The Englor Affair (33 page)

Dru giggled, then slapped a hand over her mouth. “Someone actually said that to you?”

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Grinning, Payton nodded. “The Countess of Crocksil.” Oddly, he hadn’t been offended since she’d said it without malice.

“Let me introduce you to some people.” Dru tugged on his arm, heading toward a cluster of arm ornaments. “These are the women you need to get along with.”

“You want me to talk to the arm ornaments?”

“Be nice, Pay, or I’ll take you to the matrons.” She cut a glance at the side of the ballroom where all the marriage-minded mamas were gathered, watching over their flock.

Giving a mock shiver, Payton took a fortifying drink from his champagne flute and urged her toward the crowd of ladies. “By all means, lead me to the ornaments. Those matrons scare me. They’ve been staring at me all evening.”

Dru leaned in close to his ear. “That’s just because they’re jealous, darling. You managed to land the hottest piece of arse on the planet.”

Payton actually stumbled, spilling a bit of bubbly, not knowing whether to laugh or be concerned that she’d sounded so confident in her pronouncement of Si’s skills in the bedroom. Having spent time with her, Payton was beginning to think that the rumors of her and Si were indeed rumors, but then she’d say something like that and… What if?

No, he wasn’t going to ask. He shouldn’t
have
to ask. “Wycliffe is right, you are scandalous.”

“Bite your tongue. I’m just spirited.” Dru waved at a lady standing in the group of arm ornaments and suddenly they were both engulfed by the women.

Payton smiled, trying to look pleasant as he was introduced. A footman walked by with a tray and Payton set his empty glass on it. He really wasn’t sure what Dru hoped to accomplish. He knew an arm ornament when he saw one and all these ladies were young debutantes who’d landed titled, probably older men. Like their Regelen counterparts, they were more than likely interested in fashion and entertainment.

“Tell me, Your Highness, how do you like Englor? Is it very different for you?”

Viscountess Gerber, a tiny blonde with huge green eyes, asked.

“It’s not all that different actually. Like Englor, Regelence is a regency society.”

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After that they wanted to know all about Regelence, and Payton was all too happy to oblige. He loved his planet so it was no hardship talking about it, and he figured he could educate people. Perhaps he could help eliminate some of the prejudices.

Much to his surprise, he ended up having to eat his words because they weren’t the frivolous bits of muslin he’d judged them to be. They were surprisingly sharp and not as giggly as he feared. They even grasped the strong military influence on Regelence.

Eventually, Payton found himself talking about politics and learned that every last one of them agreed with he and Dru on the Marine merger.

They were just getting into a discussion on moral reform when Dru excused them and pulled him aside. “Well done. They will all go home and talk to their husbands about the merger. If you want anything accomplished, you go through the ornaments. I’m not sure how things work on Regelence, but here being an arm decoration has its advantages.

You know the old saying, ‘Behind every good man is a go—’”

“Good consort,” Payton finished for her. “Yes, I know the saying.”

Dru chuckled. “Actually, it’s behind every good man is a good woman, but consort works too.”

“You think they will help the cause?” Payton glanced around, trying to spot Si.

“Oh absolutely. He’s over there by Wycliffe, Lord Sheffield and Lord Townes.” She tipped her head toward the refreshment table. The song ended and Dru’s voice dropped to a whisper. “He seems to be having a bit of luck himself, from the looks of it.”

Si stood in a group of three men, one of which was Wycliffe. Whatever Si was saying, he had all three of the men’s undivided attention. In fact one of the men was nodding in agreement as Si spoke. He was so handsome in his black eveningwear. If Payton didn’t know better, he’d have called him refined. Not that Si wasn’t, but he had a wild side as well. A wild side Payton had seen in depth. Just the thought of it made his heart race.

They headed toward another group of ladies, this set a little older than the first, but before they got there they were brought up short by Si’s booming voice.

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“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Si addressed the crowded ballroom, “I know most of you have heard the rumors of my marriage to Prince Payton Townsend of Regelence.” He held up his glass and looked toward Payton.

Payton and Dru stopped, as did everyone else. There were murmurs among the crowd and everyone turned to stare at Payton.

His stomach grew queasy and he felt like his heart was going to beat right out of his chest. What if they protested after Si told them? What if all the progress they seemed to have made tonight unraveled in light of the announcement? Part of him was proud that Si was claiming him publicly, the other part though wondered if they should wait.

Dru handed him a full champagne flute that she snagged from a passing footman’s tray. “Relax and smile,” she said through her teeth as she smiled. “It will be all right.

Trust me.”

Galaxy, he hoped she was right. Payton pasted a happy expression on his face and held his glass up toward Si.

Their eyes met and Si winked, his grin growing wider. Some of Payton’s tension eased.

“The rumors are true.” There was a collective gasp, then Si bowed his head to Payton and raised his glass again. “Prince Payton is my consort.”

Payton felt as though he were a bug on a microscanner. The crowd began talking at once. He waited for the outcries and the hostility, expecting them any moment, but they never came. There were a few negative comments, but not nearly as many as he’d expected.

“A toast to our new King and his consort,” someone shouted. It sounded like Nate’s dad, but Payton couldn’t be sure.

To his surprise what looked like the entire assembly held up their glasses, and there were several refrains of “hear-hear” and “congratulations.” Someone patted him on the back, followed by several other men offering their good wishes. Payton took it all in, smiling and saying thank you at the appropriate moments, but his attention was fixed on Si, who had gotten rid of his drink and was making his way across the dance floor.

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Si too was being hailed by the crowd and congratulated, but his eyes were on Payton.

Dru took back Payton’s glass. “Go get him.”

Almost out of instinct Payton put one foot in front of the other and met Si in the middle of the dance floor. The unease of moments ago faded into the background of his mind. The look on Si’s face gave him hope. Si
did
care. His eyes held the same gleam Payton had witnessed before they were forced to marry. Before everything got so complicated.

Like magic, the orchestra struck up a waltz and the crowd seemed to part around them.

Clasping Payton’s hand, Si put it to his waist, then grabbed the other one. “Shall we?”

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Payton glanced around the room trying to gauge people’s reactions. An announcement was one thing, a public display was another entirely. That he even cared what these people thought was a testament to his feelings for Si.

“I don’t see why not. They’ll have to get used to us dancing together eventually.” Si gave him a lopsided grin that was both charming and amused. “Besides, most of the ones who would oppose have already left. Didn’t you notice the small exodus when I made my announcement?”

He hadn’t noticed, but then Payton’s eyes had been glued to his handsome consort.

After the first few minutes, Payton began to relax and enjoy himself. He’d watched his consort from afar all evening, admiring his commanding presence and how his people responded to him. Now he had Si to himself for at least a dance.

Gazing into the shining blue eyes, Payton felt like he’d been struck. The intensity of the stare and wicked little grin Si wore had Pay’s cock threatening to rise. Si licked his lips and Payton’s attention zeroed in on that kissable mouth. Gads, he had to get it together or he was going to embarrass himself. Everyone was watching them. “How is your shoulder?”

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“It’s a little sore, but not overly. Thank you for taking it out. I meant to tell you the other night when I got back from Aldred’s but you were asleep.”

Payton quashed down the feelings of regret that statement evoked. “You’re welcome.

I didn’t think it was safe for it to remain in you.” Simon spent more time with his advisors than he did with Payton. In the last two days, Payton had seen him a total of three hours and most of those had been in passing or eating. Si had mentioned something about Aldred and his valet over dinner the other night, but he’d changed the subject every time Payton brought up the investigation. It felt like Si was trying to cut Payton out of everything Si considered dangerous and Payton was not happy about it. If he could get Si alone, they were going to discuss it, but here wasn’t the place.

“I wanted to wake you last night, but you looked so peaceful.” Si’s gaze trailed down to Payton’s lips, then back up to his eyes. “Perhaps I can persuade you to stay awake tonight.” His voice dropped into a seductive whisper. It was almost the same deep tone Si used to talk dirty to him in the heat of the moment, and all thoughts of cornering Si about the investigation fled in favor of cornering Si for an entirely different reason.

Swallowing, Payton felt his cheeks heat.
Find something else to talk about, Pay. If
not, you’re going to have everyone talking for sure.
“Do you think you gained any votes for keeping the Marines on Englor?”

“Changing the subject, Pay?”

He bit his bottom lip and nodded. “If I don’t I’m going to make a spectacle of myself.”

The smile Si gave him was wicked. “A very nice spectacle.” Pulling Payton even closer, he leaned forward and dipped his head down close to Payton’s. The fresh woodsy scent of him drifted up, teasing Payton’s nose and doing nothing to eliminate his problem. “I want you, Pay. Do you know what I’m going to do to you after we get out of here?” Si whispered, his voice even lower now.

A squeak sounded and for a minute Payton thought it was him. Then he heard Dru say, “Sorry.” Turning his head, he saw Dru, true to her shocking self, dance by with a pretty young debutante with a mass of curly blonde hair.

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Chuckling, Si looked at the couple as well. Then he focused his attention back to Payton. “Don’t dance with Dru, she’s hell on the feet.”

“I heard that, Your Highness,” Dru mumbled.

Si waltzed him around the floor several times before Payton noticed Hawthorne and Oxley had joined them as well as St. Albins and Lord Jared Hawkins. Payton’s rising libido took a backseat to the warmth around his heart. As he waltzed with Si, other couples began to join them, some same sex, some mixed. It was only a small gathering, but any support was something. Payton hadn’t expected to have any, knowing how some Englorians felt about same-sex relations, but now…he had hope.

“Mmm… I love it when you smile like that. I don’t know if we’ll make it back to the palace. How do you feel about making love in the lif—” Simon glanced over Payton’s shoulder and threw his head back and laughed. “Oh dear.”

“What?” Payton tried to turn his head to see.

“Roc and Wycliffe are about to start beating each other to a bloody pulp right here on the dance floor.”

Si’s best friends were waltzing, or rather attempting to. Simon was right, it looked more like fisticuffs were about to commence. They were both trying to lead. Roc had his hands on his hips, shaking his head no, and Wycliffe was tugging on him, nodding yes.

Payton chuckled. “Who’s going to win that battle?”

Si grinned. “I’ve no idea. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow when we see who has the most bruises.”

A movement caught Payton’s attention over Si’s shoulder. It was only the veranda curtain fluttering. “Are Roc and Wyc—?”

Lord Markham pushed the curtain aside. Payton stumbled.

“Pay?”

Another man with brown hair stepped through the curtain and handed Markham something. He looked vaguely familiar, but Payton didn’t catch a good glimpse of him.

Si turned them, blocking Payton’s view.

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No.
Payton tugged, maneuvering out of Si’s grasp.
That man. Where have I seen him
before?

“Payton, what’s—?”

Tall, thin, brown hair…
Blond hair, not brown.
“The hair is wrong.” Payton stared at the curtain dancing in the breeze. Markham gazed about and ducked out on the veranda, following— “Caldwell.”

“What?”

Payton looked up at Si’s worried voice and realized they were standing still in the middle of the dance floor. “That man who was with Markham.”

Si glanced at the undulating curtain. “Just a moment ago?”

A chill raced up Payton’s spine. “Yes.”

“That was Baymore.”

“No. That was the man who kidnapped Aiden and Trouble. That was Caldwell.”

~ * ~

Payton laid his forehead against the shower wall, letting the hot water fall around his shoulders. The sick feeling that he’d gotten when he saw Caldwell was still with him.

Was Markham the operative on Englor Benson had warned Si about? Rolling his forehead on the cool marble, Payton clenched his fist.

The door clicked open behind him and a cool breeze hit him before the door closed again.

“Stop letting it bother you. Even if we would have gone after him, he likely had someone waiting for him.” Si kneaded Payton’s shoulders. “Besides, an all-out search would have alerted Markham that we are on to him. The way we handled it was for the best. Let’s see what we can find out before we start taking prisoners.” He paused for a moment before continuing working Payton’s shoulders. “I should have realized it sooner.