An Indecent Proposal

by Jaleta Clegg

  "Because they were masquerading as Patrol."

  "You're certain about this, Grant?"

  "I don't have concrete proof, but everything is adding up. Every new bit of information points the same direction."

  "What do you plan to do? Blow it up?"

  "Take it over. You could use a fully operational shipyard, couldn't you?"

  "One geared for Patrol cruisers? Of course. But won't the Empire want it in their territory? The nebula is still under dispute."

  "The Empire has its hands full with what it still holds. No one will argue with you if you take over the shipyards. If anyone asks me, I'll tell them you can only build freighters." He scratched his ear. "What demands is the Federation going to make about this?"

  She shrugged. "They haven't made any yet. They sent a group of people to study our laws and recommend changes before they ratify us. Considering we have our own Fleet, I doubt they'll argue much."

  She paused. "Are you sure about this? How do you know I won't use those ships against you?"

  "Because," he said, leaning closer to her, "you are secretly in love with me and you have been all these years."

  "Only in your dreams, Grant." But she was smiling.

  "And because I'm taking half of the ships with me."

  "Your own private Patrol Fleet?"

  "Why not? You did it."

  "Where are you going to hide them?"

  "In plain sight. I have some friends that would enjoy playing with them. They'll keep them quite safe for me. Besides that," he added, "they made me sign the deal before they agreed to help. Never make a deal with a Gypsy. You'll lose everything if you aren't careful."

  "I'd like to meet this Gypsy," Querran said.

  "You'll meet Everett soon enough. He's supposed to be gathering his own people at Shamustel. We've got a week to meet him there before he moves on his own."

  "A bunch of merchants and Gypsies are going to take out a heavily guarded shipyard? I'm assuming it's very well guarded."

  "They could," Lowell said. "From what I overheard of their plans, they have people on the ships that bring in supplies. They will own more than half the workers at the shipyard by the end of next week. All sorts of things are going to mysteriously malfunction."

  "That's plain evil," Querran said.

  "That's what I told him. He just smiled at me and told me to mind my own business."

  "Which would be convincing me to send in the firepower?"

  "To back them up, yes, that's about it."

  "And it's eating you up inside that you aren't the one in charge."

  He sighed. "Are we getting too old for this? You're as old as I am."

  "Thank you for reminding me."

  "The full information, as much as I have, should be available within a couple of hours."

  "We'll schedule a meeting with the governor for then. With a full briefing of my people afterwards."

  Lowell nodded. "Then you'll do it?"

  "You offered me a price I can't refuse, Lowell."

  "A full shipyard?"

  "No, the promise that this time, you won't ever come back, because if you do, I'll have the ships to shoot you down."

  He laughed. "I like you, Suella. I always have."

  "Give me details."

  "Promise me you'll forgive me for past transgressions."

  "Oh, all right. You can come into my sector. For now."

  "Thank you. I think." He pulled a sheet of mem paper out of his pocket and laid it next to the glowing map. "Details, what I have. Help yourself."

  "Thank you. I think." She smiled as she pulled the mem paper in front of her.

  Lowell leaned back and watched her read. Things were going well for him. He only wished they were going as well for the others involved. Especially Dace.

  Chapter 42

  Lady Candyce was eating breakfast when I went down the next morning. Ginger and Vance were there along with three of the others. I wished them good morning as politely as I could. They were wearing on my nerves.

  "The dressmaker called to apologize for not making it yesterday," Lady Candyce said to me. "I assured her it was no problem. I've got an appointment for you to visit her this afternoon."

  I felt a surge of hope. I was being paroled from this house of horror.

  "I'll come with you," Lady Candyce continued. "We can finalize your choice of dress fabrics at the same time."

  My stomach knotted up.

  "We could all go," one of the women squealed. "A shopping trip. It will be so much fun."

  My stomach clenched tighter.

  "Please feel free to use the other flitter," Lady Candyce told her. "Today I think it should just be the two of us."

  I never thought I'd be grateful to her for anything, but she had just saved me from a tortuous afternoon in Ginger's company. That had to count for something.

  "Are you feeling well?" Vance asked me. "You look a bit tired."

  "I'm fine," I said with a false smile.

  "I heard you had an encounter with one of those vicious stray animals," Lady Candyce said. "They carry all sorts of diseases. Perhaps you need to see a medic."

  "Perhaps I do," I agreed. Maybe I'd get to go by myself and maybe I could escape. No, I still had a mission, even if it looked like no one was guilty of anything more than being stupid and rich.

  "She's thinking so hard you can see steam rising," Ginger said. "I wonder what she's thinking about."

  "Just finding a strategy to beat you at cards," I said.

  They laughed and let it go, except for Vance. I couldn't interpret the expression in his eyes. Maybe I'd never actually seen the real Vance.

  Which led to more questions. Why had he pulled me out of the hospital on Besht? Why was I here? Were we really engaged? I couldn't afford to let anyone else know what I was thinking. I let the questions slide away.

  "I look forward to our trip," I said to Lady Candyce with a smile.

  "We will be leaving soon," she said. "I'm certain Medic Saunders will make room in his schedule."

  I made a lame excuse about brushing my hair. It must have been good enough, no one acted surprised or suspicious. I beat a retreat to my room.

  I stood in front of my window, staring out at the desert that spread beyond the manicured grounds. Was this why Iniuri had warned me away from his wife? Did he know what kind of welcome I could expect? Did he know that I'd be practically locked up in her mansion? Was that what he was trying to tell me?

  I didn't have any answers. I only had more questions. I'd wasted enough time staring out the window. There weren't any answers, not for me, not this time. I ran a comb through my hair and went downstairs.

  The flitter was the same one I'd flown in before, from the spaceport here. Lady Candyce gave me a polite smile and let me get into the flitter.

  We rode in a passenger compartment separated from the pilot. Lady Candyce was busy with her fabric samples. I watched the desert roll away beneath us.

  There were other mansions scattered across the desert. The whole landscape was broken with narrow canyons and unexpected cliffs. There were high bluffs, strange pillars of stone that rose abruptly from the mostly flat desert. It was oddly beautiful. And very empty. The mansions were miles apart.

  It took us almost an hour to reach the city. Buildings, low and sprawling, appeared more frequently. I saw the glitter of silver towers on the horizon. The flitter touched down on a wide parking area near a cluster of low buildings. Discreet signs advertised various businesses. The driver opened the door for us.

  "This way," Lady Candyce said. She walked rapidly away from the flitter. I trailed dutifully behind her.

  We entered a medical clinic. The walls were soft yellows and creams. It was tastefully done. It looked nothing like the utilitarian clinics I was used to. Even the smell of antiseptics was muted and almost undetectable.

  "This way, Miss Zeresthina," a young assistant said to me.

  I followed her into the back rooms of the clinic. She le
ft me in a room that looked more like a living room than an exam room.

  "Medic Saunders will be with you shortly." She left, pulling the door mostly closed.

  I wandered around the room, wondering why a few cat scratches should require so much attention. I heard voices from the hall beyond. Lady Candyce's was easy to recognize. I stopped near the door and strained to hear.

  "—the full battery of tests," she said. "I want to know exactly—" Her voice trailed away.

  What did she want to know about me? I wasn't about to let anyone examine me too closely. I pulled up my sleeve and looked at the scratches. They were almost healed. There was no sign of infection. There was no reason I was here. I opened the door.

  Medic Saunders was outside, his tunic had his name embroidered over the pocket. He had the assistant and a burly man wearing a medic's tunic.

  "Leaving so soon?" Saunders asked me. He smiled. It wasn't pleasant. "I can't allow that."

  "It's only a scratch," I said. "Nothing to fuss over."

  "It's a lot more than that," Saunders said. "Lady Candyce requested we do a full physical exam. It's only fair to her son that he know your health before he marries you."

  If I'd had a blaster, they would never have managed the exam. Since I was weaponless, I didn't stand a chance. I did try. The burly assistant was ready for me. He hit me with a tranquilizer before I threw the first punch. My whole body went limp.

  They were gentle enough, and definitely competent, but the next couple of hours were humiliating. I was poked and prodded and imaged and sampled until I would have screamed if I wasn't so drugged I couldn't move.

  "I believe we're finished here," Saunders finally announced. He leaned over me. "I regret having to drug you, but I believe Lady Candyce was correct in her assessment. It was the only way to get you to cooperate. We should have the results within the week. Julann will sit with you until the medication wears off."

  The assistant, Julann, sat in a chair and read a magazine while I drooled on the table. I wore only a thin sheet. I was cold, but I couldn't move to complain.

  I dozed off for a while. I woke with a start. Julann was still in her chair, reading a different magazine. My head was woozy, but I could move again. I sat up and slid off the table. I had to catch the edge to keep from falling on my face.

  "You shouldn't be up yet," Julann said from her chair.

  I ignored her as I stumbled my way around the table. My clothes were neatly folded on a bench at the other end of the room. I fumbled my way into them, determined to leave as soon as I could. I'd had all I could stand. Whether I'd accomplished my mission or not no longer mattered. I was through. I pulled on my clothes. With any luck, Lady Candyce wouldn't be waiting for me. With any luck at all, I'd have a few moments to find a com and make contact with someone.

  There wasn't anyone. That thought hit me hard. I could try the local Patrol office, but it would take me hours to convince them I wasn't joking, if I could convince them. No one knew me there. Or anywhere. I didn't even know what planet I was on.

  I'd been an idiot, coming here blindly with Vance. I was a fool to trust him.

  I had lots of luck, all of it bad. Lady Candyce smiled at me as I stumbled my way out of the inner areas of the clinic. I was so angry with her I saw red. I crossed the room and glared up at her perfectly shaped nose.

  "You had no right."

  She interrupted me. "I had every right. If you were only a passing fancy, it wouldn't matter. But Vance is talking of marriage. We have every right to know."

  "It's my life, not yours."

  "You marry my son and it becomes my life," she said flatly. "Vance is my only son and that makes him heir to all of my family holdings. And my name. The woman he marries must fit certain criteria."

  I shook my head. "There are no laws that give you the right to invade my privacy this way. Family inheritance or not, you have no right."

  "Why are you marrying him? Is it for the money? Or the social position?" She loomed over me. "If you were only a minor indiscretion, I'd pay you to just disappear, but since he's announced to the galaxy that you are going to marry him, it won't be that easy or that convenient."

  I couldn't believe what she was saying. She'd pay me to disappear except since Vance had included the word marriage she couldn't?

  "Marriage is more than mere sex, much more," she said. "It involves status and lineage. Especially for Vance. As his wife, you will inherit with him. Do you understand why I must make certain you are suitable?"

  "He asked me to marry him, and I agreed," I said. "Because I love him." That was a lie but she didn't let me get any farther.

  "Love has nothing to do with it. Love is for the common people. It has nothing to do with marriage, not for us."

  I thought about commenting on her own marriage, but caught myself in time. She wouldn't appreciate having her face rubbed in it, and I respected Iniuri. Why he ever married her in the first place I would never understand.

  She gave me a haughty look. "If you are quite through with this vulgar display, we still have other business to conduct."

  The medical staff watched us, drinking in every heated word. Our argument would be hot gossip for a while. I kept my mouth shut.

  "This way," Candyce said. She took my elbow in a tight grip and steered me out the door.

  She had a groundcar waiting. The drive was short, but it was long enough for me to get myself back under control. She had humiliated me and invaded my personal privacy unforgivably, but I was still playing a part. I pushed the anger away, I could deal with it later.

  We entered a very nice house. It was decorated with soft couches and chairs. Music played in the background. The room smelled of flowers and perfumes.

  It was the dressmaker's shop, even if there were no dresses in evidence. Several elegantly slender women appeared from a back room and fussed over Lady Candyce. I was mostly ignored for the first few minutes. They turned to me as a group.

  "And this is the bride?" the oldest of the women said, looking me up and down. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Vance keeps you to himself too much." She smiled in a way that was supposed to be friendly. She reminded me of a snake, with poisonous fangs. I made myself smile back. "This way, please," she said, sweeping a curtain to one side to reveal a doorway. "Have you seen the samples I sent? I do apologize for not keeping my appointment yesterday. It was quite an emergency." She wasn't talking to me. I was only an object. She was addressing Lady Candyce.

  "The brocade was quite lovely, but a bit heavy," Candyce said. "Perhaps something in a softer fabric."

  The dressmaker frowned at my body. "We shall have to see. The drape and fold must be considered. In there," she said to me, nudging me towards a curtained alcove. "We must have accurate measurements."

  The alcove held a cushioned bench and a mirror. It took me a moment to realize I was supposed to take my clothes off. Again. How many times a day could Candyce humiliate me? As many as I let her. She wasn't going to humiliate me, no matter what, I wouldn't let her. I stripped off the tunic and the leggings and left them in a heap on the bench.

  I stepped out wearing nothing but my underthings. The dressmaker and Candyce quit comparing fabric samples and looked at me. One of the assistants gasped as she caught sight of my almost naked body. I looked down where they were staring. The scar on my belly looked much better. It was a web of pink and white skin. I had other scars. The whip marks on my back were the most noticeable. It was very quiet in the room for a long moment.

  "Perhaps the style would not be suitable." The dressmaker slowly turned me around with one cool hand. "Nothing sleeveless. Or even low cut." She frowned at me.

  I turned back to face Lady Candyce. Her face was blank, unreadable, but her eyes stayed on the scars.

  "There's a lot about me you don't know," I said. It was a quiet challenge. She slowly looked up to meet my eyes. "The rumors about me being pregnant were false. I was recovering from this." I waved my hand over the scar on my belly. />
  "Do you wish padding?" the dressmaker asked Lady Candyce.

  That caught me offguard. "Padding?"

  "For the bodice," the dressmaker said.

  "You are rather small," Lady Candyce said with a smirk.

  I looked down at my chest. Despite my resolve not to be humiliated, she still managed it.

  "No padding," I said.

  "Then perhaps a princess cut," the dressmaker suggested. "To make the most of what you do have."

  I bit my tongue. What I wanted to say to that wouldn't have helped anyone.

  I endured the rest of the humiliation dished out by Lady Candyce and the dressmaker in silence. I didn't care what they chose for my wedding dress. I wasn't going to actually wear it. I could believe in a future with Vance, but not one that included his mother. If he was serious about marrying me, he would have to give up his mother.

  It would have been much too gratifying to shoot her. It grew more tempting every day. It was a very good thing I didn't have a blaster anymore. The little one Iniuri had given me was gone, taken out of my luggage while we traveled. I was at her mercy.

  For now.

  Chapter 43

  "If I have to sit through one more session of whining, greedy, selfish, immature, grasping—"

  "Long day?" Clark asked. Jasyn was volatile at the best of times and the Council sessions had strained her patience far past its normal breaking point.

  "I hate them all," Jasyn said as she flopped into a chair. She pressed her hands over her eyes. "I am going crazy. Why did you let me agree to this? Why couldn't someone else do it?"

  "Do you want an answer or would you prefer dinner?"

  She lifted her hands and peered up at him. "Where's Louie?"

  "Twyla took him out to the park for a while. While this apartment is very nice, it is a bit small."

  The apartment had come with the understanding that it was theirs until Jasyn was through with the trade negotiations.