"One of us needs to talk to Robert," Marcus told Angus after Jack left. "I can go see if he's still home or I can send him a paper bird."
"Send him a bird, why don't you? That's always been pretty efficient."
They waited nearly 20 minutes and then the floo opened.
"Marcus?" It was Robert. "One of you trying to reach me?"
"Yes. We were. Do you have a moment?"
"I do. Kate's been training a few new owlets, and one of them got into a hunting mood and took out your paper bird. When Kate got to him, the little blighter was eating your paper bird." That made Marcus and Angus laugh. "I'll be over in a moment. I wanted to check Angus's shoulder before I went in to work anyway. Keep the coffee on. It's still early, after all."
"Thanks," Marcus said. Robert arrived about ten minutes later, and Marcus poured him coffee while Robert changed the dressing on Angus's shoulder. While Robert worked, Angus explained what had happened with the kids last night.
"I have a file of the known criminals that work for Gelding. Do send Anise over to look at them. I'll have Kate help her with that. Maybe we can identify exactly who she was attacked by last night. That might tell us more about who they were there for, at least. In the meantime, though, tell the kids they are not to go to London without one of us with them. And I really don't want them going to Paris or even wandering the village near Edward's estate without one of us, not until we know where the hell Priscilla really is right now. I think we really do need to be quite careful."
"I agree," Angus said. "I told them no more trips to Diagon Alley for the time being but I'll pass the rest of it on, and I'll talk to Evan so that he and Tara know too."
"I can't blame Anise's instincts. She gets that honestly enough from her contact with you. She saw Priscilla, and she wanted to find out what she was up to. I completely understand that. Any of us would have done the same thing and tailed her to find out more. However, they're young, too young honestly to be considered more than trainees yet. I don't' even rank them in my mind as rookies yet. I don't want them ever acting on their own unless its purely self defense. If they see someone like that, I want them going the other way, not going towards them. I do not want them hurt or killed because of inexperience. For now, they will earn their experience by tagging along with one of us. That's plenty of on the job training for right now."
"Agreed," Angus said.
"Your shoulder is starting to respond to the wizard potions and spells I've been able to switch you to, and it's starting to look a good deal better, and I think you're looking stronger too. Much better. We might be able to get this bed out of your living room a couple days sooner than expected if you continue to heal at this rate. As soon as the stitches are out, I'm going to send Andrew back in a couple times a day to start rehab on it. Do not overdo it like you usually want to do. Its been repeatedly damaged, so we need to keep that in consideration when we start rehab."
"Robert, did you see the papers?" Marcus asked.
"Oh. Rita's piece? I saw it," Robert said dryly. "Don't let it concern you for a moment. Khaat and Brian have already seen it, and they're fine..."
"It was started by Evelyn," Marcus said, handing over the crumpled letter. Robert straightened it and read it.
"Hm. Sounds like you need to talk to Jeffrey," Robert said.
"I will, and my father's calling the attorneys this morning."
"Good."
"I'm going to get her, Robert," Angus said. "She's tinkered with people long enough."
"I know that look. You're up to something already."
"Well, I have an idea anyway, but I'll need a spell to do it, and some extra quick quotes quills to practice with. You in?"
"Depends on what you want to do," Robert said.
"Let me see if I can't put together a spell first."
"Do let me know what you want to do before you do it? We don't need more trouble from her."
"Yes, but it might just work."
"In which case, I might be keenly interested," Robert laughed.