He blew out a breath. “It depends on a lot of other factors. If she’s blackmailing him, she could go to prison for years. If he’s paying her off, and it seems someone is, he could be forced to abdicate.”
She tried to let that sink in. “Your father could be forced to abdicate?”
“It’s possible, but I have no idea how probable.”
Esme held out some paperwork to him. “That may change how I deal with this.”
Gabe took it from her. “What is it?”
“The new treaty. I compared it to the most recent version he’d been working on with my mother, and they’re not remotely similar. The other one was quite fair, though your father tried to get the upper hand in a few things, and my mother wouldn’t let him. Negotiations weren’t done yet. This treaty is quite one-sided.”
A sardonic smirk appeared on Gabe’s face. “That sounds like my father. Always trying to get the upper hand no matter who he has to walk over or what other countries he has to offend. Apparently, he’s also willing to break his wedding vows and keep a child hidden.”
As he read the papers she’d handed him, Esme bit her bottom lip. Was he his father’s son? Given his history, and now his father’s, was Gabe predisposed to cheat on her when the opportunity arose?
“I won’t.” He didn’t look up.
“You won’t what?”
“I won’t cheat on you.”
“How did you...”
He looked up to meet her eyes. “I know you. I understand your concern and why you would wonder, but I won’t. I swear to you. I will always be faithful.”
She simply nodded. “Then what are you going to do about your father and this new half-sister?”
“Contact Daniel, my former head of security, and have him start looking into it.”
“Why him?”
“His brother is a high-ranking member of the Auverinonian Bureau of Investigation. Between the two of them, they have access to almost everything and know how to do their jobs without anyone else finding out what they’re looking into.”
“Can you get to them without anyone else knowing? Would any phone calls be recorded?”
“I have Daniel’s personal cell phone number. I’ll call him when he’s off duty. We have codes I can use to let him know I need to discuss something on a secure line. I’d rather do it in person, but I don’t know if that can be arranged soon enough.”
A reminder sounded on her phone. “I need to get back. Would you look over the treaty and let me know what you think?”
He nodded. “Of course. But don’t sign this. Whatever you do. Make sure you get some major concessions from him.”
Esme wondered if she’d be negotiating another one with her brother-in-law before long. She’d been wheeled to her office from their apartment, but the walk from her office to Gabe’s wasn’t long enough to require the chair. In another day or so, she’d insist on no wheelchair for any of it.
Her route didn’t take her through the outer office, something she was glad for. Sometimes people were waiting there, people she’d rather not see until she was already in her office. On her home territory as it were.
When she reached her office, there was a message from Jared to let him know when she’d returned. Once seated at her desk, Esme pressed the button on her phone.
“Emmett Wray is here to see you, ma’am.”
Esme closed her eyes and prayed for patience. “What is it in regard to?”
“He won’t tell anyone but you. Says it’s a private matter.”
There wouldn’t be any witnesses to the conversation. “Send him in, but only for a few minutes.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll send him in.”
A moment later, he was in her office. Esme stood behind her desk but didn’t come out from behind it. “Good morning, Mr. Wray.”
He bowed, a full bow at the waist. “Good morning, Your Majesty.”
He definitely wanted something from her. Something he didn’t think she would be inclined to give him and was trying to butter her up.
Esme motioned to one of the chairs across from her desk. “What can I do for you today?”
Emmett sat down, looking far more confident than he likely had a right to. “I need a favor, Esme.”
It took a great deal of self-control, but she managed not to raise an eyebrow at him or question his familiarity.
“For old times’ sake.”
Esme couldn’t believe he thought she owed him anything based on the way things ended between them. She didn’t respond but waited for him to go on.
“I made a mistake a few years ago. I shouldn’t have done it. I knew I shouldn’t do it, but I did anyway.”
She continued to wait, knowing he’d go on eventually.
“I paid some of my landscapers in cash. Under the table, as it were.”
There it was. Such a thing could preclude him from being chairman, and possibly remove him from the council for a period of time, depending on a variety of factors, including the amount of money involved.
When she still didn’t say anything, he went on. “I could really use a pardon. A blanket one even, because there were a couple of other things I thought were legal that probably weren’t.”
Esme wanted to ask him what kinds of things, but instead decided to continue to let him talk.
“I don’t think all the inspections on my house were actually done properly during the renovations. I have reason to believe one of my contractors paid off the inspectors.” He leaned forward, suddenly looking less confident. “I didn’t have anything to do with it, of course, but since it was my building, I’m afraid they may try to come after me as well should it get out.”
With a slow nod, Esme finally responded. “If I understand correctly, you would like a blanket pardon in case some of the things done by others, on your behalf but without your knowledge, comes back to haunt you?”
Relief flooded his face. “Exactly. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Esme held up a hand. “I didn’t say I was going to. I simply asked for clarification.”
“But you will, won’t you?”
She stood. “I will consider it. Come see me again in a week, and we’ll discuss it further.” Her answer was already set, but she wanted to see what he would do, how he would try to convince her.
And maybe see if there was anything to some of the other claims. That would certainly give him cause to want a blanket pardon.
Emmett stood and bowed again, even more deeply than the last one. “Thank you, Queen Esmeralda. I know you’ll do the right thing.”
Esme simply smiled. She had an idea that her thoughts about what the right thing was and his weren’t going to align.
* * *
After a conversation with Daniel, Gabe felt much more confident that things would be taken care of properly. He never doubted Daniel’s loyalty or ability to get things done, but Gabe felt much better having talked to him.
When he sat down for dinner with Esme, he could tell she was preoccupied. “Did something happen this afternoon?” he asked as they started their main course.
She told him about an unexpected meeting with Emmett and his request of her.
The whole thing put Gabe in a foul mood. “Does he really think you’ll do it? Are you considering it?”
She shook her head. “It’s highly unlikely. I put him off for a week, hoping there would be evidence of working with Isaiah.
“Those kinds of investigations can take months, love. It will likely be a long while before it’s complete.”
“I know, but I was hoping. They’ve already been investigating since summer. Chairman Franklin seems to think they could have something soon.”
“It’s possible, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up.” In the report Gabe had seen, there were indications of getting close, but not that close. Not yet.
There was something more going on with her, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was, and he doubted she would tell him. He had to ask anyway. �
��What else is bothering you? My father?”
“Somewhat.”
“Don’t put up with the treaty he sent you. Don’t even reply to it. Make edits to the one he’d already negotiated with your mother and use it as a starting point.”
“I am. My lawyers are working on it right now.”
“He just wants to take advantage of your youth. Don’t let him.”
She shook her head. “I’m not going to. I already talked to Edward, too. He’ll back me up if your father pushes it. I’m sure Benjamin will, as well, if it comes to that.” With a sigh, she pushed her food around. “How is it that Edward is the only father in the Quad Countries worth anything?”
Gabe speared a bite with his fork. “I think Alfred probably was, too, but he died too young for us to know that. At least we all still have Edward when we need him.” He debated telling her about the conversation he’d had with Edward before going in to meet with her and her mother on the day their engagement was announced but decided it could wait for another time. “I’ve talked to him more than once, too.”
“He even offered to walk me down the aisle. If my father had been dead, I probably would have let him, but it was a poor substitute for a man who just didn’t want to be there.” Esme looked straight at him. “I couldn’t believe you met me midway.”
Did he admit he barely thought about it before doing it? “I didn’t want you walking alone when we were about to become us. You weren’t alone anymore, and I wanted you to know that. Really, it was a gut reaction.”
He could see the gears turning in her head. “What?”
“What about your sister? Who will walk her down the aisle?”
Gabe hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Maybe her mother will meet a guy who steps up to be her father. It wouldn’t be hard to find someone better than my father.”
He could almost see that thought tumbling over in her head for a couple of bites. “Does it bother you that he has a child he never sees? Who likely doesn’t know who her father is and has no idea that she has two older brothers?”
An odd ache appeared in the center of Gabe’s chest. “Yes, it bothers me. On several levels, though I haven’t really considered all of them yet.”
“Which levels?”
“All of those. Right now, all I’ve spent much time thinking about are the political ramifications and how my mother will feel when she finds out.”
“Are you sure she doesn’t already know?”
That was a question Gabe hadn’t considered.
“It seems unlikely this is his only indiscretion in the last thirty years,” she continued. “Is it possible she has no idea?”
“Anything is possible, but you’re probably right. She probably at least suspects he’s cheated on her more than once. Whether or not she knows about the child is a whole other question.”
He thought about it while he took a couple of bites of his dinner. “I’m inclined to think she doesn’t. I don’t remember a change in their relationship or their interactions with one another in the last few years. I’d think there would have been, if she knew.”
“Could there be other children? Maybe she already knew about them and has accepted that if she wants to be queen then it’s part of the package?”
“That’s a possibility.” It did fit with what he knew of his mother. Her desire to be queen was what led her to his father’s university in the first place, in hopes they’d meet and fall in love.
Sometimes he wondered what they ever saw in each other. They might not be a Charles and Diana, but they weren’t Elizabeth and Philip either.
“Does it bother you that you could have been this child’s father? If things had gone the way you both thought they would that night?”
She studiously avoided looking at him.
Gabe had thought about that. “Yes and no. I’m glad I didn’t become a father years ago. I’m glad there’s not a child out there that’s mine, but I didn’t know existed. I’m extremely glad I won’t have children with anyone but you, but I am sorry she has the father she does.”
“If I can have children,” she muttered.
He blinked. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s not nothing, Esme.”
She wiped her mouth on her napkin before setting it on the table. “Then nothing I want to talk about.” Pushing her chair away, she stood. “I think I’m going to get some rest. It’s been a trying day.”
Gabe stood halfway up, but she was gone before he could make it all the way. Her words echoed in his head. What did she mean and how could he make it better?
27
Esme stared at the file folder. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Chairman Franklin looked satisfied but not pleased.
“Absolutely sure?” She had to know.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Esme closed the folder and set it on her desk. “Then we need to make the arrest. Quietly. There’s no reason to make it front page news until it has to be.”
“Of course. We don’t want it to be a spectacle, at least not any more than necessary.”
“It will be before long.” She sighed. “The arrest details are a matter of public record.”
“Unless...” Chairman Franklin turned something over in his head. “If it’s classified as treason, it can be kept quiet for a while longer. Those records are sealed until a judge releases them.”
“Is it truly treason?” A question Esme had been struggling with for the last several days. “I wasn’t queen.”
“No, but you were the heir apparent.” Chairman Franklin hesitated. “You could make the argument Prince Gabriel was already your fiancé which would make it more of an offense.”
Esme glanced up in surprise. “The Council knows about the treaty?”
“Yes, ma’am. Your mother spoke of it to us earlier this summer. Looking back, it was likely after her diagnosis, and she wanted to prepare us for the announcement she hoped would be forthcoming.”
“Which means Emmett - Mr. Wray - knew I was to marry Gabriel?” She needed to know the whole story. Had he known years earlier Gabriel was the one she was supposed to marry someday? Or had she left it vague, only telling him she would have to marry for political reasons? If she had, it could have been any number of young men who were to have been her future husband.
“Yes, he did.”
“Did he know my mother was dying?”
That question caused the chairman to hesitate. “I’m not certain. I knew she was ill, but I’m not certain if he was among the members who had been briefed prior to the hostage situation or not.”
The answer to that question could change everything. “Before we order the arrest, find out what he knew about my mother’s health. If he knew, there’s no question it was treason. He knew I would be queen soon. He knew Gabriel and I would be married. Even if the intent of the incursion was not to harm me or Gabriel, there was always the possibility. I am quite certain some of our allies would be interested in charging him as well.”
“If they are able to under international law and our treaties with them. Though the crimes were committed against their royal families, they all happened in Islas del Sargasso.”
“Unless he was abroad when he contacted Isaiah.” Esme put the folder through a slot in the safe behind her. “Continue investigating those aspects but continue to keep it quiet. If word starts to get out, make the arrest. It won’t matter then. If there aren’t any leaks before he’s arrested, when he does disappear, the story will be picked up quickly, but the lack of public record will help.”
“Yes, ma’am. I believe that is the best course of action at this point.” Chairman Franklin stood. “If I can be of any further assistance, please be sure to let me know.”
“I will. Thank you.” She stood as the chairman left her office.
Over the last couple of weeks, he had become her biggest ally. He’d been relentless in his pursuit of the truth about the leak in the Counc
il. Once this arrest was made, it seemed likely a judge would sign off on the exhumation of Emmett’s father to determine if there had been foul play. The timing was too coincidental to avoid further scrutiny.
They were now certain Emmett Wray was the leak. The question had become how much did he know about her mother’s health and Esme’s future and when. That would determine how it was handled and what the potential consequences would be.
She’d managed to put off another meeting with Emmett, thereby avoiding his questions about the pardon. He wouldn’t dare put those kinds of details in writing.
A quick knock on one of the side doors caught Esme’s attention as she sat back down. “Come in,” she called.
Gabe walked through the door leading to his office. Things had been cool, sometimes bordering on frosty, between them since the evening they’d discussed his half-sister. They ate dinner together every night, but conversation remained stilted.
“I got a call from Daniel.” Gabe didn’t wait for an invitation to sit in one of the chairs on the other side of the desk.
“What did he have to say?”
It couldn’t be good. Esme knew that from the weariness that had settled around Gabe like a cloak. “My parents both know about the girl and have since before her birth.”
Esme’s heart ached for Gabe and his brother. “I’m so sorry.”
“My father has been paying her off out of his personal funds, but for years my mother was also paying her to keep quiet. That money came from her accounts, but not always the personal ones.”
Many royal families had access to both private fortunes and public funds. The public funds were to be used solely for certain purposes - official travel, paying certain official employees, things of that nature. Private holidays or personal staff beyond the publicly funded members had to be paid from the private funds. Mixing of the two was never to happen.
Most of the time, a genuine accidental error could be fixed by repaying the public funds along with a small fine. However, abuse of the funds was a different matter entirely. His mother could likely be arrested and even jailed for the matter, though it could be handled quietly if the prosecutor wanted to. His father likely couldn’t pardon her for it either.
The Spare and the Heir Page 21