Sir Knollys had one of the servants provide coffee, then left at a nod from His Highness.
“The past twenty-four hours have been…exceedingly difficult, as you may imagine,” Prince Edward said as he set his cup aside.
“It has been most upsetting for my family and that of Sir Huntingdon. There are many questions, and I have requested this meeting due to a recent development that I had hoped to avoid.
“However, it seems that is not to be…particularly now with the Agency asked to make inquiries on behalf of the Queen.You should know that it was not of my choosing, as you have provided most excellent results in past matters.”
“Sir,” Brodie politely interrupted. “There are things we have been able to learn and would make that information available to Sir Avery.”
“You perhaps misunderstand my intentions, Mr. Brodie,” the Prince of Wales interjected.
“In spite of this ‘development’,” he added with no effort to disguise his displeasure, “I am not ending our arrangement.”
I was surprised at his announcement as was Brodie.
It was no secret that there was a certain “estrangement” between the Queen and the Prince of Wales. It was rumored they rarely spoke.
According to my great aunt, he had been quite rebellious in his youth, something I understood well.
“Quite the contrary,” he continued now. “I want you to continue. There will be the usual sensationalized publicity. There is no preventing that now. I am requesting that you both continue.”
“Is Sir Avery aware of the notes that were received?” Brodie inquired.
I caught the hesitation on the part of His Highness.
“He is not. However, that will undoubtedly change very shortly.”
Brodie was thoughtful.
“If we are to continue, sir, with what we’ve learned, we must have full control over our inquiries…with no interference. Guaranteed by Yer Highness.”
It was a bold request that had the potential to put us in direct conflict with Sir Avery. However, His Highness nodded.
“Agreed.”
“Any information that we uncover is to be seen only by yerself until the matter is resolved,” Brodie insisted.
Once more, the Prince of Wales agreed to his request.
“And ye are to provide information regarding any clues that we find.”
“Agreed, as well.”
“We do not work for Sir Avery,” Brodie insisted. “That must be made clear, nor will we report to him. I will not have him standin’ over us or expectin’ reports or updates.”
“You know the man well,” His Highness commented.
“Yer word on it, sir,” Brodie insisted.
“You have it. You will answer only to me.”
Brodie seemed satisfied with that.
“Ye may tell Sir Avery whatever ye wish of the arrangement, or not,” Brodie said then. “But I will not be stepping over the man every minute. If it comes to that, then we will provide whatever information we have in the matter to ye and be done with it.”
“Understood,” Prince Edward replied with a faint smile. “Would you care for me to put that in writing, Mr. Brodie?”
I could tell that Brodie wasn’t prepared for that, just as His Highness undoubtedly was not prepared to be lectured regarding the terms of our service. I also sensed from his expression that Brodie had apparently hoped that this would be the end of our involvement with the investigation and we would be on our way.
