The Ambassador's Daughter

by Theodora Lane

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It was over. She’d never been so glad to see her father as the moment he walked into the room. Despite everything she’d done, she’d wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms like a child seeking comfort.

  Instead, she fell into Stephen’s arms, and it had been just as good. Better. And it had surprised her, yet it had also told her the decision to marry him had been the right one.

  Diane sat next to Brett and checked her face. The duke stood, and Blalock helped him upstairs to his bedroom to lie down and rest. Just before he left the library, he gave Diane a look, sad and guilty, and then turned away without meeting Brett’s gaze.

  Diane leaned back on the couch and sighed. “What really happened, Brett?”

  There would be no way around this but the truth. But would it pull Stephen’s mother toward her or push her away? Brett exhaled and looked into Diane’s searching gaze.

  “I killed two men in the basement where we were being held.” Blunt, hard words, said with no emotion. She knew she’d shocked Diane by the paling of the woman’s complexion.

  “The ones who were holding you, the ones who did all this to you?”

  “Yes, they were trying to get the duke to tell them where the disk was, and they were afraid to hurt him, because of his advanced age.” She licked her lips and leaned her head back, closing her eyes. “They used me instead as leverage on him.”

  “Dear God,” Diane gasped. “No wonder the duke was so upset.”

  “I told him not to tell. They’d kill us as soon as they got the information. He understood the situation.”

  “But Brett, he’s so fond of you and all the promise you hold.” Diane took Brett’s hand and gave it a hard squeeze.

  “It’s how they got him in the end, how they broke him.” She paused and swallowed. The words came out in a whisper. “The one hitting me, Hugo, took me into another room, and the other told the duke if he didn’t tell, he would let Hugo rape me.”

  “Brett, he didn’t…” she whispered, as the horror of the thought furrowed her once smooth brow.

  “Lady Diane, I was a major in the Marines, in security, and trained to kill. I stabbed the man with his own knife and then used it to kill the other.” She closed her eyes and put her hands over her face. She’d been trained, but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t feel the psychological effects of killing another human being.

  To Brett’s surprise, Diane took her in a tight hug and held her, murmuring soft words. It was a mother’s comfort and one Brett dearly needed. Tears streamed from Brett’s eyes, but she made no sounds, refusing to break down and sob over her actions.

  She refused to feel remorse, other than to wish it hadn’t have happened, but she knew if she hadn’t done what she did, both she and the duke would be dead.

  After a few moments, Diane held her at arm’s length. “You need to speak to the duke. I think he’s not sure what happened in the room, and I believe he fears the worse.”

  Brett nodded and stood. She straightened her clothes, running her hands over her dress, and remembered she still had no panties on. That must have been it; he’d seen the panties clutched in Hugo’s hand.

  “Damn. I hadn’t thought of it.” She left the library and climbed the stairs to his room.

  Brett knocked softly on his door, and at hearing his voice, she entered.

  He lay in his bed, on top of the covers. Blalock had helped him change his clothes. He looked so much less the retired officer and more an old, frail man. She’d done this to him, and she cringed inside at the knowledge.

  “I’m so sorry, Brett,” his voice wavered, and tears filled his eyes. She went to the bed, sat on it next to him and took his hand and held it to her cheek.

  “My dearest duke, you have nothing to be sorry for, or ashamed of. I want to assure you I remain untouched by that man. I gave him my undergarment in an effort to distract him, and then in an unguarded moment, I kicked him, took his knife, and stabbed him.”

  “Dearest God, Brett, for you to have to kill,” he cried. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you.” Tears ran down his face, and he patted her hand.

  “There was no need. I was in security, sir, for six years, trained as a Marine, and although I’ve never killed anyone before, I was prepared to do so. I won’t let this come between us, sir. There is no guilt for you to feel. We beat them, sir, together.” She smiled at him and patted his hand. “I’m going to marry Stephen and fill this house with our children. I need you well, sir, to brag about them to all your old friends.” He smiled a little at her words, put his hand over hers, and returned the pressure.

  “I knew when I first saw Stephen and you together you were the one. I told Stephen he’d better not ruin it, and I wanted you for his wife.” His eyes now twinkled a bit as his former self returned.

  “I know. He told me. I’d thought I couldn’t be any more blessed with my own family, but I realize now, coming into your family is just another blessing.” She leaned forward, kissed him on his cheek, and pulled a throw blanket over him.

  “Get some rest, sir. I’ll let you know when they return.” She stood and quietly left the room.

   •●• 

  Jonathan and Stephen rode in silence to the palace. Jonathan's mind spun around a plan, but would the regent accept it? It was bold and very aggressive, but from what he’d seen of William, he thought it stood a good chance.

  They arrived, and were shown into a private parlor off the regent’s office. After a few minutes, William appeared, followed by two guards who took up their stations at the door. He sat on a chair next to a long velvet sofa, and with a wave of his hand instructed them to sit.

  Jonathan explained what they had found and how it had been discovered. William remained silent through all this, only asking to see the disks at the end. He slid them into his console and brought up the holo of the device. Then he tapped on the keys, and the file marked Conclusions opened, and he read it. Finally, he turned back to Jonathan and Stephen with his eyebrows raised in question.

  “Ambassador, as I see it, this puts you in an awkward position. While you have certainly foiled a plot to overthrow the monarchy and put New Commonwealth under the grips of Century IV, your first duty is to Old Earth, is it not?”

  “Yes, your highness. You understand my position.”

  “Indeed, and what do you propose?” William lifted an eyebrow and waited.

  “All the technology by rights belongs to New Commonwealth. Such power would tip the scales in the Archipelago. Such power would also be a temptation to lesser men, to use itfor expansion, not defense.”

  “Just so, Ambassador.” William nodded, no longer smiling, his eyes watching Jonathan carefully.

  “However, it doesn’t mean to say any planet holding this power might turn it against the others to its own advantage. Back on Old Earth in the late twentieth century, there was a standoff called the Cold War. Both sides had the same capacity for destruction, enough nuclear weapons to destroy the Earth several times over. A balance of power kept both sides in check, because if either one used the weapons, the other would retaliate and bring on the end of the world, with no winner, only annihilation.”

  “And your proposal is?” William waited.

  “Give this technology to all the planets, except Euphrates Prime. Create a balance of power to bring the planets more into alignment and thereby create a strong defensive front to the Ottomans.” He stopped and leaned back as he watched the Regent think over his proposal.

  “A bold proposal, indeed.” William leaned forward and placed his elbow on his knee and his chin on his fist. “Spread the wealth, so to speak. No one would use it against the others, but we would all use it in common defense against the Ottomans. Maintain the balance, indeed.”

  Jonathan nodded, and Stephen held his breath. For the first time Jonathan wondered exactly what type of man the regent was and whether he would take the data, which he had every right to do, and dismiss them.

&n
bsp; William’s eyes closed. Then he sat up, opened his eyes, and looked from Stephen to Jonathan and back.

  “Ambassador, I respect your assessment of the military and political implications this weapon has dropped in our lap. I would like for you to convene the other Ambassadors and lay out your proposal to them. We want a treaty drawn up, to mutually benefit all the signers, not only with respect to the weapon, but also one that would encompass a new order of power amongst the Archipelago.”

  “Sort of a constitutional convention, if you will, sir?” Jonathan nodded, seeing where the regent was headed. “Excellent idea, why not bind us all together formally? Independent planets, yet answering to the greater good of all.” He leaned back and smiled at Stephen, who nodded.

  “How fast can you move on this, Ambassador?” William asked.

  “I will start the process as soon as I return to my embassy.” He paused, uncertain if he should bring this up. “Your Highness, what should be done about Ambassador Pheydor and Century IV?”

  “We are sure the government there will cry they knew nothing of the weapon or its orders to be built, or the intention of using it as other than a defense. So in order not to create another enemy where there is currently none…” He smiled and held his hands out.

  “I will make sure Pheydor is present, Regent. It may be awkward for the two of us, but I’m sure cooler heads will prevail.” He stood, and Stephen rose, then they both bowed and left the room. The regent would have to deal with this among his advisors and the other members of the government.

  Jonathan didn’t envy him his position or his power.

   •●• 

  “So you’re in love with my mother?” Stephen had settled back in the car and turned to Jonathan. He glared at the ambassador and shook his head.

  “I’m afraid so, Stephen. It was as much a surprise to us, I assure you.”

  Stephen stared out of the window and watched the buildings go by. “She has been alone for a long time, sir. When I was younger, I knew she wouldn’t marry because of me. Frankly, I didn’t want to share her with anyone, didn’t want to lose her also. But as I grew older and matured, I realized I did her a great disservice.” He sighed. “Then I began to feel guilty; she’d wasted the best years of her life on me.”

  “I don’t believe she ever looked at them as a waste, Stephen. More like her duty. To make sure your life was on the right track before she could start hers again.” Jonathan smiled. “You’ll understand it once you have your own children. For some people, they themselves come first, for others, their children come first.”

  “Now, she’s older and…” He paused, knowing it wasn’t coming out right.

  “Stephen, your mother is the most beautiful woman I know. I can’t help feeling we needed to be in the right places in our lives to have come together.” Jonathan chuckled. “I’m afraid I feel far more fortunate than she does, in that respect.”

  Stephen looked out the window again and bit his lower lip. He wanted to ask, but didn’t know how.

  “I know it’s probably none of my business, but are you sleeping with my mother?”

  “Your mother is past the age of consent, Stephen, and no, it’s not your business. I was raised as a gentleman, and I would protect her any way I can, even from her son.”

  “I only ask you take care of her reputation, sir. Marry her quickly, before word gets out, whether the truth or lies. Her standing means a great deal to her.” Stephen stared at Butler dead-on, intent on Butler understanding him.

  “Then I would like to marry her as soon as possible, son.” He smiled. “I only wish I could do the same for you.”

  “We have agreed on the six months’ time frame.” His voice sounded tired and he rubbed the bridge of this nose between his fingers.

  “Six months is a long time, and it doesn’t insure your resolve won’t weaken. In fact, I worry the depth of your feeling will make six months very hard to reach without slipping.” He sighed. “I realize Brett is very beautiful, and you are an experienced man. And I’m not such a fool as to think my daughter inexperienced.”

  “Sir. Before you go on, I must tell you the truth, even if you hate me for it.” Stephen exhaled. “Brett and I have been…intimate. Brett is protected, if you’re worried about it. I…we have been discrete and it’s only happened a few times. So six months isn’t really an issue for us.”

  There was a long silence. Butler drew his hand into a fist, then relaxed it.

  “Thank you, Stephen, for your honesty. Brett is a grown woman, and I trust she knows what she’s doing. I certainly can’t fault you, when your mother and I…”

  “Don’t say it.” He groaned and held out his hand to Jonathan. “Sir, just make my mother happy.”

  “I have every intention of doing just that.” He held Stephen’s hand just a little longer. “Stephen, I couldn’t have asked for a better son than you. Just as Diane will welcome Brett as a daughter, would you welcome me as a father?”

  Stephen blinked several times and swallowed hard. “Sir, I would be honored. I have the greatest respect for you.”

  Butler let his hand go. Stephen sat back and they drove the rest of the way to Brandon House in silence.

   •●• 

  When they arrived, Jonathan went straight to the duke’s study and began contacting the other ambassadors. He had saved Pheydor for last; it was a call he wanted to make face-to-face. Telling the others something very big had come up and they needed to meet had been easy. Most had assumed it would be about the tariff issue, and all agreed to meet with him and each other.

  He’d set the meeting for two days later at the New Commonwealth Embassy. All he had left to do was to contact Pheydor, something he wasn’t relishing. Pheydor had ordered Brett kidnapped and then possibly ordered her death over this weapon. He’d always like Pheydor, so this felt like even more of a betrayal, and he wondered if he would be able to keep control when he saw him.

  He tapped in the code to the Century IV embassy and a guard answered.

  “Is Ambassador Pheydor there?” he asked wearily.

  “Lionel Pheydor is no longer ambassador, sir. I will connect you to the acting ambassador, Mr. Jorge Montego.” The screen went gray and Jonathan sat back, surprised at this turn of events.

  Pheydor out and someone new in? That had been damned quick. Pheydor must have reported his mistakes and paid the price with his job. Jonathan wondered if it was all he paid with.

  The screen came back to life and a man appeared. He was younger than Pheydor and looked thin and pale. He nodded curtly to Jonathan and spoke with a slight accent. “Ambassador Butler, I am Jorge Montego, acting ambassador for Century IV. What can I do for you, sir?”

  “Mr. Montego, what happened to Pheydor?” He wanted to know what Montego knew about the incident.

  “Mr. Pheydor has been removed from his office, sir, by order of the President of the Council of Century IV. I have been moved into his position, in the short-term, until someone can be sent from the home planet.” Well, it told him next to nothing.

  “Then we need to speak. Are you aware of the events today at the embassy?”

  Montego shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Yes, we are aware certain actions not approved or condoned by the current administration occurred here.”

  “Mr. Montego, I was involved in those events, as was my daughter. I need to speak to you. May I come by as soon as possible?”

  Montego looked embarrassed, but nodded. “Sir, we would appreciate your insight into the events, and offer our sincere apologies. I will see you as soon as you arrive.”

  Jonathan cut the link and sat back. Well, either the government knew nothing about this or they were going to act like it. Either way, it would make everything much easier. He stood, stretched, and decided to find Diane before he left. He needed to speak to her about his conversation with Stephen.

   •●• 

  Diane knocked softly on Duke Brandon’s door, entered, and sat on the edge
of his bed. She took his hand and smiled at him.

  “You’re going to be just fine, Alistair. You’re a tough old bird.”

  “And you, Diane, you will marry Ambassador Butler, I think.” He smiled at her and she blushed.

  “Yes, I will. Can you imagine, after what seems to be a lifetime of being alone, I find him. Or did he find me?”

  “It’s time you found someone, Diane. You are too beautiful to waste. He will do well for you, I think.” He patted her hand as he held it.

  “Yes, he will, sir. And Stephen has found Brett too. Soon this house will be full again. You’re going to insist they move in here, aren’t you? The east wing would do very nicely. It was very good for Marston, Stephen, and me, you know.” She winked at him, and he nodded.

  “Yes, the east wing will do nicely. Now go see that man of yours and find out when he is going to make an honest woman of you, my dear.”

  “Oh, dear, does it show?” Her eyes crinkled in a smile at him.

  “I think your eyes do not tell lies, Diane. Nor do his. You must marry quickly, you know.”

  “Yes, I think I would like it very much. Perhaps in a few days?”

  “That would be good. We will have it here. I’ll call Justice May; he owes me a favor, my dear.”

  “Don’t you think we should inform Jonathan of all these plans?” she teased.

  “Tell Jonathan about what plans?” The very man stood in the doorway, leaning on the doorknob, looking so handsome her knees nearly gave out.

  Diane stood and went to him. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  “I was just telling Diane,” the duke continued, “I think you should marry as soon as possible, before everyone starts talking about what you two have been up to.”

  “Good God, not you too?” Jonathan shook his head. He came to stand near the duke’s bed.

  “Who else?” Diane asked, as her heart beat faster.