Honor was too astonished even to speak, and he shrugged.

“I know. Stupid, isn’t it? The very issue that High Ridge was able to ride into power. The huge political bogeyman the entire peerage was so terrified of that a majority of them actually signed off on High Ridge’s manipulations and dirty little deals. And now, in less than a month from the time shooting resumes, something on the order of an eighty percent majority is prepared to give it all up. If the stupid bastards had just been willing to consider making the same concession three years ago, none of this would’ve happened. Or, at least, if it had, it would’ve happened in a way which would have deprived Pritchart of the fig leaf of justification she’s manufactured.

“But as far as the Andermani are concerned, the Lords’ support for domestic finance reform is beside the point. What’s going to bring the Empire in on our side is the fact that all of that ideological resistance to anything smacking of ‘imperialism’ went down the toilet along with High Ridge and New Kiev. Something like it would probably have materialized again soon enough, except for the fact that it’s not going to have the chance to. Because later this week, Willie is going to propose to a joint session of Parliament that the Star Kingdom and the Andermani Empire finally bring an end to the incessant bloodletting and atrocities in Silesia.”

“Oh, my God. You can’t be serious!”

“Of course I can. I don’t say it would have been my first choice of how to proceed, but I certainly understand the logic. And the Peeps haven’t left us very much choice, either. We need the Andies to survive, Honor, and their price is the extension of their frontier into Silesia.” He shrugged. “Well, if we’re going to be in for a penny, we may as well be in for a dollar.”

“And if the Confederacy government objects to being partitioned between two foreign powers?” Honor demanded.

“You’ve been to Silesia more than most of our officers,” White Haven said. “Do you really think the average Silly wouldn’t actively prefer to be a Manticoran subject?”

Honor started to reply quickly, then stopped. He had a point. All the average Silesian really wanted was safety, order, and a government that actually considered her wishes and well-being rather than seeing her as one more potential source of graft and corruption.

“Whatever the average Silly wants, the Confed government may not see things quite the same way,” she pointed out.

“The Confed government consists of a bunch of corrupt, self-seeking, moneygrubbing grifters, thieves, and conmen whose concerns begin and end with their own bank accounts,” White Haven said flatly. “For God’s sake, Honor! You know perfectly well that the government of the Silesian Confederacy is probably the only bunch of crooks who could actually make High Ridge and Descroix look good by comparison.”

Despite her grave reservations, Honor’s lips quivered in appreciation of White Haven’s comparison.