31 – Moving Pieces

“How is he?” asked Duke Archibald.

“He’s doing fantastic,” said Baron Ellis with a wide smile. “I have to admit that I was a bit nervous myself, despite my trust in Abbess Helen, but my trust was not misplaced, and neither was yours. He is doing better than I had hoped. Healthy, happy, and the spitting image of his parents. Helen is raising him well.

“And, I have personally confirmed that the One-Eyed Reaper is as good as the rumors say.”

“The— the One-Eyed Reaper?” asked Duchess Melinda, wiping a joyful tear from the corner of her eye.

“Sister Igrette,” said Archibald. “The warrior nun who served in Demon War who recently began working at the orphanage.”

“Yes,” said Baron Ellis. “Despite her age, I am quite confident that if we fought, I would lose. There are very few people who could pose a threat to her. St. Elena’s orphanage is currently one of the safest places in the entire duchy.”

”You would lose?” asked Archibald. “She must be impressive indeed.”

“She had to be to survive on the front lines of the Demon War.”

“Thank you, Harry,” said Melinda, throwing her arms around the former guard captain. “I don’t even know how to thank you.”

“It was nothing, truly,” he replied, patting her on the back. “And I mean it. All I did was point you to Helen. She did all the work. Don’t thank the messenger.”

“I will thank whoever I want,” she said. “And right now, I am thanking you.”

“Then I gladly accept your thanks.”

Melinda pulled away, and Archibald stepped forward, placing a hand on the baron’s shoulder.

“I know you’d never take advantage of this as much as I’d like you to, but if you ever need anything, just say the word. If it’s within my power, I’ll give it to you, no questions asked.”

“I want that old bottle of—”

“Anything but that.”

The two men laughed loudly, and Melinda joined them with a small chuckle.

“But seriously,” said Archibald. “If that’s what you want, it’s yours. As long as I get a glass.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you,” said Harrison. “As long as you promise to give me a glass when you finally decide to crack it open.”

“Done. You’ve more than earned it.”

“Oh, right, there’s one more thing,” said Harrison. “Before I say it, though, please manage your expectations, because this might not happen any time soon, but while we were talking, I mentioned to Helen that I would love to host the children of St. Elena’s at my estate for a spring retreat. She is not the type to take advantage of generosity, so I do not know if she will accept this spring, and I didn’t want to raise suspicions by pressing too hard. However, I will be asking her again each year, now that I have re-established a connection with her. And, given my connection with you, I don’t think it would be far-fetched for me to be able to take a few hours out of your busy schedules to do some charity work and say hi to the children.”

Melinda raised her hands to her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes while beside her, Arhcibald rubbed his chin.

“We would have to be careful,” he said. “I worry that it would be too suspicious. Too many coincidence. Going out to adopt that boy might already have been a step too far.”

“It should be fine,” said Harrison. “Even without the connection to Jonny, I would have gone. The boy is the real deal. He might be better than me. Perhaps it will raise eyebrows, but I assure you that within a year or two, any suspicions will be laid to rest. Tommy is that good.”

“That’s good, then…” said Archibald.

“I personally think it would be safe,” continued Harrison. “Your brother has no reason to believe that Jonny is alive, and won’t be watching too closely.”

“Maybe. We will definitely consider it.”

“We’ll do it,” said Melinda. “We’ll make it work, whatever it takes. We can do more charity work with orphanages so it’s less suspicious.”

“We already do plenty, dear,” said Archibald. “Any more will only raise eyebrows.”

“We need to see him.”

Archibald wavered, then nodded. “Then we will. Harry?”

“I’ll do my best to convince her. They will come. I stake my title on it.”