19

Ian

The next several weeks were some of the best in my life. Things were damn near perfect if I was honest. I'd worked out things with Mabel and we were in a good place. I was completely in love with her, and I was fairly sure she felt the same about me.

And in a turn I would never have guessed in a million years, Andre and I had managed to mostly repair our relationship. It wasn't all better and it wouldn't ever be what it used to be… But I thought we might be okay with that.

In some ways, it was better. We weren't idiot kids anymore. I wasn't the fool still longing for my family to love and want me in a way they never would. I was my own man and knew what I wanted.

More importantly, I knew what I could handle. I knew I could protect Mabel and Andre if things ever truly went badly and I needed to. I knew what I was capable of more than when I was young.

Andre too. He knew how to speak up better than when we were young men at war and idiots. He saw me with rose-colored glasses back then—or at least a bit—and that had changed. Now he understood who I was and the scope of what was needed of me in my life.

The fallout with the Minister of Finance worked better than planned. His whole house had collapsed since the rest of his crimes were uncovered. I felt bad for his wife and children, but they had other family to take them in and protect them.

He should have thought of them when he was being a rat bastard.

Unfortunately, no one else could be taken down with him. Everyone who offered support played innocent and said that they lent him guards or knights because he said he had some threat against his family. Clearly, they were lying and knew it was more than that, but unless I wanted to bring them in for questioning with truth stones, there wasn't anything I could do.

And that set a dangerous precedent. Once one minister did that, it would be open season on demanding that of each other… Which was dangerous when the royal family wasn't human.

Gerald agreed. He wanted the win of cleaning up corruption and taking out a major cancer in the kingdom, hitting someone big who opposed him, not a fight that would make him more enemies. I understood it, but that didn't mean we liked it.

Still, it gave him a lot of good press, and those against him retreated a good deal for the moment.

We also learned how the minister found out. Andre was right that it was magic… But it wasn't his station.

It was my office. The former Minister of Finance had managed to place magical listening devices in all of the four minister's offices he was screwing with. It was dumb luck he caught something I said two days before we were to act. Most of the planning had been outside of there and the police station so we weren't overheard.

And good thing because if they'd had more time to plan, I didn't even know what they would have come up with. Trying to take my life in the chaos as a blow to Gerald and thinking the charges would die with me was enough.

Luckily, Andre paid attention and caught onto the assassination attempt. I probably would have been just fine, but explaining it later would have been a problem.

One Gerald and I didn't need.

The new minister is someone I did not like very much. He felt the same about me. He has let me know that he does not believe I am neutral at all and am basically acting as my cousin's spy on those who truly want to be neutral.

I think he was a bit too pompous and full of himself like not choosing a side or being neutral made him better than everyone. He wasn't actually above everyone by staying neutral like it was a noble decision. He didn't rise above politics by choosing to stay out of them.

No, he made the choice of inaction. His right, but that was the reality of it. He chose to keep his family safe from one side or the other by being neutral and on a lot of important issues.

I didn't have a lot of respect for that when his title meant he needed to get involved. However, it worked now that he was the Minister of Finance. And the man was clearly the right choice for the job and acclimating well, so that was all I cared about.

And he was loud in his opinion that Andre should have received a title and become his own minister. Shockingly enough, a lot of people felt that way, so the ceremony was done, and now my oldest friend and lover was a marquis. Also, the Minister of Internal Security while I was still the Minister of Justice.

The division of my department and getting it all set up was a headache, but it gave us the cover to handle a lot of corruption that Andre brought to my attention that had been going on right under my nose.

Again.

To say I was furious was an understatement. I was also very defeated. How had I missed all of this? How had I not known there were dirty judges and so much falling through the cracks?

Oddly enough, it was Gerald of all people who had comforted me, reminding me that it wasn't all I did. That things were better than under his father and we would make it better still. That at least we knew now and could do something about it.

Andnow that my ministry was focused solely on the courts and punishments of criminals, I could handle it all better.

Damn right, I would.

Plus, I quietly punished the people involved. As much as I would have wanted to make a huge scene and really stick it to them, that could have started more trouble than done good. The cases they actually ruled on fairly could have been called into question and we would have had anarchy.

Instead, I forced the three main culprits to retire and seized assets as fines. I wasn't letting them ride off into the sunset with the piles of money they'd received as bribes for doing the wrong thing.

But I also spent weeks with a team pouring over every case and ruling they'd ever made. The ones I could get access to at least. One of the judges had been appointed by my grandfather and on the bench longer than I'd been alive.

He had no remorse even, saying that the same criminals came back no matter what. The king or someone would pardon them and deals were always made no matter what he said. So instead, he gave his family a better position in life and the future.

Basically, not to blame him that the world was so flawed and for taking advantage of that.

No, I could blame him for that. I could have done the same, but I didn't. That was my choice. Everyone had to make the same choice, and those who chose wrong should absolutely be blamed for it.

Idiots.

But overall, things were really going well. Andre was taking to his new role and title well. The people with issues were small and easily ignored. The police received bonuses for all the back overtime they weren't getting paid for because of the budget issues and he was hailed as the hero of the police and kingdom.

As he should be.

Mabel's stores were flourishing. Her factories were putting out massive amounts of product. People who had thrown a fit about her ordering system were quickly quieted by the number of people willing to accept it so they could have access to her wares. And the pickup window system that Andre had thought of was working much better than all the potential deliveries.

She was opening four new stores soon. Two in my area and two in areas of trusted nobles who promised to not only protect the store and employees, but the product as it was transported in. Basically, they just really wanted the chance for such amazing wares to be available in their areas.

And the taxes on the income those stores would make. Mabel wasn't an idiot and knew that would be part of it. But they weren't fools either and knew they couldn't get the formulas or secrets just by having stores in the cities in their area so to handle themselves appropriately.

My looming over the deals helped. Of that, I was sure.

Once people realized it was an option, the offers came pouring in, some more aggressive than others. Those were an issue that would probably have to be addressed, but for now they were all addressed to Viscount Bryd thinking he was the one making the decision and people with higher-ranking titles were flexing over him.

For now, he informed people that he would give the offers to the owner and they could be contacted at a later day. Some of them never for being such assholes.

And the best of all? Tonight was the first time I was publicly having Mabel on my arm at an event. It was a preseason ball, but it was an important one for a charity Grandmother had founded and a passion project my sister Kylie had loved. Louisa had taken it over after her death, and one day I hoped Mabel could help because I thought she would like to.

Maybe once her work settled a bit and she came out of her shell more. But helping young artists find their passions and have the support to flourish seemed in line with Mabel's kind heart and good soul.

My breath caught when I stepped out of the carriage and she was waiting for me. Her dress was understated and "plain" compared to the current trends, but it was perfect for her. It showed her instead of making her look like the mode of showing off the dress.

It was black and green—the same light green of her beautiful big eyes—with a modest cut. There was a bit missing that hinted at her ample cleavage, but it was tasteful. That part connected to the full cape layer that went over her bare arms and swept back to reach the ground. The top part of her dress was covered in sparkles over her corset but nothing extra or garish.

And the skirts… They were my favorite part. No ruffles or petticoats for poof. No hoops or frames to take up five feet of space.

Not my Mabel. No, there were several thin layers of skirts that shimmered and flowed as she moved to show off her slim figure. It was perfect, elegant, and something not many could wear and look so divine in.

"I apologize, but I mistook you for our goddess and lost all coherent thought, My Lady," I greeted after jogging over to her.

Her eyes flashed shock and she blushed. "You cannot tease me with blasphemy, Your Grace."

"I was not teasing," I argued. "You look so perfect you cannot be of this world." I caught her hand and brought it to my lips. "I would never lie to you." I led her to the carriage and appreciated the back view of her as well. Her slim neck was on display since all of her long, thick hair was curled and pinned up to try and behave for the evening.

But I knew the truth and a few unruly bits would rebel and figure out how to fall within the hour. It would only enhance her beauty and look as if it was intentional, but I knew it drove Mabel crazy that her hair never behaved no matter how many pins she used.

It turned me on that her hair wanted to be down and free as much as I always wanted to see it, play with it, and feel it against my naked body.

I cleared my throat and focused on what I should before I spent the ride to the ball with an erection that would make me look like a cad. I smiled when we were seated and on our way when I saw what was on her wrist. "You wore the bracelet."

She immediately touched my gift. "Of course. It's so gorgeous that I could not think of anything else to wear to such an important event." She gave a nervous laugh. "It's so expensive though that I worry I might lose it."

I gave a half shrug. "If you do, I will simply buy you another."

Her eyes went too wide and she couldn't seem to get her mouth to work. "Do not joke about that, Ian. This bracelet had to cost you a fortune. It's worth more than most families see in a year."

I internally flinched. Did she think me selfish for not sharing more?

She seemed to realize how that sounded and hurried on. "What I am saying is you are a generous man and I would never be careless with something so valuable. I understand its value and am not some flippant twit."

"I am glad you appreciate the gift," I quickly said, realizing we were about to flounder and that was the last thing I wanted. "More than worrying about the value, my point was I picked it for you, and you are what is most important. You cannot be replaced, but the bracelet can be."

She beamed at me, that smile only Mabel could give me that warmed my soul.

We arrived but didn't have to pull behind the line of carriages like others given my rank and last name. Mabel chuckled when I simply shrugged. There were some useful perks being born into the royal family that I appreciated instead of annoying me.

Skipping the lines even the nobles had to go through was one of them.

All eyes were on her when I helped her out of the carriage. Some shocked she would dare to show, but others just as entranced by her beauty as I had been.

Colin was in town for the event and to check on Kathy and they were waiting just inside. Mabel and I were announced and entered, finding them right away and joining up with them. Something had happened, and clearly Kathy already wanted away from Colin though which meant I lost my date almost immediately.

"I am going to smack you," I grumbled, raising an eyebrow at him.

Colin simply sighed. "I adore the countess. She is a miracle who has made my sister study, and her tutor cannot praise Kathy's achievements enough. She has been a diligent chaperone and—"

"Spit it out," I drawled.

"Kathy did not need help becoming more stubborn and acting of her own mind," Colin grumbled. He sighed when I kept that eyebrow up and didn't respond. "Mabel is of a different status, Ian. She can wear the dresses she wants. Kathy is still young and needs to fit in a bit better. Not everything needs to be a statement or fight. Not everything—she needs to make life easier."

"No, you need her to for your sanity," I corrected. "But you also take so much too seriously, Colin." I shook my head when he argued. "You do. I agree with you in principle, but it's a damn dress. She agrees with Mabel and others that they should decide what they want to wear when they pay for it. Not have designers tell them what they need to wear and pay them gobs.

"You see it as fitting in and not starting trouble, but it's more than that to them. It's a problem with the dynamic and system in place. I thought it something odd to feel so strongly about, but when I looked into it more, I agree. Every year the dresses become more comical and costly. None can be worn a second time and—it's all nonsense.

"And they are told to simply listen and do as they are told. That's at the center of this, Colin. Women are told to be quiet and do what they are told on too much down to what they wear. Fine, we are told what to wear and accept it. But what we wear is acceptable. We are in black tuxedos with some embellishments. I will not be dressed as a peacock, nor would you."

"I agree, and I am shocked to hear you say that, Your Grace," the Minister of Finance of all people said as he joined us with a few other men.

I gave a half shrug and accepted a drink from a passing server, handing one to Colin as well. "It's a matter of perspective. I did not have the right perspective as a man or growing up when I did. Luckily, the countess and Lady Kathy took the time to sit me down and explain it to me." I glanced at the others. "Have you ever sat through the ordeal of a dress shop?"

"I have," Colin grumbled. "It's ghastly. They are pushy and it's—"

"And that is the first issue, Colin," I told him. "When I go to the tailor, I tell him what I want. He might suggest new styles or fabrics that are available, embellishments that work for me, but I am the one paying and in charge. That is not how it works when most women shop for something so basic as clothing. It's ridiculous."

"Because most of the stores are owned or backed by men," one of the others who joined us said. "Or it started that way and they put a fashionable female designer as the front. A foreigner at times for flare. It's a con."

"I do not disagree and I think there should be pushback," Colin cut in. "I simply do not want my young sister to be leading the charge. She is bright and has a future, and making waves can hurt her chances at that future."

"Her marriage prospects," I said gently. "You are talking her marriage prospects. That's what you speak of." I reached over and rubbed his shoulder. "You think like her parent because it's what you have had to do. You want her married and settled and taken care of in case anything happens to you."

"Of course. That's my role," he said firmly.

"Be her brother, Colin," I argued. "Want more for her. Want a husband for her who will see she fights for what's right and to change what's wrong instead of being a pretty lemming. You do not have to understand this, simply understand it's important to her."

The Minister of Finance cleared his throat. "As to your point, I thought it silly as well until I found my eldest daughter crying and bruises on her body from her dresses. My wife was raised simply and to fall in line so she went with what was taught to her. She feels as Count Follan does and worries about their reputations.

"But when I saw the bruises, all I saw was red. I demanded answers and learned the process—the silliness that women go through. My heart broke knowing my wife had been through all of that. While pregnant at times. I felt the smallest man." He gave Colin a kind look. "There's also a middle ground. My daughters skip the hoops and boned corsets. Try that."

Colin let out a long breath. "Yes, that's more than a fair compromise for the formal balls. You are very wise, thank you, My Lord. And you are right, when I first saw what they did to my little sister, violently tying her into a corset that left bruises on her—I saw red as well. I have not allowed those drastic boned corsets since."

"I did not realize they could bruise my wife," one of the other men muttered.

I snickered. "They cannot breathe." The next several minutes became a discussion about how little men truly understood about what women went through to dress daily and especially for us.

Something caught my eye and I tapped Colin's arm, muttering apologies to excuse us.

But I was worried we were going to be too late. I was glad when Colin immediately locked in on the problem as well, both of us moving as swiftly as we could.

"I have asked you to keep your insults and distasteful behavior focused on me and to remember your manners, Lady Renee, and I will not warn you again," Mabel said, her tone furious. She was blocking Kathy, so whatever had already happened was clearly pointed at her as well.

"It was merely a slip after being cousins for so many years, My Lady," Renee purred, too much dancing in her eyes. "Or have you become the petty type now that you have ill-gotten wealth and have to think on your own? I also was not insulting you. I was showing genuine concern for both you and Lady Kathy.

"It's understandable your father kept you on such a tight leash. The first thing you do is buy a house in a commoner district and poor Lady Kathy is staying there. Do you not understand what that does to her reputation? And now she follows you wearing these drab and horrid garments that cannot even be called gowns. You will ruin her at this—"

"The only one ruining anything is your runaway mouth," I cut in, moving partially in front of Mabel but not blocking her. "You are ruining the enjoyment of the fine people here who wanted a night of fun and art. Instead, they are listening to your bile and it will also ruin their appetites."

"You clearly missed most of the conversation, Your Grace," she said with a fake sweetness as her eyes filled with rage. "I was simply—"

"I did not need to hear anything said to know that bile and venom are the only things that come out of your mouth. Bile, nonsense, and idiocy." I bit back a smirk when people gasped. "And I heard enough to know you are truly lacking in your intelligence. Countess Phoenix and Lady Kathy both picked their dresses in support of the event.

"This is a ball to support the arts, Lady Renee, not to try and pretend you are a piece of art." I gestured to the women behind me. "Their dresses are elegant and calm, allowing their beauty to shine through without being distracting. The focus is then on the art up for auction to support the foundation and artists.

"That shows wisdom you are clearly without. Also, you sound ridiculous as you speak of their reputations and ruin when they wear modest gowns. And yours offers up your attributes for all to see like too many already have and they hold no value. Honestly, I would be more intrigued to sample the free house wine while waiting for a table on—"

She raised her hand to slap me, and she almost went through with it which would have made me happy, but at the last second a hand reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Bastard.

"I apologize for my sister, Grand Duke," Raymond Matthias said as he bowed deeply to me, yanking her back. "She has been unwell from headaches and clearly has succumbed to some form of madness from them. I have diligently tried to procure the new headache medicine at Transformative, but given the riff between the manager and my uncle, I have not been able to."

"It's a shame your uncle puts his pride before your family's health," I replied, trying my best to hide my disappointment he stopped her. "Thank you, but the apology should not come from you." I practically smirked at Lady Renee hoping to set off her temper again. "I believe you owe all of us an honest and deep apology, My Lady."

"And yet you can insult me, Your Grace?" she bit out.

"You are right, I should have handled this situation better." I took in a slow breath and let it out. "I apologize that I repeatedly ignored your constant attentions and propositions to be in my bed, Lady Renee, but you have gone too far over the line now. I have turned you down and made it clear you will never be my grand duchess, but attacking my date and Lady Kathy is too far."

She tried for me again, but Raymond grabbed both of her wrists and squeezed them so tightly, my hawk felt her pain. Others wouldn't have heard what he said to her next, but I did because of my elevated hearing.

"Apologize and make this right now or I will side with Father and see you married to that old codger in the South offering money and let you be his third wife and let you suck his shriveled cock until he dies and your marriage chances done. You ruin my future to take over for David and I will ruin yours, Renee."

All the blood left her face and the amount of fear that filled the ballroom almost made me gag. Others couldn't smell that, so it was something I couldn't explain.

She gave a swift nod and actually went to her knees, prostrating herself before us. "I apologize to all of you. Lady Kathy most because she is innocent among all of us and the highest caliber of young lady. She is not only beautiful and intelligent, but fiercely loyal and loving to defend her friend. Truly, the goddess smiles on her and any who will be near her.

"I apologize, Countess Phoenix. The grand duke is right that I have loved him from afar for many years. My jealousy has twisted me up, and with these migraines I suffer from that I cannot find relief from, my mind has not been my own. Please, I beg your forgiveness. I will repent and seek help to change my ways."

I looked to Mabel, making it clear that this was her call and up to her how to handle it. The shock and pure joy that I deferred to her so publicly was something that I felt deep in my heart.

She stepped up next to me fully. "I have heard there are some good healing centers in the east of the kingdom that specialize in headaches. You might want to look into them for your sister, My Lord. They are very effective in spring and over the summer."

Meaning Renee would be out of the capital for the social season. She flinched but didn't respond. Missing one season because she'd gone too far was much better than becoming a third wife of some small-time lord and never coming back to the capital again.

Though I wanted to know what kind of noble let the lords in their area have multiple wives and behave that way.

"Also, hire a tutor for your sister's lacking knowledge of language," Mabel added.

"I do not understand, My Lady," Raymond admitted.

Mabel's sharp gaze didn't leave Renee, waiting until the woman looked up at her. "Your words have meaning, and while you throw out your insults like sharpened blades you wish to injure someone with, there are more wounds inflicted than you clearly understand." She held up her hand to both of them when they went to talk.

And they wisely shut their mouths.

"You might think my money was ill-gotten, but the court and judge of our great Areca did not. It was approved. Your brother was part of making the settlement possible." Renee flinched at that. "Your cousin hurried to sign it first since he agreed with the deal. And most importantly, our great queen was party to the proceedings.

"The proceedings and talks you were not aware of or knowledgeable on. So while you sought to insult me, you actually insulted the list of people, and that is unacceptable. You called into question Lady Kathy's honor and manners trying to insult me. Except there is a list of people you insulted, including the queen again as she has praised Lady Kathy's elegance and taste.

"She personally complimented our dresses." Several people gasped at hearing that. "What the grand duke said was true. We wanted toned-down gowns so the art could shine and tonight's ball could be less of a fashion show than normal. We want women to have more of a choice in their lives, and you insulted that and all working on it with your words."

"I apologize and will work on what you have said, Countess," Renee said, sounding scared.

But I didn't think of Mabel. No, Mabel had just upped the stakes and problems of Renee's outburst, and she knew she might still be sold into a marriage no matter what her brother said now.

"I am glad to hear it. I hope your headaches improve and wish you the best of health as you relax and study this season."

Nothing was sexier than my woman being fierce and putting people in their place. Nothing.