“But why an American girl?” she asks me. “Why not a good Polovian girl?”
I laugh and grin at her. “She’s great, mother. You’ll like her.”
“Did she agree?”
“Not yet,” I admit. “But she will.”
“Careful, Nolan. American girls aren’t like girls from around here. They’re not impressed by fancy titles.”
“I think you’re right about that,” I say, smiling to myself. “But maybe I like that about her.”
“Don’t get too attached,” my mother warns. “You’re in for a war. You can’t afford distractions.”
I nod and drink my vodka. “You’re right about that.” I stand up and put the glass back on the tray.
“I’m glad you’re back,” she says. “Things haven’t been the same at court since you left. And I’m sure your father is happy about it, too.”
“Is he?” I ask her. “I doubt it.”
“Your father loves you,” she says, a little exasperated. She’s been in the middle of our relationship for a very long time, and I’m sure she’s sick of it. “Even if he loves you in his own way. He wants what’s best for you, like I do.”
“I’m sure,” I say, and turn toward the door. “I’ll come visit again soon. I want to go see Andrew about drawing up some papers.”
She smiles and nods, standing. “Good luck with the girl,” she says.
“Thanks, mother.”
I open the door and leave. That went better than expected. I honestly thought she would try and talk me out of it.
I have an ominous feeling as I pass through the halls. My mother clearly thinks something is going on with Julian, something she doesn’t like, and she’s willing to let me make a political marriage if that means I can combat whatever it is he’s doing. It must be bad if she wouldn’t even talk about it to me. I’m going to have to do some research and get to the bottom of it.
I stop outside of Andrew’s door and knock loudly. I don’t wait for him to respond before pushing open the door and stepping inside.
He looks up from his desk with a frown. “I have no privacy in this place,” he mutters.
“I need your help,” I say to him.
“Of course you do.” He sighs and leans back. “What’s up, Nolan?”
“I need you to draw up a marriage contract for me.”
He stares at me for a second before laughing loudly. He shakes his head and stretches. “Okay, good one,” he says. “I needed a good laugh. What’s up, really?”
“I’m serious,” I say, sitting down in the chair across from his desk. “I need you to set up a marriage contract. Standard mistress terms, but we’ll actually marry.”
The smile on his face slowly falls. “You’re not joking?”
“Not at all. I’m going to marry that cute American maid, Hazel.”
“Do you even know her last name?” he asks me.
I hesitate. “No,” I admit.
“What are you up to?”
I grin at him. “I’m playing the political game.”
He sighs and strokes his chin. “You think getting a wife will help?”
“And an heir,” I say.
“A wife and a kid.” He shakes his head again. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
“I’m growing up, I guess,” I say, grinning huge.
“Okay then. I can write up the contract. But did the girl agree?”
“Not yet,” I say. “But she will soon.”
“Right, of course. Since women can’t resist you.”
“Exactly.” I cock my head at him. “By the way. I heard some whispering about Julian and his creepy agenda.”
Andrew’s frown deepens. “Who told you?”
“My mother,” I say, though I don’t tell him that she didn’t go into details.
“It’s some bad shit,” Andrew says. “It’s all rumor and hearsay at this point, but man, I know guys in Julian’s office. And I think the rumors are true.”
“How can he do it?” I ask him, hedging a little bit.”
“I don’t know,” he admits. “There haven’t been social purity laws since… hell, the fucking dark ages.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “Purity laws?” I ask him, a slight whisper.
He hesitates. “Shit,” he says. “You didn’t know.”
“My mother mentioned something dark, but fucking hell, Andrew.”
He groans. “Nobody is supposed to know. It’s not even real yet.”
“But if it could possibly be real, this can’t stand.”