Moses Abrabanel’s Office, outside Vienna
“I don’t believe it, Moses,” Peter von Eisenberg said. “It’s really the girls? Francisco Nasi has nothing to do with it?”
“Nothing we could find,” Moses said. “I wouldn’t be shocked to find that he provided information to the Barbies at some point, in order to make sure that Sonny Fortney’s family was provided for. But, frankly, we haven’t been able to find any financial connection between Sonny and Don Francisco. What letters to Uriel did reveal was a solid connection between Karl Eusebius and the Barbie Consortium. He has been their backer and their bank. In return, they have brought him into dozens of ventures that have increased his wealth dramatically.”
“So, how wealthy is Hayley Fortney?”
“That depends on the fate of Race Track City,” Moses said. “It took me much too long to realize it. In fact, it wasn’t until the rest of the Barbies arrived that I truly saw what was going on. Hayley financed Race Track City out of her own pocket. If the place is a success, if the debts owed to Sanderlin-Fortney Investment Company are made good, she will be richer than you. If not, she could be a pauper in a year.”
Peter shook his head again, not in negation, more like a fighter who had just taken a blow to the head and was trying to shake it off. “What do you think, Moses?”
“I think . . . no, I know . . . that the rest of the Barbies have come to her rescue. And they bring House Liechtenstein.”
“Yes, that makes sense. A great deal of sense.”
“So what are you going to do,” Moses asked, “if you don’t mind my asking?”
Duke Peter von Eisenberg looked at the Jew. For just an instant he was all injured dignity, then he rubbed his nose and smiled. “I, sir, am going to have a talk with Sonny Fortney. On the subject of courting and the combining of fortunes.” Another pause and more nose rubbing, then, “But first I will have a talk with my wife about the inevitability of change. And children growing up.”
As it turned out, he couldn’t have a talk with Sonny, because, as was often the case, Sonny Fortney was out of town, working on the surveying of the road that would—if the agreements were ever worked out—become the Vienna-Cieszyn rail line.
Fortney House, Race Track City
Dana Fortney stepped into her daughter’s office. “And just who is Amadeus von Eisenberg?” she asked severely.
Hayley looked up from her homework, clearly confused. “Huh?” Then, apparently, the penny dropped. “Amadeus? Oh, he’s that nice count I met at the party just after the girls got here. Why? What did he do?”
“I got a visit from his mother.”
“Really? What’s she like?” Hayley asked, sounding confused again.
“She’s concerned that her darling little boy isn’t being led astray by a succubus from the licentious north.”
Dana tried not to laugh at Hayley’s expression.
“Mom, will you please talk sense?”
“Well, it took some working out, but it seems that your young count was pretty impressed with you. He went to his father to ask if he might court you.”
“He did what?”
Dana watched her daughter carefully, but couldn’t tell if Hayley was pleased or offended. Which wasn’t unreasonable. Dana wasn’t all that sure how she felt, either.
“He went to his father, who is apparently a court duke. He has lands, but his primary title is a court title.” By now they all knew how it worked here. “And he asked if the Noble Family Eisenberg would have any difficulty with an up-timer being married into the noble lineage.”
“Well, he didn’t mention it to me,” Hayley said. “We met at the party, like I said, and he came out to the track a couple of times. But, well, he hasn’t even asked me out yet.”
“But you expected him to?”
Hayley blushed a little. “It was starting to seem like it might happen.”
Dana nodded. “But, being a loyal son of a noble house in Austria-Hungary, he first went to his dad to clear it. His dad apparently decided it was at least potentially an acceptable match, and brought the matter to his wife’s attention. Then Mom came out here to check out the family and I was in the middle of a yoga class when she showed up.
“I get called out of the class and sat down to have tea with her, and then half of Race Track City comes in. Mostly, I think, to find out what’s going on.” Dana grinned, recalling the last couple of hours. She thought that Duchess Eisenberg had ended up a bit intimidated by all the people showing up and asking Dana what they could buy or who they could give credit to. “Anyway, we are invited to dinner with them next Wednesday, and the duchess barely even flinched when I thanked Gloria for the tea. So, do we go or do we beg off?”