Princess Rescue Inc (112 page)

“Next
time it's your turn to save me. How about that?” he asked. She gave a watery
chuckle at that. “Honest, you’re the one with sword fighting skills,” he teased.
She chuckled a little at that.

“I
love you Deidra, and you know I'd never do anything to hurt you like that,” he
said. Fresh sobs broke over her. She dug in with a will; crying then the sobs
began to ebb.

“I
love you too,” she murmured into his shoulder. He chuckled.

“What
was that? I didn't hear it. Sounded kinda muffled,” he teased. She looked up.

“You
heard me,” she said as his chest rumbled again. He smiled down to her, stroking
her cheek again.

“Yeah,
I did,” he murmured softly. She heard a rumble of a different sort and then
giggled. “Seems like someone else is putting in a demand for attention.” He
chuckled.

“Breakfast?”
she asked smiling and dashing tears.

“I
thought you'd never ask. I've got to keep up my strength while I'm around you.
Heaven knows I'll
need
it,” he chuckled. She smiled a wan smile then
patted his leg. “Come on dear, we've got some feeding to do,” he cajoled and
smiled. “Something told me tonight is going to come faster than ever.” She
threw her head back and laughed at that.

  <==={}------------>

Later
that morning he caught sight of her as the maid helped her with her hair. She
was wearing a classic sun dress... classic for western wear on good old Earth.
It looked like she'd been in a lot of the archives. The ladies had been playing
with gaijin fashion in the summer but had kept it prudish. This was a lot more
daring, something he hadn't expected. It was a bit cool to be wearing it
though; he could see certain parts of her sticking up a little under the tight
bodice.

“I
see what you mean about new outfits,” he murmured behind her as the maid left.
He kissed the nape of her neck, hands on her shoulders. She preened, smiling at
his touch.

“I
thought you'd like it,” she smiled up at him then held up a graceful hand. He
took it and helped her to her feet. She turned, twirling the hem of the dress.
“See? It even has matching shoes.” She pointed a shoe covered toe. It was
white, a form of pump he supposed, and most men weren't experts on women's
footwear after all.

“Nice.
I noticed the buckles and stuff.” His hands wandered to one. She dimpled,
batting the naughty hand away with a gurgle.

“Down
boy. Save it for later. You'll need it,” she growled. She leered over her
shoulder as she walked off. She saw his appreciative look and strutted, wiggling
an eyebrow. “Coming?” she asked huskily. He nodded dumbly. “Well? Come on!” she
waved impatiently. He chuckled and followed, enjoying the view.

  <==={}------------>

“That's
an... interesting outfit you’re wearing this morning daughter,” the Queen said
eying the dress. “Quite... fetching my dear.” she said almost choking it out.
Zara hid a giggle with her napkin. She was already planning to steal it the
moment it was off.

“Well
I think it's just lovely! I can't wait to steal... I mean borrow it,” Zara said
with a smirk. Deidra gave her a mock glower. Zara stuck her tongue out at her.

“Girls,
girls! Honestly. How many times have I told you to act as ladies of good
breeding and stature!” Nana said from behind them both.

“Sorry
Nana,” the girls replied, shoulders hunched but obviously not repentant at all.
They grinned conspiratorially to each other as the weak eyed old woman came
around to see them.

“Why
good heavens! What is this? Child what on this... what is that?” Nana pointed
to the sun dress. Deidra smiled.

“Why
this? It's a gaijin sun dress Nana, I had it copied from the files. It's
something worn on Earth in the summer,” she replied getting a bite of her eggs
and chewing. She tried to hide her smile. They'd made them earlier in the
summer but this was the first time the old woman had seen her wearing the
dress.

“She's
right,” Ryans said as Nana's glower turned on him full force. He shrugged.
“It's actually quite beautiful even though it's not summer anymore,” he said.
“She's even got matching...” Deidra turned a glower on him. He gave a discrete
cough. “Never mind,” he said weakly.

“Yeah.
I'd shut up too before that foot went all the way down your throat,” Sue said
sweetly from the other side of the table. He gave her a glower then rolled his
eyes as the diminutive nanny turned her glare back on Deidra.

“It's
quite comfortable Nana; it's made with our silk. I've got two more being made
in different colors and necklines, and several other outfits,” Deidra said. She
smiled to her mother the Queen then to the nanny. “After all, we of the royal
house do need to set an example. Set new trends and not just follow them. Isn't
that what you've always said to us?”

The
Queen gave her daughter a long look then smiled a small smile. She gave Nana a
look then a minute shrug. “She does have a point.”

“Hoisted
on your own petard,” Sue said smiling as she took a bite. Ryans chuckled, then
instantly sobered as the nanny glower turned to him once more.

“This
is your fault; you’re the one who's leading this sweet child astray! Well, I
won't have it!” she snarled. Her voice rose in volume.

“That
is quite enough of that,” the Queen said quietly but firmly. The nanny turned
to her, closed her mouth then bowed.

“My
apologies mum. I seem to be overwrought with emotion this morning.”

“Indeed.
Why don't you take the morning off Nana? That's a good woman.” The Queen gave a
gracious nod as the nanny bowed and withdrew.

“She
does have a point though ladies. Don't make too much haste bringing about
change or it'll be your own undoing,” the Queen cautioned. She grimaced as she
took a sip of juice. “Change is good; it brings new life, and increases our
chances of survival on this world.” She turned an eye to the gaijin and then
back to the girls. “But there are those who would cling to the past, who will
fight tooth and nail to keep it. Tread carefully where they're concerned.”

“Walk
in the center of the path, not to the sides,” Zara said nodding.

Her
mother nodded. “Exactly. We must be ever vigilant to both sides for those
waiting for an opening... we must appear open and honest, but have the means to
fight off attackers... or retreat when necessary.”

“Yeah...
good luck with that,” Ryans rose, gulping his drink. “Sorry ladies, I've got to
go, Perry just called.” He walked off as the others stared.

Sue
shrugged as she put her fork down. “I should be going as well. I've got a to
work on the clinic we're opening tomorrow. Will you be there for the opening
your majesty?” she asked, turning to the Queen.

The
Queen shook her head. “Duties require me elsewhere unfortunately,” she sighed.
She nodded to Zara. “I believe Zara is to attend though.”

Zara
smiled politely and nodded, taking a bite of a fruit. Juices dribbled and she
caught them with a napkin. “I'll be there. If Nana doesn't take her ire for sis
here out on me,” she said giving Deidra a look.

“Somehow
you'll survive. You always do,” Deidra said with a smile. She nodded as Sue
rose. “I'll try to put in an appearance too if that's okay. If I've got the
time,” she said wryly.

“Gee
thanks,” Zara said with a snort.

“Just
doing our duty to the people,” Deidra smiled mock sweetly at her sister.

Sue
hastily retreated before hearing the next barb fly.

  <==={}------------>

Serena
sighed in pure jealousy over Deidra's latest salvo. On the one hand she was
intently jealous over the outfits. They were beautiful and quite daring. On the
other hand though, she smiled slightly. The princess was giving her plenty of
things to scandalize the older lords and ladies with. She listened to them
gossip and shook her head. Truth be told she and quite of a few of the younger
ladies would love to be wearing something like that. Most of the anger over the
princess' antics weren't out of being scandalized, so much as jealousy over not
thinking of it first. At least with the fashion obsessed crowd.

Most
of the lords had taken a recess in the constitutional discussion to check that
their homes were preparing for the winter properly. Many were now returning to
get some time to talk and form alliances before the convention reconvened. She,
like her husband, was using this time to their best advantage, building up a
network of alliances and strengthening them while subtly undermining the Queen.

She
chuckled softly as lady Pettigrew drew herself up in riotous wrath. Yes, Serena
thought as the fat fool started to harangue the princess' dress, this was going
well. Well indeed.

  <==={}------------>

Deidra
smiled at herself in the looking glass. Max had mentioned they could make full
length ones someday. She hoped it was soon. She touched up her hair, looking
this way and that then got up.

She
brushed errant threads from her lap and then stretched. She was wearing another
new outfit, one that was as much a Terran invention as it was one from the
Kingdom. Or at least something the stuck in the muds could better accept. She
tweaked her breast line a little and then ran her hands along her slim waist.

“Hey
that's my job,” Ryans' voice murmured in her ear. She smiled as she felt his
hands on her sides then on her hips. “I see you're keeping the royal tailors
busy again. Nice. A bit of Faith Hill, and a bit of Kingdom all rolled into
one.”

She
turned, smiling. “Is that where Ginger got the idea from?” she asked, hands
going around his waist.

“Maybe.
Looks good on you though,” he smiled. Her long sleeve black blouse was made of
Kingdom silk. The sleeves had deep scoops trimmed in ruffled white silk. Of
course she was wearing her bell bottom denim jeans.

“The
garment district is doing brisk business now that we have a couple of power
loom factories up and a couple of sewing machines up,” she said smiling.

“Ah?”
he asked, smiling.

“Denim
of course,” she explained. He nodded. “The silk has proven extremely delicate
and hard to handle.”

“Heard
about that. Max said the loom was over powered and made quite a snarl,” Ryans
replied with a nod.

Deidra
frowned. Yes, she'd hoped the silk would be adaptable to the looms and
stitching machines but not everything worked out so well in the first try.
“Yes. The silk is strong but it stretches before it breaks.” She shook her
head. “Mother had me try to make a silk scarf once. I bollocked it.”

“bollocked
huh?” he asked, seeing her blush. He chuckled softly as she poked him. Her eyes
glittered and her hands began a savage attack on his ribs.

“Hey
that's not fair!” he said, squirming and trying to get away. He chuckled, then
laughed as she pushed, then whooped when he fell on his ass.

She
laughed, slapping her knee. He shook his head, giving her an aggrieved look as
he rubbed his wounded pride. “Geesh! You play rough!”

She
giggled as she straddled his lap then rested her arms on his shoulders. “Poor
poor baby,” she mockingly teased, kissing his nose. “Want me to kiss it and
make it better?” she said, eyes alight as she still teased him.

“Oh
you little...” His hands retaliated, digging into her armpits. She laughed,
throwing her head back and trying to break out of his arms. He pulled her back
to him and then locked lips.

“Where
do you think you’re going?” he asked as they came up for air.

“Nowhere
it seems,” she said, feeling his hands lock behind her.

“Damn
right,” he smiled, kissing her again.

  <==={}------------>

The
farming minister paced back and forth. He was dressed in a rich red robe. A
golden sash served as a belt to rein in his enormous girth. He shook his meaty
fist at Ryans as he came in the door. “You! You sir have ruined us! Ruined!” he
howled.

Ryans
stopped, taken aback. “It's a little early in the morning for recriminations
sir. Perhaps you could explain?” he asked. The Queen gave him a look as she sat
down. Duke Pyror looked amused.

“The
fields, the surpluses!” the fat man said raising his hands. “I can't store what
we have. What's left will rot! I knew this was bad. The first harvest was too
much, but squeezing five??” he shouted. The Queen was seated nearby. Her lips
pursed in a thin frown of annoyance.

“Calm
yourself Siegfried,” the Duke said shaking his head. “I'm sure it's not as bad
as you're making it out to be.”

“It's
worse. Worse I tell you. I...” The man sat heavily after a moment then ran his
hands through his hair. “With the surplus there's a glut of food on the market
driving the price down. Far down. It's barely worth the travel costs now to get
it to market!”

“So
they'll have to go to different markets since local ones are saturated. Again,
what's the problem?” Ryans asked.

“Other
markets?” the minister asked blinking.