was not your fault,” Mary said firmly, pulling her into a hug. “I am proud to have such a brave girl as my daughter-in-law.”
Ildaria blinked at those words. She and G.G. had not talked about marrying.
“Perhaps not, but he is definitely planning on it, as he should be,” Mary said with a small smile as she pulled back to meet her gaze. “And I will not let anyone execute my future daughter. Besides, there is nothing to execute you for. Villaverde was the one at fault for what happened.”
“But he is the head of the South American Council,” Ildaria reminded her. “A powerful man. While I am just a peasant. They will not punish him,” she predicted bitterly.
“You are not a peasant,” Mary exclaimed with outrage. “And as the head of the Council, Villaverde should be above reproach. In fact, I do not know how someone like that could have gained the position of head of the Council. The other Council members would not put up with a leader who rapes children and forces their poorer people out of their homes.”
“And yet he does, and they do not protest,” Ildaria assured her.
“Yes, well, not for long if Lucian and Scotty have any say in it, I assure you. They’ll call a summit of Council leaders to have him removed if necessary. And if they don’t, Robert will,” Mrs. Guiscard said firmly. She held Ildaria’s gaze for a minute, and then frowned. “You don’t believe me, but it’s true.”
“I believe you believe that,” Ildaria said solemnly.
“I guess that will have to do for now,” Mary said with a faint smile, and then sighed and shook her head. “I suppose we might as well go and see what the men want, get this business over with so you can relax and know you’re safe.”
Releasing her hands, Mrs. Guiscard started toward Mirabeau, leaving her to follow, but Ildaria hesitated. She didn’t want to go. She had no desire to be anywhere near Juan Villaverde. However, one look at Mirabeau’s face told her that the woman would drag her there if necessary. She would carry out Lucian’s orders.
Sighing in resignation, Ildaria followed G.G.’s mother to the door, very aware of the way Mirabeau took up position at her side as they walked down the hall.
G.G., Robert, and Tiny were all waiting in the living room when they came out. Ildaria paused just inside the doorway when she saw that G.G. was wearing his T-shirt again. The T-shirt she’d stripped off and left lying on the bathroom floor. “How did you—?”
“I brought it out to him while you were showering,” G.G.’s mother explained, apparently reading her thoughts.
“Oh.” Ildaria smiled at her faintly and then glanced around with surprise when someone took her arm. It was G.G. He’d crossed the room to her and his hand was warm through her blouse, causing a slight tingle, but not the crazy passion that it had earlier when he’d touched her, she noted with confusion.
“Touching through clothing mutes the effects of the nanos,” Mirabeau said helpfully. “But try to avoid bare skin to skin contact. At least, until you’re alone. And that includes hand holding unless one of you is wearing gloves.”
“Good to know. Thanks,” G.G. said, but his gaze was on Ildaria and full of concern. She wasn’t at all surprised when he asked, “Are you okay about this? We can tell them to go to hell if you want and refuse to go.”
“Josh,” Robert said in a warning tone.
Ildaria blinked in surprise at the name. It just sounded so odd to hear G.G. called that. Between Lucian, G.G.’s mother, and her own thoughts, she was used to Joshua, but this was the first time she’d heard him called Josh out loud.
“Angel?” G.G. asked, ignoring his father.
“I don’t think we have much choice,” Ildaria said finally.
G.G. didn’t look pleased, but he nodded grimly and promised, “I won’t leave your side.”
“Neither will I,” Robert assured her, some of the tension leaving him now that he knew they wouldn’t refuse to go. “I will be right there with you both. I will not let anything happen to you. Anything at all,” he stressed firmly, and then added, “But this is why we are here, to deal with the matter, and I trust Lucian and Scotty. If they think you need to be there, there is a reason for it.”
Ildaria didn’t know this Scotty person, but she did know Lucian. He had been nothing but fair with her about the incidents