Lucy Wickshire 37 Chapter Five 6

Walter made his way to the metal shed as agreed. The night was cold, making him grateful he had dressed the part; an indication that the windy quarter was near. As the windy quarter was the shortest of all; lasting at most a few weeks, the white cold was not far behind. He was not sure why she had chosen this location and he truly did not care. The guard watching out saw him arrive and let him pa.s.s. Taking a closer look, he noticed the guard was familiar, answering the question of how he was recognized that easily. He was led towards the lady who stood by the corner waiting. She was wearing a simple grey satin gown; though thick and heavy, it did nothing to guard from the cold air. Seeing Walter's figure approach, she unconsciously smiled. For some reason, she could recognize his form and could tell the coming figure was Walter.

"You came." she said.

"Mn" Walter nodded. Without wasting time, she led them into the inner room. The abandoned building was dark, safe the lanterns carried by the guards as they led the way. Entering the room, Walter felt the shift of darkness to brightness sharply, as the inner room was brightly lit. At the centre, was an elderly man tied to a chair. Looking around, Walter took a seat by the side and watch what the lady intended to do.

Seeing as Walter taking a step back, she was slightly disappointed; as she was hoping he would take the lead. But thinking a little more, she discovered she had not told Walter what they were there to do. Of course she understood that Walter knew the man in the chair was the minister of finance, but still; she had yet to tell him why she wanted dirt on the minister. Taking a deep breathe, she turned to the man tied to the chair.

"Official Yrum, do you know why you are here?" she asked the minister.

The minister had heard people arrive, but could not muster the energy to look up. He had been taken from his home as the night began to descend and tortured a few hours before being brought here. His family was first to disappear, when he wanted to report this, a threatening note arrived. He though they would ask for something in return for his family, but here he was. Looking up at the person speaking to him, his eyes shrunk. Before him, stood Lady Steinhouse. Of all the people he imagined could have been responsible for his state, he never would have guessed her.

"Lady Steinhouse, why is it you?" the minister seemed stunned for a second, before bursting in rage.

"How dare you kidnap an official of the crown? Do you know that you will be executed; all three generations and after you?! Do you have no fear?!" the minister heaved in anger, as Lady Steinhouse let out a melodious laugh.

"Official Yrum, has your treasonous heart lost all respect for the crown that you will go as far as cursing the king dead? Or do you now think that that foreign woman you call queen is best to sit on the throne?" Lady Steinhouse asked in an amused tone.

The minister's eyes shrunk in fear. If the lady did not have anything to hold him publicly before, she did now. He could be paraded publicly in chains for cursing at the royal family. He cursed at himself. Lady Steinhouse; she has been called for so long, that people forget that she is a legitimate princess. A t.i.tle she got from birth, and later conferred officially by the king. Cursing at his niece, that entire generations of her family would be wiped out, is the same as cursing at the king himself.

"Lady Steinhouse, don't beat around the bush. Tell me why I am here!" he insisted.

"You have been caught stealing funds from the royal treasury; I hold satisfying evidence of this. Something I will be presenting before the king soon. What do you say for yourself?" Lady Steinhouse asked.

The minister paused. Evidence? He understood what she was talking about. But did she think it was wise to go against the queen?

"Lady Steinhouse, I will warn you as an elder. You best not interfere with things beyond you. You will not like how it ends." he said gravely. The lady frowned at his words. He still wanted to threaten her? Did he not understand that he was the one sitting in the chair? She was not sure how to go about this. She glanced at Walter sitting in the corner and bit her lip. She could not ask him fr help because she would have to explain the king's plan. Her pause caused the minister to feel glad. He viewed Lady Steinhouse as a novice and woman of society that knows not her left from right in the world of men, as opposed to the right tea set to display in her tea room.