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Chapter Twenty-nine: South Sea & Sun
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Tahiti & Tupaï Tuamotu Islands
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7th May 1827
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It had been the first time ever that he had used a supersonic orbital launcher to go from one place to another.
And it had taken him two hours and a few minutes to jump -there was no other word- from Madrid Airport where he had arrived from Palma where he was in mission for the Order, to this place, he had no idea it even exosted.
But that it was even more enticing that Palma and its small beaches in hidden Calas and grumpy peasants who literally hated strangers.
Having no idea why he had been 'invited' he had let the other passenger, around fifty if his count had been adequate, fill out of the plane and then he had walked to the exit.
A man in Royal British Livery -with the embroidered golden 'WR' the Welch House of Darcy had been granted after Fitzwilliam's stint as the Regent, had been waiting on the tarmac. As soon as he had appeared, he had walked towards him and saluted him with a respectful bow.
He was clearly from the Islands since he had a clear ethnical similarity to the techs who had swarmed the plane to maintenance it.
- Welcome in Tahiti, Sir, your Airship is awaiting you just over there, said he while pointing at what looked like a very old-fashioned small Airship.
It has been a while since he had used one of those, he couldn't help but show his surprise.
- The Tuamotu Islands have a strict set of rules concerning airships. The Governing Council has enforced a strict no-noise no-gaz policy when it comes to inter-island travel. This is probably the place where the Company's third generation airships -those with electrical engines and floatable hulls- will all end up being in use. We have even gotten the Company's authorization to build new ones following that ancient concept.
- The Governing Council of..?
- The Tuamotu Islands, Sir, with Tahiti as its Capital Island. It is one of the Free Zones that hasn't been placed under the sovereignty of one of the Five World Powers. It is open to all visitors but people who want to settle must be accepted by the Governing Council's Immigration Bureau.
Rodrigo couldn't help but laugh out aloud when thinking about his recent adventures in Palma.
- By God, it really seems that all Islanders hate strangers…
- Oh, we don't hate strangers at all, Sir. We are the most welcoming people you will find anywhere but in Indonesia. But we think that too many people would put an end to our current exoticism. The people here have chosen to limit drastically any form of industrialization. Each Island has one or more Gurl generators and thrives to welcome tourists who will have all the necessary comforts with, if possible, no pollution at all. We do count on the Paradisaical appearance of the Islands' nature to lure in the rich and the mighty.
Rodriguo couldn't help but make a face.
- No place for the little guy?
- Only those who understand the necessity to protect and nurture what these islands offer, Sir. And those will come to live here… The fare to arrive here is around twenty times more expensive than the cost of an average ticket to the Baleares, the Canary or the Aegean Islands. Someday the price will perhaps go further down but as of yet, since only the wealthy do have the means to arrive here, the Council has decided to specialize some of our Islands to cater to those who really want to live a very exotic vacation.
- Some Islands? What about the others?
- Around fifty percent will be closed to outsiders, be they rich or not, in order to preserve the local lifestyle and traditions. Seven Islands who, until now, had been deserted, very scarcely populated or very unfriendly islands had been offered for sale. A few hundreds very selected -and wealthy- people will have the possibility to own an estate and spend their leisure time with us…
- What do you mean by unfriendly?
- Too many mountains and rough terrain to be of use for agriculture. But what made those islands unfriendly for us is perfect for those who just want to have a piece of the Paradise where they can live in peace in a Typhoon secured Mansion.
Once more he pointed at the small Airship they were walking towards.
- And those little babies are perfect to bring the owners to their properties or back to Papeete where all the cultural nightlife will be concentrated.
- I never even saw one of those, admitted Rodriguo.
- The Company has only built twelve of them and all twelve are now in the Council's possession. They were no longer used and would probably have been out-mustered if we hadn't asked for them. Sir Charles was quite happy to save them by selling them for the symbolic franc. The maintenance crews we had to hire to look after them were quite happy to join us here in paradise. I very much doubt that they will ever go back to Europe.
While they climbed the ramp, his guide stroked the Airship's hull.
- They are fantastic little beasts. Safe, comfortable and sturdy. The two of them who were caught in a typhoon just let the winds push them around. They both survived and were able to come back by their own means. Superb British Craftmanship.
- And where are we going with said beast?
- Her name is 'Mai te Mata'i' and we are going to Tupaï where you are awaited.
- Which sort of Island is Tupaï? One of the seven unfriendly?
- Not at all, Tupaï is one of a sort. One could say that Tupaï is a haunted Island whose Ghost has found a new understanding with the current occupants.
He pointed at his embroidered 'WR'.
- It has a lot of peculiar specifics. It's a University. Of a sort. It's a Dolphin Reserve. And it is the Darcy Estate in the South Pacific Sea…
- I see, said Rodriguo who wasn't sure that he really liked to have been right.
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She wasn't there and he was totally unable to decide if he was pleased or disappointed.
But he was awaited.
By the d'Arcy half-sisters and at least one of their beasts.
He went down the ramp and bowed to the two women who were both wives to important rulers or rulers-to-be.
Before he could even speak aloud, Betty spoke up.
- She arrives tomorrow, and we hope that, until then, you'll have found the courage to decide…
- There's nothing to decide, he protested. This whole thing is a bad manipulation I refuse to support.
- It is -or at least it was- exactly that but it no longer is, Senor, since our cousin does no longer look at it in this way!
- And what is it for her?
- A heartache, said Lexi. She's lying to herself when she tries to convince everybody -herself too, by the way- that it is a fine thing to have a pretender who pretends -the quip is intended- not to pretend to anything! It is high time you stop playing your silly game and look at the truth of your feelings.
- I have no feelings…
- It could be that you really have no feelings, which I doubt, said Betty, but whatever it is we need you to come out with it and convince our cousin of it. Like every woman she's totally able to survive an unhappy love affair, but she needs to face the truth and right now she doesn't…
Rodrigo shook his head.
- I just cannot enter that sort of misbehavior. It would be betraying her…
He was quite surprised by Betty's next move.
He, of course, knew that she had been upgraded and he, intellectually, knew that an upgraded female was faster, stronger, sprightlier than even an athlete like him, but when he found himself caught by the throat and dangling at two inches from the ground with very angry eyes looking at him while he knew that his throat was being crushed by a Lady's small hand, it dawned on him like a thunderbolt.
- We are very disappointed by your behavior, Senor Guzmann de Harrara! We want you to decide and to stop torturing our cousin. She does like you; you know! She probably even likes you a lot. And since she admires that silly steadfastness that pushes you to refuse to play along with de Godoy's plot, her feelings for you tend to increase. And that combination makes her and unhappy and proud of the man who makes her unhappy.
The grip around his throat became tighter.
- And I hate it when my friend and cousin is unhappy because a fool prefers his ethical tenets to her happiness.
She pulled him nearer. So, as to be able to look in his eyes.
- I do have only a question, Senor: do you have feelings for her or are you just basking in the certainty that you are above any Human sentiment?
He tried to utter an answer but just happened to shake his head.
She let him go and he had to summon every bit of strength in his body to not fall on his knees.
Lexi joined her sister and they both looked at him. And none of them looked friendly.
This time it was Alexandra who spoke up.
- We are extremely near to Janet, my dear Rodrigo, and from what we have been able to deduce from her behavior she's quite fond of her steadfastly loyal Hidalgo who's shown that he is unable to bend the knee for anything. We really need to know it you are fond of her or if you use her to show to your brothers of the Order that you are better than everybody else within and without your little Club of antiquated losers.
- In fact, intervened Betty, she needs to know how you feel. She needs to have a clear answer about the relationship you would accept to have should it not have been drowned by an ocean of self-righteousness!
She looked at her sister.
- You know what will happen to Spain in the future, don't you?
He was still fighting to find back his balance, but he still couldn't help but nod.
Of course, he knew. Everybody knew. Even the King of Spain knew. And de Godoy's plot had been born out of that suspicion.
- I see you share our conviction my dear Rodrigo. But you should be very concerned that we, as a family, aside from Napoleon who's not yet convinced that Spain is not to be his, we are indifferent to what happens to your Empire.
He forced himself to cough and shot Betty an angry glance.
- You don't understand, rasped he. I cannot give in… It would hurt her a lot more to be forced on the Spanish Throne. That place is probably what's, on Earth, nearest to Hell.
- You could still refuse to listen to the King's call should he do what de Godoy wants him to do, said Lexi.
- It would be my duty…
- Your duty would be to your family, not to a Throne that, as you said it yourself many times, has lost any pretense to be respected for at least five hundred years! If you love Janet, you owe it to her to admit it and, should de Godoy's plot come to fruition, it would be your common decision to accept or not. And should you discover that it isn't worth to sacrifice the happiness you share to save a Throne that had it coming for decades, you'll have to find the courage to send de Godoy and your idiot of a King packing!
- Because, added Lexi, nothing will be able to force you to accept. Not if you have a link with us! My father-in-law will love it should you refuse and even if he's known to be a greedy bastard, he still is able to show his support to people who have worked to help him get what he wants…
- I don't want France to take over Spain… It would be the ultimate betrayal.
- Convince Janet then! It's very simple for us: you are together, you decide together. It's up to you to convince her. And should you fail, you will have to accept all the consequences. For you and for Spain!
He took a last breath and stood up.
- You d…
- It's not about us, Rodrigo, intervened Lexi. It is ultimately about what is important for you. For Janet you are important and she's ready to foolishly let you screw up her life because she thinks you are the next best thing to a white knight in armor. Think about what you really want in life and what is worth fighting for.
They frowned a last time at him.
- We'll see you for dinner and we won't speak about important things until she arrives tomorrow. Take your time but remember: it's time to decide what's really important in life.
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Tupaï - Tuamotu Islands
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8th May 1827
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He was sitting on the beach, looking in the rising sun and guessing how many Dolphins were playing in the surf.
- Why did you come?
He had no problem recognizing her voice.
- Your cousins summoned me.
- Why did you stay?
- Because they were right, we need to talk.
- About what?
- About you eventually accepting or refusing my marriage offer…
He heard her sigh, walk in the sand, and sit at his side.
- Are you going to offer?
- I could but only if we both are sure that it is what we want.
He hadn't slept and had spent the night looking at the stars and thinking about what he really wanted.
What he really felt.
It hadn't been easy, and he still wasn't sure.
- Do you love me?
His direct question clearly surprised her.
- It is difficult to tell, said she finally. I asked Aunt Jane and she gave me an exhaustive list of all the symptoms and after having listed all of them, she warned me that even if I could tick all the boxes it wouldn't help if you didn't share at least a few. Do you love me?
- I have no clear experience of what it means to be in love, answered he. But you are the only woman who ever invaded my thoughts, my dreams and my imagination until last December.
He looked sidewards and shook his head.
- Don't ask what I needed my imagination for, it would be unseemly.
- That's good, said Janet. Aunt Jane mentioned unseemly in the list.
He frowned at her.
- That's disappointing. I would have bet my life that your Godmother had never been unseemly in her life.
- You mentioned imagining me… Imagination can be unseemly, she said. It's what you do when you try to do to catch up with reality that must be surveyed. And you shouldn't let what you've seen about Aunt Jane cloud your judgment. She's probably the most reality loving woman of the family. Did you know that she is the family midwife?
- I have read your file, said he. Since she's your Godmother she was described rather precisely. At least, the general public knowledge the world has about her was mentioned.
- What did the file say about me?
- A lot of things and each one of them was flattering. If you really want to know I still have the file. I could send it to you…
She shook her head.
- No, I'm curious but not really interested. What the people outside of the family believe they know about me is of no interest.
- I was interested of what my friend has compiled about me. I was surprised about a few of his affirmations.
- Your friend?
- A member of the Order who works for de Godoy. He put me on the list because he wants a member of the Order to become King of Spain.
- So, he cheated! You shouldn't have been on the list.
- Not ambitious enough, I fear, to be interested in becoming a King.
He shook his head.
- For the rest he wasn't totally honest, but he managed to maintain his descriptions within a safe margin. I'm not as chivalrous as he insisted to portray me. And I tend to be stubborn.
She let a small smile appear.
- I wouldn't have guessed.
- That's because I'm good at dissimulation. The great dissimulator they call me in the order.
Her smile increased.
- Luckily, I never fell for the fake reality your friend spun to make you look better than you were.
- So, if I repeat my question, what would be your answer?
- The one about my feelings you mean?
- That one indeed.
- Let's use your words to try an answer. You are the only man who ever invaded my thoughts, my dreams and my imagination...
- Was it an unseemly imagination?
- It was outside of what a chaste young maiden like me should have been informed of. But, as I said, my Godmother tends to be thorough when she teaches us girls what to await from life. I do fear the Bennet and Darcy girls have a lot of 'forbidden' knowledge at their disposal relatively early in their lives. Aunt Jane believes a lot in 'forwarned and forearmed'.
- She also learns you how to get rid of too forward a suitor.
- No, that Aunt Maureen's part. She's the one in the family who has the best skill when it comes to emasculate too forward hunks. Literally!
He chuckled.
- I've spent a few months in Ireland a few years ago. I've heard about her story. She's quite the heroin there.
- Irishmen and women tend to love their stories and Aunt Maureen's story is one of their preferred. Hardship, almost destruction and, in the end salvation and a happy end? They love it and I honestly think that if Aunt Maureen is the stuff of Legends there, Aunt Jane is the stuff of Sainthood. They madly love her to have been able to overcome her normal jealousy…
She smiled at Rodrigo.
- All Irish women are fiercely jealous, you know… It's in their blood. To share her husband with the truest and most Irish of all heroines pushed most of them into forgiving those other Britons they would, otherwise, have loathed. I'm quite sure that Aunt Jane never even lost a second to think about the political consequences of her decision in Ireland but I'm totally sure that it was because of her that the Irish people chose to forget their resentment and accepted to enter the Union with Britain and Scotland.
- I thought it was because of your Uncle Charles…
- That's the legend they like to put in front to parade as savvy businessmen, but truly what he was bringing into the match was way too worldly for Romantics like them. No, what swung the Irish was the love story, not the bank account or the return-on-investment rate Charles was pointing at. Aunt Maureen is an Irish Icon, Aunt Jane is just perceived as a Saint.
- Polygamy as a reason to Sanctity?
- We don't do normal things in our family… Weird is our normal.
- I like weird even if it scares me a little bit, confessed Rodrigo. You never know how the others will look at you.
- Is the others' opinion important?
He nodded.
- It is, I wouldn't want to be considered as a man who tries to climb the social ladder by worming himself into a maiden's heart.
- Are you doing that?
- If I had that target you have the right to see me as the foolishest idiot you ever met.
- It's most foolish not foolishest and you would be right. How did you hope worming yourself into my heart by avoiding me?
- That's were the foo… Most foolish part is unveiled. I'm perhaps not smart enough to really fathom my tactic's inefficiency.
She turned around and looked him in the eyes.
- Let's consider that, whatever happens, we just look at our relationship as a normal apolitical link between two young people who do find pleasure in each other's company.
- I'd like that even if I'm quite sure that it is a daydream…
He stopped her reaction with a hand move.
- But I would like having the opportunity to discover that we find pleasure in each other's company.
- Good, because that's why this event has been organized by my meddling cousins: to give us the opportunity to meet, discover each other's personality and, eventually, decide that despite everything else, be it political or dynastic, we do like being in each other's company. Once we know that, we will have to decide if we have the courage to step up to our destiny.
- Or not, said he. There are moments one needs to look at what is critical. Even Spain's fate is of no importance should we decide that there is a 'we' in our life. Sometimes there are more important things than the world's destiny.
She smiled at his naivete.
- Don't fool yourself, the world's fate will always find a way to come back. That's called duty and in both our families we write that word in capital letters.
She sighed.
- Let's just hope that, like it happened for my parents, we will be able to make duty and… Love? cohabit.
He nodded once more.
- Duty is something I know quite well… Love's still an unknown!
- Same here. But let's not forget that we are here to decide if a together is even an option.
- I agree. How do we do it?
- With easy things and small pleasures, answered she. Do you know how to surf?
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- They haven't kissed… You think it is a bad omen?
Betty shook her head while looking at the couple sitting on the beach.
- That's Janet out there, remember? Kissing a boy is not what she will do on a first encounter.
- He could have…
- He's a Catholic who's spent his whole life preparing to be a Knight in an order that forbids marriage.
- His father is the head of the order and I'm quite sure that it wasn't the Holy Spirit who sired our mustachioed Hidalgo.
Lexi frowned at her sister. She had forgotten that part of Rodrigo's story.
- Well, despite that the Order seems to have alleviated its celibacy rules, our man is still the offspring of a Catholic family. He will tiptoe around her for a few days before becoming a little more straightforward.
- Catholic boys are as straightforward as any others I've met. I really believe that religion does not resist to an onslaught of testosterone.
- For now, his religion resists…
- We'll see how long it lasts, said Betty. I hope he will soon overcome his reluctance.
- We could just let them be and ask her this evening how it went…
- And miss her first kiss ever?
She shook her head while looking at her sister with genuine amazement in her eyes.
- I won't miss that for anything in the world.
She pointed at the camera on the tripod at her side.
- The second one of them decides that respect, duty and traditions can be thrown overboard, I'll be there immortalizing the whole thing forever. She'll thank us, you'll see.
- Indeed, we'll see!
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Tupaï - Tuamotu Islands
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9th May 1827
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He was getting the knack out of it…
The fact that he was well muscled and springy had been helpful too.
Surfing the waves was not yet easy but he had no longer problems with his balance on the board. The locals, who had probably trained on those waves since they were born, were better but he no longer fell every two minutes.
Janet was better at the sport too.
And prettier.
Especially with her very hugging bathing suit.
With his eyes not looking at his board, he lost his balance and soon was falling into the surf.
Being a little tired, he decided that it was time to take a little break. He was quite sure that he would go back in the sea very soon but, for now, he was ready to stay out of the water for an hour or two.
He placed his board on the rack that had been put at the Beach's border and let himself fall on the sunning bed where he had stored his clothes and the cooling box with their meal and their freshly pressed fruit juices.
He was drinking heartily when he heard approaching muffled footsteps.
He turned around and wasn't surprised to look into Fitzwilliam Darcy's eyes.
He bowed out of reflex.
- Your Majesty…
Fitzwilliam bowed back.
- Senor de Harrara… How's your sojourn?
- Beginning but more than satisfying.
He looked at Janet who was still surfing on the waves wit half a dozen locals of both sexes.
- I've been informed that you had been invited and I decided to come over to have a little chat.
He frowned at Rodrigo.
- Is it too early to have a discussion?
Rodrigo took a long breath while shaking his head.
- Not at all, we are not yet decided if we want to go on but from what has happened till now, we are, and I mean the both of us, pleased to have a chance to talk and learn more about each other.
- I'm rather old-fashioned, said Fitzwilliam while sitting on the sunning bed not reclaimed by Janet, and I do believe that a suitor will, should he come to a decision, walk up to my office and either ask for my daughter's hand or signal me that his suit has ended without any favorable result…
- Without de Godoy's plot it is highly probable that I would already have walked up to your office, your Majesty.
- Without de Godoy's plot, smiled Fitzwilliam, you wouldn't know each other, and you wouldn't have walked up to my office at all. So, let's admit that, even if his ploy was despicable, unseemly and undignified it had a few favorable outcomes.
- I hate it to be manipulated…
- So, do I, but, even if I will never admit it officially to the man who manipulated me, it was because of a clever and crafty manipulation that I was, finally, able to become the man I am and save my Country's freedom. It sucks but when, after a few years, you get the proof that it has been for your own good and that of your country, you accept it as a necessary evil. You don't forgive to the rascal who pushed you into that corner, but you accept to look at the good it provided.
He snickered slowly.
- I was convinced that I didn't have the scope necessary to be a Statesman. When looking at what I thought being able to do, I didn't see my real strength. And today I know that without Geoffrey's manipulations to get the Welch Aristocracy to undug an old forgotten Title of mine in order to press me into becoming their King, I would never have had the opportunity to live up to my potential.
He looked at the young man who wasn't yet sure if he wanted to be his daughter's suitor.
- I still know that I would have been happy and that I would have managed my estate and my people to everybody's satisfaction.
He frowned.
- But I wouldn't have discovered that I had more than being a successful gentleman farmer in me. Without him I wouldn't have acquired the skills that made me capable to take over Great Britain and give my beloved country the chance to restart after our humiliating defeat.
He let a satisfied smile appear on his lips.
- And I will in a very unseemly fashion, admit that I'm satisfied with what I managed to do and that, even if Napoleon is not at all in agreement with me, I created the bulk of what has become the most successful and admired country on Earth. We have only half the armies and units France has, but, even if I pray that it never comes to a real confrontation, I still believe that we would win a war against them. Probably and mostly because I wouldn't have to garrison every scrap of land, we call ours. British troops will all be on the front. While by my staff's projections, half of the French Armies would be tied elsewhere to smother the soon to appear rebellions.
- Do the French know?
- Of course, they know, Rodrigo. Whatever one can say about the French, their officers are a lot better than mine. Apart from Murat who is a fool and an opportunist nobody in his right mind should trust, I envy each and every one of his generals. Not that mine are bad, but they are simply good and trustworthy while his are brilliant and ground-breaking. And at least twelve of his Field Marshals are topnotch tacticians and strategists. And being that, they know everything about what would happen should we fight. And that's why, even knowing that they have twice as many soldiers than I have, they have no intention to ever attack William.
- Isn't the well-known fact that William the Fourth has no intention to ever attack France also a reason for their restraint?
- It could but since the fact that napoleon has never hesitated to attack countries who had no intention to attack him, I don't see that as a major reason. It helps as helps the friendship between William and Alexandre, but what really stops Napoleon's military is the profound conviction that, in the end, our soldiers would have the best motivation to win.
- What about the huge Indian Manpower?
- It would add an interesting factor but only if the war lasts for more than two years. You know that, in accordance with the Federal Treaty, member countries do not have to recruit and equip more than a token military force to garrison and pacify their own possessions. Indian people who want to become soldiers will all be incorporated within the Royal Regiments who are the only military units the Crown manages. Two years is the time I and the Indian rulers would need to recruit and train their armies. If we still stand after two years, you are right, India's Manpower will sweep any enemy of ours out of the game…
- Will you last two years?
- We won't need it… My dear brother-in-law who has a foot within both Empires produces each year what he calls the Year's War Tides. The 1827 War Tides has not yet been published but the 1826 copy is still available, and it makes an interesting reading if you are interested in the world's military future. As of my dear brother's projection we would only need six months to mutually pound us into oblivion. And once there, his last chapters describe who, from those other fine people surrounding us, would swallow what part of what Empire. It is an interesting but very unsettling read. I am sure than nobody who has read it in Britain or France wishes to put d'Arcy's projections to the test.
- I suppose 1827 will be in the same vein?
- And you would be wrong. I have rewritten his English draft and should we attack in 1827, we would win within a week. We will have, for a few months, a staggering supremacy in orbital launch capacities.
- Orbital launch capabilities?
- Something new we just discovered a few weeks ago. Something that gives us the means to crush everybody on the surface within minutes.
He snickered.
- Of course, we don't need to crush everybody. We just need to crush the enemies' capital cities and their major military settlements.
He shook his head.
- We have been invited by d'Arcy -and by we I mean the members of the family, Napoleon and Geraut included- to assist at a life orbital bombardment sequence followed by a very nice -if scaring- movie describing how he envisions the first two hours of the next conflict launched by Grand Great Britain.
- Why launched by GGB? William has no offensive tendencies…
- That's right but there are moments in life when a ruler is offered the perfect opportunity to destroy his enemy without even taking a risk. So, since it is only Grand Great Britain that, for now, has the manufacturing power to create and put into orbit the rods and the launchers, it could only be a totally British hour…
Rodrigo couldn't help but show his surprise.
- Why would he do that? Why would he deprive his own son from a possibility to win a decisive war and to become the world's only ruler?
- Because he has, as say the French, 'le cul entre deux chaises'? In English it is less telling but 'sitting on the fence' tells the same story. Part of him is in love with Britain while another part remains viscerally loyal to France. So, he came up with a way to show his conflicted countries that something could have happened -should have happened?- that he chose to nip in the bud. In the foolish hope that the idiots on each sides would remember what he did.
- Why do you tell me that?
- To remind you that, had d'Arcy played it hardcore, Madrid would be a crater full of dead bodies and the Spanish Crown which gives you so many headaches would only be a bad memory. I don't like it but it seems clear that what you tend to consider as important and even crucial could easily vanish in these times of technological upheaval.
Rodrigo closed his eyes and tried, with no favorable result, to erase the picture of a destroyed Madrid.
- And, added Fitzwilliam, I wanted you to understand that a man who has chosen to place himself 'on the fence' whatever uncomfortable it is for him and his family, can play a tremendously important role to smooth things out between the neighbors living on each side of the fence.
- You want me to be in the fence?
- I want you to know that, should you go to the end of this endeavor, you could end up as a man on a fence. And, from what I have seen and experienced, being in such a position is not only uncomfortable, but it is also asking for a heavy toll. A toll you will only be able to pay if you bear it with somebody who truly loves and supports you.
- No half-measures, then?
- Indeed, no half-measures!
- Well, than it is a good thing that I'm more of the unbending sort.
- Don't be too inflexible, though. I would take it badly should you make my daughter's life miserable.
He winked at Rodrigo.
- Personally I'm a quiet, complacent and peace-loving man but there are rumors that I have a brother-in-law who's dabbed in quite a few shady endeavors. One wouldn't want him to look into your direction, now would one?
- That's a very handy brother-in-law, isn't he?
Fitzwilliam chose to not answer. After all some answers had no need to be voiced.
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- Why are you here, Pappa?
Janet had been visibly surprised to see her father lying in the sun.
- I wanted to have a conversation with that suitor of yours, dear. You know the famous conversation where I frown without frowning, where I threaten without threatening and where I remind everybody who could act foolishly that I have a brother-in-law who is an assassin master with no humor at all…
She looked at Rodrigo with a frown.
- Did he really do that?
- From the beginning to the end, admitted Rodrigo with a not very sincere smile. The brother-in-law part being the recurring part of the speech.
She turned to frown at her father.
- Pappa! You promised…
- I needed to be sure that he knows what a dangerous environment he's about to enter. And nobody who's at least a little bit honest can hide the fact that one of my bother-in-law is a very dangerous and unbending man who's not known for his sense of humor.
- Pappa, stop it right now!
Fitzwilliam made a placating gesture.
- If you wish, I'll stop alluding at your brutish and unyielding Uncle.
She shook her head, invited Rodrigo to stand up and help him to sit up.
- My father is clearly in a very humorous phase we wouldn't want to interrupt. What about a real lunch at the bar? I'm quite sure that even at this hour there is plenty of food to be found.
Rodrigo nodded and soon was pulled towards the houses higher up the beach.
A smile soon appeared on his lips.
Having an in-law with d'Arcy's reputation was indeed quite the boon.
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- What was Uncle Fitzwilliam doing on the beach?
The sisters had appeared out of thin air the second they arrived at the bar.
- Threatening to unleash your father on Rodrigo should he not behave like a gentleman, answered Janet to Betty's question.
- Which is good news, said Lexi.
- How can it be good news, protested Janet. He's trying to interfere with my love-life.
- Is there a love-life he can interfere with? I've looked at you for hours and nothing happened at all, said Betty with a toothy grin.
Janet looked towards the sky and let out a huge sigh.
- Why are you all pestering me?
- Because you are our preferred cousin and because you have a handsome suitor we approve with…
- I don't need your approval. I need nobody's approval!
- Uncle Fitzwilliam seems to be of another opinion, said Lexi. But I think he approves of Rodrigo like we do. Or else he wouldn't have come to threaten him. Especially not threatened to unleash Pappa.
She winked at Rodrigo.
- Because Pappa never intervenes against bad behaving suitors. That's Mamma's preferred job. She's the family's specialist for cutting a man's balls. She had lots of training when she was young.
Janet shook her head and tried to hide her face with her hands.
- You are not funny, protested she.
- That's normal, said Lexi stone faced like never before. I'm dead serious. Ball-cutting is a grave matter only specialist should attempt.
Janet felt Rodrigo's hand pulling her towards him.
He whispered in her ear.
- Your cousins are funny, you know?
- You really think so?
- Of course, I do. I'm a gentleman and a true gentleman knows that being polite is the crux of the matter. Whatever happens, stay polite with the ladies.
Janet shot him a smile.
- I thought so much.
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Next chapter soon to come… A Chapter about losing... Or not...
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