Page 122 of The Lord Meets His Lady

Genevieve sank down on the settee.

Marcus sighed, his mouth twisting with disappointment. “Very little, it would seem.”How many secrets did she hide?

The clock ticked behind him, its pendulum chipping away at his trust with each swing. A crow landed on the windowsill, cawing loudly, its beady yellow eyes peering through the glass.

Barnard coughed into his balled fist. “Your globe. May I show you something on it?”

“Please.” Marcus clasped both hands behind his back and stayed as he was. He had the bearing of a disapproving headmaster, laughable for the likes of him, but he needed some semblance of control.

Genevieve’s chin tilted mutinously at him. “I’ve done nothing wrong, milord.”

Barnard spun the globe, continents and oceans blurring. Like the velvet settee, the new globe had been left behind by the previous occupant. She’d set it on a table beside the plain wooden settle near the window.

“Of course you haven’t, my dear.” The old lord produced a pair of spectacles from his coat and held them up to the light. “Herr Wolf’s not a talkative one, but I’m sure you heard him mention the Brotherhood of Silesia. It’s an old soldier’s order, resurrected by Prussia’s Baron Bromberg.”

Hands folded on her lap, Genevieve could have been a queen on a purple velvet throne. “I’ve heard the name, but I don’t know what it means. Herr Thade encouraged me to keep quiet about what was said at the house.”

“Thade…a frightful man.” Barnard whipped out a handkerchief and swiped it over the lenses of his glasses. “A zealot to the Brotherhood. He’s at odds with Herr Wolf…impatient to get back to Prussia.”

“He never liked me. Called me a distraction to Herr Wolf.”

“Not a man of social graces, to be sure. He’s staying at the Red Swan. Prefers the simple fare,” Barnard said, donning his spectacles. “What I’m about to tell you is common knowledge. I’ll fill in the gaps as I can, but it would be easier if you both come here.”

Genevieve rose from the settee, her supple lips pressing an impertinent line. Her proud profile announced,I didn’t deceive you. Mouth quirking at her silent setdown, Marcus joined them at the window, both hands clasped behind his back. He wanted to tweak her chin and kiss her, but he’dnottouch her. Not yet.

“This is Silesia.” Barnard’s eyes lit with a magician’s fervor. “Rich with copper.”

His pasty finger touched the principality south of Prussia. Genevieve bent lower, and her braid fell forward as she traced Silesia’s boldS.

“Why is this important to us?” Marcus asked.

“Because Poland possesses it. The land once belonged to Prussia, and they want it back.” Barnard eyed Genevieve over his spectacles. “And you, my dear, play a part in this.”

“Me?”

“Indeed, you do.”

Marcus didn’t need to examine the globe. Pieces of a fractured puzzle fell into place. The tides of war and unrest were as old as time. “And Poland is supported by Russia,” he supplied. “And Russia is allied with France, Austria, and Sweden.”

Barnard’s gap-tooth smile split wide. “Very good, Bowles. As a soldier in the Seven Years’ War, I suspected you’d understand.”

“Marcus, what does it mean?”

Marcus stared at Barnard while answering Genevieve. “It means the crates of pistols supply a rebellion to our former enemies.”

“They do, which of course isnotcommon knowledge.” Barnard pointed his spectacles at Genevieve. “The war may be over, but the discord is hardly gone.”

“And the Prussian?” Marcus asked.

“A consummate soldier. But, after the Seven Years’ War, Europe lacked the will and the funds for battles of grand scale.” Barnard paused to fold his eyewear. “Herr Wolf leads a clandestine group of soldiers. They’ve all sworn a blood oath before King Frederick of Prussia.”

“His tattoo,” she said. “The Brotherhood of Silesia.”

“It is their mark, a sign of their mission to restore Silesia to Prussia through whatever means necessary.” Barnard tucked away his spectacles. “Alsonotcommon knowledge.”

Genevieve peered at the globe. “Herr Wolf said his family once owned a brewery and lands in Silesia.”

“Yes, in Breslau. His family is most anxious to get them back.”