“It’s what they never show, you know. You can find everything else in these paintings. Portraits, scenes of daily life—even the carnage of war. Occasionally, perhaps—not often—someone is bold enough to allow the painter to portray the smallpox scars. But never the rest of it. Never the endless supply of infants slid into graves before their first birthday. Never the quiet grief of parents who have seen as many children die as live. Never—not once, that I can recall—a portrait of a mother sitting by the bed of a three-year-old child. Just watching—nothing else to do—while Death spreads its pitiless wings.”
His voice became a bit shaky. “It has been the silent terror of the world since time began.” When he turned back to face her, his cheeks were hollow—but his eyes seemed bright. “Dear God in Heaven,” he whispered, “you can do this?”
For once in her life, Rebecca would meet the arrogance of nobility on its own terms. She lifted her head and spoke in as haughty a manner as she could manage. “Yes, Prince of Orange. A world forged by commoners can do what kings and princes and dukes and earls and cardinals and archbishops never could. Can give life to children, where you could only watch them die.” Coldly: “Your own faces—often enough—scarred and pitted beneath the costumes and the cloaks and the crowns.”
He did not flinch from the rebuke in her tone. He did not even lower his eyes.
“Give me that, Rebecca, and even I might be convinced.” He grinned suddenly. “Who knows? I might even abdicate my title.”
Rebecca laughed. Prince he might be, but she liked this man. “I hardly think that would be the best tactic. Certainly not at the moment! If you wish to hold Amsterdam, you will need the full support of its commoners. You know that as well as I do—better, I imagine.”
“As if I’d have much choice! Most of the real oligarchs have packed up their bags and already left. There aren’t more than a handful of regents still in the city. The burghers who remain—lots of them, of course—are the small ones. Their wealth depends on their little shops and enterprises, with them running it with their own brains and hands. No going into comfortable exile for them—much less the city’s artisans and apprentices and common seamen.”
Rebecca nodded. “A commoner city—but with the authority and legitimacy of the prince of Orange to give them confidence. Quite a tough combination to crack in a siege, I would think.”
The prince was back in full measure, now. Frederik Henrik’s next words came with ringing confidence. “That same combination broke the butcher Alva at the siege of Middelburg—and then again, at Leiden.” Proudly: “My father, that was.”
“Indeed. And you are already well liked by the residents of Amsterdam. Far more so, if you will pardon my frankness, than was your intolerant half-brother Mauritz. Which brings me to the next point. As I am sure you know—better than I do—the existing structure of authority in the city is, ah—”
“As ragged as a pauper’s cloak. Half the town council has already fled. Half the remainder will have done so within three days. For all practical purposes, the city is falling under the control of the civic militia. Which—” His head rose a bit. “—is most favorably inclined to the House of Orange. So I can’t say I’m all that sorry to see the rats scampering away. Frankly, it will make things easier for me.”
Rebecca cleared her throat. “Easier still, I think, if the growing militant sentiment of the city is channeled, organized, given—at least for many—a clarion call and symbol of resistance.” She cleared her throat again. “This is, ah, somewhat delicate . . .”
* * *
When Rebecca finished, the prince broke into laughter.
“Richter? You brought that lunatic here with you?”
“She is not a lunatic. Quite a dear friend of mine, as a matter of fact.” Rebecca shifted a bit in her chair. “I grant you, she has a reputation. Grant you, also, the reputation is not entirely undeserved.”
“Ha! Which is the reason, of course, that you never mentioned her name when you arrived. ‘One of my servants,’ I believe you said, if I recall my spies’ reports correctly.”