“Not on your life,” J.T. said, rising. “I want out of this place. My country is at war and I am needed.”
“You have already been replaced.”
“There aren’t many people who know as much about ships as I do,” J.T. said. “I’m not easy to replace.”
“How about Jason Montgomery? He took over two days ago. Think he’ll be able to do the job?”
J.T. sat back down. His Uncle Jason was his father’s youngest brother and J.T. hoped that someday he would know as much about ships as his uncle did. “He’ll do quite well. Who is helping my father run Warbrooke Shipping?”
“Your mother and one of your brothers who was wounded. He prefers to convalesce behind a desk in the shipping office instead of in an army hospital.”
“You seem to know a damned lot,” J.T. said angrily.
The king put up his hand to halt Ned. “I have become very interested in you and your family in the last few weeks. I wanted to make sure I could trust you.”
“I wouldn’t trust anybody if I were you. I never saw a place so riddled with intrigue.”
“I agree, which is why I want someone who I know is not involved to be near my granddaughter to protect her.”
J.T. took a deep drink of wine. “Would you mind telling me why anyone would want this backward country? Is vanadium that valuable?”
“No, but uranium is,” the king said mildly. “Just after the war broke out, Lanconia was found to have several deposits of uranium. I realized right away that if this were made public knowledge we would be part of the war because countries would want control of the uranium. I did my best to keep it secret, but obviously someone knows and someone wants control of the country. Whoever it is must know that Aria is not someone easily controlled so he or she tried to get rid of her.”
“Then who is left? I don’t imagine you’d go down without a fight.”
“I was probably next on the list. My granddaughter Eugenia, Aria’s younger sister, would be queen, and she could be controlled rather easily, I’m sorry to say.”
“You have no idea who wants Aria dead?”
“It could be anyone or a group of people. I want you to stay and find out, or if not that, stay and protect her.”
“She’s too hardheaded for anyone to protect. Look, this isn’t my fight. My own country is at war, and if I’m not needed in Key West, I can tote a rifle as well as any man.”
“But this is something not any man can do. I have told your president that if he releases you to me, I will sell the uranium to America.” The king handed J.T. a sealed envelope stamped TOP SECRET.
J.T. opened it reluctantly because he knew what it con
tained. It was a letter from President Franklin Roosevelt asking him to remain in Lanconia and help with this difficult matter. He said J.T. could help his country more in Lanconia than he could in America.
“Why couldn’t he ask me to go to the front line?” J.T. mumbled, folding the letter away.
The king began eating grapes. “May I ask why such an assignment is so repugnant to you? You will be living in a palace surrounded by great beauty; the most strenuous task you will have is to accompany my granddaughter on her morning ride. You will have the finest food. Why would you rather be shot at?”
“Because I don’t want to see your granddaughter again, that’s why. She is a spoiled brat who uses people and I’ve had enough of her.”
“I see. So it is personal. So Americans put personal relationships before duty to their country.”
“No we don’t. It’s just that—” J.T. stopped talking. “My country means more to me. I want to help however I can.”
“Then please stay and protect my granddaughter,” the king said. “I’m not used to begging but now I am. She may be a problem to you but she is the comfort of my life. She is kind and warm and loving and she is the future hope of our country. I am sorry you do not see her as I do.”
“She can be all right,” J.T. said reluctantly, toying with his fork. He did not want to return to seeing Aria every day. “How would I do this?” he asked. “I mean, if I agreed, how would I be introduced into her circle?”
“As yourself. I would say I had met you when your plane stopped near here for repairs, liked you, and hired you as a technical adviser. Or we could say that your president ordered you here to take charge of the vanadium. Your wife, of course, returned to the United States. You would not have any duties either way except to protect my granddaughter. You would be given every courtesy and every comfort.”
“What about the people who think Aria is Kathy Montgomery?”
“They will curse the luck of having a meddling old king.”