Chapter 30: 8 Days Before the Olde New Year, 1616
Robert Carr crossed the meadow looking as much a stallion as the horse underneath him. He was well aware of how impressive he appeared. Young Louis, who was in the flower of youth himself, was certainly delighted. Carr dropped down from his mount and the boy king had almost instantly wrapped his arms around Carr's neck.
"I am so happy to be away with you," Louis enthused. "Not surrounded by my mother's spies."
Carr nodded, supportively though he was pleased how well he'd turned son from parent. "I am as well, my sweet Majesty."
They kissed, but before the lovers could settle in the sound of hoofbeats could be heard from two directions. "What is it now?" Louis complained.
The first rider turned out to be Henri de Condé. Carr knew he wouldn't interrupt them without reason, so he knew it was likely important. And likely to be something they didn't want the Queen Mother hearing about.
Which was why it was discouraging to see that Queen Marie had personally set out to intercept them.
Louis had missed all of that though. As the riders dismounted he angrily asked, "What is the meaning of all this?"
Marie spoke first. "I'd heard Henri had received word from the border and was on his way to see you." Since she was no longer Regent, she played a good game of pretending to be sheepish. "I was curious."
Henri's jaw tightened but he played the game as well. "Of course ma'am. We've intercepted a message from the British government to the King Consort, who is en route to Vienna."
Marie raised an eyebrow. "How was this accomplished?" she asked.
Carr was curious to hear the answer to that. He knew that any messenger the Queen sent would gladly give Henri a peek at what was going through. But Henri didn't want the Queen Mother knowing that.
Henri had decided to dismiss it though. "I have a sympathetic ear at the British court. Best we leave it at that."
"Of course," Louis told him. "The last I heard, the King Consort was in London. Why send a message right after him?" Louis could not supress a smile when Carr nodded, pleased at the probing question.
"The Archduke Ferdinand seems to be deliberately antagonizing the British Queen," Henri told them. "Assigning the Cardinal involved in her father's murder to her court. Summoning-"
"Wait," Marie interrupted. "The Archduke made the assignment?"
"He signed the paperwork," Henri replied. "I didn't hear how much was his idea."
Carr leaned in behind the King. "We need to know more," he whispered. Louis tightened his jaw, looking unsurprised. That was good to see as well.
Louis turned to his mother. "We need to know what's going on in Vienna. How soon could you leave?"
Marie started. "I- But our ambassador-"
"Is obviously out of the loop," the King told her. "You're our Dowager Queen, a de Medici. Your mother was a Hapsburg Archduchess. You can get further than any of our people right now."
"Your Majesty, I believe his Majesty is quite right here," Henri told her.
Carr was silent. His instructions were to subtly adjust the King's attitudes but to stay out of the way of the players at Court.
Queen Marie gave way. "Of course, if you need me, I'll leave at once." Though it took a minute's staring before she mounted her horse again and left.
Once Marie was out of earshot, Carr dropped his meek persona. "Is there anything else?
Henri nodded. "It might be nothing but the Cardinal waited until Elector Frederick was on his way to Vienna before he announced himself at Court.
Louis frowned. It bode well that he was able to participate in this meeting. "If we can get to the Elector, would he tell us what he thinks?"
Henri had to consider that. "It would depend on what was in it for him."
Henri and Carr watched to see the young monarch's decision. "I know you both want us to side with the Protestants." Carr was about to object but Louis held up his hand. "Right now there might be two factions in Vienna and that's scary."
"And who would you prefer to support?" Henri asked.
"I don't know," Louis exclaimed anxiously. "I can't decide without knowing what's going on."
Louis turned to Carr, desperately. Carr looked at Henri. They'd been fostering an alliance with the British but it was too soon to tell the youth what he needed to be doing.
"You want the status quo?" Carr asked.
And it seemed like that answered whatever doubts he had. "I do. Tell the Elector if he's willing to work unofficially with us, we'll do what we can to support the Emperor against the anti-Protestant factions in the Empire."