was told I was getting married about six hours ago. How about you?'
'Same here. I suppose they thought if they gave us too much time to think about it, we'd run away or something.'
'They weren't far wrong,' said Robert dryly. 'This isn't at all what I thought I'd be doing when I got up this morning. If I had known, I'd have headed for the horizon so fast it would have made their heads spin. Of course, that was before I met you. I thought… well, I don't know what I thought, but you… you're all right.'
'Thanks,' said Letitia. 'You really know how to compliment a lady, don't you?'
Robert grinned. 'Well, actually, no. I've been a military cadet most of my life. It's expected for those in the Family unlikely ever to inherit. You don't get to meet many women in military training. How about you? Did you have anyone special… in your life?'
'There was someone, but… that's all over now. They found out about us and stopped us seeing each other.' Letitia smiled wryly. 'He was one of my bodyguards. I'm not allowed out much, either. Not since the Empress started raiding the Families for maids. I knew poor Lindsey, the Shreck's niece who disappeared. She was so bright, so funny. Nowadays they keep us under guard as much as possible. Understandable, I suppose, but it makes for a very quiet life.'
Robert nodded. 'And now, here we are, about to get married. It's going to seem strange, having lifelong enemies as my in-laws.'
'Same here,' said Letitia, clapping her hands together suddenly and grinning wickedly. 'Do you Campbells really eat babies for breakfast?'
'Oh, every day. Beats the hell out of bran flakes.'
'Maybe we'll bring our Families together, like we're supposed to. Stranger things have happened. Bobby…'
'Yes, Tish?'
'If I have to marry someone, I'm glad it's someone like you.'
'Same here, Tish. Same here.'
She put out her hand, and he took it gently, enfolding her small slender fingers in his. And they sat there, smiling together, for an endless moment. And then Adrienne came bustling in.
'All this time, and you've only got as far as holding hands? I don't know what's wrong with you young people these days. I'd have had him pinned up against the wall by now. But time's up, I'm afraid. Finlay sent me to fetch you, Robert. Urgent Family business, and your presence is required.'
Robert gave Letitia's hand one last squeeze and got to his feet. 'Family business is always urgent, especially when it's inconvenient. I'm glad we had this chance to talk, Tish. I'll see you shortly.'
'Bye,' said Letitia, and blew him a kiss. Robert snatched it out of midair, put it in an inner pocket over his heart, and only then allowed Adrienne to lead him away.
It turned out to be quite a Family gathering, all squeezed together in a side room, with guards outside the door to make sure they wouldn't be disturbed. Finlay was there, at his most outrageously foppish, studying Adrienne through his pince-nez as though she were a stranger. William and Gerald were arguing quietly but heatedly, barely stopping to nod to Robert as he closed the door behind him. He took in their earnest faces, and his heart dropped. Something bad was in the wind. He could feel it. Finlay cleared his throat, and everyone looked at him.
'The Campbell himself cannot be here in person,' he said flatly. 'He's had a communication from our allies on Shub. It came via a series of espers, so we're pretty sure it wasn't intercepted. It seems that some other House has discovered our connection with Shub.'
'Wait a minute,' said Robert. 'Hold everything. What's this about Shub? What allies have we got on that hellhole?'
'You have a right to know,' said Finlay. He sounded surprisingly articulate, for once. 'Now that you're to be a central part of Family business. But you cannot discuss this with anyone outside the Family; not even your wife. No one must know. Our existence as a House depends on this. For some time now, we've been secretly intriguing with the rogue AIs on Shub, in defiance of Empire policy. The Enemies of Humanity have been passing us designs for advanced technology to help us win the contract for mass-production of the new stardrive in return for us making the drive available to them. They are desperate to remain the Empire's equal, and we need to contract. Our finances are somewhat depleted at the moment.'
'To be exact,' said Adrienne, 'we're in deep shit. If we don't get the contract, we're ruined. Bankrupt.'
William winced, but nodded. 'We must win the contract if we are to survive as a Clan. Everything depends on it.'
'Anyway,' said Finlay, 'it appears someone has found out. They can't have any definite proof yet, or they'd have turned us in to the Empress. And we'd all be facing a quick trial and a lingering execution.'
'Can you blame them?' said Robert hotly. 'We're working with the AIs on Shub? They're dedicated to wiping out Humanity in its entirety, and we're giving them the new stardrive? Is it just me, or is this
'Please don't shout,' said Finlay. 'This has all been discussed and decided at the highest Clan levels. We have absolutely no intention of giving them the drive, whatever happens. We are ambitious and desperate but not, as you say, crazy.'
'In the meantime,' said Adrienne, 'it's vital we find out who knows our secret. That's why you're here, Robert. We're already running several clandestine operations to discover our enemy, and you're uniquely suited to investigating the Shrecks. But you're not to discuss this with your wife. She may be marrying into the Campbells, but for now she's still a Shreck. Use her, but don't trust her. Don't look so shocked, dear. This is Family business, and the Family always comes first.'
'It's important we discover how much our enemy knows,' said William. 'Anyone who knows too much must die. The safety of the Clan is at risk.'
'What's the Campbell doing?' said Gerald anxiously. 'Why isn't he here? He should be making these kind of decisions, not us.'
'He's busy reassuring the AIs through the esper link,' said Finlay. 'We don't want them doing anything impulsive, or… unfortunate. We're only valuable to them as long as our connection remains a secret. He took a hell of a risk sending a messenger here, but it was important we know immediately. From now on, we don't go anywhere without guards, and no one is to go off on their own. Our new rival might try to kidnap one of us to pump that person for information and put pressure on the rest of us. You're especially at risk, Robert; you're not as used to this game as we are. We can't put you in seclusion right after your wedding; that would look just a little suspicious, like we had something to hide. But from now on, you and your new wife will have a double security presence. If she asks why, point out how easily that esper zealot broke in. Now, let us return to the celebration, before our absence becomes a talking point. Smiles and laughter, everyone; no point in putting weapons in our enemies' hands. After all, it's not certain they know that we know they suspect. You're looking puzzled, Gerald. Don't let it worry you. Just stick close to us, and if you feel like saying anything, rise above it. William, keep an eye on him. If he opens his mouth, stamp on his foot.'
Adrienne looked at him thoughtfully. 'Since when did you become such an accomplished conspirator?'
Finlay smiled at her dazzlingly. 'It's in the blood, my dear. I am a Campbell, after all.'
He took Robert by the arm and led him back into the crowded ballroom. Everywhere faces smiled and heads bowed, and Robert nodded numbly to them all. Some weren't really there, of course. Attending in person was a compliment and a privilege; the less well connected usually had to settle for sending a holo. If nothing else, it helped to cut down on duels. Nothing like a wedding to bring out old Family quarrels. Robert thought about that to keep from thinking about anything else, but it didn't work. He pulled his arm free of Finlay and gave him a hard look.
'Just how much danger are we in, Finlay? How much danger am I putting Letitia in by marrying her?'
'Not much more than she's already used to. She is a Shreck, after all, and they have a history of intrigue that makes us look timid. Now forget about all that and concentrate on your wedding.'
James Kassar, Vicar of the Church of Christ the Warrior, called the gathering to attend him in the kind of voice usually reserved for a parade ground, and the two Families separated out to form two groups, so that they could look down their noses at each other. They left a narrow aisle between the two groups, and almost before he knew it, Robert was heading for the aisle, surrounded by Finlay and William and Gerald, all looking very stern and
