Page 19 of Baron in Check
“I just hope this won’t backfire considering how many traps we’re setting ourselves,” Arnold said as he hooked the sword back on the wall.
“I’m the Black Knight, I can jump.” Greg maintained outward bravado, but his heart dropped. Fave was right, there was risk involved. Either Greg could get everything he’d always wanted or he could lose everything he’d ever had. They didn’t say it, but the air was heavy with the dilemma. In a way, it was so bad, none of them dared to speak the words.
CHAPTER 10
After fencing, Greg followed Fave down to the parlor for a refreshing cup of tea while Arnold said he’d help Hannah with their son. Fave’s wife, Rachel, had the best trading connections by virtue of her father’s business, and there was always a ready cup of the most delightful jasmine tea on hand. One of the many perks of coming to the Pearlers was not only the tea, but the warmth and friendly smile with which it was served.
Greg had nearly grown up in the house, so he knew it well. He noticed the lights in the drawing room and Gustav’s study. Gustav was Fave’s father and Arnold’s uncle, a man wiser than his years, yet gentler than his experience.
As they reached the last step to the first floor, Fave put his hand on Greg’s chest and brought his index finger to his mouth. “Shh!”
A heated discussion emanated from the study. Greg recognized the German accents that roughened the voices of two unwelcome guests. Richard Nagy, the older of the pair and self-appointed Bailiff to Prinny, had taken it upon himself to check and block everything the Pearlers and Klonimuses did. In short,he was a threat to their success, safety, and sometimes, their survival.
The other voice that could shatter crystal belonged to Baron von List of Prussia, a stately version of pure evil whom Greg had encountered in the past.
“I wasn’t finished with List yet, let me go in.” Greg tried to get past Fave, but his friend held his arm out and shook his head.
He touched his ear and cocked his head. “This isn’t the time to settle your bill with List,” Fave whispered. He turned to listen to the voices from downstairs.
“So, you see, without strategic alliances in parliament, it’s unlikely the Crown will be held accountable for the expenses you listed,” Nagy’s voice was as dissonant as nails on a blackboard. He seemed to enjoy making declarations in the name of the crown, each a carefully packaged parcel of threats against the Jews. How petty the lives of people consumed by destroying rather than building, sending arrows of hatred. If Nagy and List weren’t so evil, Greg would have pitied them, but they weren’t deserving of such kindness.
“I don’t understand,” Gustav said. Greg had always wished for his father to be more like Gustav.
“It’s the simple truth, Mister, that you are not entitled to hold the funds for the jewels, so I will put the money in escrow for you. Good day.” List’s voice reverberated and a chair screeched, which was odd because the chairs at the Pearler’s never made noise. It must be in the hands of that loathsome blistering personality that even the finest pieces of furniture rebelled.
List appeared in Gustav’s study doorway as if he owned the house, where in truth, he wasn’t in the least bit welcome there. His bottle green velvet coat was the shade of an aged wine that had turned to vinegar. Instead of a label, he wore the tin buttons on his coat as if they were medals of honor. Greg loathed menwho smiled at themselves in the mirror at White’s and List was the kind who never missed the opportunity.
“Och, da ist er ja!” Oh, there he is. List feigned pleasantries in German when he saw Fave in the hall. “Und were its denn das?” And who’s this?
Greg realized he hadn’t yet pulled off his fencing mask and left it on. He put a hand on his chest, bowed, and went upstairs. It was better not to show his face to List; they’d been opponents before, in chess, in parliament, but if given the chance to use a sword, Greg thought it better not to engage. If he did—and he sourly wished he could one day—it mustn’t be at the house of his Jewish friends lest they be accused of entrapment or worse. Jews had fewer legal protections than a Baron, so Greg didn’t dare risk their safety.
“You must excuse my cousin, Arnold has been feeling a little vexed since I won in a fencing match,” Fave lied.
Greg disappeared into the corridor upstairs. From there, he listened to List and Nagy as they talked down to Gustav and Fave.
“I was just informed, my son, that Baron von List will hold back the moneys that are due us for the recent pieces of the gold orb,” Gustav enunciated clearly. He must have recognized Greg and made sure he could hear them.
“We’re not getting paid for the work we finished when it’ll be delivered?” Fave asked.
Greg heard the anger bubbling under his reserved tone.
“Your accounts are fuller than any other Jewish ones in all of Europe. You see, unless you have a patron in the House of Lords, we have no assurances that?—”
“We don’t need anyone in the House to back our accounts. We worked for the money, we earned it,” Fave said.
“Yes, it’s earmarked for you,” List said. “But you’ll have to understand that I’ll be holding it for you. Consider it a bailment.”
“I’m considering it theft,” Fave said. “Embezzlement if you touch what’s due us from the Crown, Mister Nagy.”
“Very well, Pearler. Call it what you might, but nobody needs to listen to you at the House of Lords. You have no recourse.”
“You’re in the wrong, Nagy!” Fave called out.
“And yet, you are without rights,” List said curtly.
And with these words, List and Nagy left. They didn’t take Greg into account, so they must have thought he was Arnold or Caleb.
The door slammed shut.
