Sam sighed as the woman turned the corner and was out of sight. He didn’t know how he was going to do it, but he’d never backed down from a challenge yet.
Sam presented himself in front of the king at the requested time. The king immediately called Sam into his office as soon as he was told that Sam was waiting.
“Good afternoon, your majesty,” Sam said, bowing slightly.
“I hope it is going to be. Have a seat,” King Stephan said and waived him over to the set of chairs placed in one area of his office. “Tell me you’re going to take over the position and show us all how it is done,” he said
Sam sat back and looked at the king. “Yes. If that is the area you feel I can help the most, I’ll be happy to do my best.”
“Fantastic,” King Stephan said, then stood up and went over to a bar that was inconspicuously kept in the corner. scotch, bringing one over to Sam. clinked Sam’s glass.
“Let’s celebrate,” he said and poured two glasses of “To an improved military,” King Stephan said and
Sam drank to the toast, then looked over his glass at his ruler and new boss. “I have some ideas for how to improve but they are a little unorthodox.”
“Well, let’s sit down and discuss them. I’m eager to hear your ideas,” the king said.
They sat and discussed several possibilities and how to get them funded. King Stephan agreed with most of Sam’s ideas and the others, he agreed with in principal but wasn’t sure how the rest of the military would take the changes. They talked for almost three hours, considering the different reactions and how to overcome the status quo, what funding would be needed, what the changes would entail and who would react positively and negatively. Although Cordova was a Monarchy, there was still a Parliament and individuals to convince. It was not a dictatorship.
After their discussions, King Stephan stood up and shook Sam’s hand. “I’ll have my wife organize a reception to introduce you to the rest of the members of my cabinet as well as the houses. They will all be eager to hear the news of your command, Sam. Thank you for taking on this challenge,” the king said.
“It is my honor, your majesty. I’m glad I can serve you in some capacity.”
“Can you stay for dinner? We usually dine less formally when it is just the family.”
“That would be wonderful,” Sam said and bowed politely.
King Stephan patted the younger man on the back. “You’re not married, are you, Sam?”
Sam was hesitant to answer, but had to be honest. “No, your majesty.”
“Are you seeing anyone seriously?”
“No, sire. I’m currently unattached. And I don’t imagine that changing as the military will occupy a great deal of my time in the near future.”
The king’s eager face fell slightly at the truth behind Sam’s words sunk in. “Yes, I suppose you’ll have your hands full,” he said, nodding his head. But he immediately brightened. “Well, then, when things calm down, we’ll have to see about getting you married and with children. I have some ideas in that area as well,” King Stephan said.
Sam smiled politely and knew where the king was heading. Why didn’t the idea of marrying his younger daughter throw him into a panic as other matrimonial minded friends of his did? Odd, but the idea of marrying Marabeth appealed to him more and more. Max had mentioned it earlier, but Sam had dismissed it, not having met the woman before. But now that he’d met her, he couldn’t deny he wasn’t interested. More than interested, in fact. But marriage? Sam wasn’t sure about that. It wasn’t abhorrent though, which was progress in a way.
Dinner was an elegant affair but Sam was disappointed that Marabeth wasn’t present. When he’d accepted the king’s invitation, Sam had been hoping he would be able to start repairing the damage he’d done earlier when he was teasing the lovely princess. But he had a nice evening dining with the queen who was gracious and a wonderful hostess.
Queen Natasha agreed to start preparing for a reception to introduce Sam as the new Minister of Defense immediately. “You’ll need to be formally introduced,” she was saying over dessert. “There will need to be a big turnout,” she said, tapping her finger on the side of her nose as she worked through the details in her mind. weeks? Will that give you enough time to solidify your announcement?”
“How about in three position before the
Sam considered all the ramifications and none of them were as high on his list as the fact that he might not be able to see the lovely Princess Marabeth until that night. He knew he couldn’t make it earlier though. He didn’t know the details but suspected that throwing together a formal reception was a large undertaking. He’d just have to find a way to see her sooner than that on his own. “Three weeks will work fine for me.” Chapter 3
“Good morning, dear,” Queen Natasha breezed into the breakfast room two weeks later. “How are you this morning?” she asked.
“I’m well,” Marabeth said, wiping her mouth delicately on the linen napkin. “How are you, Mother?”
“Having a hectic day and I need to ask you a favor,” she said, sitting down in her usual place and leaning back while a servant poured her coffee.
“Anything. What can I do?”
“I need your help during the reception this Saturday,” she said and stirred cream in her teacup.
Marabeth could feel her heartbeat speed up instantly. This Saturday night was the reception for Sam Montrose. He was being officially sworn into office on Friday with a lavish reception on Saturday as a welcome from the royal family. “Oh, well…do you really need me there?” Marabeth said awkwardly. “I mean, it is for Father’s new Minister of Defense, isn’t it?”
Her mother looked over at her beautiful daughter with amusement. “You know very well what it is for, Marabeth. And you also know that you need to be there. In fact, my request is that you attend with the new Minister.”
Marabeth didn’t like the sound of that at all. “’Attend with’ as in, accompany him?” Marabeth asked warily, not really wanting to hear the answer.
The queen looked up from her notes and frowned. “Of course, dear. He’ll need an escort and I need you to be that person for him.”
“Why me?” Marabeth asked, her mind quickly going into overdrive in an effort to find an excuse not to be Sam’s “date” for the evening.