the alternative bride 2

 Freddy is now Freddie in the main copy so disregard spelling variations here.

Chapter 2

 

“I had a word with my groom; the bride’s trousseau was to be transferred to my coach, and so it has been,” said Gerard. “I paid for it, after all; and I’ll be damned if I pay for Freddy’s bride. If he had come to me like a man, and admitted that he loved my bride, demme, I’d have released her, and let her keep the fal-lals.”

“She didn’t want to be released,” said Jane. “She intended to get with child by you and carry on with Freddy.  Helen – my stepmother – knew, she said it was Marriage à la Mode. I think it’s discourteous, even if one does not expect love in marriage.”

“Deuced rude, not just discourteous,” said Gerard. “So, you don’t expect love?”

“It seems rather a lot to hope for, from a rather sudden husband who does not even know me,” said Jane. “And who has not considered that my looks are sufficiently different to those of my step-sister that I will look a frump in most of her clothes.”

“Hell! She’s the wrong shape and colouring for you,” said Gerard. “You look so charming in that pink thing, I hadn’t thought.”

“Pink is fortuitous to me,” said Jane. “Despite a hint of chestnut in my hair. Moreover, I managed to persuade Madelaine that I did not want to have too much decoration, and she was happy to comply as it would draw less attention to me, and emphasise how overblown her wedding gown was, as well as having someone plain to show off her beauty.”

“You ain’t plain, you know,” said Gerard, critically. “You ain’t a diamond of the first water, but you’re a pretty girl with a good deal of character to your face. And that won’t disappear as you get older.  You’ll always have character, and I suspect you’re sweet natured enough that you’ll always have the beauty of serenity, long past the time when your step-sister looks like a shrew and has acquired a voice that can cut paper and shatter glass.”

“Oh, she already has that when she... forgot what I was going to say,” said Jane, flushing, but involuntarily put a hand to her face.

“Oh, and free with her hands too? You know, Freddy’s welcome to her.  I should have looked closer at the family instead of choosing Marriage à la Mode.  But, I do feel guilty, you’re just a child to run off with, and I don’t even know how old you are!”

“I’m seventeen, my lord,” said Jane.

“Really?  I had some idea you must be much younger to be kept so much in the background... I’d forgotten it was so long since your father died. He and my father were good friends, and he was kind to an awkward and studious youth. My dear girl! I am sorry, I did not realise talking of him would be so painful after so long a juncture,” he added, as tears ran down Jane’s face.

“Oh! I don’t know why I am crying, perhaps because it is so long since anyone spoke of my real father, as even Helen refers to my stepfather as ‘your father.’ 

“Demme! So, you are not even actually related to anyone in your home?”

“No, except my half-brother, Tommy, and Helen is devoted to him, because he means my stepfather has an heir so she does not need to go through childbed again.  I... technically I own the house. No, you own the house, because you own me; Papa left it to Mama and me, but when she remarried, it reverted in its entirety to me, her widow’s remainder to come out of my dowry. Half of which came to me when she died and is in the funds. I am not a poor relation, however it looks; I own a town house, and there is quite ten thousand in the funds.” She put up her chin.

“I like it when my mouse roars,” said Gerard, appreciatively. “I hope nobody will think me a fortune hunter!”

His eyes twinkled, and Jane laughed, recognising this jest for what it was, since he was much wealthier.

“I was going to say, I am happy to leave them living in the house, but it is your decision, of course,” said Jane.

“I recall your stepmother saying once that they gave her husband’s stepchild a home in their house out of the goodness of their hearts, despite her being a most awkward child; I suppose it was then when I conceived the idea that you were so much younger. You are petite as well.”

“Petite! What a nice way to put ‘short and dumpy,’ said Jane.

“But you are not dumpy in the least; just small,” said Gerard. “They say the best things come in small packages,” he twinkled at her again.

“I suppose I envy Madelaine her elegance,” said Jane. “I am glad you don’t think me dumpy and frumpy.”

“I hear Madelaine in that,” said Gerard. “Well! I am going to have my man of affairs write to your stepfather, and tell him that whilst it was quite acceptable for him to be living rent-free in his stepdaughter’s house whilst he had the rearing of her, I shall expect rent to be paid for it from now on.”

“That will be a shock to Helen; I think she thinks he owns it,” said Jane. “She is not a bad woman, but I cannot help some resentment. I don’t want gratitude for having the good fortune to own a house in so good a neighbourhood, but I have hated feeling that I should be the one always to be grateful. Most of my clothes are Madelaine’s hand-me-downs, and I take all the frills off, and Madelaine expects me to put the best ones back on new gowns for her, and... oh, never mind, I can be vitriolic if I let my tongue loose.”

“I look forward to hearing it. Poor Mouse! But you have to confess, it has some fine irony to it, and will be a good story in my club, that the heiress has been treated like a hired companion by her poor relations. I will have my man of affairs check your dowry too, and see it has not been mismanaged,” he added, thoughtfully.

“I don’t think step-papa was fraudulent,” said Jane. “A cold man, surely; but not a thief.”

“That, I am glad to hear,” said Gerard. “In which case, having once reminded him who owns the house, I will charge him only a peppercorn rent.”

“For making the point, not the money,” Jane nodded. “Yes.”

“I am glad you understand.”

“It’s very nice for a mouse to have someone to roar for her; I did not like to make an issue of it, because as my guardian, my stepfather had every right to administer my fortune, and Helen and Madelaine could have made life very uncomfortable for me.”

“Yes, I can imagine.  Well, it relieves my mind, that you have nothing you wish to collect from your former home, and I will purchase you a new wardrobe when we have time, and I think  you will look delightful not merely in pink, but in autumnal colours.”

“I was planning on changing into Madelaine’s plainest gown, which is a day gown in jonquil muslin, which she included in her trousseau rather than discarding it merely because I said I would not mind wearing it so there was no waste.”

“Spiteful! Yes, jonquil will suit you very well. And I am relieved you have a decent day gown to wear. And some in white?”

“Yes, but I will want to take off some of the excess frills.”

“You will have time on the journey.”

“We appear to be leaving London; are we going to your country seat, my lord? I thought you had a place in the west, but we appear to be going north.”

He smirked at her, and she realised he had a dimple; and how his eyes danced!

“I have a small property in the north, and I thought we might pretend that I had eloped with the bridesmaid and were heading for Gretna. And once ensconced in Northumberland, with a plethora of mantua-makers, it will give you time to get used to the idea of being my viscountess, and where we can get to know each other, before you must be thrust into public life.”

“Oh! How good you are, my lord.”

“I know how shy you are, my Mouse. Jane! My name is Gerard. I would like you to try to use it.”

“I... yes, Gerard,” said Jane. “How scandalous for us to be eloping! It is very liberating.”

He laughed.

“I am glad you find it so. I feared you might be mortified.”

“No, it is an adventure. G... Gerard, can I ask you something?”

“You can always ask,” said Gerard.

“Do you have a mistress?” asked Jane.

“Good Lord! The last question a man expects his wife to ask on their wedding day! Yes, Jane, I have a mistress. Or rather, I had a mistress. I had given her her congé, with a generous gift, of course, because of my wedding; even in a loveless match, I strongly anticipated being able to give my bride a good time in the bedroom, and of course, one always hopes for love, or at least, affection to grow, in which case maintaining a mistress would be impolite to both mistress and wife. I believe I have more courtesy than either Freddie or Madelaine.”

“Oh, I wondered if I should talk to your mistress to ask her what you like,” said Jane.

“On no account! She’s been an amusing diversion but she’d take that as a way to put you down and try to use you to get back into my bed. Why on earth should you want to ask her, when you could ask me?”

“Shyness,” said Jane, blushing violently. “I am not precisely sure of what goes on in the marriage bed, save that, having helped Mama with giving birth to Tommy, it involves such parts as are not usually considered mentionable, in order to get a child. And I confess, childbed scares me somewhat.  And that is another demand I would make, my lord!”

“What is that?”

“That I should not be constantly with child, for I cannot think it is conducive to either a healthy baby, and certainly not to the survival of the mother,” said Jane.

“That seems reasonable,” said Gerard. “There are ways to avoid pregnancy other than abstention. I will add also to the list that we should explore each other’s likes and dislikes. I have had one mistress who liked her nipples tweaked, pulled, nibbled and so on; and another who hates them being touched at all. So I am aware that tastes vary.”

He could not but notice that her own nipples had increased slightly in size, and she blushed.

“And there might also be a happy medium?” she said, in a small voice.

“If that were the case, I would be very happy to explore it,” said Gerard, gravely. “I don’t like my own to be manhandled too roughly, but touching is pleasant.”

“You have nipples?” she asked, shocked. “But why?”

“The Good Lord has not seen fit to answer that question,” said Gerard. His eyes danced. “Perhaps to persuade men not to take too many liberties with those of their lovers, if they can have retaliation wrought. Breasts and nipples are very exciting toys, you know, and playing with them can be very exhilarating.”

“Oh!” said Jane, who was scarlet. “Well, I... I will do my best to be a good wife, and I read somewhere that the best of wives is a mistress in the bedroom and a hostess in the ballroom.”

“Now, that sounds like very sound advice to me,” said Gerard. “What did it say about good husbands?”

“It didn’t,” said Jane. “But I think it would be to be attentive without being overbearing, and to be ready to listen.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” said Gerard. “What about being a tiger in the bedroom, and a pussy-cat in the salon?”

Jane laughed.

“So long as neither of those cats wants to eat a mouse!” she said.

“Not a mouse that can roar,” said Gerard.

“Then I think perhaps that is a good definition of a good husband,” said Jane, blushing.  “Oh, dear!  I have had a most reprehensible thought!”

“Will you share it?”

“I... you must forgive my blushes.  Only... Tigers are a bit like big, fierce cats, yes?”

“They are.”

“And cats w... wash a lot....”

“I can’t reach to wash myself in privy places, I don’t bend as much as a cat, I’m afraid, if you were hoping for the entertainment,” said Gerard, gravely. “But reciprocal washing, now....”

“Oh, my goodness!” said Jane.

“But, just think! You may be embarrassed now, but if we can get the embarrassment out of the way on our way north, we have a better idea of each other, and the worst bit of it over.”

“I suppose so. I... thank you for being candid, I do not want to be vulgar, but I do want to know what’s supposed to happen.”

Gerard found it was his turn to blush.

“Your stepmother did not bother to explain?”

“Oh! She did not expect me ever to marry, so there was no necessity for her to explain such things. We had a rather muddled class at school about the birds and the bees, but I do not precisely know what that had to do with human anatomy.  Men are, I know vastly different in their anatomy, and in that tone of whisper, but I do not know in what manner, or how intimacy is effected.”

“Well, in a good relationship, nothing is effected as such, it happens with a degree of happy spontaneity. It’s no good mapping my body and yours according to geography with globes and hoping for instructions on navigation to help... oh dear, now I have the ridiculous image of a young subaltern with the instruction manual trying to conquer his first whore by the numbers.”

Jane giggled.

“I am glad you have a sense of the ridiculous, it should make things easier, because if we can laugh when things don’t quite work, it’s better than getting upset.  Before we leave the city behind us, do you think you can procure such things as a hairbrush and toothbrush for me? I don’t have anything of the sort.”

“Oh, my goodness!” said Gerard. He rapped on the door to the coachman’s seat, and spoke when it was opened. “Jelves, my lady has no toiletries. Find somewhere to purchase brush, comb, toothbrush, tooth powder, nail scissors and the like.”

“Yes, my lord,” said the imperturbable Jelves.  It was some while before they stopped, and after a wait of some fifteen minutes, the coach door opened.

“My lady,” said Jelves. “Pushed on into Saint Albans; wasn’t much point stopping before. They ain’t what you’ll be used to, but better’n nuffink”

“Many thanks, Jelves,” said Jane.

“O’ course, if his lordship had of thought to take up your maid, she’d of thought of it,” said Jelves.

“I beg your pardon, Jane; I was deficient in that,” said Gerard, appalled at his lack of forethought.

“I don’t have a maid; Helen did not think that I required one,” said Jane. “Indeed, I acted as dresser for Madelaine.”

“It won’t look good, me lord,” said Jelves, sucking his teeth. . “I take it you was eating here?”

“It doesn’t have to look good, Jelves, we’re pretending to be eloping,” said Jane.

“We’ll eat here and never mind how it looks,” said Gerard.

 “Happen I might know someone,” said Jelves, shutting the door, and getting back on the box.

“Now we’ve done it,” said Gerard. “No more intimate and shocking conversations once he saddles you with some hatchet-faced sister of his or someone he thinks suitable.”

“I am sure we shall endure it,” said Jane. “Anyway, how do you know she will be hatchet-faced?”

“Haven’t you seen his profile?” said Gerard.

 

The alternate bride

 

Alternate Bride

Chapter 1                                                        

 

“I suppose I shall have to have Jane as a bridesmaid; it will look strange if I don’t,” sighed Madelaine Daubrey.

“Such a plain child, but she could wear a veil, I suppose,” sighed her mother. “She’s no real relation, of course.”

“But she is Papa’s stepdaughter,” said Madelaine.

Jane might wish her stepsister and her stepsister’s mother did not speak about her as if she was not there, in the manner they discussed things in front of servants. But she was no real relation of anyone except little Tommy. Her mother had married her stepfather, Henry Daubrey, and after a series of miscarriages had finally brought Tommy alive into the world, and had quietly slipped out of it herself. Henry Daubrey had remarried rapidly, to a widow with a daughter two years older than his own stepdaughter. Helen, his new wife, had made it clear that she had no intent to breed herself to death, but would raise Tommy as his father’s heir. She doted on Tommy, and found Jane an embarrassment. School had taken care of ‘that tiresome child’ for a while, but at nearly seventeen, Jane had nothing more to learn at the admittedly very good school where she had spent the last six years.

“I don’t mind being in the background,” she said.

“No, of course you don’t, Jane, dear, but it will look odd to your father’s friends if you are not part of the wedding,” said Helen.

“Stepfather,” murmured Jane. It was her mild rebellion.

“Well, I am sure he considers himself your father,” said Helen.

Jane doubted this, but said nothing.

Madelaine had snared – her own words – the season’s big prize, in Gerard, Lord Wintergreen, known to many as Lord Winterheart for his cold and haughty manner. Jane, however, knew that the soubriquet was unjustified. Lord Wintergreen had come upon her crying over being unable to persuade the servants in the house they were visiting to give her Madelaine’s choice of drink, which was not commonly available. He had swiftly intimidated the servants to obtain ratafia, and called Jane a ‘little mouse’.

“You should learn to be a more aggressive mouse,” he said, patting her kindly on the shoulder.

Jane wished she might learn to be a more aggressive mouse, and had lost her heart to the tall, dark, handsome viscount in that moment. It was an agony to know that he had picked Madelaine as a suitable bride, and to see her beautiful step-sister’s blonde curls the perfect foil for Wintergreen’s dark, crisp locks. And she doubted he had even known who the little brown-haired, brown-eyed mouse had been.

She was wrong, here, and Gerard knew exactly who the other stepsister was. However, he was under the impression that Jane was considerably younger than Madelaine, and a sweet child, but too gauche to be a viscountess.

“I suppose you will have to give up seeing Mr. Vane,” said Jane, timidly.

“Give up seeing Freddie? Why should I?” said Madelaine. “I am making a marriage of convenience, and Gerard is an excellent catch.  I will have to provide him with an heir, of course, before I let Freddie bed me, but there’s plenty one may do without risking pregnancy. And Freddie is Gerard’s best friend, so there will be plenty of opportunity to see him.”

“I don’t think it very much the act of a best friend to carry on with a man’s bride behind his back,” ventured Jane.

“If you’d stopped after three words, you would have been correct,” snapped Helen. “Marriage à la mode has nothing to do with love.”

“I was thinking more of courtesy,” murmured Jane; but she did not murmur loud enough for her stepmother to hear.

 

It bothered Jane that her sister was having an affaire with Freddie Vane whilst being betrothed to Lord Wintergreen. She wished she could warn Lord Wintergreen, but it seemed a mean, underhanded piece of spite to tell tales on her stepsister. But she was angry on behalf of the groom.

She did manage to slip out to speak to him when he had come to pay a courtesy visit.

“My lord, I... I know that my behaviour must seem strange and can but cause offence,” she whispered, “But you were kind to me, and... and I hope you do not think that my stepsister is in love with you.”

“Why, little mouse, did you suppose I entered a betrothal supposing her affection to be engaged with my person more than my title and bank account?” asked Gerard.

“Well, yes,” said Jane. “Everyone falls in love with Madelaine, because she’s so beautiful, and she has witty conversation.”

“How sweet you are to say that without the appearance of jealousy,” said Gerard.

“A mouse is a little afraid of such things as would make her noticeable,” said Jane.

“I suspect that’s habit,” said Gerard. “But do not fear; I consider your sister a suitable wife, and my heart is no more engaged than hers is.”

“Oh, how sad,” said Jane.

“I need an heir, and I cannot afford any sentiment,” said Gerard. He patted her cheek. “Go back inside, little mouse, and do not worry about me.”

Jane dropped a curtsey and fled.

 

oOoOo

 

The day of the wedding dawned, and Jane was run off her feet running errands for Madelaine.

“Madelaine, if I don’t have time to dress, I’ll shame you in having to support you in my old calico, and my hair in braids,” said Jane, at last. “I’ll barely have time to scramble into the bridesmaid’s dress and brush out my hair as it is. Or was that the idea, because you don’t want me there?”

“Whatever gave you the idea that I don’t want you there?” said Madelaine. “I need someone as plain as you to help me look more beautiful.  But you are right, you must dress properly, and do your hair. Having you in rags like Cendrillon is not seemly. Go! Go! I will manage.”

Jane fled to put on the new gown which matched Madelaine’s in style. It was fortunate that Madelaine had decided that she and her supporters would be in apple-blossom pink, as pink was a colour which flattered Jane sufficiently that when she looked at her image in the mirror, a rather fly-blown old thing, but good enough for the poor relation, she could almost fancy herself to be beautiful. Her cheeks held a touch of colour, doubtless from having run about all day from the time the sun rose, and nothing to do with the chance of seeing Lord Wintergreen.

After all, after today, he would be her brother.

Not that he would be her brother, being only a step-step-brother-in-law and as closely related as if he were he some Irish nobleman of long, but well-buried bog pedigree.

And it did no good to wish she had a real relation to look after her.

Well! It was nice for this Cendrillon to go to the ball, even if she must watch Prince Charming marry her sister. And Madelaine was thoughtless, but not unkind, and things could have been worse.

 

 

When they reached the church, Madelaine looked out of the coach window, and pressed her kerchief to her lips.

“Go on in, Mama, Jane, I... I want to compose myself,” she said.

“Oh, Madelaine! How will you climb out with that train without help?” said Mrs. Daubrey.

“I’ll call for someone to help me,” said Madelaine. “I... I need to be alone with my thoughts for a while.

Jane was not sure what made her look back at the coach as Mrs. Daubrey hustled her into the church; but look back she did, and saw the coach rock as if someone was climbing in on the other side. The leather curtain on the door window was pulled firmly down. Jane had a bad feeling about this.

“Don’t dawdle, child,” said Mrs. Daubrey.

Jane turned, and found that Lord Wintergreen was waiting.

“Madam, Miss Jane,” said Gerard. “My bride?”

“Oh, Madelaine merely has wedding nerves, she wished to compose herself,” said Mrs. Daubrey.

Jane hesitated. Should she speak out? Or not? She did not want to be disloyal to the nearest thing she had to family, but on the other hand, it wasn’t fair to Lord Wintergreen.

“My lord, perhaps you ought to go to her; after all, it is the middle of town, a young girl alone in a coach might be at risk,” said Jane.

“Oh, Jane, what an idea, in the middle of all these people,” said Mrs Daubrey. “It’s bad luck for the groom to see his bride in her wedding finery before the wedding.”

“Well, madam, I believe it is time for the wedding,” said Gerard, who had seen pleading in the younger girl’s eyes. Jane felt it was important to see Madelaine, and Gerard, for some reason, trusted her feelings.

He strode out of the church, nodding to Henry Daubrey, who was hovering near the door of the church, looking somewhat vexed that his daughter had not joined him to go up the aisle on his arm.

 

Madelaine had paled to look out of the coach window into the haunted eyes of her beloved Freddy Vane.

She sent her mother and stepsister on and opened the door a sliver.

“Oh, Freddy! I wish you will come and say goodbye properly,” she whispered.

Freddy Vane climbed up into the coach and twitched down both curtains.

“The hell!” he said. “I cannot give you up; but if I must think of Gerard in your bed, I’ll be damned if I let him be first with you.”

“Freddy!” gasped Madelaine, who had not yet permitted Freddy to do more than heavy petting. She was nothing loath, however, and folded the heavy train under her as he laid her down on the floor and dropped his trouser fall.

 

Gerard pulled open the carriage door to be confronted by a pair of heaving buttocks. The buttocks were surmounted by a good quality superfine coat, and were supported by legs clad in satin knee-breeches, so there was no question that this was some chance brigand.  Madelaine’s voice happily mewing ‘Freddy! Freddy!’ was also something of a clue to the identity of her lover, and the fact that she was not unwilling.

Madelaine’s first session of lovemaking was rapidly terminated with her first coitus interruptus, as Freddy, breeches round his knees, was precipitated forcibly backwards and out of the coach, where he sprawled in the mud.

“Make yourself decent, madam, and have the goodness never to speak to me again,” said Gerard, coldly. “Freddy, I’m too furious to call you out yet, but I suggest you take yourself abroad. You can take your whore with you; I’ll not marry soiled goods.”

Freddy gaped.

“At least I love her, an emotion of which you are incapable,” he managed.

“You poor fool, I wonder how much love she will retain for you when your allowance is cut off as it assuredly will be when I tell your father,” snarled Gerard.  “Daubrey!  I am going to do you the courtesy of assuming you knew nothing of this betrayal, and the planting of a cuckoo into the nest of my family.”

“I knew nothing, my lord, nothing,” said Henry Daubrey. He turned to Freddy. “Young man, you will marry my daughter having ruined her. And you can buy a licence to do so straight away.  I...  I can only apologise, my lord....”

“I’ll marry the other one,” said Gerard.  “I’m to marry Miss Daubrey, but I’ll marry Miss Jane Daubrey.”

“It... she kept her father’s name,” said Henry Daubrey.

“She can be married with both as you have adopted her,” said Gerard. He strode up the aisle and grabbed Jane by the arm.

“You knew.”

“I suspected only,” whispered Jane. “I... I said she should give up her dalliance with your friend.”

“Former friend,” snarled Gerard. “I caught him planting a cuckoo in my nest.”

Jane gasped.

“I did not know they had gone so far!” she said.

“No, your sister seems to have been a sly piece all told,” said Gerard. “But I know who your father was, and I’m as happy to have one as the other. You have a better complexion than your sister, and I suspect she’ll be fat inside a decade. You’ll be married as Jane Henderson Daubrey, it will upset the clergyman less.”

“And do I get a say?” asked Jane.

“Were you going to refuse when you have the chance to escape and have the things I am pretty sure you have been denied?” asked Gerard.

“I might,” said Jane, putting up her chin. “Being picked to be a bride because ‘I’ll do’ is scarcely flattering to me.”

“The hell!” said Gerard. “It’ll be a dreadful scandal if no marriage at all goes ahead.”

“I don’t care,” said Jane.

“What must I promise you?”

She frowned in thought.

“You must promise me that you will court me as if we were unmarried, and persuade me that I want to be your wife, and you will not expect marital rights until you have made sure that we know each other, and I have accepted your suit,” said Jane.

“The mouse has roared,” said Gerard. “Madam lion-mouse, I bow to your will.”

 

The rest of the day passed in a whirl for Jane; the clergyman told that a mistake had been made because the older of two sisters had only just made up her mind to wed.  And Madelaine must suffer seeing her step-sister married to her matrimonial prize whilst she was married unexpectedly to her Freddy, who was wondering how he was to keep so expensive a wife when he could no longer rely on Gerard to touch for a loan.

It was not until she was in Gerard’s carriage, seated beside him, that it started coming home to Jane that she was married to Gerard, Lord Wintergreen, and that he had agreed to court her.

 

 

 

 

                                            

Quester amongst the flowers 24 weekend bonus

 

Chapter 24

 

“Lord Eusebius! Get your chaplain’s hat on right away, and marry our brother and sister!”

The young Highborn ran down the aisle and skidded to a halt.

“Where’s the fire, Dominic?” asked Eusebius.

“The Consul are pulling a fast one, and meeting on Hawayee, where it isn’t Abesday yet, or it wasn’t when they passed a ruling that a high Psion in the Judiciary must pass on any competent Psion he has as an assistant to a Justiciar who has low psionic ability.”

“Officially, I’m only a three,” said Quester.

“My fault; I updated you,” said Eusebius. “You and Kiliana both measure as nines on my scopes. Right, get up here, Kiliana; we’ll get through this as fast as possible and then you will have to be quick to consummate it so they can’t annul it.”

“Killie; I never meant it to be like this,” said Quester, upset.

“Leo, we might have guessed they’d want to make trouble for you,” said Kiliana. “If it has to be fast and less than pleasant, at least we can spend the rest of our lives making up for that.”

“Yes, all very romantic, come here and let me read the lines,” said Eusebius, testily.

Quester suspected that Eusebius may have used some kind of voice control to get through the whole wedding service in such a short time; but get through it all he did. Quester made his responses, and Kiliana made hers, and then Eusebius shooed them along to his own bedroom.  It might be sparse by the standard of humans, but a sparse bunk for a Highbred was a decent king-sized bed for any human.

Kiliana was giggling, partly from nerves and partly from the way the Highbred moved into high speed to get their favourite couple made safe.

She stripped, blushing a little, and so did Quester, blushing a lot. His response was flattering.

“Thank goodness, it hasn’t put you off,” said Kiliana. “I do at least know what to do, but I’m a little dry.”

“We’ll have to use spit; I somehow doubt Eusebius has a use for lubricants which aren’t for machinery,” said Quester, dryly. “Oh, Kiliana, I do love you, and I wanted to luxuriate in our wedding night when we got there!”

“We can have a blessing and luxuriate after that,” said Kiliana. “Game face on, Justiciar, and get a move on.”

“I... it may be quick anyway,” gasped Quester. “I’ve been holding back....”

“Then come here....”

It was not romantic. Kiliana grunted a couple of times in discomfort; and Quester touched her face.

“Practice makes perfect,” muttered Kiliana. “Oh! OOOOh!” she added as her body got into the swing of things.

It did not take long then.

“I’m sorry, that was a damned poor showing for your first time,” said Quester.

“And I made a poor showing as a lover for you,” said Kiliana. “But it had definite promise towards the end.”

Quester held her, and kissed her. This time he started exploring gently, and shyly, so did Kiliana. This time, he teased her until she was crying his name, and he made her his with less indecent haste... as the door burst open.

“I did tell you, my lord Consul,” said Eusebius, mildly.

“I... I... what, what, what?” spluttered a voice.

“I’d have thought what was obvious, Consul,” said Eusebius. “It’s called ‘sexual congress.’ Human beings who love each other very much engage in this behaviour as part of the mating ritual, in order to cement the social bonds of marriage.  It is an act which may lead to procreation, as part of a family-building endeavour, as laid down in the rules of marital bliss according to the Blessed Abe, as beneficial to the Empire. It is also forbidden to separate a married couple unless through a state of sub poena, which of course does not, and cannot exist here. You will surely join us all to drink the health of the two young couples who have joined this day in Abe-blessed matrimony, and wish them the love of Abe?”

The door shut again, and if a sliding door could slam, it slammed.

Quester laughed helplessly.

“Now that’s gone and killed the poor thing,” said Kiliana. “Roll over, and I’ll see if I can talk it back to life.”

“Talk?”

“Well, something of that order.”

Quester gave up.

Kiliana had grown up as the daughter of a comfort woman to a militia troop, and she knew the tricks, even if she had escaped being used before he rescued her. He appreciated her knowledge very much.

“We should shower,” said Kiliana. “There’s plenty of room for both of us.”

She did not bother to mention that this also held possibilities; but after exploring those possibilities, they emerged, clean and blushing, hand in hand.

“Well done,” said Eusebius. “Just in time, by the look of it.”

“Oh, we hurried the first time; that was round two,” said Kiliana, demurely. “Your shower is shocked, however, and may need its feelings soothed.”

Eusebius laughed.

“I left the consul to Erman, who has been explaining how it is the fault of the consulary body of the time in making marriage law,” he said. “But the opportunity to make a consul more hopping mad than a nest of fleas on a griddle was absolutely delightful.”

“Glad to entertain you,” said Quester, dryly.

Eusebius sniggered.

“Oh, I shall dine out on this with other Highbred units and make them jealous,” he said. “And there’s not a thing the old farts can do. I managed every word of the service, which means it can’t be invalidated, and you consummated, which means it can’t be invalidated... oh, morning after pills?”

“Took one,” said Kiliana. “I took to keeping some in my purse when I decided Leo was mine.”

“Good; I don’t think you should have a child for several years,” said Quester. “Er... if you want any children at all, that is; it’s one of those things we didn’t have a chance to discuss.”

“I want children, but not yet,” said Kiliana. “I’d rather have a fishing boat.”

“After this affair with the Commutants is over, I’m going to apply to be a Judiciary officer in situ in the Aegean Islands,” said Quester. “I know the people. And it is an area where trouble can blow up; they will probably be glad to get rid of me to so distant and bucolic a place.”

Kiliana sighed, happily.

“And we can go fishing,” she said. “And our children can grow up swimming, boating, and running on sand.”

“It was a good childhood, even for a boy who must help his parents make what they could,” said Quester.

“Our children will have chores, so they do not grow up pampered,” said Kiliana. “They will enjoy their leisure the more.”

“Yes, I agree,” said Quester. “Eusebius, was there a reason to marry Burdock and Purity?”

“Yes,” said Eusebius. “They haven’t thought of it yet, but I wanted them safely married before anyone could spoil things for them to spite you.Because you can give Burdock permission, and as you said they were to wed, I bent things a little to assume that as your permission, and I had Lukas forge your signature to the document as you were a little preoccupied.  And Purity has full rights, so nobody can take that away, and she is now essentially his guardian.”

“Well, that’s good,” said Quester.

“And I’m going to arrange you a blessing in the Highbred Cathedral, just to remind the old farts in the Consulate that the Highbred rate you highly, and that they would be fools to annoy you; and Cayban is going to muster all the Lictorium, and Zadok has agreed to do the blessing.”

“I am so fortunate to have such good friends,” said Quester, tears in his eyes.

“As you sow, so shall you reap,” said Eusebius. “To have a friend, you have to be a friend. And you’ve made plenty.”

 

 

oOoOo

 

Burdock was delighted when Erman brought Borage, Buckwheat, and Begonia to see him again, as well as Ragwort and Rampion, twin boys, and Campion, of an age with Buckwheat.

“Bilberry died,” said Burdock, sadly. “But I have my family; I owes it all to you, my lord, and to Lord Erman Stayvuhsantus, what’s come good.”

“And if they want other names, rather than being named for weeds, I’ll be happy to register them,” said Quester.

“We’re unique, though,” said Burdock. “Me, I like that.”

“Yes, I understand,” said Quester.

The youngsters were installed in the apartment, with several teachers, Eusebius having come through with a retired Highbred and a retired Unchosen militia medic, a chaperone for Begonia, the lone girl, as female Ogroid were uncommon.

 

oOoOo

 

Once classes for all those willing to learn the ways of Abe had been sorted out, and one man, recalcitrant to the last had been, unhappily, executed, they might leave. Cayban’s fraudsters had been sentenced to penal batallions to labour cutting stone, and there was a new Shackled working in the school gardens. Kiliana and Jessica refused to leave the safety of the Zeppelin, if only to avoid seeing him.

And then they might go to the cathedral on Capitol Island, home of all the Highbred. Kiliana had gone shopping with Jessica to get a wedding gown, and was a vision in ivory spidersilk, very plain in cut, with long sleeves, and a sheath of a dress, clinging to her slim figure, until it flowed out into soft folds just below her hips. The fabric was brocaded, and she had pearl beads embroidered at the neckline.

Quester gasped to see her so lovely, and wearing the emeralds he had got from Lucius, the Buckyhare.

Kiliana was also wearing the false finger nails Lucius had obtained, each one polished in some pearlescent covering, with tiny pearlescent flowers on them as well. The use of the cathedral for a wedding blessing was unusual enough that anything Kiliana did would be across the fashion magazines by next morning.

“Really, those nails?” asked Quester.

“Eusebius said I will set fashions.  I thought I’d see if I could get everyone in the Jinnya Isles to go for this and then, when you’re famous for being an envoy, I’ll appear without them and smash their fashion,” said Kiliana.

Quester had to laugh.

The service was a lot slower than the real wedding, and very moving; and Quester felt that they had time to enjoy it.

The Hussars made a tunnel for them to leave the Cathedral, when they came away from its baroque grandeur, and the happy couple walked under their raised weapons. Jessica and Marilyn were her supporters, and in the spirit of forgiveness, she asked Ambria to join them.

“I am sorry I was mean to you,” said Ambria. “You had something I did not and could not understand and I wanted to take you down, so I did not feel you were so far above me.”

“I understand,” said Kiliana. “Are you getting on better with your father?”

“Yes, Daddy and I have talked a lot,” said Ambria. “He’s not really my father, Mummy told me, but I don’t want to spoil it for him.”

“I suspect he knows,” said Kiliana. “Perhaps you should talk to him about it, and have total honesty.”

“Oh, do you think so? Mummy always said that the last thing there should be in families is honesty, but of course, I’ve learned that our family was just plain wrong.”

“Blame the Consulate for that,” said Kiliana.

She was smirking as they came out from under the honour guard’s arms that the First Consul had acceded to the request of his cousin, Erman Stayvusantus, to be a guest.

The seal of approval of all the powerful arms of the Empire.

And if Quester hated being in the limelight, at least he could handle it; and would do so equally well as an envoy to the Electric Zarr.

Kiliana smiled, ruefully.

It was a role she would have preferred to have avoided for herself, but it would get them out of the way as the full implications of the rulings Zadok was hustling through became apparent to those in the halls of power.

It was a start.

And then they were climbing into the rotodyne Purity had managed to acquire, and she landed on a roof Kiliana did not know.

“My old mentor’s pad,” said Quester. “Privacy for you and me, bar one old servant, and he’s got orders to keep to himself. The rest will go back to the bigger appartment, for some family bonding time.”

“Nice,” said Kiliana.

They went inside, to discover the kitchen well stocked.

“I’m hungrier for you, you know,” said Quester, drawing her to him, and burying his hands in her effulgent curls.

“Me too,” said Kiliana.

“Take those dratted nails off first, though,” said Quester. “I can imagine you forgetting you have them on, and doing me a mischief.”

Kiliana giggled, and complied.

“You can unwrap the rest of me,” she said, demurely.

Her husband’s breath hitched; and then he proceeded to do just that, very slowly, carefully folding up every item of clothing, his, and hers, one piece at a time.

Kiliana gave in and ripped off the last pieces of offending underwear and jumped on him.

Quester did not protest.