Lammas night by Kurtz Katherine

Author:Kurtz, Katherine
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy fiction, American, Occult fiction
Publisher: New York : Ballantine Books
Published: 1983-03-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

AT BREAKFAST THE NEXT MORNING, A BRIGHT AND cheerful William gave no sign that he remembered anything unusual about the night before. Nor did he mention it when he and Graham drove back to London. They chatted about logistical details for the three receptions, and William inquired casually how Graham's session with Alix had gone, but he accepted Graham's vague reassurances at face value and did not press for details. He dropped Graham at the office near St. James* Park in plenty of time to make his own engagement and put Wells to work on the invitations that afternoon, since the first of the receptions was only a week away.

The go-ahead from Alix came through the following day, and the invitations went out. Graham did not hear from the prince for several days after that, for William left on Thursday for a long birthday weekend at Windsor with the rest of the royal family, inspecting military units in London with the King's party on Saturday and attending Sunday services at the Royal Chapel, in Windsor Great Park. Given their previous discussions, Graham suspected that the prince would somehow find the time to visit the Garter Chapel in the course of the weekend. His suspicion was confuined when William returned on Monday to dine with him, Michael, and the brigadier in a belated birthday celebration. Later that evening, Graham and the prince began to go over the background William would need to set the stage for him and Alix at the final reception. The first one was to take place the following evening.

All three receptions were held at Laurelgrove, the brigadier's country house near Eynsford. The brigadier hosted the first two at the prince's side, as would have been expected, but the other attendees were never aware that Graham and Alix were also present. Hidden behind the one-way mirror installed for the occasion between drawing room and parlor, they observed William's handling of the fu-st two groups of guests and afterward offered critiques. William needed no coaching on his actual handling of people, for he had long ago excelled at going out and mingling, but by the third night, they had helped him establish a smooth and predictable pattern of timing.

Timing was important for several reasons. One of the most important was the problem of Wells, William's aide. As was appropriate, he was at William's side for the first two meetings. He had seen to the preparation of the invitations, was aware of the official reasons for the composition of the guest lists, and could hardly be excluded without arousing unwanted curiosity.

But nor could they allow him to be present for at least the heart of the third meeting—and slipping him a doctored drink was too risky to try a second time so soon. A ruse would be necessary to draw him away for a few hours. They decided it would take the form of a call from the Admiralty at the appropriate moment, requiring some trustworthy agent of the prince to pick up a confidential dispatch at once.

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