Page 73 of Brave Truth

Silvia was quiet again, then she nodded. “Let me know when you are ready. I’ll make the time.” Then she cleared her throat. “I’d like to find a regular time for supper with you and with Matthew, if he’s willing. That seems a thing to say now, so you do not wonder.”

“I wonder, actually, if you have other comments about it. Now that you’ve had a little time to consider.”

“It is not what I expected from you. Even after the divorce. Though I had wondered for a long time whether you and Orion...” Her voice trailed off.

“On that count, Orion is firmly like Isembard, fond of women, and only women.” The fact that he could say that with a straight face amused. “He’s gone well out of his way to make Matty welcome, and I appreciate that no end.” He left unspoken the fact that she had some catching up to do on that front. “But I’ll check with Matty and see what might work for him.”

“Have you met his family?” It sounded like an idle comment, but of course it wasn’t.

“His mother was waiting when we left the Ministry this afternoon. He’d planned to go speak to his parents on Thursday.” He shrugged. “I’ll find out more when we’re done here.”

She inclined her head just once. And then said, “I think that is all that I needed or wanted for today. Tomorrow, you may have the floor for twenty minutes, more if you like. Let me know. I assume someone will be showing you your office?”

“Gabe and Orion were sorting that out between them.” He could be amiable about it. He knew that it would have been Alexander’s until last week. Alexander had implied that he’d left something for Claudio’s consideration, but not what. He’d find out. Then he added carefully. “During the Challenge, the Lady bid me come back up here in a month and speak with her. Once I had my feet under me. So you’re aware.”

“Then you shall do that. Let me know what you need then. We’ll make sure the time is free. People do come up now. I do. I thought it a shame that people stopped for so long.” At least some of that was Father’s fault, but Claudio wasn’t going to say it here and now. It’d spoil the progress they’d made. “Shall we go down? You must have things you need to do as well.” Silvia gestured at the door.

“Always.” That was true, Claudio still had a tremendously long list to get through. Starting with finding out how Matty was, after dealing with his own mother.

Silvia made a slight nod at the tapestry, which disappeared in a wisp of fading light. “Would you write up your notes for me when you get a chance? In a form I could share, though not for tomorrow’s meeting. I expect you’d want more time than that.”

“Time and setting a thing or two up, yes. But certainly for the following week.” It wouldn’t actually take him more than an hour or two. Working with Gabe had taught him admirable efficiency on that front. Then he rolled down his sleeves, refastened them, and shrugged on his jacket before picking up his satchel and offering his arm. “Shall we?”

They went downstairs in silence, navigating the twists of the stairs without need for comment. On the first floor, he walked her to what he knew must be her office, but left her at the door with a small nod. “Good night, Silvia.”

“And to you, Claudio. Tomorrow.”

He walked away, refusing to look back at her, but entirely unsure what a good half of the last hour or more meant. He would have to sort it out as he went. There was nothing else for it.

Chapter 46

That afternoon at the Ministry

Matty took a deep breath. Before moving, he considered his options. He could take Mum somewhere else, but where was tricky. A cafe wouldn’t have nearly enough privacy, even with charms. Certainly not Urania’s Apples or his flat. He didn’t want Mum either place. That left his office, really, unless he offered to go to London. But at this time of day, Portal Square was horribly busy. There’d be a wait, and more chances for gossip. His office it was.

Then he squared his shoulders and went downstairs. The Guard on duty looked up, simultaneously relieved and uncertain. “Evening, Mum. I wasn’t expecting you, thought I’d be seeing you Thursday. Is something the matter at home?”

It put her just enough off guard to stand, peer at him, and then nearly sit down again. Matty went on without giving her a chance to say much. “Why don’t we go up to my office? I can make you a cuppa. The lift’s this way.” Making her climb to the third floor wouldn’t do any good, and the lift was probably fewer people, anyway. “Thanks, Walters.” That was to the Guard.

He managed to get his mother to the lift and toward his office without too much trouble. Harlow poked her head out of the office, saying, “Need something? I heard the lift.” Of course, that would have been unusual at this time of day, without the sounds of people going to it from this floor.

“My mother came round. Mum, this is Miss Harlow, secretary for the department. Miss Harlow, my mother, Lily Lawson.” Mum bobbed her head. “I was just going to make a cuppa, unless there’s still hot water?”

“There is. Just enough for two cups. I’ll bring it along.” Matty was grateful for that. By the time he got Mum settled in his guest chair, Harlow had reappeared with a small tray, two mugs, and two small biscuits.

“I’ll be in my office for a little longer, finishing up the records.” She was behind Mum now, and she gave Matty a slight twitch of her shoulder. She was not remotely behind. He’d eat his satchel if she were, but having someone else about would be a reassurance. “Half an hour, maybe a bit more.” Until he was done, that was the strong implication, and Matty appreciated it no end.

“I’ll let you know when we’re on the way out, then, if you’d let the cleaners know?” Matty suggested. Harlow nodded and went out, pulling the door closed behind her. Matty took a moment for the privacy charms. He wasn’t as smooth at it as Claudio was, but they were down near the end of an empty hallway. And probably Mum wouldn’t be shouty, she was in public. Enough in public. He set a mug in front of her, a dish for the tea dregs, and then settled into his own chair. “So, why are you here, Mum? I said I’d come so we could talk things out on Thursday.”

“You know why.” She sounded so incredibly plaintive. The thing was, it wasn’t working on Matty. Before the war, it would have. But Germany had hardened him, seeing people try to manipulate others emotionally, despite having done horrible things. And then the conversations with Claudio and Orion and Hypatia and especially Cammie had made him able to get a little distance.

None of them favoured emotional manipulation— well, Claudio and Orion came from the sorts of families that wouldn’t. But Cammie had nil patience for it. She said it was always sloppy. That was where people slipped up. And where people hurt each other. She’d talked about her approach as ruthless kindness, doing the necessary thing without additional hurt, but getting it done so it didn’t linger and drag everything around it down.

Matty leaned back slightly. He was doing his best to seem unruffled. Part of that was because it would put Mum off-balance. Part of it was that, actually, he was not as bothered as he probably ought to be. He didn’t want to hurt her. But he didn’t want her to hurt him, and she hadn’t been giving that a lot of attention since he came back to Albion. He certainly didn’t have to make it easy for her. He just waited.

Mum peered at him. “I don’t know who you think you are now. Behaving like this. We raised you better than that.” She was at least skirting the nastier things she might have said. “Your dad can’t show his face.”

“Dad,” Matty said evenly, “wrote me an entirely pleasant note over his lunch break. Didn’t touch on the complicated bits, just sending a comment about something in the paper I’d like to read. Which I did and wrote back about.” He had a decent idea of what his dad probably thought, but Dad was at least being an adult about it. “Come on, Mum. It’s been a long day. I had other plans for the evening, and if you’re going to yell at me, I’d rather do it Thursday.”