My Fair Captain

by J. L. Langley

  Aiden and Trouble were both there, looking relaxed and in their own little worlds. Aiden sat on the chaise lounge, in a pair of pants and shirt, no cravat or socks and shoes—his shirt wasn’t even tucked in—sketchscreen propped on his bent knees. Trouble lounged in his pajamas on the rug in front of the fireplace, on his stomach, with his bookreader. Neither of them noticed as Nate entered the room.

  “Ahem.” Nate closed the door behind him.

  Aiden glanced up and smiled. Jeremy shushed him, waving a hand absently in the air. The brat.

  Nate took a deep breath and stepped forward. By the time he made it to the chaise, Aiden had put his sketchscreen away and was standing to meet him.

  His boy’s head cocked. “Everything okay?” Aiden wrapped his arms around Nate’s neck and kissed his cheek.

  “Yeah, everything is fine.” Nate kissed Aiden’s forehead and patted his back before turning his attention to Trouble.

  Trouble glanced up from his reader, meeting Nate’s gaze. “Whatever it is, Hawk, I didn’t do it. I’ve been in here since you left. Ask Aiden.” He nodded and went right back to reading his book.

  Aiden chuckled. “He’s been right here the whole time you were talking to my parents.”

  “Trouble, we need to talk.”

  “I already said I’m not the guilty party,” he grumbled, turning off his reader, and flopped onto his side.

  Nate grinned. He wondered what the kid had done. Whenever Trouble professed his innocence before being accused, he’d usually done something. Sitting on the chaise Aiden had vacated, Nate looked down at Trouble.

  Aiden sat next to him, catching Nate’s hand in his. Nate loved him even more for the gesture.

  “Jeremy—”

  “Uh-oh.” Trouble sat up, crossing his legs, and gave Nate his undivided attention. “This must be serious if you are calling me Jeremy.”

  Squeezing Aiden’s hand, Nate closed his eyes and took another deep breath. Trouble had always responded best to directness. So why was Nate having such a hard time being direct? “I know who your parents were. They didn’t abandon you, they were killed. You’re Regelen, Son.”

  Aiden gasped.

  Trouble blinked several times. “Excuse me?”

  “You’re a marquis and you are from Regelence.”

  “Oh.” Trouble frowned, looking down at his lap. He sat quietly for several minutes.

  Aiden touched Nate’s arm. “How did you find this out? What family?”

  “Your sire saw the Regelence birthmark under his arm and figured it out. I’d seen yours but I didn’t make the connection. Raleigh got a DNA sample from the Lady Anna’s medical team and had it tested. His family name is Summers.”

  Aiden’s eyebrows pulled together.

  Trouble lifted his shirt and arm, looking at the birthmark. He dropped the pajama top and raised his head. “I had two fathers?”

  “Yes. Your parents were Marquis and Marquis-Consort of Winstol. I don’t know the specifics.”

  Trouble nodded. “Thank you for telling me. Do you think maybe Raleigh would tell me more about them before we go back to the ship?”

  Now for the part Nate was dreading. “He said that he would, whenever you’re ready to talk about it, but—” Nate glanced over at Aiden, reminding himself why he’d made this decision.

  Aiden smiled and squeezed his hand, offering his support.

  “We aren’t going back to the Lady Anna.”

  “What?” Trouble glared and jumped to his feet. He positioned himself in front of Nate, hands on his hips. “What do you mean we aren’t going back?”

  “You are heir to a title and I’m being promoted to admiral.”

  “What? Admiral?” Trouble smiled for a brief second, then the scowl returned. “I don’t want to stay on this tight-assed, uptight, prissy planet.” He started pacing back and forth, shaking his head and grumbling under his breath.

  Nate had known Trouble wasn’t going to make this easy on him. He looked up, gathering his thoughts, then back at his son.

  Aiden reached over, patting and rubbing the back of Nate’s hand that was held in his. “I’ll go and let the two of you talk.” He started to rise, but Nate caught him. “You’re part of this too. Stay.” Leaning over, Nate kissed Aiden’s cheek and stood. He reached out toward Trouble, but Trouble stepped away. Staying on Regelence was best for Trouble, for Aiden, hell even for him, but he hated hurting Trouble even if it was for his own good. “We have responsibilities now. You have to learn to manage your estate and—” Fuck. How was he supposed to tell the kid about Rexley?

  Stopping, Trouble turned and jabbed his finger at Nate. “Don’t you tell me about responsibilities and managing estates. You skipped out on your own inheritance—”

  Nate froze. It felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. Staring at Trouble, he tried not to let on how much that had stung. “That was completely different. I shot someone, I had to leave to protect father’s honor.”

  Throwing his hands in the air, Trouble let them fall to his side with a slap. “Well, if that is the only problem, where’d I leave my gun?” He glanced around the room like he was searching for something.

  Trouble’s accusation was said in desperation, but it still irritated Nate. He was older and wiser and he’d learned from his bad decisions. His job was to do the best by his son and consort, and that’s what he was going to do. “Are you quite done being a smart ass?”

  “Are you quite done with this idiotic idea that we are staying here?”

  Nate growled, counting to ten under his breath.

  Grimacing, Aiden pointed nervously at the door. “I’m just going to go and—”

  “Stay!” Nate sighed. Damn it, he hadn’t meant to snap at Aiden.

  “Fuck this. As soon as I’m old enough, I’m outta here,” Trouble said.

  “Watch your mouth.” Nate still had several years to change the brat’s mind. “You can do whatever you like, when you reach your majority.” And he damned well meant by Regelence standards—age twenty-five, not eighteen—but he wasn’t going to share that information with Trouble just yet.

  Trouble raised his chin a notch. “Majority? Sounds more like a jail sentence to me.” He headed toward his bedroom door with his hands balled into fists.

  “There is one other thing.” Nate pinched the bridge of his nose, his head pounding. “When you were born, you were betrothed to Rexley.”

  Aiden gasped and stuttered, grabbing Nate’s arm. “What? You can’t let them do that. We have to stop it. It isn’t fair. Trouble and Rexley are from two different worlds, it would be a disaster. It will ruin both their lives. Nate, this has—”

  Trouble spun around. His mouth dropped open then slammed shut. He glared at Nate and Aiden. “Stay out of this, Aiden. I’m not going to be here long enough to marry the ice prince.”

  Nate was not going to stoop to Trouble’s level. He was the adult and he was going to continue to act like one. “I’ll get the betrothal annulled later.”

  “Is anyone listening to me? I’m not going to be here to marry anyone!” Trouble made an exasperated growling sound and stalked toward his door again. The ears on his bunny slippers flapped furiously, dampening his dramatic exit somewhat.

  Nate watched him go. “I’m doing this for your own good.”

  Trouble stopped at the door, snarling back over his shoulder. “Are you? Or is it for your own good?”

  Nate clenched his teeth together. He wasn’t going to get pissed. “Trouble…”

  “Nate, I am telling you I am leaving as soon as I am old enough and I am not asking for your permission on this matter.” He slammed the door to his room.

  Aiden reached up, running a hand over Nate’s beard. “Do you think he’ll be all right?”

  Nate caught Aiden’s hand and kissed it. “If we don’t kill each other first.”

  Sitting quietly behind the desk, Raleigh watched and listened. He felt guilty about Rexley being affianced to Trouble. It was his fault. Th
e contract had been signed before Rexley was born. Steven had broken his betrothal with Marcus to marry Raleigh. To atone for his and Steven’s sins, they had to sign a contract promising their heir’s hand in marriage to Winstol’s first born.

  Steven didn’t hide his guilt nearly as well as Raleigh though. Having given Rexley the entire story, Steven paced back and forth in front of the desk. Every so often he’d look up at Raleigh then shake his head before going back to pacing.

  Rexley’s reaction should have lessened their guilt, but it didn’t. It did just the opposite. Rexley was…well Rexley. He sat through the explanation perfectly still and expressionless, his amber eyes locked on to Steven, going back and forth as Steven paced. It wasn’t at all surprising. Whenever Rexley was given what he thought of as a duty or responsibility, he seemed to go into what Raleigh thought of as control mode. He would calmly assess the issue and deal with it. No temper tantrums or accusations, it wasn’t Rexley’s style.

  Raleigh felt tears welling up and his chest hurt. He desperately wanted for Rexley to be a child and have a carefree existence. A rebellion from him would almost be welcoming. He wasn’t like his brothers—he never let himself be a kid. Out of all his children Rexley worried Raleigh the most. From birth, Rexley had been raised to be king, and he’d taken that responsibility easily but he’d built up walls to keep from getting hurt. It didn’t work though, Rexley could be hurt, he just covered it well.

  Finally, Steven stopped pacing and turned to face their son. “Say something, Rexley.” Steven’s voice was gruff, like he too was close to tears.

  Rexley arched an ebony brow, looking so much like Steven. “What would you have me to say, Father? It doesn’t sound like I have any choice.” Rexley’s composure made Raleigh’s heart ache. He was such a good kid. Even as a baby he’d given Steven and Raleigh few problems.

  Leaning against the edge of the desk, Steven ran his hands down his face and groaned. “Yell at us or something.” When he set his hands back on the desk they were shaky.

  “Why?” Rexley’s brows drew together. “Ranting and raving wouldn’t change the situation, Father.” He got up from the chair and walked up to Steven, touching him on the shoulder, trying to console him. “It’s honestly not your fault, not really. You had no choice after what happened and no control over whom you would love.”

  Which was the crux of the problem. Rexley should have someone who loved him, someone he loved too. He deserved that. Raleigh blinked back tears. All of his sons deserved to have what he had with Steven, but Rexley…needed it. He wasn’t laid-back like Steven. Rexley needed someone to help him deal with the stress.

  Steven sighed, his shoulders slumping. “We’ll get you out of this, Son.”

  Rexley stepped forward and hugged Steven. He was as tall as Steven now, and looking at them together they could have been twins but for the gray at Steven’s temples and the slightly wider shoulders. He patted Steven’s back and stepped away. “Father, just let it alone for now and we’ll see what happens. I can’t say that I’ve really met him, but Muffin has and she likes him.”

  His behavior was so typical of Rexley, Raleigh smiled. Rexley would make a wonderful king. He always put others in front of himself. But it was that which bothered Raleigh the most. Rexley needed to enjoy life. He needed to do something for himself for once instead of always sacrificing for others.

  I’m not going to kill him. Aiden unclenched his fists and opened his eyes. Nate wanted him to teach Trouble how to be a marquis. That included dancing. “Trouble. Leave the cravat alone and get back over here. You are not finished.” That even sounded almost civilized for being ground out through his teeth.

  Trouble looked up at him from his place on the floor and glared. “This is stupid. I’m not dancing tomorrow night.”

  “Yes, you are. Tomorrow’s ball is to celebrate not just mine and Nate’s marriage but also Nate being promoted to Admiral. You are Nate’s son and Rexley’s betrothed. You have to make an appearance. Now, get up.” Having to shout over the music was giving Aiden a headache. Or maybe it was the situation, it was hard to tell.

  Arching a golden brow, Trouble stood. “I thought I couldn’t dance the waltz until I had some sort of come out party and bowed before the king?”

  Aiden’s jaw hurt from grinding his teeth together and he was developing the same tick Cony got in his cheek when he got mad. Oh Galaxy, he was turning into his sire. Aiden took a deep breath and reminded himself for the tenth time in the last thirty minutes that Trouble had not had it easy the past few days. He’d gained a title and a fiancé in one big swoop, not to mention having his freedom curtailed. For Aiden, finding out that Nate was taking the promotion and staying on Regelence was a blessing, but for Trouble, it seriously imploded planets. “You live under the king’s roof. Everyone will assume the king has recognized your admission into society. Therefore, you’re expected to attend such functions.” Aiden held up his arms, ready to give it another shot.

  “Just because I go to a ball, doesn’t mean I have to dance.”

  “Why are you being so difficult?” Aiden’s voice raised until the last word was practically a shout.

  “Why are you? Shouldn’t you be drawing or painting or something?”

  The twitch in Aiden’s jaw started again. “I would love to be painting or something, but instead I’m teaching you to dance.”

  “For the last time, I don’t want t—”

  Aiden grabbed Trouble’s hand and his waist, jerking him closer. He was done talking about it. Trouble was going to dance and that was that. Listening to the music, Aiden counted. One, two, three. He stepped forward but Trouble didn’t budge. They bumped heads. If he hadn’t been so aggravated, it probably would have hurt.

  Trouble staggered back. “Ow.”

  Grrr… Aiden threw his hands in the air and paced around his stepson. “Galaxy dammit! Can’t you behave for five bloody minutes? Every day for the past week I’ve taken time out of my day to try and help you fit in and this is how you repay me. I’m sick of the whining about edict classes. I don’t want to hear it anymore.” He stopped several feet in front of Trouble and let his hands fall to his sides in exasperation. “Yes, I feel sorry for you, but—”

  “I’m not cinder-fucking-rella. You can dress me up in this getup”—Trouble tugged at his cravat and waved a hand down his body—“teach me how to bow and say milord. You can even teach me to read Shakespeare sonnets but I’ll be damned if I let some old letch cart my ass around the dance floor.” Trouble fisted his hands, his teeth clenched. “What’s next, Mommy?”

  Aiden got right back in Trouble’s face, pointing his finger. “I’m not your fucking mother!” Oh yeah, he was losing it. He’d never shouted obscenities at another person before. His blood was boiling, and he was so mad he was beginning to sweat. Most people probably would have backed down, but Aiden had been putting up with this kind of behavior all week. Trouble’s constant criticism of Regelence culture was beginning to feel like a personal attack.

  Trouble stepped toward him, raising his fist.

  Aiden did the same. No way was he going to let Trouble cower him. He told Nate he’d make sure Trouble behaved and he would, even if it meant the kid showed up at the ball with a black eye.

  “Ahem.”

  Turning to blast whoever was at the door, Aiden stopped dead in his tracks. Rexley?

  “Problems, little brother?” Rexley looked at Trouble and held out a hand. “Jeremy, would you like me to teach you?”

  Aiden rolled his eyes, like that was going to work. Who did Rexley think he was? “Rexl—”

  Trouble blinked, and his lips turned up very slowly. It wasn’t a smile, but it was close. He took Rexley’s hand, staring into his eyes. “I’d love you to.”

  Holding his gaze, Rexley counted the music aloud and as one they moved together and began waltzing around the room, completely ignoring Aiden. Trouble even let Rexley lead.

  Unbelievable. Aiden stared with his mouth ajar. He wanted
to be mad at Rexley for interfering, but at the same time…

  Trouble tripped and Rexley steadied him before he fell. Instead of yelling at Rexley and telling him he had big feet, Trouble caught his balance and let Rexley guide him in the proper form. Listening intently, Trouble nodded and leaned into Rexley, letting him count and get them moving again.

  Who would have thought? Last Aiden heard Trouble was referring to Rexley as the “perky-assed Ice Prince”. They actually looked and worked very well together.

  Faltering again, Trouble frowned but quickly regained his composure. There was no yelling, just a few nods of his head when Rexley told him something. Amazing.

  Rexley stepped on Trouble’s foot while trying to turn them, and they stumbled. “I’m sorry, Jeremy.”

  Trouble beamed at him, then shrugged. “’S all right. It was my fault.”

  After that Rexley bent forward and quietly spoke directions in Trouble’s ear. The whispering looked very intimate, but Aiden decided to ignore it. This was working and that’s all Aiden cared about at the moment.

  He glanced around the empty ballroom, set up for tomorrow’s ball. It was done in red, black and white, Regelence colors. The red and black roses would be brought in tomorrow while everyone was at the ceremony, but the ribbons already decorated the railing of the balcony overlooking the ballroom and the marble columns along the perimeter of the dance floor. If Trouble could just learn to dance, tomorrow would be perfect.

  Trouble got nearer every time Rexley gave him an instruction, but Aiden disregarded that too. This could be a good thing. Nate and Father had both been determined to get Rexley and Trouble out of this betrothal, but if this was any indication of what was to come, Aiden would make sure they thought twice about it. Rexley was actually smiling. He looked…happy. It was something that had occurred less and less over the years. It made Aiden smile to see it.