Smrtolf (though this is Meissner giving a report to Taaffe so neither of them appear) "Masculine." This one is kind of cracky. I will be following up with another drabble or two that cover Taaffe's trip to Mayerling to see Rudolf.
For the amazing @adridoesstuff as all the Smrtolf drabbles are
“Herr Meissner has returned.”
“Mmm.” Eduard didn’t look up from his papers, but he could hear Wiligut refilling his tea cup.
“He’s ready to give his report, sir.” Wiligut sounds mildly exasperated.
“I’d imagine he is.” Eduard found the offending line in the budget - the Crown Prince’s expenditures on sausages had gone up by a factor of 4. Imported pigs? Some fancy strain of British pigs recommended by the empress? The prince certainly hadn’t started eating four times as many sausages. He was as thin as ever. “Send him in.”
The click of Wiligut’s heels comes, and he paces off to the door. Meissner’s heels are clicking before Eduard’s desk a moment later. “Herr Minister-President.”
“Report.” Eduard finds another line and makes a little mark by it. Why could the Crown Prince want twenty different kinds of ribbons? It was almost like the prince knew he would be going through the expenditures and was doing it for the sole reason of drawing Eduard’s ire.
In said ire he misses the first part of Meissner’s report, only picking up when the spy had arrived at Mayerling, late in the afternoon. The account of the hunting lodge is expected - a small staff, and very loyal to the Crown Prince.
“How loyal? Did anyone stand out?” Normally Eduard would wait until Meissner’s report was done, but had been trying to get a read on the Mayerling servants - and if any of them would be able informants - for some time.
“Fanatically loyal, Herr Minister-President. They eyed me very suspiciously and wouldn’t answer any of my questions about his Imperial Highness.” How the immature brat that was the Crown Prince managed to inspire such loyalty, Eduard had no idea. Perhaps more coin would loosen their tongues. Or perhaps he should send Wiligut to Mayerling to extract answers with a firmer hand. Meissner’s talent lay more in subtle coaxing than any sort of threats.
“Continue.” Eduard pinched the bridge of his nose as Meissner carried on, listing all that he had found in the hunting lodge. The Crown Prince’s painting hobby was well known enough - the Emperor certainly knew, so the list of paintings wasn’t of much interest to Eduard. Meissner seemed more impressed with the Crown Prince’s skill than Eduard would have expected, but he waves the spy on. There are far more important things at the hunting lodge than a few paintings.
The birds too aren’t a surprise - Meissner had brought Eduard accounts of the Crown Prince’s affiliation for all things avian before, and it seemed that the boy had taken up a friendship with an entire forest’s worth of crows and ravens.
“How was the lodge?” Eduard interrupts Meissner again. Birds can be ever so destructive, and extensive repairs to the Mayerling lodge would be an unwelcome addition to the Imperial Household budget at this point. The Empress’s expenses are positively obscene and the Emperor denies her nothing.
Meissner himself seems somewhat surprised by the answer he gives - despite the dozens of birds, the lodge is in very good condition. No damage, nothing. No extensive renovations or restorations for at least another few years, then.
“Continue.” Eduard tells himself not to interrupt as Meissner continues, listing out the other things he had seen - a few more horses in the stable than one might call strictly needed. But Meissner trails off at the end, and Eduard finally looks at the spy.
“Out with it, Herr Meissner.”
“The Crown Prince did have one companion that I saw, Sir.”
“You just said no riders arrived and there was no one there but the servants.”
“Indeed sir. No one arrived, but I saw the man in the Crown Prince’s bedroom. Late. And alone with the Crown Prince.” It’s rare for Meissner to be so oblique, but the hint of the accusation is so extreme that Eduard is surprised his spy is even willing to imply as much as he has.
“What did you see?” A careful question.
“The Crown Prince conversing with his companion.”
“Just conversing?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see the companion leave?”
“No, sir. He was gone in the morning, but he left no trace that he was there.”
“You will speak of this to no one.” Eduard isn’t terribly worried that Meissner will talk, but it bears repeating. The Crown Prince is enough of a problem, what with conversing with Hungarians. The last thing that Eduard needs with the recent business with the Germans is for there to be a scandal involving the Crown Prince and his apparent male lover.
“Find the Crown Prince’s companion.” The order comes easily. “Wait. No, ignore that. You’ll be on a different assignment.” Eduard wants the servants to not be on alert, and if they are as fanatical as they seem then it would be better not to send Meissner again.
“Dismissed.” Meissner’s heels click and the spy departs, leaving Eduard alone with WIligut.
“Which day did the Kaiser cancel the council meeting? Was it next Thursday?” Eduard pinches his brow once more. Normally he knows these things easily.
“Yes, sir. He’s going hunting with the British Ambassador.” Eduard nodded.
“Clear my schedule for that morning. If the Crown Prince’s servants won’t talk then perhaps it is best to simply ask his Imperial Highness after his companion.”
“As you say, sir.”
“And-” Eduard pulled the budget from the pile of papers once more. “Perhaps he’ll even have a good answer for why his sausage expenditures have gone up four-fold and the twenty different types of ribbons that he has ordered for delivery to Mayerling. I for one don’t see how mauve ribbon would be of use if one was hunting.”
Wiligut doesn’t respond, and Taaffe gets up, his limbs creaking. He’s not as young as he used to be. But it will be nice to get out of the palace for once, even if it won’t be until next week. Eduard gave his globe a lazy spin and gazed out the window. What would he do if the Crown Prince did have a male lover? It would be so much easier if the Crown Prince’s companion was only that, but Eduard for one didn’t think he would be in luck.
Graf Zeppelin over Washington by StreetsofWashington
Via Flickr:
The pioneering dirigible Graf Zeppelin made its first transatlantic crossing in October 1928, sparking intense public interest and sensational newspaper headlines. The airship flew from Germany to Lakewood, New Jersey, but along the way it made a flyover of Washington on October 15, drawing crowds outside to gaze up and marvel at the monster in the sky. Nine years later its sister ship, the Hindenburg, blew up while attempting to dock at Lakewood, and the short-lived era of dirigible transportation came to an abrupt end. This postcard was published by Alvin R. Meissner, a designer at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing who had created a commemorative airmail stamp for Charles Lindbergh in 1927.
Vintage Meissner Limoges miniature plate. Deep cerise pink/red with gold gilding and a romantic couple. Measures approximately 7cm across. No chips, cracks or crazing. Rubbing wear and factory flaws if examined closely. Marked Meissner Limoges France P 2 UK SHIPPING INCLUDED. I have other vintage
NEWS. Meissner matches Gibsons world-record score as qualification concludes at GT Open archery
RT @worldarchery: NEWS. Meissner matches Gibson’s world-record score as qualification concludes at GT Open 🏆🏹🇱🇺 #archery https://t.co/Qv4qeGGAxH https://t.co/LeCiL5aw1a
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We’re reading historical novel, Secrets of Charmed Life, by Susan Meissner for t… We're studying historic novel, Secrets and techniques of Charmed Life, by Susan Meissner for this month's @larsbookclub It is a WWII novel a few lady changing into a clothier. Come observe alongside for updates and dialogue! #larsbookclub
