“Sins of the fathers.”
A biblical reference according to Mikaela. And then Lady Antonia had spoken of an incident more than thirty years before. Brash university students, full of themselves, as Mikaela described, and their club with exclusive membership:
“The Four Horsemen.”
His own knowledge of the Bible sorely lacking, Mikaela had explained the meaning of it, from the book of Revelations, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
The Prince of Wales hadn’t mentioned it, nor anything of that particular incident when he had suddenly departed university for the military, followed by an extended time away—traveling across Europe.
Brodie stepped down from the coach and was greeted by another set of uniformed guards at the entrance of Marlborough House. He presented his calling card to another guard.
“I will inform Sir Knollys.”
The official gatekeeper. What did the personal secretary to the Prince of Wales know about that time and the incident they’d discovered with their inquiries? An incident that, it was undoubtedly hoped, would never be made known?
There were always secrets, he had his own. Everyone had things they preferred to be left unknown.
What would the Prince of Wales be willing to tell him now?
Sir Knollys had appeared and greeted him with that same closed expression and polite words.
“His Royal Highness will see you now.”
He was escorted to the library where they had previously met. Sir Knollys announced his arrival, then discreetly left, closing the door behind him.
The Prince of Wales sat at his desk; papers spread in front of him as before. He wore a formal suit of clothes, as he had when they last met, a medallion of some sort over the breast pocket of his jacket. His beard was neatly trimmed as he frowned over those papers.
It was several moments before His Highness looked up and acknowledged him.
“Mr. Brodie…” he glanced past him and commented. “Lady Forsythe has not accompanied you.”
“No, sir. An appointment in the matter of our inquiries needed her attention elsewhere,” he explained, matter of fact.
“Is there some progress in the situation?” Prince Edward inquired.
“There is.”
When he said nothing further, His Highness finally looked up. He laid his pen at the desk, then sat back in his desk chair.
“By all means continue,” he said. “And we can hopefully be done with this dreadful business.”
“Wot can you tell me, sir, about the particular incident that led to you leaving university?”
Silence filled the library except for the sound of the clock on the wall as the prince’s gaze met his.
In that moment, they were simply two men, no more, one tasked with finding the truth, the other with secrets.
“You have been most diligent, Mr. Brodie.” His Highness pushed away from the desk and stood.
He paced across the library until he stood before the windows, staring out at the massive green and the forest beyond where Lily had chased after the man she’d seen at the gallery the night of the birthday celebration.
“A long time ago,” Edward finally replied. “The foolishness of young men. You perhaps understand, Mr. Brodie.”
“The sins of the fathers...?” he repeated what was written in that first note.
His Highness flinched. “What have you learned?”
“What you might have shared from the beginning, sir.”
