Chapter 7

  Hektor reached Thadeus’ around three in the afternoon. Usually, he would have hailed a carriage or a rickshaw as the distance was not small to traverse on foot, but he had decided against it. He always thought his best on his feet and so had prolonged his return.

  Thadeus opened the door, took one look, and silently stepped aside to let him in. Hektor appreciated the understanding and made straight for the bath.

  An hour later, both of them convened in the drawing room. Feet raised on the footstool, Thadeus lounged in his thinking chair and livened up as Hektor took the accompanying seat.

  Thadeus studied Hektor, discerning the severity of whatever had come to pass.

  “Much like yourself, I received an invite,” began Thadeus. “A message was delivered while you were away, expecting me at the Duchess’ leisure this evening.” He lent forward in his chair. “What has happened, Hektor?” he asked gravely.

  In his soul-searching wander earlier in the day, Hektor had made up his mind to tell Thadeus. Coming to know of Sabina’s invitation only bolstered his decision to bring Thadeus in on the plot. No doubt his mother had called Thadeus to discuss the same subject.

  Knowledgeable as he was insightful, Thadeus was trusted company. He was amongst those that cared for him and had his best interests at heart.

  Hence, Hektor told Thadeus of his meeting with his mother without reservation. It wasn’t easy and a fair share awkward, but Hektor did his best to be thorough.

  Thadeus didn’t interrupt and listened intently about the agreement between the Crofts and the Crown. He sat with the same stoic focus as Hektor reported of Lady Webb’s scheming and how he was to be pawn in her game. Through it all, Thadeus did not betray his emotions. His disciplined presence let Hektor work through his thoughts, giving release to some of his pent-up feelings.

  Sometimes, it was merely enough to listen.

  To his great surprise, Hektor found out that he was quickly running out of words. Half an hour and he had said all he had to say about his ordeal. It was greatly disconcerting that something so significant pertaining to him could be summed up in words so few.

  “Mother would bestow upon me a surname on my birthday. My engagement to Miss Croft would be made official the same day. And at the Crown’s behest I would be made a Count,” he tallied the damage. “They will make me Count of Roheim,” he repeated dejectedly and went quiet.

  At Hektor’s reticence, Thadeus dismissed the unwilling informant and leaned back into his chair as his mind churned. The intricacies didn’t prove to be particularly challenging for him to solve. In short time, Thadeus had formed his deductions and had a grasp of the situation at hand.

  The challenge came after as Thadeus looked to Hektor. While politics were easily discernable to him, it was a different matter when his student was involved in the game of intrigue. A delicate touch was not his forte. Yet, for Hektor he would try his best.

  “It is a simple solution to a delicate problem,” commented Thadeus.

  Listless as he was, the grimace was slow to spread across Hektor’s face. “I thought the same,” he admitted ruefully.

  “It must have been quite a shock,” Thadeus consoled.

  This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

  “I do not know how I felt when they told me,” Hektor confided. “But now, I think I feel numb.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I,” Hektor stuttered, words eluding him. “I am not sure. I think, I think I am not entirely surprised.”

  “Denial, Hektor? Or acceptance?” Thadeus prodded, helping the boy put words to his feelings.

  Hektor shrugged. “I would have been beyond terrified, but mother made it very clear that I am mostly to be a figurehead. Roheim is small, barely a town, and mother has assured me that the region is governed by a very competent Mayor Williams. He is a former subordinate of hers and she speaks highly of him. As it is, he will continue overseeing the territory while I would have mother’s people assist me and Mayor Williams. She doesn’t expect me to actually rule for the foreseeable future. That is a blessing.”

  “And the engagement?” Thadeus asked when Hektor went silent.

  “In all honesty, compared to becoming a count and all that it entails, parading about as a husband doesn’t even compare,” replied Hektor. He then sighed and fell into his chair, “But I know that being Croft’s son in law would prove to be the more dangerous occupation,” he groaned.

  “I would be told what to do, what to say, where to be, and so forth. I would be a puppet in a farce. The best I could hope for is that whoever holds my strings keeps me away from the spotlight.”

  The skepticism was practically wafting off Thadeus at Hektor’s claim of being spared the drama.

  “One can hope,” Hektor confessed in misery.

  Thadeus hesitated. For all his acumen and experience, he found himself lacking to comfort the child and chase away his worries. He tried to anyway.

  “Hektor, lad, I agree with almost all of what you have said. I can only imagine the stress you must be under,” Thadeus consoled. “But have you given any thought to how this could lead to better things? How it could work in your favor?”

  Thadeus knew it was vital for Hektor to have some hope to hang on to.

  “Yes,” Hektor answered, feeling betrayed just by admitting it. “I can see the opportunities. Mother and Aunt Delia spoke of them. I am just not in the mood to be happy about it. I do not want to chart my political career. Nor do I want to conspire about being wed to a Croft with their wealth and influence.

  “Not now,” Hektor said heatedly.

  “Fair enough,” Thadeus agreed easily. The boy was barely hanging on. So, if he wanted some time and space, Thadeus was inclined to give it. “Would you be alright by yourself for the evening? Most likely I would be delayed.”

  “I would be fine. Besides, the house is most likely watched,” Hektor reasoned. He always had his shadows. Guards that trailed him unseen.

  Thadeus involuntarily looked to the window. “Would you like me to leave? Be alone with your thoughts.”

  “This is your home Master Thadeus. I would never dare to ask you to leave.”

  Thadeus eyed the boy. “You had another episode, didn’t you? Just the one, or?”

  “I am fine now,” Hektor got his assurances in quickly, desperately wanting to quell any questions towards his anxiety.

  “I have a few medicines,” Thadeus started offering but was refused immediately.

  “No. Thank you Master Thadeus, but no.”

  Thadeus wasn’t convinced, but eventually acquiesced on the condition that Hektor would be upfront if he felt unwell. Hektor also declined any food, which left them both sitting in a comfortable quiet, privy to their own thoughts.

  Hektor appreciated Thadeus’ silent presence more than he thought he would have. Occasionally, Thadeus would hum some obscure tune or grumble to himself. It was soothing, for a grown up to be there, waiting on him and not demanding anything of him. No prying. No ensuing agendas. That Thadeus was there for him, if and when he was needed. It was reassuring.

  “I should take to making myself presentable,” Thadeus uttered, breaking the silence.

  “Thank you for staying, Master Thadeus,” Hektor acknowledged, realizing some time had passed where he was lost in his thoughts. “It helped.”

  “Anytime, my boy.”

  As always, Thadeus was slow to get tidy and meandered his time getting there. It was more akin to a treasure hunt than someone getting dressed for dinner when it came to Thadeus. The ironed shirt in his bedroom closet only went with the pants that were hidden in a trunk upstairs. The matching coat meanwhile was buried with the bedsheets. The cursed silk tie was finally found in his study drawer. And then there was the puzzle of finding a pair of matching socks.

  Hektor was hopelessly roped in to help. He never suspected that Thadeus was being a diva in order to distract him, if only a little. Eventually, Thadeus did manage and left in the carriage sent from the castle.