The Viennese Waltz(14)
Agnes rolled her eyes, but Sarah didn’t notice. She shrugged and picked up the phone.
Liechtenstein House, outside the Ring of Fire
“I assume this is about the LIC,” Sarah said as she entered Liechtenstein house, speaking to Karl even as she gave her coat to one of his footmen. “So, why all the intrigue? Are your uncles after more money?”
“Always,” Karl said. “However, this is not about the LIC or the family lands. It’s an entirely different matter.”
“What has Judy done now?” Sarah asked. “Has she gotten you into that commodities trading company? You should have learned from the American Equipment Corporation.”
Karl realized that Sarah was nervous. She didn’t normally jump to conclusions so quickly. What he couldn’t tell was why she was nervous. Was she afraid that he was going to tell her that he wanted to court her or afraid that he wasn’t? Karl found it surprisingly hard to bring himself to broach the subject. He ushered her into the small dining room and seated her himself.
Finally, she asked, “All right, Prince Karl. Just what is this all about?”
“I would like to court you, Sarah. Date you. Whatever the up-time phrasing.”
Sarah didn’t say anything, just looked at him like a deer caught in a bright light. Karl waited as long as he could, which wasn’t very long at all, then backpedaled a little. “I’m not asking you to marry me right now. I just want you to shift me from acquaintance to suitor in your mind. Get used to the idea. Get comfortable with it.”
“But I’m moving to Magdeburg in two days.”
“Magdeburg isn’t that far. There are letters and telegrams, the trains and even airplanes.”
“Not many, and they aren’t safe.”
“Not yet. But people are building them now. They will be.”
“I don’t know, Karl. Maybe you should wait a few years before you decide to become a jet setter.”
Karl looked blank, and Sarah said, “Never mind.” Then she looked at him. “Okay, Karl. I’ll move you to possible suitor.” Her lips quirked a little . . . “But suitors are supposed to sweep girls off their feet. Do you think you’re up to it?”
Karl took her hand gently and lifted it to his lips, touched it with a butterfly kiss.
“I’ll work on it,” he said.
CHAPTER 5
Wagons Ho!
Late July 1634
On the Street outside the Fortney Property
“Do you have everything?” Judy Wendell heard at the Sanderlin lot where everyone was gathering to leave. The Sanderlins had a lot with two mobile homes on it, a single-wide for Ron, Gayleen and the kids, and a small trailer for Uncle Bob Sanderlin. One of the reasons they had taken the job was that it was getting harder and harder for them to make the rent on the lot. Besides, with one toddler and an infant, life was really hard on Gayleen, with the gradual loss of up-time labor-savers. Repairing things like washing machines and buying baby clothes . . . well, Judy could understand how it could get hard.
That wasn’t why Hayley’s dad had taken the job, though, and Judy couldn’t figure out why he would. Sonny Fortney made pretty good money, even if he did bounce from job to job like a pingpong ball. Hayley wouldn’t talk about it, except to say that her dad had his reasons. Judy didn’t think she approved of this move, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. Except to make sure that Hayley had someplace to call if she got in trouble and enough money to make sure she could afford to run. In support of that, Judy and the rest of the Barbies had put together a packet of mad money for Hayley, twenty thousand American dollars in cash, hidden in a false bottom of Hayley’s steamer trunk. Steamer trunks came back into fashion again, after the Ring of Fire. The Barbies owned one of the companies that made them.
“I think so,” Sonny Fortney was saying to the Ken Doll. “We have the maps and the extra surveying gear in the trailer. Plus a load of trade goods so that we will have the glass beads to buy Manhattan.”
“Ahh,” sighed Prince Karl. “I have exposed my poor countrymen to the shifty up-timers. Good Lord, forgive me for my sins.”
“Why, Prince Karl,” Judy interrupted. Then she batted her eyes twice, tilted her head, and said, “You think we have taken advantage of you?”
“I’m going to go get Sarah to protect me.”
“Good idea,” said Judy the Elder Wendell. “Judy, behave yourself. You have our address, Gayleen. If you need anything, write us and we’ll send it off by mule train.”
“Thank you, though the idea of getting stuff by mule train still freaks me out a bit,” Gayleen said.