10

Ian

"Brooker, what is this nonsense you are allowing with Count Matthias's wife?" one of the ministers demanded, waiting for me outside of the meeting we were about to have.

I glanced up from what I'd been looking at and saw I had a posse waiting for me. "The meeting has not started yet, but I am not a petty man who would make a fuss over niceties or try to use them against people like others who are insecure." I bit back a smile when the hit landed. "Are you talking about Countess Matthias's divorce?"

"Yes, are you daft?"

"No, but you phrased it like a boob, and I was reading. Now, do you need me to explain the laws to you? What is the problem? She is a legal citizen of the kingdom—not property he owns—and filed for divorce when he tried to force her to sign papers."

"The problem is she's setting a dangerous precedent here and women are getting ideas in their heads!"

"Yes, may the goddess forbid women with brains," I drawled. "The only precedent she's setting here is that the law is equal for both sexes and women should not have to put up with the unthinkable. May the heavens forgive her!"

"You know what I mean," he snapped.

"Yes, and I feel bad for your wife and female relatives," I said firmly, crossing my arms over my wide chest, making it clear that I was looking down at him. "He let his commoner mistress abuse his wife. If you do not think that is a line we cannot allow, I think you should not be trusted with anything more than taking notes for our meetings going forward."

"Then her father should have—"

"Why? Why does another man have to protect her? She is a citizen. She is protected. By the law. That I am in charge of making sure is enforced and by the goddess, our female goddess, I will see it done." I got in his face. "But I do agree that her father holds responsibility and if I was her, I would go after him as well."

"That's not what I said or—"

"And I promised to do the same to my father after what he allowed to happen to my sister," I seethed. "Unfortunately, his damn horse punished him before I could, but at least I was able to sentence her husband. I would have thought any husband would never be so stupid to behave so badly ever again after how I punished that monster, but apparently not."

"Yes, well, we all regret what happened to the princess," he grumbled, clearly having forgotten about my history like a moron. "But this—"

"It's not different," I blasted. "She simply was not killed yet. The mistress tried. The husband almost did several times. So I will see this through and make sure she is given what she deserves under the law. And I will for every citizen. Husbands should treat their wives better, and we all should stop accepting people who treat women like property or objects."

"I never said she was property," he snapped. "I would never allow abuse to my wife or daughter. I would skin any man who did. But women cannot have the same control of a marriage as we have! There will be chaos and anarchy in the kingdom."

"Oh, I think my cousin's kingdom is much stronger than the possible wave of divorces," I said, not hiding my mocking. "What upsets me is legally women already do, so let them see the proof of that and maybe more men will behave better."

"But—"

I stepped into his space. "And if I hear you are shaming her for freeing herself and punishing that monster, I will call you out."

His eyes flashed shock. "You cannot. You are a member of the royal family."

"I was born of the royal family," I purred. "But I no longer have the title of prince. I am a noble as grand duke. I am not even in my cousin's party or his trusted circle. By the law, that means I absolutely can and will duel anyone with reason. I suggest you not give me reason."

He shook as he tried to get his mouth to work.

Yeah, no one wanted to ever duel with the best shot in the kingdom.

I clapped him on the shoulder and gave him a fake smile. "Glad I could clear up on how important our laws are. Now, let's talk about how you do your job since you are so open to that. The roads around the kingdom were worse than last year when I did the tour of the police stations. How is that possible with the huge budget you had to fix them?"

He went on the defense instead of trying to be a bully. "Well, there are many roads in the kingdom! How can I know which you traveled and—"

"Perfect." I clapped him on the shoulder harder than the first time, making it hurt the weak asshole. "I will get your office a map of every road I took and you can tell me when they were last updated. I will let you know who is lying to you if they are since I saw them with my own eyes. I would also like the complete map of what was updated last year. I appreciate it."

"Now see here, Booker," he seethed, pushing my hand away. "Who are you to request so much and oversee my job?"

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Did you not just do the same? Did you not question how I handle my ministry? Rudely even?" I leaned in so he could feel my breath on his face. "Or did you insult me as a man and my honor? Because if that's the answer then—"

"It is not," he blubbered. "We all have access to—we have every right to ask—"

"We do, and I did politely. I suggest you do it that way next time you have questions," I told him as I stood back up. "Let's not delay our meeting when we are all busy." I took a few steps towards my seat but then paused. "Oh, Minister, I should add if you do not stop running your mouth about my cousin needing to control his wife, I'll be insulted. Gravely. Savvy?"

"I told you not to confront him publicly," someone grumbled as I headed to my seat.

I turned to take it and locked gazes with Gerald. He glanced between me and the noble who was a huge critic of his. Understanding filled his eyes, and he finally was able to witness what Louisa and I had been trying to tell him.

If I was at his side and head of his team, I wasn't free to hunt as I couldn't as a royal. He was being petty trying to keep me in line as a dog at his side, but it served him better and it was smarter to let me roam as a lion. The law gave me that power and so did having the title of grand duke instead of keeping a childish prince title.

I dipped my head to him and stood by my chair, waiting until he was announced and seated before doing the same.

The meeting was the same normal of moaning and not enough getting done. I made sure to leave fast so no one else could try to ream me with an audience, but then I waited for my cousin by the secure entrance he would use.

"You never understood when people told you to get me in line it was because I pulled something like that, did you?" I asked when he arrived with two of his most trusted aides and a few of his guards.

He did a double take but then sighed. "No, and I got an earful just now that I needed to control you." He gestured his head towards the door. "Ride with me to the palace and let's talk. Your carriage can follow and you can leave from there."

I nodded and followed after him. "I can spare that, but Colin is drowning."

"That's disconcerting. If there was one person I would try to steal from you, it's that man. He's efficient and talented."

"Unfortunately for you, he's loyal."

Gerald cleared his throat. "Yes, well, fortunate for you, and I want you to have help as well." He sighed when I stopped walking. "I am trying. I believe all of what we discussed. I was honest and appreciated your—it's not easy for me to switch gears, Ian."

Fair enough. "I appreciate you trying. I am glad we have the chance to both try." I cleared my throat and started walking again, feeling as awkward as I probably sounded and heading for the carriage. I opened the door for him and let out a slow breath before climbing in after him. "I do not know how much you overheard, but there needs to be a review of the roads."

"That bad? You were taking the main ones from each area?" he checked.

"Yes, and at least two I know he boasted expansion and clearing of. It did not happen. One was where we broke a wheel. Now, things happen and with the fall rains—"

"But you are not an idiot. You know the difference. Good, I have been wanting to get that ass out of his position for a while." He rubbed his hand over his face when I snorted. "It's not even his opposition of me. Some of his points I would even understand if it came from a place of any honor. But he's growing fatter in his position—bolder."

"I will handle it," I promised, nodding when he frowned. "Gerald, I cannot stress this enough, but I do not want your job. I like my position. Please, leave me to be the lion to roam and clean up the kingdom. It's what I can do best."

"I want to believe you. I do believe you, but I need to…"

"You need the proof in the pudding," I said for him, trying not to be offended. "It's been there, but you were listening to the wrong people. I get it. We just move forward."

"Yes, about that, I wanted to talk to you about the Matthias situation," he hedged, nervous from what my hawk sensed. "How did the first settlement meeting go?"

"She was impressive," I said honestly. "She put Raymond Matthias in his place. He's vile but not as much as the marquis and count." I let out a chuckle and shook my head. "She laid into him and laid down the line and then passed out. She's so strong but—"

"You like her," Gerald gasped.

My head snapped up and I met his gaze. "What? No. No, I barely know the woman and—"

He threw back his head and laughed. "I never knew you were such a horrible liar. Why did I ever think you have been so good at it all of these years and pulling the wool over my eyes?"

"I do not know that I am," I argued. "Lying, that is. I—she's attractive, but… I see Kylie when I look at her, Gerald." Instantly, he lost his mirth. I cleared my throat and looked out the window. "Besides, she's about to be divorced. This kingdom will not ever allow someone born of the royal family to be with someone divorced. We both know that."

He was quiet for several moments. "I actually disagree with that. One of our allies just got remarried."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, he was king and divorced his wife who—her family was more trouble than she was worth. That's very different than my getting involved with a divorced woman."

"I still disagree. She was not the problem and was not involved in a scandal." He cleared his throat. "If that's where your heart takes you, then you should follow it."

I frowned and did a double take. "And that would keep me from ever being able to take your place."

It was his turn to do a double take. He couldn't get his mouth to work for a moment before blowing out a slow breath. "That was not where my mind was. Truly. It was selfish about tying her closer to us as an ally, but there's no harm in that if you like her."

"Why do you care about that?" I asked.

He didn't answer and focused on me instead. "How long has it been since you have taken interest in any woman if ever? It would be different if she was the daughter of my main opposition, but she's not. Pursue her if you want, Cousin." He looked out the window and sighed. "But do not hurt her. For the love of the goddess, do not make her turn from us. We need her."

There seemed to be more to that than the investigation into the Matthias family. I asked, but Gerald wouldn't answer, deflecting and changing the topic instead.

Odd. Very odd, but so was Gerald at times given how much he had going on.

I felt like I blinked and I was standing in front of the palace where he dropped me off so my carriage could pick me back up to head home. What had he even wanted to talk to me about?

And why had he been so quick to deflect?

Did he know about whatever Mabel had shown Raymond in that folder? Alec, Colin, and I were clueless, and she refused to discuss it

Maybe she hadn't wanted to share in a group?

I told the driver to take me to Colin's and got in the carriage. My mind raced as we hurried along. I kept circling back to what Gerald said, but that wasn't where I should be focused.

Right?

He was in a meeting when I arrived, so I headed to the library, happy when I found Mabel there. I was trying to think of what to say or some sort of lead-in to talk to her as I approached her.

Except then I caught sight of something odd that she was working on. Or really near her on the table. She was completely absorbed by her task and didn't notice at all that someone else was with her. I moved until I stood next to her and looked over everything she had on the table.

"Why do you have blank pages numbered?" I asked quietly so I didn't startle her.

"They're not blank," she mumbled.

"The numbers are on there," I agreed. "Why are you starting on page sixty-three?"

"I am not. I started on page one."

I frowned even deeper. "There's nothing on that page besides the number."

"There is, you simply cannot see it."

That didn't make any sense. "You are not writing with lemon juice or—"

"This is too serious for children's games," she said firmly but then huffed. "You made me forget what I was saying." Then she blinked at what she was doing and slowly looked up towards me with wide eyes, finally registering she'd been speaking to someone.

She let out the cutest yelp and tried to push back the chair at the same time as standing which didn't go well. She would have toppled over if I hadn't moved faster to catch her around the waist.

"I apologize for startling you, My Lady," I whispered, her heart beating so fast that I heard it too loudly because of my hawk. "You were so engrossed that—"

She looked away from me and towards the pages before fear was in her eyes as she tried to pull away from me. "Yes, well, the count said I could have the library to myself today and I did not know any guests had arrived, Your Grace."

I helped her catch her feet better and then let her go. "We have free reign at each other's homes given how closely we work together. He was in a meeting, so I was waiting until he was done." I didn't give her a chance to respond, picking up one of the pages on top of the two stacks she had.

One of the blank pages besides the number at the bottom left-hand corner. "What is this, My Lady? You said it's—"

"I beg you to forget that, Your Grace," she whispered, hurrying to take it from me. She put it back and then started packing up what she had into boxes like Alec did for projects he was still working on.

The fear coming off of her was ridiculous and hurt my heart because I had trusted her completely.

And now I didn't. That was the only reason she would be so scared in that moment.

"Why do you need to hide what you are writing in this house, Countess?" I asked darkly. "Why are you so afraid to be found out?"

She flinched and started shaking, making me even more upset.

I snatched the box away, narrowing my eyes at her when she gave a shocked cry but not backing down. "Who are you corresponding with, Mabel Matthias?"

She blinked at me a moment, and then she went from scared to angry. "You, actually, Your Grace. Those are actually for you."

I frowned and gave her a bit more space. "Then why in the world would you be so scared right now?"

The look she gave me like I was a dolt was actually impressive… And hurt. "Because I did not want you to have them yet."

I was truly impressed when she held her hand out for the box. "Why cannot I have them if they're for me?"

"Because my divorce is not finalized. That's my payment." She dropped her hand and moved away when I opened my mouth to reply. "Though I am rethinking how much I am giving when things keep being mishandled. Now accusations made that I am—what? A spy? This was all some sort of setup?"

I felt about two inches tall when she said it like that. I set down the box and cleared my throat. "I apologize. You do not deserve that mistrust, but you have to know people have and would do worse to get close to me."

She started shaking, but I didn't think it was from fear this time. "I have not tried to get close to you at all, Your Grace. You have been rather insistent and pushy with me at every turn. I only accepted your help because you and the count made it clear it could be more trouble for me if I did not."

I swallowed a wince. "That was not my intent." I let out a slow breath when it was clear that what I said wasn't good enough. "I am sorry. You were here doing odd things and then scared when I found out. That sets a certain scene for me, My Lady."

"I was afraid because I admitted to knowing how to make ink invisible in front of you instead of later when I am already on my own and free," she… Snapped? No, it wasn't really how someone snapped, but I was pretty sure it was for Mabel and as far as she could go to speak disapprovingly to someone.

It was rather endearing.

Then what she said sank in and I did a double take. "You made this ink invisible?" She had kind of but not really said that. I reached for one of the numbered pages that had nothing on it. "How? How did you do this?" I held it up to the light but saw nothing. I waved the page at her. "How did you do this?"

She took the page back faster than I would have expected. "I am sure the count is done with his meeting by now, Your Grace. Have a lovely day—"

"You know I cannot let this go after learning this," I argued.

"And that was why I was so afraid," she whispered, continuing to clean up everything. "But I am not under arrest nor under oath. I do not have to answer any questions of an interrogation in a private residence. You are not the king though I see how closely you are related now."

Meaning Gerald had been pushy and overbearing on something and it had upset her.

Of course, he had been.

"You are right that you do not have to answer," I agreed, glad when the tension in her shoulders relaxed some. "But you said you were going to give this to me after your divorce. I am not ordering you. I am not demanding it. I am simply—can you tell me that you would not want answers as well, My Lady? Would you really be able to let this go either?"

She froze before closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh. "If I tell you, you will have to accept I will not tell you all. It's—I was going to tell you how to make the ink appear. That was how I planned to get around my divorce settlement."

I blinked down at the boxes before bursting out laughing. I laughed so hard that my side hurt.

"He found out," Mabel said to someone.

I glanced up to find Kathy and Colin standing there, Kathy glancing wildly between us.

"Oh dear," Kathy worried. "I thought it a good idea to share until you made the valid point that once people learn secrets like that, they do not keep around the ones who showed them how to do it." The look of warning and promised retribution in her eyes was impressive. I adored Kathy Follan and would never harm a hair on her head.

But honestly, she was someone I never wanted to get on the bad side of. That woman was fierce and she was only seventeen. She would only become stronger and more terrifying.

I did a double take at what she said though and winced. "Yes, people would kill for a secret to hide ink and make it visible again."

"Who has…" Colin started but then sighed. "That's why you asked for the library today and to not be disturbed. You were up to something."

Mabel bristled at what he said. "I am not sure how men ‘work on matters' and women are always ‘up to something,' but call it what you will."

Colin rubbed his hand over his head. "Lovely. I was hoping you would influence my little sister because you are perfectly poised and your manners exquisite. Instead, she is influencing you on how to be sassy."

"Thank you, My Lord," Mabel replied, beaming at what was meant to be an insult but she took as a compliment.

"I think you have to tell them, Mabel," Kathy said gently. "Do not tell them how. I do not know either. But just tell them."

Mabel stared at her and gave a slow nod. "Yes, I know how to hide ink. I was going to write out a full statement of everything I know and experienced in my time as a Matthias that I could remember and give it to Alec. The moment everything is signed and I am ‘gagged,' he could give it to you with the way to make the ink visible. It would be all you need."

"Thus, getting around the proposed addendum to the divorce settlement," Colin muttered, giving her an impressed look.

"What addendum?" I asked, glancing between them.

"The countess proposed an idea that it be written into the settlement that every month both parties have to answer to a court official if they have privately or publicly spoken out against the other or told secrets," Colin answered. "While holding truth stones. If they fail, how many offenses will be asked as well and fines imposed."

"And they plan to ask me if I have told you anything yet. I have not. I will not have when I sign the divorce decree. I will not say anything after. It will already have been written down and in your possession." Mabel shrugged when I couldn't hide my shock. "The longer they think I have not spilled the beans, the better advantage you have at completely taking them down."

"From all sides and all of their allies as well," Kathy muttered. "I hope you do rub off on me, Mabel. You are the most intelligent woman I think I have ever met."

She beamed at Kathy. "You are a bright one yourself. You do need to focus more on your studies. Just because you have come of age—never stop learning. There is much you can learn, and I will teach you how to invest some of your allowance. Everyone woman should understand much more about commerce than any of the noblewomen do."

I actually agreed with her, and Colin looked ready to kiss her silly if she could get Kathy to focus. I knew how much he struggled with that.

Kathy sighed. "The last tutor talked down to me like I was a dolt. I hated him, and now every time I look at books I think of those moments."

Mabel brushed past me and went to hug Kathy. "Oh, my dear poppet. I know that feeling well. You have to get your revenge by learning more and learning better. My family would be bankrupt if I did not learn so much and above my father and brothers. They can lie all they want and pretend, but they know I did, and that is why they hate me. You can do it too."

Colin looked beside himself, clearly not knowing there had been a problem with Kathy's tutor. I went over to him and patted his shoulder. I had a hand in the blame for sure. He was always so busy with my everything that he dropped the ball in his own life too often.

"I am sorry, my friend."

"I have to do better," he said under his breath. "I have to, Ian."

I nodded, agreeing and mentally promising to handle it. He had so much on his young shoulders. His father was a good man and tried so hard, but he was… Lost. He was so lost after losing his wife, the love of his life. The man was only half there most of the time. He loved his children and did his best, but half of his soul had died with his wife.

And it was all left up to Colin to handle. We both had to do better and I promised we would.