Charlemagne just sat, staring at the now blank viewscreen. He was torn between delight and consternation. If he had any sense, he would allow Meaghan to go someplace where she could be completely anonymous, merely surreptitiously channeling funds to her to enable her to keep herself and the child. There were far and away too many complications to having her near at hand. So why was he acting in such an un-Nietzschean fashion? He was hardly so inexperienced as to be captivated by nothing more than a pretty face, although honesty compelled him to admit that there was far more to Meaghan than that. And if, or more likely when, the news got around that he had fathered a child on a human woman.., It made no sense at all, until he started thinking about Meg, envisioning the increasing swell of her belly as his child grew within her, and sense went to the four winds, and all he wanted was to have her and his child near him.
Well, since he was going to be irrational anyway, he had best make the necessary arrangements. Even though the Andromeda had barely left, he was aware that there could be delays in Meaghan's arrival. But on the other hand there might not, so he would have to put things in motion immediately.
And then there was the matter of what he was going to tell Elsbeth. He knew that he was going to have to tread carefully there. Being Nietzschean herself, Elsbeth naturally had a suspicious nature, she would be sure to be watching him carefully, looking for the least little sign of self-incrimination. He would have to be cautious not to show any sort of affection, or even familiarity with Meaghan. The thought was displeasing, but he wanted Meg near him so badly that he was willing to go through it for her, and their son.
Son? Where did he get that notion? It was far too early in the pregnancy to tell the sex of the baby. Meg had referred to the child as he, but that was probably just a linguistic convenience.
First of all, he had told Meaghan he would find a position for her on his personal staff. He was fairly certain that a battle would ensue if he merely tried to set her up in idle luxury, the lady definitely liked to feel useful. A slightly evil gleam crept into his eyes. He had been thinking of getting rid of his personal secretary for some time, the man's attitude got on his nerves, and the only reason he was still in Charlemagne's employ was that he was efficient. But he had confidence that Meg could handle the chore, and if they couldn't resume their relationship as lovers, at least he would have her there working closely with him. He summoned the aforementioned secretary.
"Yes, your grace?" The summons was answered by a nondescript man of middle years who had his nose so far in the air that one doubted that he ever saw the ground.
"I want you to make sure everything is in order and start getting your things together, Manfred." Charlemagne didn't even look up at him as he spoke. "You'll be leaving as soon as your replacement arrives."
"Have I failed to carry out my duties satisfactorily, your grace?" His tones were polite enough, but from the quick glance Charlemagne stole he looked like he was going to have a stroke.
"It is not for you to question my orders, Manfred," the archduke spoke sternly. "Just see to it that they're carried out."
"Yes, your grace," the secretary answered. "Will that be all, your grace?"
"You are dismissed." Charlemagne looked up just enough to see that the man practically stalked out of the room. He checked the time and found that it soon would be dinner time, and since he had just gotten back, he'd better see to it that he was on time. Elsbeth thought that dining formally was silly, but had more or less accustomed herself to it. But she would be put out if he were late, and he wanted to keep her in as good a mood as possible right now.
&&&&&
He just barely had time to change. Elsbeth was already seated when he arrived. He planted a husbandly kiss on her cheek before going to his own seat at the other end of the table.
Elsbeth put a hand to her cheek wonderingly. While Charlemagne was a wonderful lover, little casual displays of affection like that kiss on the cheek were not generally in his repertoire. She instantly came to conclusion that he was up to something, but decided to play along with him for the moment. "Did you get all your paperwork caught up?"
"Nearly." He paused to take a small sip of his wine. "I might have finished it, but there was a small interruption."
"Oh really," Elsbeth said with carefully affected interest. "I thought you gave orders that you were not to be disturbed."
"I did." Did she suspect something? It was hard to tell, Elsbeth was almost as good at these games as he was. "But I got a call from the Andromeda. They have a new position on the ship, something called a morale officer, and she's such an efficient little thing, that I offered her a position on my staff."
"Then why didn't you bring her with you?" Now Elsbeth was pretty sure of what was going on, but she didn't let it show. At least she had never been tactless enough to flaunt her lovers in front of her husband.
"She originally turned me down," he responded dryly, still recalling how it had stung when Meg had done so. "But it seems as though she's been a bit careless, and now she needs employment elsewhere."
"Careless how?" Elsbeth's curiosity was really piqued now.
"She's pregnant," Charlemagne answered bluntly. There was no point in trying to hide that from his wife, since the truth would be evident soon enough. He figured that if he told her outright, she was less likely to suspect that he was the father.
"Don't humans generally abort unwanted children?" Elsbeth hadn't had too much experience with humans but she had picked up a thing or two.
"Apparently she does want the child." Charlemagne was hard put not to smile at the thought. It had never occurred to him that Meaghan could have simply done away with the baby and he never would have been the wiser. It pleased him no end that she obviously did want his child.
"And the father?" Elsbeth pressed. "Surely he should be accepting his responsibilities?"
"They're humans, Elsbeth," Charlemagne said slowly, not really wanting to get into a discussion about the father of Meaghan's baby. "They don't always take their familial responsibilities as seriously as we do."
"Family?" Elsbeth suggested.
"She doesn't seem to have any," her husband informed her. "The Andromeda found her floating around in space in a 700 year old stasis pod."
"How curious," she murmured thoughtfully. "Do you think she'll be able to handle the job?"
"As I said, she's an efficient little thing." Charlemagne paused while a servant brought in the next course. "She woke up with no memories whatsoever, so I'm told, but she was serving in an official capacity on the Andromeda within a few months."
Elsbeth was somewhat impressed in spite of herself. She had learned a little respect for humans in her own dealings with the crew of the Andromeda, and one and all, they were exceptional people, for humans. This woman might just be a force to be reckoned with.
"You haven't mentioned her name, Charlemagne," she said.
"Meaghan is the name they gave her." Charlemagne signaled to the servant to remove his empty plate. "But nearly the entire crew calls her 'Mom.'"
"And when do I get to meet her?" Elsbeth inquired.
"It depends," Charlemagne rose from his seat. "On when the Andromeda can get her here." Then a thought struck him. "I nearly forgot. We'll have to arrange for a place for her to stay."
Elsbeth shrugged. "Well, if she's going to be your personal secretary, and your offices are here anyway, why not here in the ducal palace? It isn't like there isn't plenty of room." It had just seemingly popped out of her mouth of its own accord, but once she said it, Elsbeth liked the idea. She would be able to keep her eye on the woman this way.
"Here?" For one brief moment, Charlemagne lost control. "Do you really think it would be.., suitable?"
"I don't see why not." Elsbeth twined her arm around her husband's as they left the dining room. "It isn't like we don't have several staff members in residence now."
"If you're entirely sure, my love," he said a bit weakly.
"Completely." Elsbeth had a gleam in her eye he wasn't entirely sure he liked. "Now," she purred, "why don't you come with me and let me show you how much I missed you."
"A delightful notion." Charlemagne allowed himself to be led along to their rooms.
Elsbeth grinned wickedly. She was sure she would be able to show him she could please him in ways his little human never thought of, and then maybe he would get over this nonsense.