Page 18 of Leo

“Hi, Grandpa,” smiled Luke. “Humility, huh?”

“The Duke is an old man, Luke. His only son is missing. A son who, in spite of his age, has never married or fathered children. His legacy, his line, dies with him. How do you think that makes him feel? Think about that.”

“I get it, Grandpa. I owe him an apology. I promise that I’ll call him today.” Matthew nodded, then looked around at all the young people in the room. At least, they were young to him.

“Is everything okay, Matthew?” asked Cam.

“Yes, son. Everything is as it should be. You’re doing a fine job. I just like to check in on all of you from time to time.”

“You’re always welcome in our meetings, Matthew,” said Eric. “No one is wiser than you.”

“Oh,” he laughed, shaking his head, “I think there is a lot more wisdom yet to find. I’ve just been around a lot longer than all of you. I do have a favor to ask of you.”

“Anything, Matthew,” said Tillie.

“Irene is feeling a bit useless lately.”

“Useless?” echoed the cry of the twenty people in the room.

“How could Irene possibly feel useless?” asked Mav. “She’s the glue that holds this entire property together. Everything that happens here happens because she orchestrates it, wishes it, manifests it, or dreams it.”

“I agree,” smiled Matthew. “She just needs a bit of love right now. Perhaps some of you need a bit of advice.” He looked around the room and landed on Tillie’s face.

“I’ll go right now,” she smiled. She kissed his cheek and ran from the room in search of Irene. He turned to face the men.

“Alright, Grandpa. What was that all about?”

“No questions. No explanations given. The Earl of Mansberg is in terrible danger. He is trusting all the wrong people and will soon find himself in a situation he cannot escape.”

“Matthew…”

“No questions,” he said, staring at Cam. “The basement of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Brooklyn. Go now, or he’ll be dead tomorrow.”

Matthew kissed his grandson, touching the faces of every man in the room. A habit that they’d gotten used to, almost hoping for it as a sign of good luck. When he was gone, there was a deathly silence, and then Luke spoke.

“You heard my grandfather. We’re headed to Brooklyn.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

He ran toward the church, hoping that he could get them to provide him safety and sanctuary until someone could come and get him. He trusted no one, not even the police. Especially the police.

His father had warned him of the American law enforcement and their propensity toward taking bribes. Those in New York City were the worst, according to his father.

It was absurd that at forty-nine years of age, he was still doing everything his father asked of him. He’d gone to university and obtained his degree. He’d participated in government and social activities required of him. He’d even gone to ridiculous balls, horse races, and traveled abroad to show his face and let the world know that he was available.

He hadn’t cared one bit. It wasn’t that he didn’t desire a partner. He did. He just didn’t feel the need to rush it all. Yes, he understood that time was running out for him to produce an heir. As one of the wealthiest aristocrats in Germany and one of the few left, he was expected to do certain things. Produce children was only one of those.

When his father suggested that he spend a year working in the company that they’d created in honor of his mother, he thought it was a good idea. One of the few things they’d actually agreed on.

He’d been to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, small villages in rural China, Nigeria, India, and then was directed to Botswana. When he’d met the three women he was to work with, he was impressed with all three. They knew nothing of Earl Frederick. They only knew Brad, and he preferred it that way.

After years of dialect coaching, he casually slipped from German to English to French and back again without any trace of an accent. It was best if these women knew nothing of his background or wealth.

At first, he didn’t care for their mentor, Tillie. She seemed assertive, perhaps even rough. In time, the short time they were together, Frederick learned that he enjoyed her company. She was smart, funny, and knew what she was doing. He’d have to tell his father that she was valuable, and they couldn’t afford to lose her.

Gemma, the older of the women, was pleasant enough. She was plain in her appearance, but there was an air of quiet elegance to her that he admired. Even when faced with kidnapping, she remained relatively calm and followed orders when Tillie was able to free them.

The other woman, Jewel, was a young, free-spirit intent on screwing her way through the population and drinking every manner of alcohol she could get her hands on. He had vowed to call his father about her and have her removed from the team. He never got that chance.

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