The Dardanelles Conspiracy by Alan Bardos (you can read anyone txt) 📕

She felt his gaze and raised her lips in a half smile. This could have all been yours, it seemed to say, think how happy we could have been.

It had always been a source of wonder to Breitner how she could look so correct and yet have such warmth. To have such grace and composure while radiating unbound sensuality.

He tried to remember the pain her family had inflicted on him and the insult she had caused his honour by bringing him to Constantinople, but none of it mattered. The years had dropped away and he was love sick and lost, again.

He couldn’t understand how she could stir such feelings in him, feelings that should have died long ago. Breitner knew he had been rash to spurn Esther’s proposition. To spend his life with her would have been cheap at any price.

Breitner circled the room employing a flanking manoeuvre he’d learnt long ago in the Hussars. ‘Are you unaccompanied, Miss Weisz?’

She turned and gave him a reserved look. She seemed to know that he was here to throw himself at her feet. It was time for him to pay the price for his pride. ‘Do you not have pressing duties to perform, Major Breitner? I wouldn’t wish to inconvenience you.’

‘Entertaining the Ambassador’s guests is my duty, Miss Weisz.’

‘Of course, what other reason would you have for talking to me? Well, you need not concern yourself, I have an escort.’ Esther flashed a quick contemptuous look and Breitner crumpled inside.

‘Will you allow me to attend you until your escort returns? It would be ungallant to leave a lady alone.’ Breitner felt hollow.

‘Well, you are the expert in ungallant behaviour.’

‘Yes, so it would seem.’ Breitner held himself straight as his grandfather had taught him and prepared to take responsibility for what he had done. ‘I’m afraid that I have been found wanting.’ Breitner smiled sadly, accepting his failing, but she continued her hard, unrelenting stare. ‘Of course, there is no way you could forgive me.’

‘My dear Miss Weisz, I do wish that you wouldn't wander off when in my company. It doesn’t reflect well.’

Breitner clenched his jaw and saw that Esther was being addressed by a Turkish officer in an immaculate uniform of the 57th Regiment. Esther softened her eyes and turned to the Turkish Officer.

‘Major Avin Toprak, may I present Major Laszlo Breitner of the Royal Hungarian Honvéd.’ Breitner was touched by the pride in Esther’s voice. ‘Major Breitner is attached to the Embassy here. Major Toprak is an aide-de-camp to Enver Pasha, the Minister of War.’

‘You have seen action? I saw what a Cossack’s sabre can do during my time in the Caucasus.’ Major Toprak said as they exchanged a formal handshake. ‘It must be hard for a fighting soldier to be attached to an embassy staff.’

Breitner glanced at Esther, but she showed no reaction as Toprak continued. ‘I am also a frontline soldier, but my duty at present is to serve Enver Pasha.’

‘Is Enver here?’ Esther asked, looking around the room.

‘Yes of course, you really must learn to pay attention. Enver would not miss the Austrian Ambassador’s reception.’

‘I thought that Enver had been keeping out of the public eye since his return from the Caucasus.’ Esther sounded surprised.

‘Nonsense, my dear, you really shouldn’t pay any attention to such childish stories. Now come with me, I believe Enver Pasha wishes to speak with you.’

The mask of indifference fell from Esther's face. Her eyes screamed at Breitner for help, as Toprak took her away.

Breitner followed and watched as the Minister of War greeted her like an old friend. Breitner had to admit that Enver Pasha was every bit as dashing as Esther had described, with a refined bone structure that would have made a society beauty proud and the dignity and purpose of a soldier.

‘Your Excellency, may I present Major Laszlo Breitner,’ Esther said with a hint of pride again. ‘He’s an old friend from Budapest.’

Enver inclined his head in greeting. ‘Major.’

‘Excellency, would you care for a glass of champagne?’ Breitner assumed that was what a good embassy flunky asked.

‘No thank you, Major, I neither drink nor smoke,’ Enver replied. ‘There is nothing that I require, unless you can stop the scaremongering about the Allied fleet breaking through to Constantinople.’

‘I beg your pardon, Excellency, is that not also the prevailing view amongst your countrymen?’ Breitner asked.

Enver’s jaw clenched shut and the skin tightened over the delicate bone structure of his face. ‘It sickens me that my government colleagues are preparing to run away and leave our capital to the mercy of the British. I can promise you that even if they manage to pass through the Dardanelles Strait all they will get are ashes. They will find themselves as Napoleon did in Moscow. I will raze the capital to the ground before I surrender it.’

Esther looked at him nervously. ‘Forgive my candour, Excellency, if that is the case should I not make arrangements to leave the city?’

Enver switched smoothly from anger back to charm as he addressed Esther. ‘Esther Hanim, that is not really a subject that should be discussed with a lady. Once you are married to Major Toprak, he can decide whether it is safe for you to stay in the city.’

Breitner seethed with rage and jealousy. ‘Married, what is this talk of marriage, Esther, are you to marry this popinjay?’

‘Yes, Major Breitner, I have mentioned that His Excellency intended me for one of his aides.’

‘And what business is it of an Embassy lackey who she marries?’ Toprak put in.

Breitner rounded on him, ‘It is precisely my business. Miss Weisz and I have had an understanding now for a number of years.’

‘With you,’ Toprak looked at him contemptuously.

‘Is this true, Esther Hanim?’ Enver asked before Breitner could strike Toprak.

‘I