Duty With Honor Book Five: An Unexpected Pause

by Jordan Bollinger

  Elizabeth held out her hand to Jennifer and said, "Thank you, girls. I'm sorry I'm so tired. But, I'll talk to you very soon. I'm going to rely on you two. You know, to shop for maternity clothes and baby things. Somehow, I don't think Andrew will be much help with that."

  Chapter Nine

  Andrew discovered Beth sitting at her dressing table when he entered the bedroom forty minutes later.

  "I thought you'd be asleep by now. And, you aren't even in bed." He kissed the back of her neck, and added, "Come along. Bed."

  "I did stretch out on the chaise for a while. But, I was hoping you'd help me in the shower. I didn't say anything to the girls, but I'd really like to wash my hair."

  He considered this. She'd been in the hospital the better part of a week, so he relented. "Well, all right." Drew went and got the shower started, grabbed a fresh gown from her dresser and made sure there were plenty of towels near the shower. Then he stripped down, and fetched her.

  "Sit!" he said, firmly. "I won't have you slipping in here." Then, as she washed herself with a lathery pouf, he scrubbed her hair.

  "Oh, Lord! That does feel good," she said, with a satisfied sigh. "I've been dreaming about this for days."

  "Bethy, please," Drew chastised her, "Think carefully before you say things like that. We've been apart for a week, you're sitting in front of me naked. I'm naked. And now you're saying provocative things."

  She giggled, "Sorry."

  He grinned at her, as he rinsed the shampoo from her hair. Although, he did allow her to stand up to rinse the lather from her body. Then he had her sitting on the vanity bench, wrapped in one towel, as he dried her hair with another. He slipped the gown over her head, and as she stood up, he bent over, kissed her belly and said, "Now, it's time for you and Mommy to go to sleep. So no fooling around. Okay, son?"

  He stood up to find tears welling up in her eyes. Frowning, he asked, "What's the matter?"

  "Nothing," she insisted. Then she added, "He's real, isn't he?"

  "Yes, Elizabeth. He's real. Our son is right there," he said, as he gently poked a finger at her belly.

  He got her in bed, rushed back into the bathroom and showered himself, and returned to find her sitting up on her side of the bed.

  "I'd like to name him Edmund James -- after you and Richard. But, I want to call him James."

  "Edmund James Oliver," Drew stated. "It's a fine name. So, from now on we refer to him as James. All right?"

  "Yes."

  "Excellent. Now, go to sleep."

  "Oh, it is nice to be back in our bed," she told him. However, when he tried to have her lie down, she protested.

  "Do you need something?" he asked.

  "Yes," she answered, reaching out for him. "I need you to hold me." But once she was in his arms, she began weeping softly.

  "What's all this about?"

  "Oh, let's see," she answered, "I'm incredibly happy...and worried."

  "What are you worried about? The doctor told you James is fine."

  "It's not that...well, yes, I suppose that is always going to be a concern.

  "But, we never talked about babies. I have no idea how you feel -- really. I really didn't know. I thought I'd started menopause. And, that's certainly nothing I wanted to talk with you about.

  "You don't feel trapped, do you? You don't think I tricked you?"

  "First of all," he answered, "I knew from that very first night in New York, you'd wanted children -- that you'd grieved over not having any.

  "Next, I think we both avoided the subject. You, because you never expected to get pregnant. And me, because I didn't want to hurt you. But, that doesn't mean I feel trapped or unhappy about James.

  "And, I really wish people would stop implying that."

  "What's that mean?" she asked, wearing a worried expression.

  "I'm sorry. It's just something your father said when we first told him.

  "I know he didn't mean anything. It's just..." He wasn't at all sure he wanted to continue, but from her look, he decided he'd better. "Richard told me later he's worried about you -- because of your mother."

  To his surprise, she appeared to relax and answered, "Oh, of course." She must have seen his confusion, for she added, "I don't think Mother was supposed to have had Richard. And from something he told me he overheard from the aunts, she tricked Father when she got pregnant with me. It's not that he didn't want us. It was Mother's health.

  "He came home on an extended leave. And, she probably knew she was pregnant before he went back to sea for about five months. When he came home, he discovered I was just about due."

  "Well, I don't believe you tricked me. After all, I could have asked you about it. I could have taken precautions.

  "However," he continued, seriously, "there was no reason for you not to have spoken about thinking you were beginning menopause. We're a team. And, you don't need to worry I'm going to decide you're old and want to trade you in.

  "You should have told me, simply because you were upset and fretting over it. I'm your husband. I love you. And, I want to know if you're worrying about something. All right?"

  "Yes," she acquiesced. "But, Andrew, what if we're too old?"

  He pulled her tighter in his arms. "Fortunately, we're in a position to be able to hire a baby nurse, and a nanny, or whatever else we need. All we really have to do is love him." He paused, smiled at her and added, "And train him for the family business."

  She looked up at him, and said, "You've already enrolled him in Eton and Cambridge, haven't you?"

  Grinning, he told her, "I never got the chance. Your father beat me to it while I was staying in the hospital with you."

  "You aren't serious, are you?"

  "I most certainly am. And, there really was no need. I mean they can't refuse him -- since both your father and I are alumnus."

  "And Richard, at least for Eton," Beth added. "I suppose it's a good thing we haven't really gotten much for the house, since we may outgrow it within a year."

  "It's just the one child, Bethy. It's not as though we've become the Von Trapp's, after all."

  "I certainly hope not, Baron Von Trapp married the governess." She gave him a playful shove, and he fell over, as if she'd knocked him out.

  He grinned as he sat back up, and said, "But he won't need a governess, so you're safe." He tickled her, and continued, "Or are you?"

  He pulled her to him, and kissed her passionately. Then he insisted, "Go to sleep. You've had a big day. And you and James need to rest."

  "Are you going to stay with me?"

  "Of course, but tonight I get to sleep under the cover -- without pajamas." He tickled her again as he wiggled his eyebrows.

  Chapter Ten

  Elizabeth took another week off; and Drew took it off with her. They interviewed several of the obstetricians in Cathy's OB/GYN group. Once they'd selected him, they moved on to pediatricians. Then they visited Ms. Sweet.

  Ruth was looking into nannies and baby nurses. Although, she was forced to pause that task long enough to find another couple for the house. It seems the couple she'd originally hired revolted at the news of an impending infant. And Sarah was enlisted in shopping for baby furniture.

  After a solid seven days of concerted, concentrated effort, Beth felt that they'd covered all their bases and her life once again had achieved a certain level of organized chaos. So, she and Andrew reported back to work.

  He was sent off to Washington, D.C. and she was sure he and Jack would be up to some kind of mischief. She only hoped their countries survived their hijinks. The truth was Andrew had been bouncing between abject silliness and over-concern.

  She was looking forward to some quiet time, without someone following her around, plumping her pillows, adding more ice to her cold drink, or ordering fresh pots of hot herb tea for her. She wanted to go through her days and nights as normally as possible.

  But most of all, she just wanted to sleep. She was afraid that her age was showing. And that de
pressed her.

  Although, really, she asked herself, how could she be depressed? She had the most supportive family in the world. A loving husband who was not only handsome, but rich. And a baby growing inside her.

  No. She had nothing to be worried or depressed about.

  That was, until she received her official summons to Sir Anthony's office. She was afraid her godfather was about to fire her. Somehow, even Bridget's encouraging smile, didn't make her feel less anxious.

  "He's expecting you. So, you can go right in," the assistant told her. Beth tried to smile, but she really was worried. She rapped on the heavy double-doors, and entered.

  "Elizabeth," Sir Anthony cried out. He jumped up from his chair, and went around to hug her. Then he stepped back and looked her over. "You look well. How are you feeling?"

  "Fine, sir. I'm more than ready for bed at night, but I feel fine."

  "Well," her godfather began, "first, I'd like for Bridget to come in so we can finish your debriefing. Then I have something else to discuss with you."

  "Yes, sir."

  Once more, Bridget appeared with her notebook, took a chair and waited.

  "Bridget," Sir Anthony said, with a smile, "could you just remind us where we were when Beth...ah...became incapacitated?"

  "Certainly, sir." Bridget flipped back several pages and read:

  "Paul drove me to the embassy, where we picked up Padma. Then he dropped us off at the restaurant where Ruth had made reservations for us.

  "I saw there were other ministry people scattered throughout the restaurant. And, each time we got into the car, Paul would check and then signal me the security team was behind us. We had lunch and moved on to Henry Jackson's.

  "The only people inside the store were the people from the restaurant. And, they were only on the ground floor. I'm also sure the doorman locked the street door once we were inside."

  "We went upstairs, and met with Ms. Sweet. And...and we shopped.

  "I mean, we examined items and tried a few things on. We...we just shopped."

  Beth thought for a moment, and then said, "When we left Henry Jackson's, there didn't appear to be anyone else in the store. Or, at least, on the levels we were. And, the same people from the restaurant were milling about on the sidewalk.

  "Paul brought the car up and we got into it without any problems. He pulled out into traffic, but it was late, and it was getting more crowded. But, he did look in the rear mirror, and signal to me we were all right.

  "We continued down Knightsbridge Road, slowly because of the traffic, until he suddenly veered off onto a side street. I did see him touch his ear. And, since I knew he was wearing an ear bud, I was sure he'd been instructed to change routes.

  "The side street was fairly non-descript. And there didn't seem to be anyone loitering. In fact," she said, pausing and looking at Sir Anthony, "there didn't seem to be anyone on the street at all.

  "Oh, that wasn't normal. I should have suspected something was up, shouldn't I?"

  "Not necessarily, Elizabeth. Just keep going."

  "Yes, sir," she answered. "A moving van backed out of an alleyway or driveway -- I couldn't tell which. It might have been perfectly innocent, but... I don't know... Because someone had sent us down this street, I got that hinky feeling."

  "Excuse me?" Bridget asked.

  "What? Oh...hinky...it means creepy...uneasy," she explained. When Sir Anthony and Bridget nodded, she continued, "So, I leaned forward and told Paul to backup.

  "All of a sudden, there was a bang at the rear of the car. At the time, I couldn't say whether Paul had backed into the bicycle -- or, if the cyclist had deliberately rammed into us. I still couldn't swear to him crashing into us. Although, I suppose he did, since he had a weapon, shot Paul, and came after me.

  "I'd called 999 for an ambulance, when I saw the first man moving towards us. He may have come from the van, but again, I couldn't swear to it.

  "I called for him to stop, put his hands behind his head, and drop to his knees. He didn't. He just kept moving, and he had a gun.

  "I told Padma to get on the floor and keep her head down. And I drew my weapon. I think I told him to stop again -- but I might not have. I shot his hand, and his pistol went flying. But, he continued to come towards me.

  "It's about now when the guy on the bike shot Paul. I looked away for a second, and that's when the first man kicked my gun from me. I got in a good couple of hits, before he grabbed me and slammed me into the end of the open car door.

  "I pretended I was having a hard time standing back up, but I was getting my backup gun."

  "Backup gun?" Sir Anthony asked.

  "Yes, sir," she answered. "I'd taken Andrew's ankle holster and the smallest, lightest pistol we had. That's why I wore pants. And I was very careful not to let anyone see it. Even at Henry Jackson's.

  "When I rose up, I didn't waste time telling him to stop, I just shot him. Two in the chest, and one in the head. Which is what I was taught as an MP. I know Andrew always insists it's the reverse. You know, two in the head and one in the chest. But, I suppose early training will tell.

  "I made sure Padma was still on the floor of the car, and then went to take care of the other guy. I just went around the back of the car ready to shoot."

  Then she swallowed hard, and added, "But, I was lucky. You don't need to tell Father, or Drew, do you?"

  "What do you mean, lucky?"

  "I was ready to shoot, but so was he. His gun misfired. And that's what saved me. I shot him before he could try again."

  Her godfather and boss looked at her and asked, "Did you learn anything?"

  "Yes sir. I should have been shooting as I rounded the back of the car, and not waited."

  "Well, then," he said, smiling, "I don't think we need to mention it to anyone else. I take it the Military Police don't often shoot first, do they?"

  "No sir. Not unless someone has already proved they're capable of extreme violence."

  "All right. Then what happened?"

  "I could hear the ambulance coming, so I gathered up the weapons -- the cyclist's, mine, and then the first man's. Then I called Ruth about whether Padma was required to go to hospital, and to send a second car and driver.

  "I told the paramedics to take care of Paul first. And, that the first man in the front of the car was dead, but that I didn't know about the second man. Then, the car arrived and I took Padma back to the embassy and reported here."

  "Yes, that agrees with what we learned from Paul."

  "That reminds me, sir. I would very much like to know what happened to Paul. I'm ashamed to say I didn't think about him for several days. And, by then, Ruth said he'd been released from hospital and she didn't know where he'd gone."

  "Paul was not injured seriously. He'll make a full recovery. But, he'll need some physical therapy and, it happened that he had already put in for some time off. So, he's on holiday with his family, and will probably take advantage of getting his therapy in his home town.

  "I will tell you," Sir Anthony told her, smiling, "he said you handled yourself most credibly. And, he included that in his report."

  He looked over at Bridget and said, "I think we're finished with the debriefing. If you'll type that up, Beth can sign it on her way out."

  "Yes, sir." Bridget took the hint and left, closing the door behind her.

  "Now," Sir Anthony began, "I have something I think will be an excellent solution for our current situation.

  "Your father spoke to me about a certain...shall we say...lapse in judgment."

  "You're speaking about what Andrew and Jack did, aren't you?"

  "Yes, my dear, I certainly am. However, I'm not as upset as I might have been -- had it been someone else. Especially since I know Andrew is smart, but he is no computer guru. So, I think it's safe for us to place a good portion of the actual act on Mr. Lloyd.

  "Also, it was you who pointed out that if they could hack the files, others could have as well. You're absolutely correct. A
nd it started me thinking that someone needs to go through all the files and compare my files to the computer files.

  "You, of course, were my first choice for the job. But I felt you would see the assignment as busy work that your husband, father, and I thought up to keep you safely behind a desk in Vauxhall Cross, instead of out in the field.

  "The truth is you are completely trustworthy. You are comfortable working with computers. I know you are thorough, efficient, and dedicated.

  "And now that you're pregnant -- that absolutely puts you behind a desk for the next six months or so.

  "And I have the perfect place for you to work." He smiled at her and continued, "You know, when they built this place they included all sorts of...shall we say...Bondescque things. Of course, there's a bomb shelter in the basement. And, a number of secret doors and escape tunnels. There's even an escape pod -- a kind of bubble for me, or my successor, to climb in and get ejected out of a tube into the Thames.

  "The one thing I did like was the apartment."

  He stood up, and walked over to a door Beth had always assumed was to a lavatory, or perhaps a closet. Gesturing for her to follow, he opened it and walked through.

  She found a large, square room with a love seat and two chairs in one corner. The corner diagonally across from the seating area, held a bed that was separated from the main part of the room by a folding screen. There was a door, open, which showed a bathroom. A dining table and four chairs, and a wall kitchen finished off the room. It was windowless, and it didn't appear to have another exit.

  "I thought this would be the perfect place for you to perform my assignment."

  "Do I have to live here?" she asked. Even she could hear the unhappiness in her voice.

  "No, of course not. I thought you could set it up as your office. It's private -- which is something I think is imperative.

  "It has its own bathroom. Something Millie assures me will be greatly appreciated, and it also has a bed. So, if you feel tired or unwell, you can have a nice lie down. And, it has the little kitchen, so you can have hot tea or iced drinks, and food whenever you want it.