Chapter 14
Victoria didn't feel quite as useless as she would have expected. Even though she didn't know anything about the antiquities, she could read the inventory. The two historians she worked with explained everything they handled to her as they worked.
It had only taken about fifteen minutes for at least half a dozen staffers to show up to assist. The relief on the Assistant Historian's face told Victoria just how seriously she was taking this.
Victoria and her partners came to a good stopping point and decided the time had come for a short break to stretch, relax, and just do something else for a few minutes.
As much as they wanted to continue working, everyone in the department acknowledged the need for down time.
Otherwise, physical exhaustion and mental fatigue would lead to errors and accidents.
Not could.
Would.
It would only be a matter of time before someone misidentified a document or damaged an irreplaceable relic.
Victoria wasn't sure where she should go. The other two had given her a polite nod then walked off toward... well, she didn't know where. She only knew they'd left her to fend for herself.
As she started for the main door to the gallery, she looked through the open door to the Royal Historian's office. Jeanette sat at his desk with her face in her hands. Her shoulders didn't show evidence of sobs, but that didn't mean she wouldn't be crying underneath.
When the phone rang, her face lifted. Victoria only saw weariness.
"Office of the Royal Historian, Jeanette speaking."
Jeanette sat straight up in her chair. "Your Royal Highness, I appreciate your call."
Royal Highness? Who could it be?
"Your expertise would be most welcome, ma'am.
" Jeanette listened for a few seconds. "This evening?
" She sounded incredulous. "That would be wonderful.
" The historian looked up and realized Victoria was there.
"I will need to clear it with... someone.
Security or the king. I'm not really sure, but since you're not from Dellisole, I don't know that I can approve that on my own. "
A few more seconds went by with Jeanette nodding along. "I'll be in touch as soon as I know, ma'am. Thank you."
Victoria leaned against the door frame and hoped she looked casual. She didn't want Jeanette to feel intimidated. That wasn't the purpose. "Is everything all right?" She heard her own words and grimaced. "At least as all right as it can be?"
Jeanette nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Who was that? I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I was close enough to hear..." She wasn't spying and hoped the other woman understood that.
"Madeleine Woodward Middleton, Duchess of Nordfell from Eastern Novigradia. She's offered to assist in any way she can."
Victoria took a seat across the desk from Jeanette. "She's a historian as well, isn't she?"
"Yes, ma'am. That's how she and the widowed Prince Consort found each other.
She helped him find a way to ensure he was regent for Queen Catherine.
They eventually determined the only way to force their parliament and council to allow him to was to be married.
It was widely discussed in our professional circles.
Everyone knew it wasn't a love match, at least not at first, but, if the number of children they have together is any indication, that changed at some point.
" The look on Jeanette's face softened. "If you've ever seen the way they look at each or how they are around each other when they're out of the spotlight, you also know it's true. "
After searching the recesses of her mind for a minute, Victoria remembered snippets of the story. "You said she could be here this evening?"
"Yes, ma'am. They're already in Europe and can be here in a couple of hours." She hesitated. "I don't have the authority to authorize her participation. I don't know that even the actual Royal Historian could on his own."
Victoria pulled her phone out of her pocket and sent Enzo a text asking him to contact her when he had a few minutes.
To her surprise, the screen lit up almost immediately.
Swiping across, she answered. After summarizing what Jeanette had told her, she asked the pertinent question.
"Who needs to approve her participation?
What kind of restrictions would she have?
Not to be alone in the offices or archives, of course, but can she help authenticate?
Be support staff? I don't know what the options could be and first we need to know if she can. "
The only thing she could hear for several seconds was the sound of his pen tapping against a nearby surface. She'd learned it meant he was thinking.
"I don't have any problems with it. If there's anyone we can trust, it's the duchess.
I'm not sure if she needs to be cleared by security, but I'll text you as soon as I know.
You might ask if she can get started toward Dellisole as soon as possible.
Even if she can't help in the archives themselves, I imagine her knowledge and support will be invaluable to Ms. White regardless. "
"Thank you. I'll talk to you at dinner." She hadn't considered when she'd be finished helping.
"I'll stop by the archives before long, and we can discuss how our plans are affected for the next few days while you're helping with the search.
Unfortunately, our trip to the shore has already been postponed anyway.
" Another pause, but no tapping. "I have to attend to another matter, but I'll contact you soon. "
"Thank you."
She could almost see that grin of his, the one that had attracted her to him in the first place. "My pleasure."
Setting the phone back down, Victoria turned to Jeanette. "Let her know we would appreciate any help she can give, though we're not sure exactly what form that will take at the moment. The king will let us know what clearances she needs and what the restrictions will be."
A look of relief quickly covered Jeanette's face. "Thank you." She quickly placed a call to the other historian. After hanging up, she sank back into her chair. "Her experience will be a huge asset, even if it's only in an advisory role outside of the gallery and archives."
"I've met her, but it's been years. I don't remember much about it," Victoria admitted. "She's kind. I know that much."
"We've met several times at conferences, both before and after her marriage to Prince Anthony.
I don't know her well, but she’s always made those around her feel comfortable.
Even if she's not able to assist, just having someone here who understands will be helpful.
" She blew out a breath and straightened, resting her forearms on her desk.
"I'm new to all of this," she admitted. "I've only been at the palace for a few months.
I've worked on other projects both in Dellisole and elsewhere, but never on a staff like this or been in management of a place like this.
I've certainly never been prepared to take over as Royal Historian even temporarily.
I expected it to be at least twenty years before I'd even consider applying for a position as prestigious as this one, and I wouldn't expect to be hired the first time either. "
Victoria gave her a sympathetic smile. "I understand, but if you weren't prepared and qualified you wouldn't be here."
"I appreciate the confidence, ma'am."
In unison they sank back in their chairs and let out a breath.
They'd figure this out.
Somehow.
Asking for assistance from other historians hadn't occurred to Enzo. He didn't even know how Madeleine Woodward Middleton had heard about the problem, but he supposed the world of royal historians wasn't that large and word of anything interesting wouldn't take long to make it's way around.
Prince Anthony, widower of the late Queen Caroline of Eastern Novigradia, came to see him while his wife went to the archives.
"I'm sorry about your mum." The former prince consort didn't waste any time. "I wish we'd been able to attend the service, but Madeleine and I were both quite ill. Even if we had been up to traveling, we wouldn't want to infect the entire assembly."
Enzo gave a nod. "Understood - and we appreciate the consideration."
The other man's demeanor shifted in such a minute way that Enzo wasn't immediately certain he'd been correct in his observation.
"How are you?"
No. He'd been right. Anthony had moved from being a congenial colleague of sorts to a concerned mentor.
"I'm... all right. I miss mum, of course, and I wish she was still here, but I'm taking things a day at a time, learning as I go.
" He led the way to a sitting area near the windows overlooking the city and motioned for Anthony to have a seat.
Maybe he could change the subject to something a little more pleasant. "How is your family?"
"They're doing well."
The slight raise of an eyebrow told Enzo that his attempt at deflection had been noticed.
Anthony's expression softened. "I know I've never been a monarch, but I've spent decades married to one and being regent for another. If there's anything I can do or help with or if you need someone to be a sounding board or to vent to, I'm only a phone call away."
That he'd been the regent had slipped Enzo's mind. Maybe the other man could have more relevant experience than Enzo had considered. "I appreciate that, sir. I have your number and may take you up on that."
Maybe. Nothing with national security implications, but maybe he could help when it came to dealing with strong personalities in other parts of the government or interpersonal relationships.
Anthony against the back of his chair. "I know there's things you won't be able to discuss for security reasons, but what can you tell me about what's going on down in the archives?"