Chapter Forty-One: Calling In Favors
"So tell me, darling. After all the drama, how does it feel to be married at last?" Queen Jane was relaxing in her private apartments, having a foot massage and a pedicure while her social secretary sorted through the morning mail. It was a wet winter morning, wet and gloomy, and the queen was still in her pajamas, yawning after a sexy late night supper with the king. But when her stepdaughter marched into the room and approached the fire Jane's sleepy blue eyes flew open at once.
"It's over with, anyway. I suppose that's a relief." Mary Tudor was now Mrs. Jamil Khan. She was warming her hands on the opposite side of the crackling fire, determined not to dwell on the disturbing details of her wedding night. "We had a few days to relax on his family's private island in the Seychelles. Of course, Jamil's got a conference in Dubai, so he flew out early. But I'll see him again when he returns to London next week."
"No difficulties in the sex department?" Jane could be just as blunt as Mary. She was kind and thoughtful, but she wasn't shy about discussing her stepdaughter's intimate concerns in front of her household staff. Servants who expected to stay on did their duties silently and never spoke about what they saw and heard.
"No!" Mary frowned, gazing moodily into the crackling flames. Her new husband wanted a son. Having him inside her had not been too unpleasant, at least not after the first time. But Mary didn't like the feeling that her body was no longer her own. "Jamil's given Sally and me permission to tour Ireland together."
"As a royal?" Jane tilted a slim, golden eyebrow.
"As a member of the Khan family. We're expanding our hotel chain and will be looking to purchase some new properties. But as a royal, I'd like to visit some of the shelters, the ones the church has been running for unwed mothers and homeless girls."
"And you need me to smooth things over with your father." Jane's knowing smile didn't hide the concern in her sapphire blue eyes. "Mary, I know you were hit hard by the death of that film star. But you don't want to poke into things that will only make a stink."
"Her name was Bridget!" Mary's steel-gray eyes shot fiery sparks. "Maybe it was stupid to get so, uh, so involved with her. To let the sex get so out of control. Maybe she was using me. But Bridget was a human being. I still think her death was suspicious. And I'm not going to let it drop."
"I see. Loyalty to all is one of the things I rather like about you, Mrs. Khan." Queen Jane gave her stepdaughter a searching look, then stretched luxuriously in her chair. "Well, I think I'll get properly dressed and see about arranging a private lunch with your father. The king needs to relax now and then."
"Thanks, Jane." Impulsively, Mary leaned down and kissed her stepmother on the cheek. "I owe you for this, big time. And I promise to keep things confidential whatever I discover. I'm all about protecting the royal family."
"Yes, of course you are." Jane smiled at her very serious stepdaughter. "Later on perhaps you can do me a favor as well!"
The queen was perfectly serious. She loved Mary dearly, but she didn't like the idea of her newly married stepdaughter poking into the scandalous death of a movie star.
"This Bridget person evidently had her claws deep into your daughter," Jane explained, when she was alone with the king later that afternoon. To demonstrate her meaning, she reached beneath the bedcovers and firmly gripped the king's manly root.
"Huh?" Henry had been half-asleep, resting after a tussle with his beautiful young wife. Though the king would never admit it, lately sex with bright-eyed, eager young Jane seemed to tire him out. There were times when Henry could hardly keep up with her.
"Mary's not as strong as you are," Jane said, caressing her king beneath the covers. Her touch was tender, her voice very soft. "Her needs outweigh her judgment, and she's easily influenced. I think the film star was getting money from her, and lots of it."
"Fool," the king mumbled. He enjoyed the way Jane stroked him. She made him feel powerful and strong, but he didn't really want to make love to her again. If she would just keep on stroking, he could climax right in her hand, and then have a good long sleep.
"Someone needs to keep an eye on her." Jane's sharp tone matched the sharp tug she gave the king's sagging shaft. It was like being jolted by electricity. "Are you a true king, my love?"
"Of course!" Henry didn't want to argue. He wanted to relax. And he was desperate to have Jane keep up her soothing strokes. "We don't want to offend the Khan family. We'll have someone watch over Mary. Find a good man, Jane. Just name him!"
"John Travis Monroe," Jane declared, and gave the king a vicious tug that was both painful and pleasurable. She knew the fine line between fierce cruelty and sweet tenderness, and she had the king aching for release and completely in her power. "He's helped us out before. Do say yes, my king. Please do!"
"Yes, Jane. Oh God, yes. Yes, yes, yes!" Henry was stunned by the way the sudden pain intensified the ache of his own desire. By this time he was utterly spellbound, so intent on his own throbbing need that he didn't even notice the look on the queen's face as she gave him swift release with her practiced hands.
"Mr. Monroe will keep an eye on Mary in Ireland," Jane said softly, after Henry had spilled all his seed to the very last drop. "I'll make sure he reports directly to me. You work so hard running the kingdom, you shouldn't have to deal with family matters. Let me ease your burden a little, Henry darling. You carry such a great weight on those strong shoulders!"
"Mm." Henry couldn't quite remember what the discussion was about. The queen gave him a kiss, but the king was very tired. He fell at once into a deep sleep, seeing and hearing nothing as Jane rose from the bed and walked to the shower.