The Englor Affair (25 page)

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The Englor Affair

were extremely rare and not at all accepted thanks to the Church of Englor’s refusal to sanction them. The only such marriage Simon even knew of happened when he’d been eighteen, right after he’d gone into the IN. Lord Keller’s son had been embroiled in a scandal with one of the footmen. The two had been wed a week afterward and fled to the countryside. The earl had disowned his son and told everyone he was dead. “I married him last night.”

Simon entered his study and even with his stomach in knots, his gaze narrowed in on the tumbler of scotch sitting on the bar in the corner of the room. It was so tempting, but Aldred would have his head, and since Aldred was due any minute…

“Good choice, Colonel. I really like him. I believe the proper term for him would be consort.”

Yes, now he remembered, that was what spouses were called on Regelence, Payton’s home planet. He wasn’t ignorant to Regelence’s customs since they were very much like Englor’s. He’d done his homework. He’d known as soon as he found out Payton was a lord and only nineteen what compromising him meant. It had been obvious that Pay was looking for a good time with no consequences, so Simon had given him that. It’s not like anyone on Regelence would have found out, if Payton had been a regular old run-of-the-mill lord. And why would Simon expect him to be anything else? Who would have thought a prince would be so far away from home on the front lines of an investigation?

“He will make a fine one, I suspect. He has a regal bearing about him, and I imagine he can even charm the populace into approving of him.”

Simon grinned. “That’s probably because he is the son of a king.” As for his charm?

Simon suspected Dunston was correct. Payton’s good looks and charisma had won Wycliffe over immediately. Wycliffe was not a trusting guy. It took him a long time to warm up to people, which was why Roc and Simon were two of his very few friends.

Regardless, Payton wasn’t going to go anywhere without a guard or four. Until Simon figured out who had his parents killed… No even after that. Payton could very well be a target just because he was a man and Simon’s consort. Like it or not, Payton was going to have to cope with it, because Simon was not going to risk Payton’s life.

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“Perhaps he can keep you and your friends in line,” Dunston quipped. “Your guests are here, Colonel, shall I send them in?”

“Yes, please.” Walking over to the fireplace, he leaned against the mantle and stared down into the flames. He’d either made the biggest mistake of his life, or his greatest triumph. He had what he wanted—well almost, he didn’t have an heir yet—but Hawkins had assured him that Regelence procreation would be open to him. To Simon it was the ideal set up. He would secure his succession without having to marry an unwanted woman and pretend interest. Now to see if his advisors agreed with him. Crossing to his desk, he pulled out his chair and sat. He leaned back, resting his hands over his stomach in a confident relaxed way he did not feel at the moment.

“Good morning, Si.” Roc came into the study followed by Wycliffe, Oxley and Aldred.

Simon felt a sting of regret upon seeing his uncle. He shouldn’t be telling his uncle about his marriage like this. It should have been done beforehand, not here in front of everyone.

“Simon.” Hawthorne entered, dipping his head, with his son on his heels. The admiral stood a good four inches taller than his father. He wore IN dress whites, his cover in his hand. If he weren’t so damned big and intimidating, he’d be a really handsome man, just as his father was. Both had the same swarthy coloring, brown eyes and dark brown hair, though Hawthorne had the sexy graying at the temples and no beard like his son. Leland also had laugh lines at the corners of his eyes that his son lacked.

“Colonel,” Admiral Hawkins said as he met Simon’s gaze. He was an enigma. If not for his reaction to catching Simon and Payton last night, Si would have thought the admiral planned their getting together. It was obvious the man held Regelence and its royal family in high regard and would do anything to protect the planet and its people, even going against the IN, but Simon had to wonder if that also included marrying off one of the princes to ensure an alliance.

It would benefit Englor as well, but Simon couldn’t rule that possibility out. To do so would underestimate Hawkins, and Simon wasn’t about to do that. The man hadn’t gotten 174

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The Englor Affair

his military record and reputation from nowhere. He was a hard man. Simon felt sorry for Payton’s brother.

“Gentlemen. Please be seated. I have some important news.” He waved his hand toward the admiral. “And I’ve invited Admiral Hawkins to join us.”

Hawkins sat on the love seat next to his father. “Please, call me Nate.” A soft almost-smile flitted across his face. Thankfully, he looked much more relaxed and in a better mood today than he had last night.

Dipping his head, Simon acknowledged the request. Nate had asked him to call him by his first name last night when they spoke on the way to the Lady Anna. “Dunston, secure the room.”

The door closed and the lock snicked shut.

Simon took a deep breath and let it out. He’d best get it over with. “Last night I married Nate’s aide, or rather his brother-in-law, Payton Townsend.”

The room was silent for all of five seconds then burst into chaos with Roc and Wycliffe being the most vocal. Both his friends jumped to their feet, shouting about not being forewarned and formulating a plan to deal with the predicted public outcry.

Simon hadn’t expected that. He didn’t know whether to be annoyed or relieved they were doing their job as advisors.

Oxley looked like someone had slapped him, and Hawthorne turned to his son and started talking.

Shaking his head, Simon tuned them all out and met his uncle’s gaze. “I’m sorry, there wasn’t time to call you.”

Aldred sat there for several seconds in silence, then a slow smile crept across his face. “Congratulations.”

“What? This is not a good thing,” Wycliffe interrupted. “Look, Si, I like Payton, but the citizens of En—” His eyes widened and he turned toward Nate. “Payton is your brother-in-law?”

A long, low whistle escaped Roc and he returned to his seat. “I’m beginning to see the whole picture.”

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Arsehole.
Simon was going to take a ribbing for compromising Payton and getting caught, no doubt about it.

“Okay, let’s look at this another way.” Oxley leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “He’s a Regelence Prince, right?”

Simon nodded. “Yes, the second oldest.”

Oxley nodded. “Even better.” He turned toward Nate. “I assume you’ve spoken to Simon about the mess with the IN, Nathaniel?”

“Yes, Kit. We spoke last night.” Nate stretched his arms over the back of the maroon leather love seat and crossed his ankle over his knee. “Simon and I have shared information. He’s informed me of his mother’s possible involvement. And I’m helping to investigate the king and queen’s murders as well.”

“Good.” Oxley smiled and turned his attention to Simon. “This will make getting an alliance with Regelence a given. Oh, and congratulations, Simon.”

Hawthorne groaned. “Kit…”

One of Oxley’s dark brows lifted, but the smirk on his face remained. “Don’t growl at me, Leland. Politically, this puts us in a great situation. There’s no sense in not acknowledging that. And besides, who knows? This could start a new trend here on Englor.”

Simon smiled without humor. He somehow doubted Oxley’s optimism.

“We can only hope,” Wycliffe mumbled.

“You could always go to Regelence to find a spouse, Wycliffe,” Nate said.

Wycliffe slapped a hand to his chest. “Bite your tongue, Deverell. Not only am I not in the market for a wif—consort, Amberley would disown me, should he survive the shock.”

Simon chuckled. He’d nearly forgotten that Nate was the Earl of Deverell.
Oh damn.

Amberley.
Wycliffe’s father would be one of the most vocal against Simon’s marriage.

“Something tells me you should prepare yourself for Amberley’s wrath anyway, Wycliffe. He will not be pleased if you remain my advisor or my friend.”

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“He can say what he likes, Si, but I’m behind you a hundred percent.” Wycliffe stared him right in the eye.

“So am I,” Roc added.

Oxley nodded. “As am I.”

Aldred caught Simon’s gaze. “You know where I stand, so I won’t bother announcing it. However, I want to point out that in light of this new event—happy as we may be about it—others will not be. You will lose votes we need to make certain that the Marines remain Englor Marines and not the IN’s. Some lords will vote against anything you’re for, whether they believe in it or not, on principle.”

The same thought had occurred to Si last night when he’d weighed the advantages and disadvantages of marrying Payton. Simon sat forward, resting his arms on his desk.

“I’m aware of that. And I assure you, the Marines
will
remain on Englor and under Englor command.” Meeting each of the gazes of the other men in the room, Simon kept his face blank, letting them read the seriousness of his statement. He believed in allowing the people to choose for themselves, but he was a military man. He
would
do whatever it took to protect his people if it came down to it.

No one spoke for several seconds, but everyone in the room nodded their agreement.

“You said last night that Payton thinks the cloning technology referred to in the message you received from Benson is the Regelence Procreation Process?” Nate finally said.

“Yes, he does. Neither of us can figure out why the IN would want the technology.”

Simon leaned back once again and crossed his ankles under his desk to get comfortable.

He was anxious to get the admiral’s take on this.

“From what I’ve witnessed of Regelence men, in general, they are highly intelligent, extremely agile and have an underlying aggression.” He frowned. “Even Aiden, as refined as he is, can be quite ruthless when riled. Trouble, er, my son Jeremy, is Regelen.

When I found him on a space station in the Regelence system, he was nearly feral. And Raleigh? The king’s consort is a scary man. Come to think of it, from what I’ve seen, the rest of them have that potential for violence as well. Makes me wonder what they’d be www.samhainpublishing.com 177

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like without the trappings of polite society. I wonder if it’s a trait. If something the scientists do to create them makes them…” He shrugged. “They don’t allow designer babies. I don’t know how—”

“No, I see where you’re going with this,” Hawthorne interrupted. “Every Regelence Lord I’ve met has been in top physical condition. They all seem to have that agility and quick reflexes you were speaking of. Maybe there is some side effect that makes them that way in the process that makes them prefer men or removes the female’s DNA.”

Bloody hell.
Like the perfect warrior? It was a scary thought, but it made sense. Even as small as Payton was he was quick and…strong. When they’d fenced at the gym, Payton had protested to be an amateur but even still, Simon had had his work cut out for him in beating Payton. Actually come to think of it, he’d resorted to trickery. Plus, the amount of weight Payton lifted was rather impressive for his size. “Nate, when are you going back to Regelence?”

“Today. Which means I’ll be back on Regelence in a week’s time.”

“You’ll look into this when you get back? Talk to the scientists?” Simon asked.

Nate uncrossed his legs. “Absolutely. I was thinking the same thing.”

“Although I have to tell you the idea that you find Payton’s father frightening does not make me eager to inform the man I compromised his son.”

“Sire. Raleigh is Payton’s sire, and I don’t envy you.” Nate grinned. “You will be getting a threatening televid call, I assure you.”

Great.
Hopefully, them not telling the man right away wouldn’t anger him. Payton and Nate both swore it would be better for Nate to inform Payton’s parents in person.

Simon sure hoped they were correct.

“Relax, Simon. Raleigh may be scary, but like me, he’s a good man to have on your side.” Nate chuckled.

“Will he be on my side?”

The humor drained from Nate’s face and he was suddenly all business again. “Yes.

After he calms down. He’s also a very intelligent, reasonable man. Just make sure Payton is taken care of.”

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“He will not leave either here or the palace without an armed escort. Not even after we find who had my parents killed.”

“Good.” Nate nodded. “He’s not going to like that, but I expect you to make certain he abides by it anyway. I’m still looking into my IN sources. So far I’ve found nothing about the assassination, but I’m willing to bet that it’s related to this mess with the IN.”

“Excuse me, Colonel,” Dunston interrupted.

Uh-oh.
Simon had told Dunston to secure the room. He wouldn’t interrupt if it were unimportant. “Yes, Dunston?”

“You gave Payton admittance to everything in the house, correct?” Dunston’s voice wavered.

Simon frowned. He couldn’t ever remember hearing that hesitant tone from his butler before. “Yes. Why?”

“He is accessing my hard drive and using the Englor Marine encryption program.”

Simon groaned. “Bloody hell.”
Why?

A bark of laughter brought Simon’s attention back around to Nate.

The admiral made no attempt to hide his mirth.

Grinning, Leland nudged his son with his foot. “Nathaniel.”

“He did assure me he’d crack that message.” Nate smiled up at Simon.

Message?
Simon didn’t remember anything about a message. Payton better not have lied about anything else.

The admiral shrugged. “It doesn’t matter whether you gave him access or not. He’d get in. Did I forget to mention he’s a genius when it comes to computers?”