“Aye. ‘Tis. Hard to get one past you, Iwan. Can you get away?”
“Believe I might. What are you thinkin’?”
“I’m thinkin’ do a favor, get a favor.”
“Oh? Let’s hear it then.”
“Well, I need to be somewhere that is no’ here without explainin’ to anyone, particularly my mother, where that might be, if you’re understandin’ what I mean.”
“I believe I do.”
“So I thought I might say I’ve gone huntin’ with the boys.”
“Aye. Duffy, I will cover your ass should it become necessary and you know you do no’ even have to ask it, e’en though lyin’ to the queen is probably a hangin’ offense. But…”
“But?”
“I imagine it goes without sayin’. You’re no fifteen, you know.”
He sighed deeply. “Ah, Iwan. All jokin’ aside. Bein’ prince is complicated.”
“Well, we already established ‘tis hard to be you. Tell me the details.”
After they discussed who might go and when they would leave, Duff hung up making a mental note to do something special for Iwan no matter how things turned out. Step Two complete.
Go date: March 10th
To Do:
1.) Arrange clearance for hunting party with German ambassador.
2.) Have Grieve clear my calendar from March 10th through 16th.
3.) Have Song tell The Order she will be going home for personal time.
Step Three. Getting away.
Goal: To be there before they know we’re gone.
Needed: 1.) passports and travel documents 2.) transportation
To Do:
Arrange transportation.
Inform PM when itinerary is set.
Step Four. A new life.
Needed: 1.) money 2.) place to live
Duff thanked the gods that he was one of the one percent of the one percent who need not worry about money. His grandfather, on passing, had left him a trust that had matured on Duff’s twenty-fifth birthday. He’d never touched a penny of it. Never so much as thought about it. But there was enough there to support a couple for a lifetime if they lived a reasonably humble lifestyle.
At times in his life he’d wondered if he should feel guilty because he knew that extreme privilege or power almost always began with plunder, but he’d had more opportunity to curse his ancestors for their success with war and coastal raiding than thank them for it.
Wanting to reach Innes before office hours ended Friday, Duff called with his list.
“You ready?”