Page 122 of The Infernal Battalion

“If anything, I understated the case,” Matthew said. “But first I need your word that, yes or no, nothing I’m about to say will leave this room. You know how sensitive these things can be.”

“Perfectly. My word as a gentleman.” Phineas leaned forward slightly. “So?”

“Vordanai debt,” Matthew said, pronouncing the words as though they ought to be a revelation.

Phineas sighed and sat back. “Oh, Matty. You too?”

“I’m not the first to approach you?”

“My boy, you’re not even the tenth. Everyone and their uncle seems to be betting on whether our friends to the south will pay their bills. I’ve had a half dozen asking me to buy bonds, and a half dozen more insisting I should be selling them short.”

“But you haven’t taken a position.”

“No.” Phineas shook his head. “The whole thing is a touch volatile for my tastes. Armies in the field, and all that. Who knows which way it will go? I might hazard ten marks just to be sporting, but—”

“What if I told you that I know which way it will go?”

“Matty.” Phineas looked like someone had given him a lemon to suck. “Please. If you need money, just be honest and ask me as an old friend. I know you and your father haven’t been on good terms.”

“He’s not the only connection I have in the Keep.”

Matthew half turned, which was Raesinia’s cue. She raised her veil and pulled back her hood, nodding respectfully at Phineas.

“Raesinia Orboan,” she said.

“Raesinia—​Raesinia Orboan?” Phineas practically leapt out of his seat. “The Queen of Vordan?”

“And,” Matthew said smoothly, “my fiancée.”

“Oh,” Phineas said, settling rapidly. “Oh, I see. That’s... very interesting.”

Raesinia could practically see the gears turning behind his eyes. As Matthew went into the actual sales pitch, Phineas kept looking back to her, tilting his head as though trying to see her from a different angle.

We’ve got him.

“...and I’m confident,” Matthew said, “that, given our unique advantages, the company will be able to keep ahead of the pack.”

“Confidentiality?” Phineas said.

“Assured. Our shares are already trading in the market. If I sign these over to you”—​Matthew raised a satchel, which contained a thick stack of gilt-​edged documents—“you can deposit them with your favorite deniable broker, and there will be no connection visible between us. The staff here is known for perfect discretion.”

“They are indeed.” Phineas eyed the share certificates like a hungry man watching a steak browning in a pan. “And how much were you thinking, Matty, my old friend?”

“Two hundred thousand marks at minimum. Below that and we’ll need to cut too many people in—”

“Make it five hundred,” Phineas said. “I’ll run it through my box at Three Crowns Bank. You know the one?”

“Oh, yes.” Matthew smiled. “You won’t regret this, Finny.”

“I’d better not.” Phineas grinned. “You have no idea what the wife would say.”

*

“Does it bother you?” Raesinia said, when they were back in the carriage and rattling their way toward the Keep.

“Does what?”

“Doing this to your old friends.”