Black moved slowly, clipping at the grass, then reached around and nibbled at her booted foot. She moved it away, but he nibbled at it again. She laughed and sat up, pushed her hat to the top of her head and leaned forward, hugging the horse around the neck. Brandon watched as she slid off the animal and started to walk ahead of it. Slowly, the horse followed her, and when it reached her, it snatched the hat off her head and stopped. She stopped too, felt her head, and without turning around, held out her hand for the hat. Black snorted and stomped the ground with a forefoot and tossed his head, the hat clenched in his teeth. She snapped her fingers impatiently, and he moved forward, until the hat reached her hand.
Brandon laughed at the game and then wondered if he'd ever seen a horse play that way before with a human.
Brett placed the hat back on, snugged it down tight, and then started to run. Black stood still, legs splayed, ears forward and waiting. Brandon thought this must be another game. When she got about ten yards away, he heard her whistle, saw the horse’s ears go back then forward, and he took off after her at a canter. As the horse gained on the woman, Brandon held his breath, not knowing what was going to happen. It looked like the animal would run her down, but in a few lengths it came parallel to Brett and they matched strides. Brett turned slightly, grabbed Black’s mane with both hands, and with both feet together, hopped. The momentum of the cantering horse swung her off her feet, backward, and with incredible grace she swung up onto his bare back. She held only his mane, and the canter became a gallop. They made a circuit of the paddock.
Brandon slowly exhaled and realized he'd been holding his breath as he watched. No, he changed his mind. They were both magnificent. He would kill Stephen if he botched this. What a woman. She was certainly worthy of his family name, and he wondered what the combination of her and Stephen would produce. Brains, beauty, and more brains.
Brett and Black galloped around the far corner of the paddock and were on their way to where the duke leaned. She spotted him and tightened her knees, dug in her toes, and pulled back on the mane she held in her hands, and Black skid to a stop. She swung off the horse and landed easily.
“Duke Brandon! What a pleasure to see you! I’d shake hands, but I’m covered in horse.”
“Yes, you are.” He nodded. “But on you it looks very good.”
“I’m so glad you came out to meet Black. What do you think?” She gazed back lovingly at the horse.
“He is all you said he was, just magnificent, my dear child.” The duke nodded approvingly. “If I still kept any young mares, I’d ask to stud him immediately.”
“He has an effect on people, sir. On Old Earth, he is a father four times over. I didn’t think anyone would want him here, though.” She leaned her head to the side seemingly in thought.
“If you wish, I’ll speak to some of my old friends and see if they would be interested in diversifying their stock?” he offered.
“Black has never met a mare he didn’t like, sir.” Her grin was a little lopsided at her joke. “Is Stephen, I mean Lord Brandon, with you today?” She touched her hair absently and looked past the duke.
“No, not today, my child. I came on my own, out of my own desire to see you and the horse.”
“I hope you are not disappointed, sir, in either of us.” She smiled at him.
Oh, Stephen, you are one lucky bastard. Do not blow this or I’ll kill you myself.
“Would you care to dine with me tonight, Miss Butler, you and your father?”
“It sounds lovely, sir. I believe my father is free tonight.”
“Will you both come then, Miss Butler, say at 1900?”
“We’ll be there, sir, thank you.” She smiled at him as he bowed to her and then left. All the way back to the car, he suppressed the urge to dance a jig, but a man of his age and bearing wouldn’t do such a thing. Besides, he’d dance at the wedding.
The duke hit the vidcom in the backseat of his car as it drove away from the park and punched in the numbers.
His daughter-in-law Lady Diane’s housekeeper appeared. She smiled as she recognized the duke.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
“Is Lady Diane at home?” he asked cordially. He was in a good mood and looking forward to the evening he planned in the back of his mind.
“Yes, please hold.” The woman disappeared and in a moment, Lady Diane appeared.
“Good afternoon, sir.” She nodded to him. Her blonde hair, streaked with silver highlights, was piled neatly on her head. She was still a beautiful woman even after all these years.
“I’m hosting a little dinner party tonight I think you’ll want to attend, Diane. Ambassador Butler, his daughter, Stephen, myself, and you, if you can find the time.” He smiled and raised an eyebrow.
Her eyes narrowed. She regarded him for a moment, then sat back in her chair and said, “You don’t waste much time, do you, Alistair?”
“How much time do you think Stephen’s got, my dear?”
“I know what you’re up to, Duke, but I’m not sure we should be rushing into this course of action. We know nothing about her, other than her visible qualities.”
“Well, if you’d been out reconnoitering, like me, you’d know more.”
“I’ve wasted my time on Stephen before, and nothing ever pans out. He is deathly allergic to commitment. This is only a passing fancy. As soon as he gets his taste, he’ll move on.” She motioned with her fingers like they were walking.
“Don’t be so sure. He told me he plans on marrying her.” He waited to see the response in his daughter-in-law. A look of shock passed briefly over her face.
“He hasn’t spoken to me about her at all.” She sounded doubtful now.
“And if you learned more about her, you would know he will not be able to sample this pastry and move on. She has more class and honor than the normal Commonwealth piece of fluff.”
“Seems she’s won your heart too, Alistair, but it will take more than some flattery and eyelash batting to win me.” Lady Diane crossed her arms and raised her chin.
“All I’m asking is for you to come and give her a chance, find out for yourself what she’s made of, she and her father.”
With a sigh, Lady Diane nodded and said, “I’ll be there.” She hit the button, and the vid shut off.
The duke sat back against the seat. Everything was falling into place.
Chapter Nine
Stephen sat in his cubicle at HQ working on his mystery. He leaned back and rubbed his hand over his eyes and then through his hair. He still needed to make a call to his mother to talk to her before the dinner with Brett and her father. He punched in her number and waited.
Her maid answered, “Lady Brandon’s residence.”
“Hello, Marta, is my mother available?”
“Yes, sir, please wait.” The screen went gray, and in a few moments his mother appeared on the screen.
“Stephen, so good of you to call me.” The sarcasm dripped from her voice, and he winced.
“I know I should have talked to you sooner, but Granddad moved awfully fast on this. It took me by surprise. I planned on asking you to meet Brett, but he beat me to it.”
“Well, now, it took me by surprise, too, especially the part where you want to marry her.” She lowered her head and looked at him.
“He told you, did he? Well, as a matter of fact, yes, I do want to marry her. I plan on asking her father at the dinner for her hand.” He leaned back and watched for her reaction.
“Stephen, you know I’ve wanted you to settle down for years, and it’s way past time you married, but this is so sudden. Are you sure she’s the one?” She looked very doubtful, as if by being unsure she could sway him.
“Yes, Mother, very sure. I have never been in love before, you know. She’s the one. I can’t explain it, but I just know.” He leaned forward toward the screen, trying to convey his feelings to her.
“Yes, I know all about love, dear, but this is so fast. Have you even taken the tim
e to get to know her, see what she’s like? Just being pretty is not enough to base a marriage on, Stephen.”
“It’s not that, although she is beautiful. She has so much substance, so much life. She is unlike any other girl I’ve ever met, Mother. She’s strong, brave, and has the most amazing sense of honor and duty. I could talk to her for hours. She really understands me.” He paused and added, “Granddad seems quite taken with her too.” As if those words alone would convince his mother. He should know better. His mother was strong and brave to have raised a son and survived in their society without a man by her side.
“I’ll grant it you’ve never met a woman like her before, but is it enough to base your whole life on? Marriage is not to be taken lightly, Stephen. How do you know she is the one?” She shook her head and looked very worried.
Stephen closed his eyes and took a breath, held it, and then let it out slowly. He opened his eyes and spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, “When I look in her eyes, I see our children.”
Lady Diane froze for a moment, sat back, and nodded.
“I’ll see you when you pick me up, Stephen.” And the connection was broken.
Stephen rubbed his face again and exhaled. It went well, better than he’d thought. He stood, stretched, and then got back to his work.
•●•
Brett stood at the door to her father’s study, just off his bedroom. He’d been working all afternoon on his speech on the tariff debate. She exhaled and knocked.
“Enter,” he called out.
“Dad, can I interrupt you?” Brett poked her head just inside his door and waited.
“Brett, of course! I could use a break.” He motioned her in, and she crossed the room and took a seat on the small sofa near his desk. He rose and sat next to her.
“Dad, I wanted to speak to you about Lord Brandon.” She curled her legs up under her. She’d told him earlier of the invitation to dinner, but she wanted to talk more about the young man she was involved with and her feelings for him.
“I was hoping I’d hear more about him.” He put his arm across the back of the sofa and waited.
She took a deep breath and began. “You know, Dad, I’ve never been involved with anyone before, not seriously anyway. And you know I really tried to give General Mace a chance, but I couldn’t go through with it. He was awful.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “But Stephen is so very different. I think I fell in love with him before we even spoke.” She stared off into the distance, remembering the first time she saw him.
“Love works like that sometimes. Sometimes it grows slowly.”
“Was it fast for you and Mom?” She wondered if she should bring her up, but he seemed to be doing so much better this last year.
“Oh, yes, for me it was. I’m not so sure for her, though.” He grinned and laughed. “She made me work for her, that’s for sure. But in the end, she gave in.”
“Do you think I should make Stephen work harder?” She looked at him sideways.
“No, don’t play games with the boy, Brett, it’s not fair. Your mother was unsure at first how she felt about marrying a military man, not how she felt about me. She’d spent her life in a military family and was pretty sure she wanted out. Then she met me and had to make a very big decision. Military life isn’t for everyone.” He picked at the arm of the sofa.
“I understand, but it’s not a problem for us. I fully support his career and have no ambitions of a military career anymore, I assure you.”
“Well, it’s a lot less conflict. Be up front with him, he seems a good man, and be true to yourself. If you two are meant to be together, then it will be,” he paused, “but I am sure happy to know you may have found someone to share your life with, Brett.”
“You really mean to have lots of children with, don’t you, Dad?” she teased him.
“Yes, I do.” He nodded, and they shared a laugh. He became serious. “I wondered if I would ever hear you talk about getting married or having children. Are these new thoughts?”
“Yes, very new. Like may be just a week old.” She winked, unable to hide her happiness. He pulled her over to him and hugged her.
“I trust you, Brett. If this is the man you want, he’s fine with me. Dinner tonight at his grandfather’s? Well, it should be very interesting.” Brett stood and kissed him on the cheek.
“Dad, I love you.”
“I love you, too. I’ll finish here and start getting ready.”
She left the room, and he sat there. Slowly a grin crept over his face, and he leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes. He could see Elaine in her gown on their wedding day. Even though it happened over thirty years ago, he could still see it clearly. She walked down the aisle with her father, Commodore Clayton Walker. He’d looked so proud of his daughter, and when he handed her to Butler they’d shaken hands. “Take good care of her, Jonathan,” he’d said, and Butler nodded, too choked up to speak.
Now he might be walking Brett down a long aisle and letting her go to this young man. His eyes filled at the thought, and he wiped them with the back of his hands. He blew out a breath, stood, and went back to work.
•●•
Brett looked into the mirror in her dressing room and decided to go with the gown she tried on two dresses ago. This dinner was important. She wasn’t stupid. Impressions were hard to change, and his mother would be there. The duke would leave no stone unturned. He may be old, but Brett could tell he was sharp as a tack. His visit to the stables hadn’t been just coincidence. He’d been checking her out.
She took off the gown, went back to the closet, and hung it up carefully. Then she sat at the dressing table and started to work on her hair. The braids were elaborate, but the hard part was twisting them around her head artfully. She was used to braiding. She did it all the time on Black’s mane and tail for the horse shows, so it was an easy transition to her own hair. When she’d pinned the last one into place, she arranged the jeweled net over them. It was sheer, so her braids were highlighted by the shining jewels. The effect was subtle, but very attractive.
She hated makeup, so she only applied mascara to her eyelashes and a touch of tinted gloss to her lips. Just a hint of the perfume she liked to wear, very faint, only one dab to her wrists.
The dress was a compromise of herself and the styles of New Commonwealth. It was soft, feminine, yet tailored, with a low neckline, flattering her shoulders and throat. The color, a gray leaning to purple, gave her complexion a boost and set off her eyes. Finally, she slipped into one of the few pairs of dress slippers she owned. They felt strange on her feet, but also much lighter than the boots she normally wore.
“You’re a proper Commonwealth lady, now, my girl,” she said to her reflection, trying to mimic the way they spoke, pleased with the results. She hoped Stephen would be pleased too. She glanced at the clock on her table and with a deep breath, headed downstairs to meet her father. Ambassador Butler waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs for Brett.
When she arrived at the top landing, he looked up and gasped. “Are you really my girl?”
“Yes, Dad, it’s me.” She rolled her eyes, and then did a turn for him at the bottom of the stairs, her long skirt swirling. “I take it you approve of my selection?”
“Oh yes, dear, you look lovely. I’m speechless!”
“So this is what it takes! Now I know, watch out.” She teased him and took his offered arm, and they went through the door and out to the waiting cars.
•●•
Stephen waited at the door to his mother’s flat and exhaled. He hoped she wouldn’t be difficult tonight. Even she should realize how important this was to him.
After he'd spoken to her on the console, he knew she was going to be difficult. But she promised to keep an open mind. He looked down at his uniform, fresh pressed, and checked to see if his boots shone. Everything looked good. The door opened, and his mother stood in the foyer. The expression on her face wasn’t hard to read, but h
e ignored it and entered.
“Are you ready, Mother?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be, Stephen.” He extended his arm to her, and she took it, allowing herself to be led to the lift and downstairs to the waiting car. He borrowed his grandfather’s vehicle and driver, since he didn't own a car. While living in the officer’s quarters near HQ he used military transport to and from work. He used to borrow Johann Stuart’s car for special occasions but there hadn’t been many of those in a long time.
Lady Brandon arranged the skirt of her dress, a deep burgundy empire-styled gown, and sat back against the car’s plush seat. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back in soft waves. Stephen glanced at his mother. She was still a beautiful woman, even though in her late forties. Still had her figure, too, he thought proudly. They rode in silence to the duke’s residence, where they alighted, and he escorted her up the stairs and inside.
The duke waited for them in the foyer. His man took Lady Diane’s wrap, Stephen’s hat and gloves, and disappeared.
“Is she here yet?” Stephen looked past his grandfather anxiously.
“Not yet, son, but I expect them any minute.” He turned to Lady Diane and smiled. “You look lovely, Diane.” She smiled at him and did a small curtsy.
“Still the charmer, I see, Alistair. Well, let’s hope this dinner goes well. My last memory of this young lady and her father was rather odd. She spent most of the time on the floor with a Taser aimed at her.” She looked pointedly at her son.
“But even you have to admit, she exhibited grace under fire, Mother. And I could tell she even charmed William. Her gifts were spot on and…” His mother waved at him to stem the flow of his defense of Brett.
“Point taken and conceded.” Lady Diane rolled her eyes.
They moved into the library, and his grandfather poured drinks. In a few minutes, his man opened the door to the library and announced Ambassador Butler and his daughter.
The Ambassador's Daughter Page 9
