teeth.
“You expected her to stop?” Arinna asked.
David cursed that he hadn’t gone to Guard headquarters. He could have requested a video link. Arinna was too good at controlling her voice and too prepared for the conversation.
“What else has she done?” he asked wearily, knowing he wasn’t going to win this fight and feeling too tired for it anyway.
“I honestly don’t know it all. She looks to have laid some plans months ago. Those leaked files were fed to the one person who would give them to Byran, who in turn would come to warn me.”
“That rumor about you and the baron before the war, I never actually believed it,” David said, some of the pieces becoming clear.
“Why thank you. He and I are friends, but others have thought more.”
“Setting you up for an affair with a married Senator ... not the most damaging of ploys but a classic one.”
“Doubts and dishonesty added to a potential coup. And she could easily tie you into this as Byran so kindly dragged your son in as well,” she said. David lost track of time for a moment. “You didn’t see that coming?” Arinna asked, drawing David out of the dark corner he’d been staring into.
“No,” he said, swallowing hard. “I never thought of her trying to get to me through Derrick. You’ve ... seen him?” David managed to keep himself from asking if Derrick was well.
“He is my neighbor, even if we are separated by a solid hundred acres, and he is Byran’s best friend. Of course, I’ve seen him.”
“You should have told me about Miralda’s plotting,” David said quietly.
“Why when I wasn’t certain you weren’t a part of it until today?”
“Jared was testing me.”
“Of course. I was surprised when he told me you didn’t seem to be involved. But here you are, calling me to find out what is going on. And when I realized that it has been Byran, Derrick, and I seen together this spring, I realized she wants to take you down as well as I. Le Marc too if she can find a way through his daughter. We’ve all underestimated her scheming.”
“I’ll warn Renault tomorrow. He needs to keep his daughter in check. The rest of it ... the report and satellites. Is it really that bad out there?”
“Worse,” she said, this time emotion leaked through her voice.
“And what about Miralda?” he asked.
“I want to see what else she is playing at. Leave her be. Captain Vries has it under control.”
“I hope you are as certain as you sound. She has already outplayed both of us,” David warned, thinking about Derrick.
“She’s made a few mistakes.”
Chapter 20
THE EARL OF KESMERE
RETURNS
“You’ve seen her?” Byran asked.
“I don’t think now is the time to talk about that,” Derrick said, gaze falling on Isabella.
“Don’t worry, I know,” Isabella answered. “Though not in front of the children if you wouldn’t mind?” Her glance at her husband held barbs.
Byran’s children hurtled from the carriage with an energy that reminded Derrick very much of his friend. They bobbed quickly to Derrick before running across the lawn. He chuckled as he kissed Isabella’s cheek.
“How was the trip?” he asked, still uncertain of what to say for fear of walking into an argument.
“The boat was not big enough for those two,” Isabella said. “And then four days in a carriage here ... we should have put them on horseback,” she said to her husband as they walked up the staircase into Kesmere.
“And then I doubt we’d have seen them again,” Byran said.
His tone held the same heavy look weighing on his face. It stirred pity as much as a recognition that Byran deserved to feel a bit of the sting spawned by his actions.
“True. They would have wanted to go fight dragons,” Isabella answered. She stopped on the threshold, shading her eyes to see where Cerilla and Santi had run. “Stay close!” she yelled. Cerilla raised a hand.
“They’ll be fine. Even with their energy, I don’t think they’ll get off the property before they get hungry enough to come back.”
Isabella hesitated before stepping into the cool interior of Kesmere. Then she rounded on Derrick. “Your role in this disappoints me!”
“Don’t take your anger out on him. He’s been a good friend,” Byran said, walking into the front salon. He paused at the sight of the settee under the window before turning on his heel and walking to the liquor cabinet.
“A good friend to you,” Isabella snapped, shaking her head as she paced. “Only her have I worried about all these years. She was there before me, and every time something happened you checked on
her first.”
“Not since we had Cerilla!” Byran retorted. Isabella looked away, teary eyed.
“At least you seem to have known about her,” Derrick said. “I hadn’t a clue.”
“Huh, Byran said you hadn’t known. I didn’t really believe him,” she said, darting a hot look at her husband. “I knew when the war ended you’d find her again. I’m surprised it took you this many years.” Isabella turned away from both of them, placing her arms across her chest.
Derrick had to push down the urge to hold her. Instead, he shot his friend a desperate look. Byran stared at the floor before sighing and picking up his drink. But to Derrick’s surprise, Byran walked over and handed the glass to him.
“You’ll need it when you hear why we’re here,” Byran said to him. Derrick nearly dropped the glass.
“I want to meet her,” Isabella stated.
“No,” Byran said, running his fingers through his tangled curls.
“It isn’t the best time,” Derrick replied, holding up a hand when Isabella swiveled to face him. “Not for the reasons Byran would keep you apart.”
That earned him stares from both Byran and Isabella. “You have seen her then,” Byran said.
“Yes,” Derrick replied, suddenly very grateful for the drink Byran had handed him. “There was a problem on the mission she told us about.”
“She’s been telling you about problems on missions?” Byran asked slowly.
“No, she hasn’t told me anything. I’ve been figuring it out on my own. She tells me if I’m right.” Derrick paused, feeling caught as Byran. “It’s silly. She challenged me to test for information leaks. So I have been for the last few weeks ... month maybe.”
Byran walked to the window, looking out at his children playing before turning to face Derrick again. “Are there any?”
“Yes, obviously if I managed to find anything out.”
“I don’t care. I want to meet her. She has always been my one competitor for you. All the others I know held no lasting interest,” Isabella said though she paused. “But her you love. I know,” she finished when she found her voice again.
“I’ll speak to Arinna,” Derrick said. “We can’t just ride over to Rhiol and pound on the door.”
“You have plans to see her again then?” Byran asked.
“Yes, tomorrow ... morning. We still ride together,” Derrick said, wishing that Byran’s questions didn’t make him feel like he was betraying his best friend while Byran’s wife, who had every right to feel betrayed, stood a few feet away. “Look, you’ve had a long trip. You’re tired. Go and rest. This can wait a few days.”
When they met the next morning, Arinna stared at Derrick after his explanation of Byran’s arrival and Isabella’s request. She finally blinked and looked away before nudging her stallion along the riding path.
“You’ve spoken to your father recently?” she asked finally.
“No!” Derrick snapped, annoyed. It took him a moment to wonder at the question. “Why?” he asked in a more consolatory tone.
Arinna snorted, casting him an amused sidelong glance. “It reminds me of a conversation we had recently, ironically,” she added without the previous humor.
“I can arrange something private. We could meet at Kesmere—”
“No,” Arinna interrupted. Derrick waited through her pause. “It would be best to be in public. I think. Shit.”
“If you want my help, you are going to have to tell me the dilemma.”
“I’m trying to reason if a public scene consisting of being accused by Byran’s wife of an affair is better or worse than the three, four, of us being rumored to be in collusion to overthrow the government.”
It took a moment, but Derrick laughed.
“Well, at least someone finds this amusing,” Arinna said with a shake of her head.
“Do you ever not cause trouble?” he asked.
She chuckled, which unrolled into a grin. “Probably not, no. So which option would you take, considering your reputation may be on the line in either case?”
“I would stake my reputation on Isabella. She is a politician’s wife and half the reason Byran managed to be elected in the first place. I’d be surprised if she dragged you, all of us, into a scene at the Waldrope’s ball tomorrow night.”
“I’d forgotten about that. I honestly hadn’t anticipated attending.”
“Good. Then you don’t have a date, and hopefully will allow me to escort you. That way if things become messy, we can throw in a fistfight between Byran and myself, or you and Isabella over us. I like that one.”
“You would,” Arinna said between laughs. “Fair enough. I’d be delighted to attend with you. Though I do hope this means traveling in separate carriages?”
“It can be arranged,” Derrick promised.
After the end of their brisk ride through trails weaving between their estates, Derrick did not see Arinna again until he picked her up at Rhiol the following afternoon. She fidgeted in the carriage, restless in her seat.
“Isabella will not cause a scene,” Derrick assured her.
Arinna blushed. “I ... was not thinking about Isabella. I haven’t seen Byran since I spoke to him in the garden.” The last part came out in a quiet voice.
Derrick leaned into his seat. “I hadn’t thought of that. I’m sorry. We should have ...” He shrugged.
“There was really no other choice than this,” she said, looking out the window at the dying day. “How does he seem?”
“Sad,” Derrick admitted. Arinna nodded.
When they arrived, Arinna didn’t betray any nerves while greeting Duke Waldrope, his wife, and their daughters. Derrick was aware of how accepted the alliance of he and the Lady Grey had become over the last two months, which added weight to Byran’s gaze on them where he stood with Isabella on the far side of the ballroom.
“Now you’re nervous,” Arinna said, reading into his hesitation.
“Would you believe Byran is the jealous sort?” he asked her as he escorted her across the room.
“He’s always been a bit of a paradox. But we’d better get this over with before he has a heart attack,” she said, taking a deep breath as they approached.
There was a pause as the two couples stopped opposite each other. Derrick felt it run through the room. Whispers snagged attention toward them. Byran stared at Arinna, seeming unable to handle the moment much less civil introductions. Derrick took pity. Byran might have caused his problems, but it was not from evil intent.
“Arinna, may I introduce the Baroness Isabella Vasquez. I believe this is the first time you’ve met? Isabella, this is the Lady Grey.”
Isabella blinked a sudden shimmer to her eyes away before taking Arinna’s offered hand and leaning to swipe both of Arinna’s cheeks with a kiss. “I’ve wanted to meet you for a very long time,” Isabella said, voice wavering.
Arinna kept Isabella’s hand, needing a moment before she responded, “I can’t tell you how much I admire you.”
Isabella wiped her cheek. “Hah, I think we’ve put a few rumors to rest. Can we walk outside so that we can talk?” she asked, taking Byran’s arm.
Derrick kept a hand against Arinna’s back as they followed behind. “Are you alright?” he asked her.
“I feel like this is my first battle after military academy, and I’ve forgotten my gun,” she said.
Derrick choked on his barely contained laugh. Isabella flashed them a look. “I heard that,” she said. “I did not think I’d end up with the upper hand in this. Come, walk with me, not him. I can’t talk to you this way,” Isabella said, dropping Byran’s arm and holding out a hand to Arinna as they paused outside the door. “I’m not armed, and I won’t bite.”
“Isabella, if I may call you that? I don’t think you realize how much you control at this moment,” Arinna said taking her arm.
“Oh, like this wasn’t serious enough,” Isabella said lightly. “Yes, you may call me Isabella. I had this rehearsed in my h
ead, but I hardly know where to begin.” She was quiet a moment as they walked along an ornamental pool. “I admit to being worried when I heard Byran was here in England and seeing you, which is why I decided to come. But when he met me on the coast ... he isn’t himself. If anything, I’m mad about that right now. What did you do to him?”
Arinna faced Isabella, tears filling her eyes. “I told him to go home to you, that he belongs with you. He always has. Not with me.”
Byran looked away from the two women and across the shadowed countryside. Lanterns were being lit across the back garden as music flowed outward from the house.
Isabella glanced at her husband. “But I’m not his first choice. I never have been,” she said. Byran winced but didn’t turn around.
“Does that matter if you are his true choice? The one he stays with and comes home to time and again? I’m the one with whom it didn’t work and ran away.”
Isabella released a puff of breath before leaning forward and hugging Arinna. Arinna held her in return. Both women dried their eyes when they released each other.
“You are right. We’ll get through this,” Isabella said, walking to stand in front of her husband. He looked at her with tears in his brown eyes, but without any words. She smacked him on the arm. “I wish I didn’t love you so much some days. Come, you owe me a nice night.”
“I need a drink,” Arinna said when she took Derrick’s arm. “And then a dance.”
“It will cost you, but I’ll see what I can do,” he said. Arinna chuckled, her hand tightening on his arm. “I’m still open to giving him a good thrashing, Isabella.”
“I’ll consider it,” she said. “Depends on how much of a gentleman he is tonight.”
It took some time, and some alcohol, but Byran began to emerge from his morose shell. Where Arinna carried an edge, Isabella was sensual. And quick to forgive, Derrick realized. The tenseness dealt with, Isabella worked on charming her husband.
By the midpoint of the evening, it felt like they were two couples without the problems that had brought them together. Arinna and Isabella were hesitant in each other’s company but shared time together talking. Isabella knew most of the diplomats in the room, often surprising Arinna with insight.
After the War: Military Dystopian Thriller (Friends of my Enemy Book 2) Page 15
