The Ambassador's Accidental Marriage (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) by Rachel Clark
Authors: Rachel Clark
Tags: Romance
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Ambassador?”
“Oh, of course,” the man said, suddenly all smiles. “I apologize for my oversight. It is a very distressing business to discover such utter corruption within our ranks.”
“Distressing?” Eric asked in a tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Oh, yes, very distressing,” the little man, who still hadn’t given his name, said in a friendly voice, completely missing Eric’s tone. Cindy was fairly certain the ambassador didn’t even know the meaning of his title, let alone the skill that it required.
“Not a problem,” Loukie said, squeezing Cindy’s hand just a little bit harder than was comfortable. “Earth Ambassador Cindy Richards tenders her resignation, effective immediately.”
“I’m afraid that is not possible,” the still-nameless ambassador said with what he probably considered a kind smile. “Once the charges are read, an IGAC representative is suspended and taken into custody until appropriate punishment is ordered.”
“You’re speaking like she has already been found guilty,” Eric said. Cindy could feel his outrage and wanted to reach for him, but knew it would likely make the situation worse. She was being—what ancient Earth cultures used to call—steamrolled. Somebody was out to make life very unpleasant for her. She just didn’t have a clue who.
The ambassador—although asshole seemed a more appropriate title—turned to Eric’s and Loukie’s fathers and made a show of being upset to be the one to deliver bad news. His acting skills weren’t any better than his diplomatic skills.
“Your highnesses,” he said, obviously unaware of the proper way to address Desconian royalty. “Again I apologize for this most distressing occurrence, but you must understand that this female came to your planet under false pretenses, has managed to manipulate the prince and princess into believing she loves them, and has lied about her ability to produce healthy offspring.”
“What?” Cindy asked before she could bite back the word. She wasn’t able to have children? That was the first she’d heard of it. She was about to deny the accusation very loudly, but then it occurred to her that if it were true, did she really have the right to be Eric and Loukie’s mubellabina? If she couldn’t fulfill the very function that had been the reason for them choosing a human woman in the first place, it would be far kinder for her to leave now—before they publicly claimed her—so that Eric and Loukie could find another.
“When do we return to IGAC headquarters?” Cindy asked, silently congratulating herself on being able to speak without a wobble in her voice.
“A transport ship is waiting for you. I, of course, shall remain here and try to clear up the mess that you have made.”
Loukie was squeezing Cindy’s hand so tightly that the blood had stopped flowing to her fingertips, but it was the look of pure anger on Eric’s face that concerned her the most. But before he could say or do anything that might cause irreparable damage to the Desconians’ relationship with IGAC and Earth, Loukie’s father stepped in and took over the conversation.
“Thank you, ambassador. We appreciate that you brought this problem to our attention so quickly. I would be pleased to offer you my hospitality. Please follow me and I’ll make arrangements for your stay.”
The ambassador looked a little confused at first, but it was obvious that he was preening under the king’s false ego-stroking. Cindy nearly smirked when Loukie’s father winked at her and then left the room with the ambassador in tow.
“This is outrageous!” Eric said as he lifted Cindy and Loukie to their feet and wrapped his arms around both women.
“I agree,” Eric’s father said as he ran his hand down his face tiredly. It was such a human thing to do under the circumstances that Cindy felt a little more wretched. If she couldn’t have children then she would be letting down this man as well.
“I need to go back
“Oh, of course,” the man said, suddenly all smiles. “I apologize for my oversight. It is a very distressing business to discover such utter corruption within our ranks.”
“Distressing?” Eric asked in a tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Oh, yes, very distressing,” the little man, who still hadn’t given his name, said in a friendly voice, completely missing Eric’s tone. Cindy was fairly certain the ambassador didn’t even know the meaning of his title, let alone the skill that it required.
“Not a problem,” Loukie said, squeezing Cindy’s hand just a little bit harder than was comfortable. “Earth Ambassador Cindy Richards tenders her resignation, effective immediately.”
“I’m afraid that is not possible,” the still-nameless ambassador said with what he probably considered a kind smile. “Once the charges are read, an IGAC representative is suspended and taken into custody until appropriate punishment is ordered.”
“You’re speaking like she has already been found guilty,” Eric said. Cindy could feel his outrage and wanted to reach for him, but knew it would likely make the situation worse. She was being—what ancient Earth cultures used to call—steamrolled. Somebody was out to make life very unpleasant for her. She just didn’t have a clue who.
The ambassador—although asshole seemed a more appropriate title—turned to Eric’s and Loukie’s fathers and made a show of being upset to be the one to deliver bad news. His acting skills weren’t any better than his diplomatic skills.
“Your highnesses,” he said, obviously unaware of the proper way to address Desconian royalty. “Again I apologize for this most distressing occurrence, but you must understand that this female came to your planet under false pretenses, has managed to manipulate the prince and princess into believing she loves them, and has lied about her ability to produce healthy offspring.”
“What?” Cindy asked before she could bite back the word. She wasn’t able to have children? That was the first she’d heard of it. She was about to deny the accusation very loudly, but then it occurred to her that if it were true, did she really have the right to be Eric and Loukie’s mubellabina? If she couldn’t fulfill the very function that had been the reason for them choosing a human woman in the first place, it would be far kinder for her to leave now—before they publicly claimed her—so that Eric and Loukie could find another.
“When do we return to IGAC headquarters?” Cindy asked, silently congratulating herself on being able to speak without a wobble in her voice.
“A transport ship is waiting for you. I, of course, shall remain here and try to clear up the mess that you have made.”
Loukie was squeezing Cindy’s hand so tightly that the blood had stopped flowing to her fingertips, but it was the look of pure anger on Eric’s face that concerned her the most. But before he could say or do anything that might cause irreparable damage to the Desconians’ relationship with IGAC and Earth, Loukie’s father stepped in and took over the conversation.
“Thank you, ambassador. We appreciate that you brought this problem to our attention so quickly. I would be pleased to offer you my hospitality. Please follow me and I’ll make arrangements for your stay.”
The ambassador looked a little confused at first, but it was obvious that he was preening under the king’s false ego-stroking. Cindy nearly smirked when Loukie’s father winked at her and then left the room with the ambassador in tow.
“This is outrageous!” Eric said as he lifted Cindy and Loukie to their feet and wrapped his arms around both women.
“I agree,” Eric’s father said as he ran his hand down his face tiredly. It was such a human thing to do under the circumstances that Cindy felt a little more wretched. If she couldn’t have children then she would be letting down this man as well.
“I need to go back
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