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A quiet house in a quiet street in the most respectable part of the city. It is owned by a foreign merchant in good standing within the city, who is often absent. And it is here, in the famously beautiful garden, that Lucas has suggested to Opal Hardwind that they meet.
A discreet manservant is waiting to escorted the lady through the house, leaving her to find her way down the long formals paths that lead between knot gardens planted with roses, with lavender and sweet scented flowers, to the little arbour at the end where Lucas is sitting, dressed in a loose robe trimmed with fur over doublet and hose, and also the hat which Hope helped to make.
Opal Hardwind is wearing black, as befits the daughter of a recently dead peer. "Lord Lucas." She seems neither friendly not hostile. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting?" Her voice sounds crisp and round, and she gives Lucas every reason to believe that she is, as is rumoured, the brains behind the Hardwind mercantile interests.
Lucas rises. "It is very good of you to come. Might I offer you some tea? It is a concoction of herbs devised by my doctors, but remarkably pleasant, and stimulating."
Lucas does not add that it has little to do with his recovery; that it is, in fact, a mild aphrodisiac.
She takes the tea, but only sips it courteously.
When they are both seated, Lucas says, "My reasons for asking you here today are two-fold. Firstly, I wonder if you will be able to help me ... and, in return, I wonder if I may be able to help you, Madame Hardwind."
"I may, your Lordship. My father was a great friend of the crown. I would be interested in continuing this mutually beneficial relationship. The business interests of the Hardwinds have always aligned with the desires of the rulers of Amber, and I intend to continue that tradition."
"I am delighted to hear it," says Lucas, "and I am sure that the Queen will be too. The prosperity of our merchants keeps the lifeblood of Amber healthy." He sips his tea. "And, of course, their security too.
"I must confess ... the latter consideration has been troubling me a little of late."
"Has it, Lord Lucas? That pleases me, as I am also concerned about the same topic. The Regent, of course, followed his father's policies in discouraging efforts by merchants in securing their own safety, at least in Amber. Are there winds of change in the castle? Certainly major players like Hardwind, Harga'rel, and Bliss could bring in security that is currently in the Circle, if our assets there are not wholly dissipated. Not to mention any of the armigerous lords."
"That's an interesting possibility," says Lucas thoughtfully. "I must admit, I did have something a little more ... general in mind - where there would be an effort made for a commonality of security for the whole of Amber. That the merchants might be prepared to contribute to their sector could be very useful ...
"There is the idea of forming a Committee of prominent citizens concerned in such matters. I feel there should be representatives from various groups within Amber. It would be ... a private committee, I think. But those seconded would, in effect, be wielding considerable ... influence."
He sips his tea, watching her response.
"Amber has many groups, all jealous of each other's power. Her navy has two fleets, and they cooperate to see that they city runs the way that suits them. Official policy favours individuals over collectives. I've travelled, Lord Lucas. My father had me educated in the Golden Circle as well as here. He didn't speak much of his ideas and philosophies in Amber. But we were both convinced that Amber's institutions were designed to keep the merchant houses, fat, complacent, and powerless.
"Or do you intend to reach out beyond the merchant leaders of our fair city?" She sips her tea. Lucas may wonder if it hasn't made her slightly more talkative than she should be.
"That ... depends," says Lucas, pouring her some more tea, "largely upon the merchants within Amber and their ... desires.
"I must say, I am fascinated to learn of your philosophies as well as your desires. What things were preached in the Golden Circle that are not practised here? Do you believe they would advantage Amber - or just the merchant interest?"
"We shan't dwell on things like republicanism, which is hardly in either of our interests, Lord Lucas. I know your mother was quite shocked when she found that it was practiced in some of Amber's trading partners.
"Amber has a long tradition of unfriendliness to external philosophical influences, even to the point of paranoia. The Hardwinds are good citizens of Amber and do not wish to cross the Episcopapy laws."
"And this will be an excellent opportunity for good citizens to play a valuable role in the city," says Lucas. "An expanded role - although it will, perforce be one in the shadows. I am looking for men - and women - who can fulfil such a position."
He sips delicately at his tea. "Of course, it would be difficult to involve anyone who was at outs with members of the royal family. A difficult task, you might suggest. Nevertheless, one that can be accomplished with tact and delicacy on both sides, I believe.
"What do you think, Madame Hardwind?"
She sips her own tea. "I think the issue of my father's second wife can be settled as part of a larger resolution. My man of business believes that she was skimming the accounts and that my father was turning a blind eye to it. To whom was she directing money, Lord Lucas? We shall certainly have to have that property accounted for."
"Indeed," says Lucas smoothly. "But you are a skilled businesswoman, Madame Hardwind. You are capable of moving subtly, and of taking the longer term view. You have ... impressed me in the past. And I look to see you impress me again.
"You see, I have considerable faith that you will accomplish your aims while not antagonising certain members of the royal family. In fact, while not antagonising the royal family at all."
He sips his tea. "One feels that the rewards could be considerable. Not least if you were to gain an amicus curiae."
"It would be a bitter victory indeed to gain one's inheritance only to pay it out to the solicitors. I have put the disagreeable issue of my late father's wife on the table. While it is clear that we would win our suit, it would be costly, time-consuming, and not pleasing to certain factions
in court. On the other hand, the family has been a staunch friend of the royal house during the recent troubles and we managed to do so without criminal entanglements, unlike some of our peers." She pauses for a moment. "There is much we could do in closer alignment with royal interests. And perhaps we desire more than a mere friend in court."
She puts down her teacup, and clasps her hands together in front of her, watching Lucas carefully.
"Indeed," says Lucas sympathetically. "What a delightful thing that would be. And such an alleviation of the worries you must be feeling - especially as your step-mama has her own connections with the royal family. Very solid connections.
"Forgive me, but with my injuries after the ball, it may be that I have missed the salient facts in the case. Would it be too great a bore for you to take me through an outline of what has happened?
"We could, if you like, retire to somewhere a little more ... private," he suggests.
She looks around. "Are we not private enough here for the business at
hand, Lord Lucas?
"The case is quite simple. In outline form, our man of accounts, Lyre, tells us that Lord Hardwind seems to have allowed his second wife to divert family funds to unknown persons. We simply want our money and property, or an accounting of where it has gone. We are not seeking a lawsuit or a scandal, just her cooperation in recovering assets that she may no longer legally exercise any rights over. We bear her no ill will, of course."
She certainly doesn't mean that last, but it is the polite fiction.
Her tone is still even and her voice is low, but with a certain almost fanatical intensity to it.
Lucas wonders whether the fanaticism is more to do with being positive about her father, or negative about her stepmother.
"How certain are you," he enquires with as much delicacy as possible, "of your stepmother's connection with this? Are there any others who might have had access to the diverted funds at source, as it were?
"It would, after all, by a great shame if accusations were made that were later traced to a mediocre clerk with sticky fingers. Influential people might not be ... entirely forgiving."
She smiles. "You never really knew my father, did you Lord Lucas? Quite correctly, no one who knew him would believe such a thing."
"I must say," says Lucas, frowning a little, "that neither would I have believed him to be a man capable of being tricked out of his estate by a mendacious wife, either."
"Old men and young wives, my Lord, have been known to be that way.
"We have been dealt a grievous blow by the death of my father, Lord Hardwind. His knowledge of trade, his friendships with those in power, his place in society, his long years of leadership are all finished. In their place, we have the legacy he left us of training, property, and ambition. It is my goal to use these tools to repair the damage done by his killing. It should be no wonder, Lord Lucas, that my first duty is to repair the house before I set out to conquer a string of worlds." She looks at the tea cup, but does not pick it up.
"I think your loss is irreparable," says Lucas gently. "I was somewhat younger than you when I was forced to see my father dragged to the guillotine. At that time, I was powerless to prevent it. So I dissembled.
"Later, those responsible died on the guillotine themselves. My role in their downfall was, perhaps, under-reported. Nevertheless, my hand was there.
"But I need to understand one thing, Madame Hardwind. And a simple answer could well gain you much.
"Over and above this current case, the appalling grief at your father's death ... What, Madame Hardwind, is your heart's desire?"
All Lucas's persuasive skills go into the question. It is clear that what he is offering here is a momentous choice.
"Lord Lucas, that should be entirely clear. My desire is to stop being Madame Hardwind."
Lucas nods slowly. Perhaps to a man who, despite his Amberite heritage, still uses his St.Cyr signet when sealing his letters, this desire does not sound unreasonable. When you have been raised as the future Marquis de Saint Cyr, under the ancien regime and - dammit - French - you have a pride in your lineage that isn't going to be much boosted by being told that you possess Amberite blood. After all, that can only be traced back two generations. Lucas can trace his ancestors on his father's side to the Merovingians and, apocryphally, to Jesus Christ. So he has more sympathy than most of his family might for Opal's desire. But perhaps only enough to make the needle flicker, and not enough to register a reading. Or perhaps he is unusually good at masking his amusement at what might seem a petty ambition.
"A title is not in my power to grant, of course," he says. "Although I can see strong reasons for pressing your case.
"Nevertheless, I would ask you to consider ...
"Who is more likely to gain the sympathy and the thanks of the Court, delivered in a practical form ... the person who overtly prosecutes, with the utmost severity, a case - now matter how justified - against one of the favourites of certain members of Court? Or the one who is seen to be loyal and devoted in service to the Crown? Who might also find herself in a position to pursue the righteous case on another level entirely?"
Lucas lays the faintest stress there on the word 'overtly'. But it is a stress that should ring in Opal Hardwind's ears like a magnificently sonorous bell.
"My lord, on matters of inheritance the courts of Amber, even under the reforms of your charming cousin, are not swift to act and often delay matters in the mere hope that they will go away. Our claim could lie dormant for decades despite our most assiduous pressing. We can protect our rights as easily in three years as three weeks."
"Indeed," agrees Lucas. "The law ... is tenacious, I fear ... "
"If you need time to arrange matters, time is available. We shall meet at the same midpoint no matter if we sprint or amble towards it."
"Sprinting," murmurs Lucas. "So exhausting. Let us agree that, for now, a little gentle amble might be preferable."
She smiles. "Or not at all. We will need to continue our discovery of the disposition of our missing assets, in case we cannot come to terms. However, as a show of good faith, our man Lyre will, for the nonce, be more cooperative with your Uncle the prince and his daughter."
"Thank you," says Lucas with a graceful inclination of his head - that does not disturb his hat one iota. "Your forbearance is - and shall be - much appreciated.
"In return, Madame Hardwind, I must say that I have been sufficiently impressed by your forbearance and your wits to believe that you would be a shining adornment on the Committee for Public Safety. Would you do me the very great honour of accepting a place?"
"I am inclined to do so, Lord Lucas, but I have some questions yet, about who else would be involved, what our obligations would be, and what your goals for such a committee are. I have never understood the mania which causes the wives of the idle rich to join an ever-increasing number of organizations for the 'Betterment of Amber', all of which give marvellous luncheons but have no other record of achievement of positive change."
Lucas raised a dark eyebrow.
"Had I wished you to serve in the capacity of organising the knitting of mufflers for our returning troops, or overseeing the planting of cheerful windowboxes in some of the poor quarters of the city, I would have sent my wife to speak with you. As I am here in person, you may assume that the work of the Committee will be a little weightier than that."
He pours some more tea.
"The security situation in Amber is not all that might be desired. We have an abundance - some might say a superfluity of military types, and a nervous civilian population who have accumulated five years of resentments built up through deprivation. All is changed, changed utterly - and there's a danger that the centre cannot hold. It is my task, by Royal Warrant, to ensure that the centre does hold, that whatever rough beasts are shambling towards us, we can withstand.
"To do this, my belief is that there needs to be a small and secret committee of the most powerful people in the most powerful factions in Amber. We will be empowered to investigate and police matters relating to the safety of Amber - to put citizen's minds at rest, if you like. The committee and its employees will be fully funded; we need expertise, decisiveness and the ability to arbitrate freely, frankly and independently for the good of all Amber. I believe, Madame Hardwind, that you will be an excellent representative of your class, for the very reasons you outlined to me earlier.
"So. Are you with us? If not, I daresay you will never hear of the Committee again - if we do our work correctly. But we will indeed be there - and we will be shaping Amber."
"So, it's a cozy arrangement, Lord Lucas. You get my cooperation in the matter of my father's wife and in your committee, and I get your support for my ambitions. In addition to our natural mutual interest in promoting the good of Amber, I shall be supporting your ends because you will be working for mine.
"I can certainly see that you have the better end of the deal. but that's to be expected. I am willing to be your junior partner in such an endeavour, Lord Lucas. I think the deal you've outlined is advantageous to us both and to Amber as well."
"Thank you," says Lucas, with a graceful inclination of his head. "But ... if I might suggest - a little variation in the syntax? This ... arrangement will be advantageous to Amber ... and to both of us." He smiled.
"Some more tea, Madame Hardwind?"
She takes the tea and toasts with it. "To our partnership, Lord Lucas. Advantageous to Amber and to both of us."
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XII: A Visit from Lady Hardwind | Index | XIV: Seek and Ye Shall Find
