Sat, May 19 2012
London, England, summer 1856
Rebecca had with her private teacher got a lot of knowledge and at 21 years old, she was to miss seriously of action if she was to compare herself with her cousins whom was to run from a mission to another. Since years now, she had got to learn with Phileas and Erasmus as teacher a lot more practical lessons than she had got with her private teacher. She had also come with the practice of few other hobbies as well. For that, she had got the silence of her nurse who had changed the name of her occupation since a moment now passing from nurse at young ladies maid. Rebecca in secret had got to practice the throw of the knife, first she had play with some she had found errand on the counter top of the kitchen, as the cook was to do the dishes. The knife had next saw with it’s new user a lot of different things it had certainly never saw before, ground, trees, rock, wood wall outside, a window, a man sit to his desk and a portrait on an inside wall. It had also heard for the first time a man yell.
Rebecca had walked in as Sir Boniface far to be amused to have saw a knife flying thought his window for stop in the middle of his portrait, had said what he was to though about the attack in know too well who had send that. A discussion with her guardian had brought Rebecca to say why she was to play that way. She was to wand being an agent her too. She said than she was not only able to sew but also to climb to a rock wall or to trees, she was able to manage a gun and a sword or even pick the locks. Sir Boniface far to look again angry when he put on his desktop the knife which was to seem had see better day in sit back in his armchair, “There, it seem had been used a lot. Either you will need better tools to continue the practice either I will need to found a way…” Rebecca had jumped for complete the sentence in seem angry, “A way to stop me to do! No, no, no. I wand be an agent too! I’m sure I can be just as good than Phileas or Erasmus on that, if not better! I’m sure no one would believe than a female could be one and I could made easier the job than a male!” She had say in mark her points.
Sir Boniface had well seen the Fogg in the red headed young woman with her angry blue eyes. She was just as determinate than Phileas when she had a mind in her head. Sir Boniface smiles, “I know you would have your place in the service, but I wand you know than before agreed on that, you will need to got a good training and I wand see by myself than you can go on the job before lets you go alone.” Rebecca had sighs and had moved in her armchair what had made the old man smiles, “Do not be too hurry, Phileas did not began in the service before his 24 years old and Erasmus was 25 when he began…” Rebecca cut him again, “They was both in the military service and Phileas was delayed because it was not possible for him to leave so he passed two more years there.” Sir Boniface smiled to her, “You seem forget they got was what missing to them as training in the military service, what is not a possibility for you. It would be too complicate, but you could got more training with some used agent.” Rebecca had then smiles, it would be the occasion to get again lesson with Phileas and Erasmus as teacher or at less it would permit to her to see them more and soon to work with them. Rebecca agreed the terms proposed and go on her next idea, ready clothes for the work to come.
London, England, summer 1857
Rebecca had got few lessons in a year, learn to handle different other weapons she had never see before. Wearing the more often the masculine attire she had done for herself as it was more comfortable for move and it was to help as well the men agent she had to work with while her training session. In the evening and the weekend, she was to work on other material than the usual one. One more costly and she was to be sure of her skill with sew for avoid the waste. She had commended leather to a man Sir Boniface was to made business with for all was to touch the stables and the horses’ equipment. As Erasmus and Phileas had know about that and asked her what it was about, she only said she was to wand done her own saddle the way she was in need of that. No one had talked again about until the both men had been asked to be the ones going on a training session with Rebecca. Out of her usual, she was come to the building wearing her more feminine clothes with the petticoats, the loop skirt and green dress as well than the hat matching with the remain of the dressing. She was even to wear the jewels of a lady. While on the other hand, Phileas and his brother were both to look more as tough nasty characters, in theirs shirtsleeves with theirs waistcoats unbuttoned, their shirt dirty and wet with sweat as one of them was not even shaved.
Erasmus had being the first one to react amused by her apparition, “There, the nasty little duck became a great white swan!” Phileas less amused and sure Rebecca was to made them lost their time, “The hell with the duck and the swan, what was you to believe than you doing in dress that way, we are here for a training to fight, not to learn how dance the waltz for the next formal diner the Queen will give!” The man had said angry as Rebecca had come closer smiling, “I would not be mind to a dance lesson with you, Phileas. But lets go to the training wand you.” She said in untied the low part of her dressing. Erasmus watched her done as she takes out the upper part of what was to seem be a dress as if it had been a coat as Phileas gaze was stuck on what she was to uncovered, a tight leather outfit that was to show a Rebecca in her full feminine state. As his jaw was in the way to fall on the floor and he had not moved she got the time to use his surprise to her advantage in got him on his knees as he had not blocked her blow at all. Erasmus amused by the scene had laugh even if it had not been funny at all, but Rebecca had even hold back her blow but Phileas had found himself kneel on the floor with his hands to his groin couching to found back his breath. Rebecca come close as Phileas succeed to growl under his breath, “What the bloody hell it’s supposed be as dressing?” Erasmus only laughs aloud in said, “You do not see Phileas it’s the saddle Rebecca done.” Rebecca giggles in help her cousin to get up, “Not at all, it’s my secret weapon, and if the enemy react just as you did, I will got a large advantage on the strong sex, by the way, sorry for yours, I hope I did not undamaged that too much, I hold back the blow but not enough I would said.” Phileas swept the question away by pride in feel totally sorry for the enemy who would meet Rebecca in her fighting mode.
London, England, summer 1858
A year later, Rebecca became an agent and as her predecessors, she was assigned to paperwork a moment before being agreed in the full active service as field agent, but her unhappiness of that work Erasmus was come in Phileas office with a large smiles on his face more for tease his brother than with a real idea, “Now, I suppose we need entertaining Rebecca and help her to agreed easily the work now it’s her turn.” Phileas had grabbed furtively the heaviest thing to be found on his desk and had throw that lightly in his brother direction, “You can forget that right now! I will certainly not permit you to bring her in such place when I fear she would more easily be agreed there as a member of the staff rather than as a client!” He said with intonation but on a lower tone as his brother caught easily the object throw on him. “I could always introduce to her one of my friend, only for a one night sta…” He said without finish as he put back the object on the desktop but as a heavy book come fast and hard hit him at the shoulder and Phileas shout on him, “I said no, let’s Rebecca handle of that alone! Out of my sight right now before I strangle you!”
Erasmus had leaved his brother’ office in laugh but had quickly come to his serious and a official standing as the Queen was come to said her congratulation to her goddaughter for her coming in the British secret service. The monarch was not alone as her husband was to walk with her in the hall with Sir Boniface and some guard. They passed for see Phileas once they had talked with Rebecca, Sir Boniface and Erasmus.
London, England, summer 1860
There was in the air the discussion about a travel in Canada than the Queen was in need to do for the inaugural of a bridge over the St-Laurent River as well than put the first stone of the Federal Parliament building in Ottawa. It was decided than if the Queen was to do the travel Phileas and Rebecca would be both assigned to be of the travel. But the Queen was so stressed, that Victoria was not to feel able to endure a trip like this. So the Prime Minister Lord Palmerstone suggested that Bertie could represent his mother in the Canadian trip. Victoria and Albert had some doubts about if Bertie could be equal to the occasion but at last it was decided that Bertie should go to Canada. And as they finish to agreed to lets the Prince to go, Sir Boniface assigned to an other mission of more value for the England his both sons, in lets Rebecca go on the official trip alone. The new had not please the Price Albert who was to got serious doubt toward his son whom had always got the less of trust from his parents than his elder sister. So Albert passed to White Hall an evening as Phileas was to look over the planning of his next mission with his brother.
“Why you will not be of the travel in Canada as it was planned, Phileas?” Albert asked more as a friend to another than as the King of England should have done to any member of his staff as they was both alone in the room and the title could be lets beside, there was more important than that. Phileas lift his gaze to the worry man in show him the vacant armchair in front of his desk, “I’m sorry for that, Albert, I would have been of that if the Queen and you had been of that, but I trust the General Bruce as well than Rebecca with the task to keep Bertie out of trouble.” Albert sighs for show he had the other opinion about that, “I know than they are more than capable, but I would feel better if you was there for be sure than my irresponsible son stay out of trouble.” Phileas put down his quill on the desktop over the map and the diver paperwork, “Since the Queen esteem she cannot made the travel, I was assigned to a worse mission, I will need at less two month for all planned and organized and again at less an other two month for done the work. It terribly risked but with the right planning and all the care it will ask, my father is sure it can succeed. I’m bit of another mind about that.” Albert had understood than his friend was forced to go under orders even if sometimes he would have prefer step over and after share few others words with his friend leaved him to his work.
On July 10, 1860, Bertie boarded the HMS Hero in direction of Canada. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was successful with the Canadian society. After Canada, Bertie visited the United States, invited by President James Buchanan. In Washington president Buchanan organized a reception in the White House in Bertie’s honour. President Buchanan wrote to Queen Victoria: “He (Bertie) has faced a very difficult task for a person his age, and his behaviour in all this has been that of his age and position. He has shown himself honourable, frank and affable and he won the respect of the sensible and wise people”. At the end of the journey, Bertie had gained maturity and self-confidence. Prince Albert refused to believe in Bertie’ success. To him, the joyfully acclamations of the Americans and Canadians were not really for Bertie but a sign of loyalty to the Queen.
On September of the same year, Phileas leaved for his mission in Prussia. The King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who was mentally insane, was nominally to rule the country. The princess Vicky’s father in law, Prince Wilhelm, was the King’ brother and the heir to the throne. Fritz, the Princess’ husband was second in succession. But there was a small General and his allies who were not to appease to see an English Princess soon to be the Queen of the Prussia. Some rumour was to mention the mother in law of the Princess as being a part of the plot but there was not real fact about. Phileas was not happy to see than his father had not heard about his advice as he would be better alone on that one and insisted for Erasmus was of the mission as it had first been decided. The both men leaved for the Prussia on a work under cover.
In November, as the mission had not see its end yet, an accident arrived as the Princess had know one of the men in town and Erasmus saw his cover blow away, what had put Phileas’ one at risk too. Phileas was in charge of the mission as his father was in charge of the British secret service and the order coming of the upper row was to stay in post and finish the mission and Phileas was not permit to send Erasmus back to London as he should have done for limited the risk for his brother as well than for him. The things became worse and out of hands when their both cover was blow always and they succeed to run away with the minimum of luggage when the military were come to put them under arrest for spying after a hard fight. They had got the idea to run away to the closer frontier by the mountains in the night and in the show, but had been quickly localized by other military after two day out in mountain as the soldiers with weapons and horses hunted them. Phileas had used his gun and Erasmus’ one after his brother had been shot. They had tried to escape in follow the edge of the hill since it was a place no horse would walk not even in being badly handle and it could give them forwarding, but Erasmus was to lost blood and strong so he fallen of the hill and even if Phileas had tried to got him back their hands had be part and Erasmus had finish his fall in the river lower with Phileas to watch him helpless.
“Save yourself, Phileas” had been Erasmus’ last words for him before fall. And it had been all what it had take for avoid to Phileas to jump the hillside to join his brother. After several minutes to be laid in the show without move as he was again under the shock, he heard the soldiers coming closer. Phileas get up and run away without though to anything else than save himself. While his mind was to work to got him back save to London unharmed he was not to think about Erasmus dreadful destiny, he would have all the time to do only that later. Once back at London, Phileas had stay to his home as a recluse, he was to feel bad and passed his time in the bottle after had send the word of his brother’ death and his report done at the alcohol smelling.
Phileas had got first Rebecca’s visit, and even if she had said be come on her own mind, Phileas was sure his father had send her. She didn’t stay long in saw his cousin’ state, she was to know too well than to talk would means nothing to him while he was drunk. Next, Sir Boniface was come to a visit him too, but even if Phileas was drunk, the both men shared angry word in lets come out the frustrations of the moment, rather than the real feeling coming of the heart. After they had throw their venom on one other Phileas had throw his father out. Sir Boniface and Rebecca had managed for done funeral and a burial even if it was for an empty coffin; they were in need to make something. There was to seem than everybody was come, everyone except Phileas. The Queen in saw that family totally thorn in pieces was to feel really sad and concerned, they was all more than friend, almost as family for her. She looked on her husband since it was a lot easier to him to go around than it was for her, “Please, Albert, paid a visit to him.” Albert smiles and kissed his wife gloved hand, “I will, Victoria, I will.”
So the next visit Phileas receive was the one of the Prince Albert. Phileas was again drunk but in his light moment of lucidity had written two letters and placed them to the corner of his desk as the last empty bottle was sit close of his left hand and his glass of his right one and him half asleep in his armchair. Albert and his escort knocked at the door but no one come to answer. But as he had the authorization of the queen for a visit to the owner of the house and than the Queen would never being happy to hear about a door closed and no one at home, Albert said to the guard being with him to get the door open. Once the door opened with a “boom” as the door hit the wall, the both men walked in the house to found the angry owner storming in the hall, as he had to lay again the wall for stand up. Albert with all the grace of his row walked with Phileas in hold him back in the study as the guard closed the door again to evaluate the damage done.
Once the man sit back and a bit more disposed to talk, Albert sit in front of him. They chatted a moment, moment where Phileas bitter for what was happen and in look for a way shouted his pain saying to the prince, “My brother is dead for help your biggest dream to became true. Hug! To see the 40 states of the Germany to be unified under a constitutional and parliamentary government! That was a great idea! The century’ one!” The man said drunk and with all his arrogance. Albert caught the man by his dusted white shirt’ collar, the same he should have wear that same day than his brother had been shot and next fallen of the hill. First Albert had been frustrated by the tone and the words used, but now saw all the pain the man was in, made him look on the green eyes shut as Phileas was ready for the punch to send him toward a long night sleep. “You were to know than that mission was to help my dream to come true, why you didn’t said when we talked together than it was that? I certainly never wand than my dream kill people, and certainly not people so dear to the Queen and I.” Phileas looked away on the wall at his left for avoid answering and not looking on his friend. Albert shakes him a bit, “Answer me, Phileas! Why?”
Phileas looked on Albert, “The wedding of the prince Frederick with an English princess so full of mind than your Vicky didn’t made the business of everybody.” Phileas said simply without more explanation, but Albert had understood, he had being the one made of his daughter a so minded women in transmit his own ideas to her. “So you hold the queen and I responsive for you brother’s death?” Albert said totally caught by the realization. But Phileas get up in hold on the desk, “No, my father is responsible. I said him the danger to send him and me there. I manage to send him the word than Erasmus’ cover had been blowing away when it happened. He insisted we stay there and continue the mission. I tried to keep Erasmus on a low profile after for avoid to blow my cover too. But it come right after and come out of hand really fast. We escape and Erasmus did not make that, that all. I’m save, and in a way I pray for him to be too. Now, all what I wand it’s got back my soul. Give these two letters at who they are addressed for me.” Albert takes them, one addressed at the Queen and the other to Sir Boniface Fogg, as Phileas walked out of the room toward the stairs for go upstairs in feel as it a big weight had just be take out of his shoulders to go take rest.
By the letters, Phileas was to explain the circumstances of his brother’s death and to give his resignation from the British secret service. For Sir Boniface that was as if he had lost his two sons on that mission, as if the both of them had fallen of the hill to the river. He had lost all what he was to have and to cherish. He had loved his sons, since always, he had even loved his wife, but realized that too late. And now it was too late again, Phileas was just as pride than he was himself. It had being weeks since Phileas’ come back, just as it had being weeks since his visit to him. Phileas had not even made an appearance to the funeral and that even if Rebecca had invited him warmly to come. It was finish and Sir Boniface knew that just as Phileas would never made a step back to his father since the would always see Erasmus’ death part them. Sir Boniface was sure Phileas had not done enough for protect him, and for Phileas, Sir Boniface had denied to help in the situation. Now Sir Boniface was to fear to lose Rebecca who had always got a preference to his elder son. The loneness and the sadness were to eat on him without he can stop that.
For the Queen, the letter was to have a different effect and she was to recall the man’ words, “…and there is nothing I would not do for the country and the Queen.” Victoria smiled to herself certainly she would not use to the man’ disadvantage his own words, but if need was and it was for the man’s well-being and his own health, she would have no scruple to do. And soon an idea formed in her mind, she could get assistance for help Phileas to come back at better feeling.
London, England, autumn 1861
It was years now than the Prince Albert was stuck with a sickness, the stress he has to get over his son, the Prince of Wales, behavior. And it was the December 14th than the Price died after eleven that night. It was the worst day in Queen Victoria's life. She was more than devastated. She cried inconsolable and remained awake all night long. Her children and advisors were all helpless.
Phileas who had got a year for settled back his live had began by go on his knew vices, alcohol, women and games of luck, all what was to cost him a lot more money than it was to bring him. It had almost cost him his house, since he had resigned of the service a year before the end of the mortgage and he had lost months in his drunker’ period to do nothing else than drink. Of course he had got to deal with a banker who had a heart or he would have been good to finish under the London Bridge with the other unfortunate of his ilk. Without a word, Sir Boniface had agreed to pay for avoid the bankrupt to his son, even it was the last thing he could do for him and his son would be angry with him for that. The death of the Prince had found Phileas and he had made an honour’ point to be there in his best state.
The Queen happy to saw her friend present, had manage to got a bit of time alone with him, and had confide to him, “Never can I forget how beautiful my darling looked lying there with his face lit up by the rising sun, his eyes unusually bright, gazing as if were on unseen objects and not taking notice of me. I stood up, kissed his dear heavenly forehead and called out a bitter agonizing cry: Oh my dear darling! And then I dropped on my knees in mute distract despair, unable to utter a word or shed a tear.” Phileas had looked on her and for the first time since so long talked about that dreadful moment, “My brother and I walked on the edge of the hill for escape the Prussian soldiers, he had been shot, he fallen of the hill, I grabbed his hand and hold him as long I could. Save yourself, Phileas, was the last thing he said me as his bloodied hand slide out of mine and he finishes his fall toward the bottom of the hill. He scarified himself for me.” Phileas said to the Queen as she saw him affected, as never before as they talked as they long lost friends they were.
London, England, winter 1862
Less of a year later, it was Sir Boniface turn to be found death. Rebecca had never lets him down, she had agreed her missions and do them for also be there for Phileas. She had been thankful for these men to be there for her when she had need of that as a lost little girl. They had helped her to be the woman she was and had well showed her reconnaissance to them. She had been with Phileas when the butler was come in courtyard where she was to practicing her fighting skills with Rodney for announcing the bad new. Rebecca had helped Phileas with the funeral arrangement, the memorial service and the transport of the coffin for Shillingworth Magna’ church crypt.
As they were both busy, the queen had just as much to go on. She had got to found the Baron Heinrich Freytag Von Bresslau with the work of a mandated person in 1860. Next, the mandated person was staying the link between the Queen and the baron. She had got a meeting with the man when the new about Sir Boniface’ death had found her. Victoria had been amazed by the work done in two years with the financing of the British Crown. The Queen was to recall the discussion on the doorway of the abbey after the memorial service. Phileas had explained that he could never again be a part of the secret service and that he shares none of his father's ambitions as he had denied from the Prime Minister the offered post in the British secret service. The Queen had know than if she had been the one to ask, Phileas would not have denied but the last thing she was to wand was to see him agreed against his will as he had done the first time in sign the documents his father had put in front of him. But that beauty sits in all her splendour in the back yard of Buckingham Palace was certainly more than what Phileas Fogg would need for come back to the live he had learn to like and to give his help at the need for the Queen and the country.
End
Well we know all; it was not the real End…
+ + + +
Author’s note:
There is my way to see the story, the real as the fictive one, so the dates, the place, the event were modified for adapt to my fanfic, so please do not hold me responsive if your children flop their history lesson at school.
For done that work I used few websites for see them:
* http://www.geocities.com/jibarrahdez/
* http://www.onwar.com/aced/nation/uni/uk/findex.htm
* http://www.twoevilmonks.org/
End of Chapter Six
Chapter 5 | Chapter 6