The four of them refined their strategy until they came up with a viable plan everyone agreed was the best. Raphael would approach Claudia to make a deal, telling her he knew where Victor was so they could set a trap for her.
Victor and Elda left by way of the hidden escape hatch. Elda had a better place to hide him. They would meet the next day at the space dock for a private flight back to Ichor-Delta and launch their scheme to outwit Claudia.
Once they were alone, Raphael left briefly to ensure the front door wouldn’t fly open in the night or become a burglar’s wildest dream come true. While he was gone, Francine quickly changed into something more comfortable. An outfit she’d secretly selected from Jacques Pierre’s shop when Raphael had been trying on his wedding finery.
When he returned, Raphael’s gaze landed on her, seemingly noting the outfit change, but then he asked, “Are you sure you’re okay with me doing this plan of ours?”
“Of course. It was my idea. Although if you don’t have to kiss her, that would be a bonus.”
“Trust me, I’m not going to. Besides, if it truly is Claudia who’s behind this, she won’t want to kiss me. She wants a power wedding with another royal family and the wealth that comes with it, but absolutely no physical relationship beyond what’s required to continue the legacy.”
“How do you know that?”
“Before I refused our arranged marriage, she made her feelings clear regarding the physical aspect of any marriage she would be involved in.”
“When was this?”
“Shortly before I was kicked out of my family home a decade ago. I told my father I wasn’t interested in a loveless marriage for the sake of power. He disagreed, told me it didn’t matter beyond having an heir and a spare, which I also didn’t want to do with Claudia. And she didn’t even want to have a wedding night.
“My father told me that I needed to follow tradition. I said no way. I refused to honor the arranged marriage, so I was out. He expected me to come crawling back.”
“Instead, you went out into the world and became a big bad bounty hunter. Also, you kept Claudia from criticism for being jilted, I’d imagine.”
Raphael nodded. “Once I was out in the world all alone, I had help. Victor was the only reason I was able to change my life. He wasn’t supposed to even mention my name. He said he’d likely be in the same boat someday. The names they were floating around forhismarriage prospects were not to his liking, either. The difference was his father wasn’t willing to kick his son to the curb as easily as mine was.”
“Your father had an heir and two spares. Victor is an only child. That makes a huge difference in lofty circles.”
“Maybe that’s true.” Raphael shrugged. They stared at each other. “I want you to know that Claudia makes my skin crawl.”
“Noted.” Francine untied the silk belt around her waist and let her robe slide off her shoulders, revealing a sheer black negligee she’d been saving for a special occasion. If his widened eyes and parted lips were any indication, he liked it.
“Let’s make a few more memories while we have the chance,” she said. “So that when you’re with Claudia you can have a better vision of your true future.”
“I love you, Francine. Don’t ever doubt it.”
“I love you, too.”
Raphael grabbed her up into his arms and kissed her like he was afraid she’d disappear in a puff of smoke if he didn’t hold her tight enough.
Francine kissed him back, with the warm thought that things were finally going their way.
Chapter Twelve
Two days later – Ichor-Delta
Raphael strolled into Claudia’s home after the butler opened the door and led him deeper into what he considered enemy territory. The place hadn’t changed much in the years he’d been away. Claudia had inherited the house after her parents died. She had no other siblings vying for it.
Francine, Victor, Elda and Raphael returned to Ichor-Delta on a privately acquired transport that only recorded three of the four of them on the official logs.
For a steep price, Victor had been stowed in a specially constructed place aimed at those seeking hidden transportation. They went their separate ways once the ship landed the day before, planning to meet after his appointment with Claudia.
Raphael made a show of being in public without Francine to discover who might come looking for him. A message arrived promptly at his hotel room.
Claudia was the first to make contact, asking for a meeting at her house to discuss a special offer. The four conspirators further refined their plan, given the message and location of the meeting at Claudia’s home.
“Luther,” she said the moment he entered the greeting room. Her tone was polite, if not exuberant. He expected her to be a little more excited to see him after all this time.
