Late spring was shaping up to be a good season, and summer looked even more productive. Nothing significant had caught Jacob’s ear, though Niklos’s instincts with regards to the coach and the dinner at Cereus had proven enlightening. Not for what had been said, but for where the rumors had come from. A serving maid at the Palace had overheard some minor Kusheline lordling mention that it seemed like the Shahrizai were “going soft,” which had not merited a response… yet. And some of the folks in the jewelry district had thought it was romantic, which was why, when Jacob later reported rumors from the jewelry district, it first puzzled and then concerned Niklos.
“My Lord,” Jacob interrupted him one evening, as Nik was staring out over the city from the window in his study. Jacob never interfered unless it was a pressing matter, and Niklos nodded to him, knowing that the report would be brief. “There are rumblings in the jeweler’s district, sir. You know of Jacques Halceaux?”
Niklos started, his head turning and his eyes focusing on Jacob. “I know the man is purported to be one of the best silversmiths in the city. I believe his work has even graced some of my cousins…” Niklos trailed off. The man made a living from the nobility. What would he be doing to cause rumblings? “Isn’t he the Guildhead for the Silversmith’s Guild?”
Jacob nodded in response. “Exactly the man, my lord. He has apparently been heard expressing his… frustration… at the closeness of Odilia nò Dahlia and the Crown Prince. It could be nothing, but it could end up being something serious.”
Niklos shook his head slowly, a low whistle escaping his lips. “Find out more if you can. Lean on sources if you must. There has to be a reason for all this. I am surprised that a man like that would make this sort of noise, there must be a reason. Was there anything else?”
Jacob’s lips twisted into a brief frown. He didn’t like the directive he’d been given, Niklos could tell. Neither of them liked pressing sources, it made them far less likely to want to give you more information in the future. Either that, or they’d start asking for favors, and those favors were usually expensive. He took a breath and nodded.
“There is something else. The former betrothed of the Dauphin Daniel, Casiopée de Fhirze, appears to be readying for a return to the city. The de Fhirze townhouse, which has been closed since the former Dauphin’s death, presumably for the lady to go into mourning, is being readied by some members of the staff. She’s a scion of the Marquis de Fhirze, an old Naamarese family, and might be someone to cultivate. She was close to the throne before, and she may be again once she returns.”
Niklos nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. “Let’s wait on her. Give her some time to be settled back in the city before we make any moves. It might be that they are preparing to sell the old place.” He had a vague memory of the house, but only because he had driven past it. “Or something else might be brewing. Besides, if she does return, we will look gauche if we send her an invitation when she’s barely freshened up from being in the country. There’s time.”
Jacob nodded, a mental note obviously being added to a prodigious list in his brain. “Oh, one final thing, and I only know this because one of the sculls just mentioned something as I was making my way to your chambers. Apparently, the Duc de Chalasse has returned to the City. That Idaeus Lacordaire has been summoned to his townhouse a number of times, and there are even credible rumors that the Duc has been sending letters to Dahlia house.”
Niklos blinked, then barked out a laugh, a grin creasing his face. “That old lion is back in the city? This summer is going to be even more fantastic than I could have hoped for! Definitely keep an eye on that. Don’t press anyone, but start thinking about a way that we could invite the Duc to dinner. Perhaps at the Palace in the family quarters. They’re opulent enough even for him. And it’s curious he is reaching out to Dahlia house. I think one of his grandchildren is in the Night Court. Perhaps more than one… but I don’t think any of them are with Dahlia. See if you can find out something there. Oh, and Idaeus Lacordaire… he and I met at Valerian for their Mara’s Eve fête. See if you can’t send an invitation to him to join me for drinks here at the townhouse some night. He’s an interesting sort, and it might be worth our while to keep him as an ally.”
The muscle in Jacob’s cheek twitched at that last statement, Niklos noted. Apparently he’d read something into Idaeus, but not what the butler already knew. He let it pass, knowing Jacob would provide him the information in due time.