The Count rose somewhat earlier then usual and dressed in a conservative black suit. He did not take breakfast and left for the short walk to the only Orthodox christian church in London. It was a combined congregation of Eastern Churches and even though he had been brought up in the Romanian branch of the faith the differences were only subtle.
He stopped at the entrance of the Church it had been heavily modified for it current use but signs that it had been an Anglican church remained. It was built by the Duke of Westminster for his own use and was a large building. As he assented the steps he greeted the priest at the door and entered, he crossed himself and knelt before taking a seat on one of the back rows.
The scent of the incense was still in the air from the Matins service at dawn. Third Hours was not his families usual worship time but given that he is all that survives of his line he felt it was a tradition he needn't keep. He did not believe any more but this was the last link to his homeland and its people he could not give it up. He took a carte vista photograph from his jacket pocket, it was of his sister.
The service took it usual form of readings and Chanting and finally the priest gives the final blessing and offers the Little Dismissal. The Count rises from his seat and takes his usual place on the left hand side at the top of the stairs outside the Church. He watches the people as they stop to talk or greet old friends as they leave. Before he has time to settle into position a middle aged man greets him with a curt nod and hands him a small envelope, he quickly followed by an elderly gentleman who also hands the Count an envelope. Finally as the crowd has started to disburse and the Count is donning his jacket to leave a young girl who wears the shawl of a ethnic Romanian asks him
”Count Bathony I have this for you.”
The girl was new, but the Count accepted the envelope with a thank you. He had just began to move down to the street when he heard a familiar voice.
”Count Bathony.”
He turn and saw a middle aged woman and her children
”Baroness Rothschild, what a wonderful surprise. Ah .. and this can't be Liberty and Nica, grown so much.”
“So good to see you Count my father would be pleased. It must be over a year, how are you settling in to London ?”
“Very well Baroness. How is your husband as you know we dined at the club not to long ago. How has the season been for you ?”
“Long... what with all the parties and concerts, Liberty will have her debut next season so she has taken a more active role this year. But that's by the bye you must come back to Waddesdon for the end of season house party, Charles did insist. The invites go out this week but now we have run into each other you must say yes ?”
“Of course, I would not miss it, such fun last year.”
The Baroness face then took a sombre tone and the Count guessed what she would ask next
“And no word from home ? Such a tragedy so very brutal.”
The two girls had looked away as their mother spoke and with a forced smile he replied.
“No nothing, but there may still be hope.”
She patted him on the hand
“Of course Sigismund there is always hope. But to brighter things, we will see you had the end of the month.”
With that she descended the stars and the two girls gave the Count a wave as they left that he returned. There seemed to be no other customers this morning so the Count caught a taxi to his club for breakfast.
Sitting in the taxi he read through the letters he had received. The Eastern European community of London saw the Count as a sort of fence, not for stolen goods but for the sale of precious things. They would make first contact with a list of the items they wished to sell quickly and a way of contacting them. In most communities he would be reviled as a vulture of sorts but his customers saw him as a god send for items that would not get a good price in such a western market. They liked to deal with one of their own who knew the value of what they offered.
So as he sat eating the Count studied the letters again. The usual jewellery Russian manufactured, Fabergé Marchak and Bokh. Several books mostly religious texts, he would take them all and a library to look at. No art this time but some archaic objects Roman and Egyptian he would look at these.
Once he was done he would meet up with Perkins and then to meet the others at the hotel.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Sat 06 June 2015.