Not all battles of import are fought at sea...Rumor, duplicity, and innuendo are known to travel faster than actual knowledge of the situation, when to tack, when to jibe, and trim your sails...
“Alquier does not seem like the kind of man who is good at schemes, so this must have been developed by Villeneuve,” Granger mused.
“That is why I find him so offensive,” Cardona spat.
“Such a liaison would not have happened without approval from Paris,” Granger opined. Cardona looked at him questioningly. “This is too important of an alliance to France to allow a minor diplomat to wreak havoc on his own.”
“I can see your point,” Cardona said. “You are suggesting that Villeneuve was following orders?”
“That is what I am suggesting,” Granger said.
“If Alquier is not the type of man to set up such a scheme, and I agree with you that he is not, then who did?” Cardona asked.
“This entire scheme has the fingerprints of Monsieur de Talleyrand all over it,” Granger said. He could see his scheming French friend putting together just such a plot.