Circle of Shadows

VI.6

Herr Kinkel was far, far too busy with the arrangements in the east wing to see the signing of the marriage contract. The back quarters of the palace were a frenzy of movement. The new Duchess’s retinue had to be accommodated, their baggage stowed correctly, their servants billeted and everyone required hot water. However, he did notice Wimpf, helping the stooping figure of Chancellor Swann into a waiting carriage. The blinds were drawn down. Strange. Strange too that rather than slamming the door and letting the carriage drive off, Wimpf got up behind as if to travel with the Chancellor. Where could they be going? Still such a frenzy, he had even seen old Kupfel wandering round court yesterday. If Theo had to press his father Adam into running errands, he was pushed indeed. Herr Kinkel wondered about this for almost five seconds, the complete time available to him, then the housekeeper almost knocked him from his feet, staggering along the passage with fresh linens in her arms, after which he returned to more pressing duties.

Rachel sighed sleepily and put out her hand. Her fingers brushed her husband’s chest and she felt her hand being taken and his kiss on her palm. As she opened her eyes, she found him watching her and smiled. She let her hand rest on his jaw for a moment.

‘Did you sleep?’ She moved closer to him.

‘I did — and better, I think, than I have for some time.’

She laughed and tucked her head under his chin. ‘As did I.’ Perhaps for the first time, lying there, she realised what her sister had lost when James Westerman was killed. She thought of Harriet, her restlessness. It had been in her long before James had died, those first years of marriage they shared, sailing over the oceans till she had been forced to remain in Caveley, for Stephen, for her. Then to lose James, that bond between them which kept part of her soul out in the winds and weather even while she remained in Sussex. She knew she was like Harriet in many ways, but she did not share that restless nature. It was what divided them. Her arm lay over Daniel’s side, she could feel it rise and fall with his breathing. To live with him, to bear his children, to face the coming winters together in their own home and among their friends was all the adventure she wished.

‘Daniel …’ She tilted her head back so she could watch his face as she told him. ‘I believe I am to have a baby. Are you pleased?’

Some time later they found Graves in the parlour and told him their news. He wrung their hands so hard Rachel had to protest.

‘Please, Daniel, defend me! Graves, you will tear my hand off!’

‘Lord, I’m so delighted!’ He almost danced away from her, then his smile faltered.

‘What is it, Graves?’ Daniel said, looking a little more serious, but keeping his hand on Rachel’s shoulder.

Their friend grimaced and folded his arms across his chest. ‘Only that I wanted to tell you what has happened with Swann. Great dramas. These Minervals have been exposed by Manzerotti and some child genius.’ Rachel smiled to herself. For all his responsibilities, Graves had something of the child in him still. ‘All the victims of these gruesome murders were on the list, some inner circle of seven treating the Duke as a puppet and trying to make Maulberg a breeding ground and haven for their philosophy. The Duke is trying to handle it quietly, but I had some words with Colonel Padfield. He expects to detain a number of people during the celebrations this evening.’

Rachel was amazed. ‘Manzerotti was working for the Duke?’

‘He was. All the time. Seems the Duke did not want a group of revolutionary poisoners running his state for him.’

Daniel frowned. ‘One moment, Clode. There have been six victims. Surely the attack on Swann was something different. Rachel, should you not sit down?’

‘Daniel, I have only this minute got up. So these Minervals were influencing Swann? Flattering him? Using his closeness to the Duke …?’

‘He was a fully paid up member,’ Graves said, opening his arms wide. ‘Crowther thinks I am naive not to have suspected it, but Padfield was shocked white too. Swann is banished!’

Daniel sat down rather quickly. ‘My God. I shall think every man I meet a revolutionary now. Where are Harriet and Mr Crowther? Are they guarding Swann?’

‘No, they’ve gone charging off to see if Julius can let them know who ordered those strange commissions. The automaton is certainly modelled on that poor lady, Antonia Kastner. My dear Mrs Clode, are you sure you should not sit down? You are rather pale.’

‘Did you say Antonia Kastner, Graves?’ she asked.

‘I did.’

Clode took her hand. ‘What is it, my dear?’

She looked at him, her eyes wide. ‘Oh Daniel! I do not think it was you that saw something you shouldn’t have done. I think it was me.’

The Ludwigsschule was formed around a wide courtyard on which the pupils could be taught the basics of military drill. It was deserted. At the entrance provided for pedestrians under the wrought-iron gates they were met by an elderly gentleman who lifted the latch for them and asked their business.

‘We wish to enquire about a child who died here some six years ago,’ Harriet stated. ‘I am afraid we have not an appointment.’

The gatekeeper scratched his neck and looked suspiciously at them. ‘Today?’ he said. ‘A child six years dead and you wish to enquire for him on the afternoon of the Duke’s wedding?’

‘We come directly from the Duke,’ Crowther said. The man opened the gate and shuffled aside to let them in before slamming and locking it again. ‘They are watching the opera now at court, aren’t they?’ he offered by way of conversation as they crossed the vast expanse of the drill yard at his comfortable pace.

‘So I understand,’ Harriet said.

He led them through the main entrance and a roar of noise fell over them in a torrent. It seemed to be coming from a grand hall to their right, and as if to confirm it, the gatekeeper was almost knocked off his feet by a dozen boys of about ten years of age, all dressed in blue coats with black trimmings and wigged, racing in that direction. The adults followed them through an arched entrance and round the edge of a high and spacious hall filled with the clamour of some five hundred boys aged between ten and fifteen.

Harriet could not at once understand how the seating was arranged. She assumed the boys would sit together according to their age, but some of the youngest sat with their elders. Some boys had epaulettes, others did not. She asked the question of Crowther who translated it, and the answer.

‘Rank, Mrs Westerman. The boys are seated according to their rank. The head table is reserved for the Princes who are schooled here. The seats lower down the room are for those not of noble stock.’

‘They begin their education in such matters very early, Crowther.’

‘I have seen a woman of rank kiss the hands of her niece and call her Illustrious Highness, when the niece in question was a child of three years old. Yes, they begin such things early.’

There was a raised dais at the far end of the room where the Professors of the institution were gathering to dine under a flattering portrait of the Duke. He had been painted wearing a gaudy version of the blue and black coats of the pupils. Crowther bent towards their guide, then said to Harriet, ‘Ludwig Christoph founded this school ten years ago, and pays for about half the students to attend. Sons of his officers, by and large.’

The gentleman who sat directly below the portrait of the Duke had noticed them approaching, and as they were led towards him, left his seat to join them below the steps to the dais.

They made their introductions and Crowther repeated that they had come from the Duke himself. The Headmaster, a Mr von Bieber, frowned, but nodded.

‘I have been master here only five years, I am sorry to say. I know, of course, of the outbreak of fever at the time you mention. Eight children died, but I do not recall their names. Kastner, you say?’

There was a gentleman just taking his seat next to them. Overhearing them, he turned. A native German by his accent, he addressed them in French, however. ‘Headmaster, I knew that boy. Carl Kastner?’

The Headmaster looked deeply relieved. ‘Thank goodness — thank you, Herr Dreher. Perhaps you could take our guests into my study and answer any questions they may have. If we do not get food into the boys soon, I fear for our safety.’

Herr Dreher gave a curt nod and stood, then invited Harriet and Crowther back the way they had come. All at once, silence fell in the hall. Harriet turned to see that the places at the head table, apart from that of Herr Dreher, were now all taken and the Headmaster had got to his feet. The boys had their backs straight and each looked directly ahead.

‘Stand.’

The boys stood up in a single movement. The Headmaster gave a nod, and one of the boys at the head table began to recite. ‘Benedic, Domine, nobis et donis tuis quae ex largitate tua sumus sumpturi …’

Harriet’s footsteps seemed horribly loud to her as they retreated to the back of the hall again. The Grace ended to a general ‘Amen,’ barked out with youthful vigour from the diaphragms of each boy.

‘Eat!’ the Headmaster said, and there was a great clatter of cutlery.

‘I cannot help thinking of the Al-Saids’ automata,’ Harriet whispered to Crowther.

‘I felt sorry for the boy from the moment he arrived. He was very unhappy here.’ Mr Dreher spoke French well enough, though his accent was strong.

‘You were one of his teachers,’ Harriet said.

‘Yes, and one of the few who didn’t beat him every other hour. Did you notice the little pieces of paper many of the students wear in their collars?’ Harriet nodded. ‘It is a list of the child’s misdeeds. The Duke on his visits, or anyone who wishes to, may stop a boy and read his tally at any time. Carl was reprimanded continually for malingering, or for womanish behaviour.’

‘Womanish behaviour?’ Crowther asked.

‘He missed his mother, and cried for her, then was beaten for it.’ His lip lifted slightly. ‘We are supposed to be making soldiers here.’

‘Do you know where his mother was?’

‘I didn’t at the time. Everyone knew who she was and the story of the scandal, and of course the boys beat him for that too. In his shoes I might have ended up hating my mother, but he talked of her whenever he had the chance. He was convinced she was coming for him.’

Harriet thought of her son and felt a mixture of such rage and fear, she did not know how to frame another question. Crowther asked, ‘And later?’

‘I went to see the child when I heard he was sick.’ The slightly casual air of the master had disappeared. He looked at the floor in front of him. ‘He was very ill, and he knew it. But he wanted to have his things sent to his mother, and asked me to take them.’

‘And where was she?’

‘Living at the house of one of the Imperial Knights between here and Oberbach. She sent a message to Carl that he had a new papa and they were coming to get him soon. The night he died he told me the name was Frenzel and asked me to take his Bible to her.’ As he paused, Harriet became aware of the sounds from the dining hall. Boys, voices chattering like starlings. She longed to see Stephen. It was an ache in her. Frenzel. Of course. Only a man who had bought automata in the past would commission something so complex from the Al-Saids, would think of that as a vehicle. She struggled to listen to Herr Dreher. ‘Poor woman. I had thought she was some courtesan and Frenzel was simply her new protector, but when I went there … She was a gentle lady, devastated by the loss, of course, but she was so desperate to talk about the boy. Kind. Noble in nature if not in name, I would say. And I don’t think she was just Frenzel’s mistress either. Even if no one knew it, I think they were married.’

‘And was Count Frenzel there when you spoke to her?’ Harriet said, still amazed.

‘Watched her like a hawk. She was kind to him, even in her grief, but he watched her so jealously. I was shocked when I saw him in court again. I thought there would never come a time when he allowed her to leave his sight, and he could not bring her here, of course.’

‘I suspect the lady died,’ Harriet said gently.

‘Ah, I am sorry to hear that. Sorry indeed. During her delivery, I suppose?’