Iain sat quietly in the comfortably dilapidated chair that had followed him from office to office for some years

12 February PAe 84 Austin, Earl MacFarlane's apartment, at the Ducal residence, via the fly on the wall....

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========================================= Iain sat quietly in the comfortably dilapidated chair that had followed him from office to office for some years. He settled back in it deflated, almost consumed by it. Dampness slid down his face. Surprised and uncertain, he wiped it away with a sleeve. He looked down at it, confused, suddenly taking a shuddering breath.

The messenger, darkly clad and with official demeanor sat quietly, respectfully across from him.

Evan Graham glowered in another equally dilapidated chair to Iain's right. The brigadier and chief of the earl's knights divided his attention between reading the stationary attached to a royal seal, and occasional concerned glances at his old friend. After a few moments, he turned to the Earl with a sympathetic look and quietly said "So it's over, isn't it?"

Iain gave a curt nod. From somewhere, a voice he scarcely recognized croaked out a brief "yes", and subsided back into silence. He was confused by the dampness he felt on his face, and the roaring in his ears. Evan blurred in his vision. He heard more than saw him turn to the messenger "Please inform his Majesty that Earl MacFarlane will attend him at his earliest opportunity. Thank you for your service."

With a polite bow, and without another word, the messenger departed silently through the door. A servant on one of the endless errands of the household happened to be passing by as he stepped out. Iain vaguely perceived a surprised look on the mans face as the door closed behind the messenger. After a moments pause, he suddenly realized Evan was speaking. "... and that's how it will go. We'll whistle up a hybrid courier from the Admiralty. I expect someone there will have been informed and already be getting one ready."

Iain felt that alien rush of moisture on his face again. "Its been so long, and I've lost so, so much. There is still so much to do... the pain... the people I care for... I..." his voice caught "... I want Dru."

With a look of sympathy, Evan stood, stepped over and gently squeezed his old friends shoulder. "I'll have them fetch her from St. Louis first, Iain. They'll have you both to New London in less than three days. I'll tell her to pack for hot weather." Iain nodded numbly. Evan gave a wry smile and continued "Don't worry my old friend. His Nibs will do right by you, I'm certain, and I'll hold things down here until the new management arrives." With that, the Brigadier stepped to the door, and on opening it, summoned Iain's personal secretary and a messenger.