He Who Dares: Book Three (27 page)

Mike found the bathroom with a sigh of relief, finding it a little difficult to unzip his pants with the fake belly in the way. He washed his hands and strode back to the dining room for lunch. All the usual suspects were there, and they had a lively conversation about the merits of a representative government as opposed to a constitutional monarch.

“So how would you defend your form of government, Mike?” The Princess Royal asked with a laugh.

“On that, besides taking the Fifth Amendment, I’ll quote the famous American statesman Benjamin Franklin by saying that our form of government follows his principal, and I quote,
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the results of the vote.
On Avalon, all the lambs are armed to the teeth.

“Well said, Michael, and so it should be. To date, no civilization has found a way to contain their governments overreach over a long period of time except by revolution,” the King observed in agreement.

“Yes, sir. We are a young democracy, so who’s to say what it will be like in three to four hundred years.”

“Michael. If your people stick to their guns, no pun intended. I don’t see where any future government can alter the basic principles you started… I mean Max Tregallion started,” he added with a smile.

“I for one will be glad when he takes the disguise off. It's very disconcerting talking to him dressed like that,” Anne huffed. The King smiled and said nothing.

In all, they played the game with other visiting dignitaries and guests, shaking hands, smiling, saying all the right things until the evening when the last one departed.

At last, the palace doors closed for the day, and barring any unforeseen disasters, there wouldn’t be anyone else visiting. Even Seaford and company left citing pressing business elsewhere, leaving the royal family and their two remaining guests alone for the evening. They chatted for a while over coffee and brandy, before the King and the crown prince excused themselves to go off about their own business. That left the Princess Anne and Mike to entertain themselves as best they could. Jenks had vanished somewhere, feeling it safe to leave Mike in the company of the Princess Royal.

Princess Anne nibbled her lower lip, looking at the door of the sitting room, then at Mike. “Um… how long would it be proper, and within the bounds of decorum before we can say goodnight and go upstairs to our separate bedrooms?” She asked, her hungry eyes locked on Mike.

“Well, your Royal Highness, that would depend on several factors,” he started to say, “especially if you take into account where we are, your father, and…” Was all he managed to say before Anne’s lips were locked on his the moment she landed in his lap, and her
…oh shut up and kiss me you fool...
was lost in the rustle of her satin dress and sighs of contentment.

“Yes, ma’am,” he managed to say as they came up for air before she silenced him again with her lips. In the end, they disengaged, and a few moments later, after straightening their clothes, walked out of the room as if nothing had happened. As they ascended in the lift, Princess Anne coughed softly.

“Did you know, Mr.Tregallion, that even after all these years, I sometimes get lost in this building?”

“Is that so, milady?”

“Oh yes, several times I’ve ended up in the wrong bed.”

“You don’t say. How um… unfortunate for the person occupying the bed.”

“Yes, it is, I supposed, but then again, one bed is much the same as any other bed in the palace,” she remarked.

“I shall have to check my bed carefully before I go to sleep, just in case you happen to be in the wrong room.”

“Yes, you should.” Both smiled as the lift reached the fourth floor, and Mike graciously kissed her hand and bid her good night.

Mike took his time, and carefully removed the skin mask and his disguise, as he’d need it tomorrow, thankful to get out of it. He took a moment to unseal the ornate envelope containing the Letter of Marque and briefly read it.

Letter of Marque

(1. Thomas Bradford, Baronet, (Minister of Defense, Commander in Chief of all His Majesty’s Forces) Admiral Rawlings (Admiral of the Fleet) Richard Windsor (King Richard IV of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and its Commonwealth).

To (2. Michael Bear) Captain Michael Bear, Esq. Greetings.

Whereas the (3. King Louis Philippe) King Emperor of the Sirrien Empire, dated at Nueva Versailles the 20th of April 2265, commanded his respective Governors in Nueva Versailles to publish and make War against our Sovereign Lord the King in these Parts.

And Whereas (4. Captain General) Charles Phillippe Prince of the Realm, Bayona de Villa Nueva, Commander in Chief of all His King Emperors Forces, hath executed the same, and lately in the most hostile and barbarous manner landed his men on numerous worlds, and entered a small way into the country, firing all the houses they came at, killing or taking prisoners all the inhabitants they could meet with; and where as the rest of the Governors in these Parts have granted Commissions for executing the like hostility against us, and are diligently gathering Forces together to be sent to other major star systems, and from thence as the most opportune place to be transported for a thoro' Invasion and final conquest (as they hope) of this system.

In discharge of the great trust which His Gracious Majesty hath placed in me, I do by virtue of full Power and Authority of such cases from His Royal Highness, Richard Windsor – King Richard III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and its Commonwealth, His Majesty’s Lord High Admiral, derived unto me, and out of the great confidence I have in the good conduct, courage, and fidelity of you the said Captain Michael Bear, Esq. to be Commander in chief of all the Ships, and other Vessels now fitted, or which hereafter shall be fitted for the public Service and defense of this star system, and also of the Officers, Soldiers, and Seamen, which are, or shall be put upon the same, requiring you to use your best endeavors to get the vessels into one Body or Fleet, and to cause them to be Well man’d, fitted, armed, and victualled, and by the first opportunity permitting, to put to Space for the Guard and Defence of this and other star systems, and of all vessels trading to or about the same; and in order thereunto to use your best endeavors to surprise, take, damage, disperse, and destroy all the enemies ships or vessels which shall come within your view.

And also for preventing the intended Invasion against this place, you are hereby further authorized and required, in the case that you and your Officers in your Judgment find it possible, or feasible to destroy any and all warships and ports, and orbiting stations or any other place belonging to the Enemies, where you shall be informed that Magazines and Stores for this War are laid up, or where any rendezvous for their forces to embody are appointed and there to use your best endeavors for the seizing the said Stores, and to take, kill, and disperse the said Forces.

And all Officers, Soldiers, and Seaman, who are or shall be belonging to or embarqued upon the said vessels are hereby strictly enjoined both by space and Land, to obey you as their Commander in chief of in all things as be cometh there and you yourself are to observe and follow all such orders as you shall from time to time receive from His most excellent Majesty, His Royal Highness, or persons so designated to act in my stead.

Signed this 8 day of June in the year of our lord, 2265.

Richard Rex.

The King was right; this rather long-winded and archaically worded document gave him carte blanche to do whatever his wanted in the King’s name. It was some responsibility, especially seeing that he only had one ship at the moment. Mike smiled at the archaic wording, suspecting they’d dug up and used an old ‘Letter of Marque’ as the template for this one. After that, he undressed and took a long hot shower, and wrapping a towel around his waist he padded silently into the darkened bedroom. It was no surprise to find someone else already occupying his bed, and dropping the towel, slid in beside her.

“Well, Well, Well. It would appear your ladyship has lost her way again,” he whispered

“I know. How silly of me,” was all she managed to say before Mike found her lips with his. Like Gramps was fond of saying
…there’s a time for talking and a time for doing…
Mike got to doing.

Several hours later, they lay snuggled together resting. Anne looked at Mike’s face, the outline softened by the moonlight streaming in the window. “So that’s what you do to poor lost maidens who happen to get into the wrong bed.” She giggled very unladylike. Hearing that, Mike let out a soft laugh.

“It’s rather like the old English folk song, m’lady.”

“Which one?’ Mike began to hum the tune, but she didn’t recognize it until he started singing very softly.

♫When I was a bachelor, I liv'd all alone
I worked at the weaver's trade
and the only, only thing that I ever did wrong
was to woo a fair young maid.

I wooed her in the wintertime
and in the summer, too
and the only, only thing that I did that was wrong
was to save her from the foggy, foggy dew.

One night she came to my bedside
when I lay fast asleep.
She laid her head upon my bed
and she began to weep.

She sighed, she cried, she damn near died
She said what shall I do?
So I hauled her into bed and covered up her head
Just to save her from the foggy foggy dew.

So, I am a bachelor, I live with my son
and we work at the weaver's trade.
And every single time that I look into his eyes,
He reminds me of that fair young maid.

He reminds me of the wintertime
and of the summer, too,
and of the many, many times that I held her in my arms…….
Just to save her from the foggy…. foggy…. dew.♫

Anne dived under the covers to muffle her laughter. “You’re a bad man, Mike Gray,” she said, peeking out from under the covers.

“Me! What did I do?” He chuckled.

“Because, every time I hear the word ‘maid’, I’m going to start giggling.” She giggled again. “See what I mean.”

“Not if someone is kissing you.” And he did.

It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that Anne left the warmth of Mike’s arms and bed and tiptoed to her bedroom, slipping between the cold sheets with a sigh of regret, wishing she could stay with Mike, and to say to hell with pretending, but she knew she couldn’t. Her father knew, as did her maid and one of the pages, but as far as anyone else was concerned, including Seaford and the rest, they thought it was just a romance. As she drifted back to sleep, she wished for the day when she could make this public and tell the whole wide world that Michael Tregallion-Gray was her lover and husband to be.

Humming to himself, Mike brushed his salt and pepper hair, thinking about Max. His hair was still a dark blond and not salt and pepper, like Max. Mike had toned his hair because people here on Earth expected a one hundred and fifty year old man to look one hundred and fifty years old. Thankfully, Max would never see this parody of himself, and knowing how grumpy he got sometimes, that might be a good thing. He applied the skin mask and made sure it was in place before walking into the bedroom, still humming
foggy, foggy dew
, to himself and smiling.

“You sound chipper this morning, Skipper,” Jenks called as he moved around tidying things up as usual.

“You sound decidedly happy this morning as well,” he replied as he walked in wearing nothing but his underwear. Jenks held up the padded under suit, and with a frown of displeasure, Mike put it on.

“Yes, it is a bright morning this morning, isn’t it, Skipper.”

“Where did you vanish too before dinner, by the way?”

“Oh that. Well, you were off the hob knobbing with the King and all, so I thought I’d nip down to the kitchen and have a bite to eat with the downstairs folk is all.”

“Pull the middle one, it’s got a bell on it,” Mike growled, “What else did you get up to?”

“Who me?” Jenks sounded a little outraged, then smiled, “Well, I did meet this rather nice lady downstairs who offered me a place to lay my weary head, so I took her up on it.”

“I just bet you did,” he laughed. “I’d better finish getting dressed. We are expected down for breakfast, and this time, my old son, you will be there. That’s an order.” Jenks smiled and wiped a fake tear away from his eye.

“My dear old mum would be so proud. Me having breakfast with the King. How about that… Oh! You think we should tell Taffy about this. You know he’s going to go on about it for ages.”

“We’ll live with it. Where's my jacket?”

Mike wasn’t the only one humming this morning, and Mary, her maid said so. ”You sound happy this morning, my Annie. Not like your usual moody self.”

“I’m not moody… just a little preoccupied with something,” she grinned.

“So tell Mary what you have been up to then.”

“Need you ask when that man is in the house… Oh, wait. You don’t know.” Mary looked startled.