Earth Earls Are Easy by Catherine Stein

Author:Catherine Stein [Stein, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, action, adventure, science fiction, science fiction romance, retro future, retro future romance, gaslamp, gaslamp fantasy, gaslamp fantasy romance
ISBN: 9781949862461
Publisher: Catherine Stein, LLC
Published: 2024-01-22T23:55:38+00:00

24

Nova paced the conference room, following the perfectly symmetrical pattern of the carpet. The tabletop gleamed, every chair had been properly pushed in, and she was ten minutes early for the evening meeting. None of this soothed her. Nor did the fact that all her clients were whole and healthy.

We have to break up. I have to end things.

The door opened. Morland strode in.

“Nova. Thank you for your punctuality.”

She executed the small bow she’d had drilled into her from the moment she could stand. “Your Grace. How is your head?”

“Fine, fine. Your friend Dr. Castelbury gave me something for the pain.” He grimaced. “I am to ‘take things slow’ for the next week.”

For a man who probably never stopped working except to sleep—and then, only reluctantly—this advice must have gone down about as well as a spoonful of hot chili powder. Fortunately, Irene was accustomed to ornery mercenaries. A grouchy duke would be nothing she couldn’t handle.

Morland swiftly changed the subject. “How was your date?”

Beautiful. Peaceful. Perfect. We have to break up.

Nova didn’t move a muscle. “Wyatt’s zoo is impressive. I hope he’s proud of his work. I think the public will be thrilled when it opens.”

“Ah.” Leo gestured at the conference table. “Please, have a seat.”

Nova would have preferred to continue pacing, but one did not disobey a duke, even when his request was politely phrased. She sat. She had a duty, to both her clients and to the people of her homeland. And if clinging to protocol helped keep her focus where it belonged, she’d grab hold like one of Wyatt’s “cute” leeches.

Duty, duty, duty.

Damn Wyatt Fucking Hartford and his ravens and tigers and magical kisses. Why did he have to be so adorable? He was a menace to society. Or at least to Nova’s sanity.

Wyatt was, predictably, the last to arrive. He waltzed into the room, carrying a vidscreen and blowing on his fingernails to dry a fresh coat of green polish.

“Found all the purchase records for Eberwhite’s identical ships,” he announced. “And wouldn’t you know, several of the registration codes match those of the ships disappearing and reappearing around the splices. All are owned by H2Freight, Inc., which is owned by the Duke of Deimos. But not operated by him, since that would be working in trade, and we all know how disgustingly plebeian that is.”

He passed the vidscreen around the table so everyone could take a look at his data. Nova spared it only a cursory glance. She’d already known her father was involved up to his eyeballs. What mattered now was how to stop him.

Leo had come prepared. He smoothly steered the meeting into a focused discussion on ways to apply political pressure. The idea had merit, since they couldn’t take a duke to court unless he’d been caught piloting a ship of smuggled cargo, and maybe not even then.

Unease coiled in Nova’s gut, growing and spreading as the men brainstormed. Many of the tactics tossed around sounded borderline illegal. Or perhaps wholly illegal—she couldn’t be sure her moral compass pointed true north anymore.

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