Fostering Faust 2, page 16
part #2 of Fostering Faust Series
Mary sighed and gave him a smile with a shake of her head.
“I’ll try to explain it another time,” she said. “You’re taking Katherine with you?”
“Yes, she enacted that stupid clause I let Holly put into our marriage agreement,” Alex said.
“If it comes to it, make sure she takes Mother’s Bane. We can’t afford another child running around right now while Anna and I work on ours,” Mary said, petting her swollen stomach.
“I’m going to leave my agents here with the mistresses,” Valeria said, sneaking up on Alex’s side. “I should be enough for you with Sylvia.”
Nodding his head, Alex couldn’t disagree.
“No luck on suitable bodyguards,” Carla said, walking around Valeria and dropping into the seat next to Alex. “I’m reaching out to some old contacts to see if I can’t convince them to switch sides.”
“Good. I do better with the unsavory types anyways,” Alex said, grinning at her.
Carla stared at him for several seconds before she slowly smiled back at him.
That was odd.
Though, if Riley’s already happened, doesn’t that mean hers likely did as well?
Or did Sylvia just tell them?
“General idea with the duchess is to do as she commands, decline her marriage, spend some time at her court, and go home,” Alex said. “There really isn’t much beyond that. Whatever she’s planning is unknown to us, and we’ll just have to respond the best we’re able.
“Though I do imagine at some point she’ll try to invalidate my marriage to you, Mary.”
“I’d be surprised if she didn’t try,” said the baroness. “Though considering I’ve kept my title and there is no countess, she has little room to argue with. I’ve gained nothing in my marriage to you, by most noble standards.
“Little do they know you already gave me everything I wanted and then some.”
True, her marriage to me is mostly for my own convenience.
“That it?” Nannie grumped, standing at the side of the table. “We done then?”
“I suppose. Other than travel and lodging arrangements,” Alex said.
“I’ve already booked an inn ahead for us,” Valeria said. “I used a pseudonym as well.”
“A sway-do-what?” Nannie growled.
“Fake name,” Valeria said, smiling at Nannie.
“Oh. Okay.”
“As for travel, three carriages. One for you, two for the rest. We’ll be taking two squads of house guards,” Carla said. There was no room for discussion there.
“Great. Then yeah, we’re done,” Alex said, feeling better.
Looking around, he found his Numbered all around him. Though Sylvia was standing on the other side of the table, between his wives.
She looked smug. As if she’d won.
Ah… shit.
“You sent a letter to my mam,” Nannie said, leaning forward over Alex. “Tell me what you said.”
Staring up at the woman, Alex realized Sylvia had only released bits of information.
Not all of it.
Going to punish you, Four.
“I told her you’re an amazing woman, a magnificent bodyguard, and that I’m buying her, your mother, a house based solely on your ability.
“That I can’t imagine someone else standing at my side, and I was inviting her to live in Brit to make sure you never leave me,” Alex said, telling her the truth.
Nannie looked away and then back to him, her face a scowl.
“You said that? To my mam?” she asked, her voice slightly unbelieving.
“Indeed. And before the rest of you ask, yes. I did everything you suspect I did.
“I bought your families houses, bought manors, paid for apprenticeships, gave them peerage, sent them letters about you, had people killed who were bothering them, and did all I could to get those family members all here to Brit,” Alex said defensively, looking around.
Carla leaned over, grabbed each side of his face, and then kissed him with a ferocity he’d never experienced.
Letting him go, she patted his cheek gently.
“Thank you,” she murmured hotly, her eyes saying something else entirely.
Ok… different from how Riley responded. Certainly more fun.
Valeria and Nannie were both looking at him oddly.
I wonder how they feel. Hopefully better than Riley.
Chapter 14
The ride to Tann, the duchess’s capital city, was slow. It took three days and nights to get his entourage there, given the road conditions, his carriages, and the distance involved.
Not that Alex cared one bit.
Carla had made sure the entire trip was entertaining. Repeatedly.
Morning, afternoon, evening, night. It didn’t matter to her. She kept him distracted the entire time, one way or another.
Apparently, her appreciation for what he’d done knew no bounds. He rarely saw his other Numbered at all, and when he did, Carla often chased them out of their private carriage.
To a degree, he’d regretted rolling into Tann late on the third night of travel.
Sitting in the common room of the inn they were staying at, Alex was rather pleased with what Valeria had arranged.
She hadn’t misspoken when she’d said she booked an inn. Every room in the inn was theirs for a month, with an option to extend for another two months.
Everyone in the inn was from Brit, aside from the staff.
Riley was currently sitting pressed up to Alex’s left side. Holding to his left arm as if it were part of her own body.
Ever since her outburst, she’d been extremely clingy. He got the impression she was sulking about Carla taking up all his time.
Then again, he could tell Nannie was annoyed as well.
Valeria and Sylvia seemed to be taking the recent arrangements without a concern. They were sitting at the table next to him with Carla, chatting away.
“Did you really send her that letter?” Nannie asked, leaning forward across the table toward him.
“Letter?” Alex asked, slicing apart the roasted ham on his plate.
“You sent a letter to my mam,” Nannie said, shifting around in her seat. She seemed agitated.
Very agitated.
“I did. It was full of praise, compliments, and that I couldn’t imagine you not being with me. Exactly what I said last time,” Alex said, peering up at her as he continued to cut into his meal.
Nannie licked her lips, clearly unsure of what to say.
“You didn’t tell her how I ended up working for you or… any of that stuff?” Nannie asked.
Ah… she’s afraid her mother thinks she’s earning her keep on her back.
“I only spoke of the fact that I hired you while on campaign, to be my bodyguard. Everything else was left out,” Alex said, looking back at his food.
He wanted to eat before he headed to Tann keep. He was hoping to watch the duchess hold court this morning as little more than a guest.
“Why? You could have told her what really happened. That… that we sleep together and that’s part of my job,” Nannie grumbled.
“Because I want you happy, and there was no reason to tell her any of that. It’d just upset you and probably your mother,” Alex said, shaking his head and feeling rather annoyed.
Working at feeding himself, he didn’t continue the conversation and Nannie fell silent.
“I love you,” Riley whispered in his ear out of nowhere. Her hands were locked on his forearm. She was pressing his hand between her thighs, holding tight to him. “I’m sorry I reacted badly. I didn’t understand the scope of what you did. I can never repay you for your kindness.”
Ok. This was a bad idea. A very bad idea. They’re behaving outside of expectations now, and it’s going to be a bit harder to figure out where they are mentally.
“Thank you, Alex. Master,” Nannie said softly, picking at her food with her fork.
Feeling strange, and not really knowing how to reply, Alex finished his food quietly.
***
Valeria had secured semi-private seating for herself, Sylvia, Carla, Nannie, and Alex in the Tanulf court. It was more official than what Alex held in Brit, and there were many more pews spread throughout the hall.
They were pressed up in a corner. in a partially obscured pew with only three rows.
Carla and Nannie were sitting behind Alex, with Valeria and Sylvia at his sides.
He didn’t think for a second he wouldn’t be noticed in the crowd after today. His hope was a simple one, that the duchess wouldn’t notice him or be told until after her hearing.
Behind him, he could hear the low whispers of Carla and Nannie talking back and forth. Those two had become closer and closer as of late.
Turning his head, he got an eyeful of Valeria, then leaned in close to her. Pressing his mouth to her ear.
“And how are you, my Three? You seem the least surprised by my actions.
“The least changed,” Alex said, getting straight to the conversation he’d wanted to have with her.
This seemed as likely a place, since the words would be drowned out in the churn of conversations as everyone waited.
Valeria shivered a little, then turned her head toward him with a sultry smile.
Leaning into him, she put her lips to his ear. They were cheek to cheek at this point.
“I already knew you cared deeply for us. That you were invested in our well-being. I’m not as good as you are at picking out what makes people tick, but I see what you’ve done,” Valeria said.
Alex couldn’t help but nod once at that. Everything she said made sense, and it did fit with their previous conversations.
Maybe this is just an extension of all that.
“As for me… I’m flattered. I’m moved. I’m honored,” Valeria murmured, her lips pressing tight into his ear. “I’m absolutely infatuated with the idea of loving you as hard as One does.
“I want to show you how much I appreciate what you’ve done. Just as Two has. But I don’t trust myself.
“I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve you.”
Alex wrinkled his nose, realizing what he’d done in truth.
For those who knew the score, he’d only proven it to them.
For those who didn’t, he’d probably put them on the path of realizing it.
But… he didn’t care, honestly.
His Numbered would be with him till they all died. Which meant he would be with them until he died as well.
Turning his head slightly, Alex kissed Valeria’s ear.
“You all take care of me in your own way. You’re no different, Three. And if you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s more likely we’ll die of old age together than anything else.
“We really need to fix that mindset of yours. I don’t ever want to take away your masochistic tendencies, as those are part of you. But I don’t want you to think you don’t deserve care,” Alex murmured. “Now tell me how the other Numbered are doing.”
Valeria shivered, her shoulder coming up to press against his chin. She was slowly curling closer and closer to him.
“You’re so distracting. My head is fuzzy, and I feel dizzy,” Valeria said. Her left hand came up and her fingers sank into the hem of his tunic. “They’re fine as a group, just adjusting.
“Two seems like a newlywed bride, as you’ve noticed. I think she’d kill anyone who looked cross-eyed at you. The idea that you knew about her family, did nothing to them to force her into something, and then helped them when you didn’t have to has changed a few gears in her head.
“One wants to do the same thing to you that Two did. I expect she’ll steal every night that she can away from everyone else. Beg, borrow, or steal. The only one she doesn’t try to take the nights from is Two, for whatever reason. Though I think this change in her treatment of you will be a permanent condition for her.
“Four is excitedly waiting to be punished by you. Or rewarded. She can’t seem to decide. She and I speak often. We’re quite alike. She enjoys her game with you.”
Hm. Maybe I should leave the game be. Her game playing is what will let her continue to be herself, even as I change the rest of her.
“Five already desperately wanted to be loved and included. Whatever you did to her previously put her on that change. What you just did tied her to a horse and shot her down that path at full speed. It’ll take her some time to adapt, but… expect to be cuddled to death the next time she gets you alone.
“As for me… thank you. I can’t tell you how nice it is to know what little remains of my family is being pulled to safety. That they’ll be cared for and coddled just because you care for me.
“It did change my own thoughts as well, though. I want you all to myself now. I ache at the idea of you being with other women. It hurts.
“But it also fills that bit of twistedness that’s in me. I think I understand One a little better now. If not her own reason for wanting to watch.”
“Got it, thanks for the rundown. You’re a very useful tool, Three. It helps when I don’t have to dig all that out person by person.
“Remind me to be especially loving to you when I take you in front of One,” Alex said, kissing her cheek. “Because you deserve so much care and tenderness.”
Then he sat up, brushing his hands against his pants.
No one had seemed to notice his conversation with Valeria. Even Nannie and Carla were still talking to one another.
Looking to his side, he found Sylvia watching everyone around her.
She likes the game. Let’s make sure she understands I’m alright with it.
It lets her be herself.
Leaning in toward Sylvia, he gently laid his hand on her shoulder and pulled her close.
When her head turned toward him, he moved in near her ear.
Biting her ear lobe gently, he pulled at it with his teeth.
Sylvia shuddered, one of her hands coming to rest on his knee.
“I’ll punish you,” Alex whispered in her ear after releasing it. “And reward you in equal measure.
“You won a point that time, my darling Four. But I do hope you’re willing to pay for it.”
“Yes, Master. Thank you. I’m glad you approve,” Sylvia whimpered in his ear. “I’d like that. Tell me everything you want me to do.”
“The duchess of Tanulf!” called a voice.
“Later. For now, work hard for me, and thank you,” he said, kissing her cheek in the same way he’d done to Valeria.
Sitting up, Alex did his best to move his head behind the person in front of him. It wouldn’t do for the duchess to see him.
Dressed in an extremely flattering dress of dark blue, she entered from the side of the hall. Her dress pulled together in the right spots to emphasize her figure without being immodest.
Her brown hair was coiled up into a small ducal circlet that was resting on her brow. She looked for all the world like a perfectly put together duchess.
She was still the pretty young woman he remembered. Her brown eyes searched the crowd as she walked to her throne.
Sitting down comfortably, she folded her hands in her lap.
“The duchess will now hold council. There are two matters on the docket, and then she will open the floor to requests,” called someone Alex couldn’t see. “Will the first case please step forward to be judged.”
There was movement near the front of the hall. It was hard for Alex to see what was going on. In getting themselves into a secluded spot, it also made it somewhat difficult for them to see. Though it did explain how Valeria had gotten the seats.
Two men made it into Alex’s view. They both looked like they were of the merchant class, though perhaps in the lower strata. They were dressed well and looked clean, but they didn’t have visible wealth upon their hands, necks, or ears as many merchants would.
“Present your case,” called the same man from earlier.
Regina Tanulf pointed at the man on the left.
“You first,” she said.
“Duchess, my name is Erik Wolf. I have an agreement to supply your army with boots,” said one of the men. “I have them made by my employees, then sell them to you directly with a thin margin of profit.
“My contract is to be the sole supplier, which is why I’m here today. My contract was violated.”
The duchess nodded once at that, her eyes turning to the second man. “And you?”
“I’m Stephen Binge. I sold a large order of boots to your requisition officer when Merchant Wolf couldn’t fill it,” said the second man.
Looking to Erik, Regina’s brow had a slight furrow to it.
“Is your contract written?” she asked.
“Yes, Duchess. It was counter-signed by your father some ten years ago.
“I’ve kept up with all facets of my contract and kept all my costs down so as to not overly tax the duchy.”
Regina looked like she was considering the situation.
Well. She definitely has an easy out. She could argue that any agreement made with her father is no longer valid.
Or she could uphold it.
Alex thought he’d probably support the local supplier with the long-term contract.
If there were no quality issues, the price was cheap, and everything had been on the up-and-up this long, I’d try to keep that relationship.
That’s a line item that keeps to itself.
“Would you have been able to fill the order, Merchant Erik?” Regina asked directly.
Erik lowered his eyes and shook his head. “No, Duchess. Not in the time frame your soldiers needed. For them to all be the standard Tanulf military issue, it would have taken me two months to fill the order.”
Regina looked to the second man.
“And where did you get your supply of boots?” she asked.
“I… had them on hand. Their quality is well within the limits the requisition officer gave me, or I wouldn’t be here,” he said simply.
The answer left a lot out, but it was fair.
Looking to the first man, Regina gave him a small smile.
“I’m afraid the truth of the matter is we wouldn’t have been able to wait the two months for the order.
