“We can’t possibly contemplate the return of any Peep systems until our own security needs have been properly addressed,” North Hollow continued. “All the same, Michael, I do feel a little concern over how the Opposition is likely to react to Edward’s recommendation that we build down our capital ships still further.”

Janacek frowned at him, and the earl waved his hand languidly.

“Oh, I’m not questioning them,” he assured the First Lord. “And speaking both in a personal sense and as Trade Secretary, I certainly support transferring that funding from the maintenance and crewing of obsolescent warships to more productive ends! Nor,” he added a bit more grimly, “am I about to lose any sleep worrying about admirals throwing tantrums because someone took their toys away from them. But we are proposing a substantial shift in the present stance and composition of the Fleet, and I think we have to be careful about the potential openings we give the Opposition if we move too boldly.”

Translated, High Ridge thought sardonically, my wife thinks we have to be careful.

Stefan Young was much smarter than his older brother, Pavel, had been before Honor Harrington killed him on the Landing City dueling grounds. Not that being smarter than Pavel would exactly have required a genius IQ, but at least Stefan could usually zip his own shoes without assistance. Neither of them, however, would ever amount to more than a pale shadow of their father, and High Ridge was just as glad of it. No leader of the Conservative Association could have crossed Dimitri and survived, and all of them had known it, for his extensive, painstakingly assembled files had contained far too many devastating political secrets.

When Dimitri died, his eldest son had shown disturbing signs of an ambition which would inevitably have challenged High Ridge’s own position. Fortunately, Harrington had eliminated that threat along with Pavel, and Stefan, although ambitious enough and possessed of the same deadly files, was also wise enough to be guided by his wife. Lady North Hollow was a most astute tactician and strategist, and she clearly recognized that Stefan was not the material of which charismatic political leaders were made. Before her marriage to him, Georgia Young—the former Georgia Sakristos—had been a senior aide to both Dmitri and Pavel, however. Officially, she’d been their security chief, but it was common knowledge, though never openly discussed, that she’d actually been the “dirty tricks” specialist for both of them, which was the reason High Ridge had selected her to chair the Conservative Association’s Policy Coordination Committee. The fact that placing her at the head of the PCC might also help bind her loyalties to the Association’s current leadership had played a not insignificant part in his decision, and while he was never likely to forget she was a two-edged sword, it had worked out well so far.

Which was why recognizing that the concern North Hollow had just raised actually came from his wife suggested that it was at least potentially a valid one, the Prime Minister reflected.