into it.”
“I expect a full report on my desk by the end of the day. Dismissed.”
Ian glanced at me and I inclined my head. His presence would likely make Father even more disagreeable than usual. He bowed and left.
Father and I stared at each other in silence. “My prodigal daughter returns,” Albrecht said at last. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Did you really think I was a traitor?”
He scoffed. “Of course not. I’ve known about Ferdinand and Evelyn for months. I am not surprised you figured it out.”
“Then why order me detained?”
He stared at me for long enough that I figured he wouldn’t answer, but I’d learned patience. I waited him out. “You needed a push.”
I digested that nebulous statement. He could mean any number of things, but I decided to interpret it my own way. “It worked far better than you could’ve imagined,” I said.
His eyebrows lifted, but I knew he wouldn’t bother to ask, just as I wouldn’t ask what he meant. We were two of a kind.
I let him wait for several long seconds before continuing, “Ian and I are dating.”
Father laughed harshly. “No daughter of mine is going to date the help. Fuck him if you must, but be discreet.”
“I’m going to marry him.”
Red crept up Albrecht’s cheeks as true anger kindled. “No, you will not. I already have a man for you.”
“I’ve done my duty to the House. I will not marry for your pleasure again.”
He slammed his hand on his desk. “You will do as you’re told!”
“I will not,” I said calmly. “You can disown me. Ian and I will move to APD Zero with Ada. You will lose your two best sources of intelligence. My siblings will revolt. You’ll be fighting a war at home as well as in Antlia.”
“Are you threatening me?” he asked, his voice a furious growl.
“No, Father. I am giving you a choice, something you never gave me. You could disown me, or you could give me, if not your blessing, then at least your acceptance. In return, you keep me here, working for the good of the House.”
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze calculating.
“Lord Henderson will accept Catarina in your stead. She’s the one he wanted in the first place, so he’ll be pleased.”
I kept my expression cool through sheer force of will. Lord Henderson was at least as old as Father and had a well-known penchant for young women. But House Henderson was one of the strongest lower houses, and he was careful to select women of legal age, so nothing came of it other than rumors and speculation.
“Do you care so little for your daughters?”
His face hardened. “We are at war. Alliances are few and far between. I will take what I can get. I ensured you can look out for yourselves. What more do you want?”
Love, care, decency. Any number of things, really, but I kept my mouth shut. Catarina would be getting her adventure sooner rather than later if Father continued down this path. I’d have to send her into hiding.
“If I agree to your little farce of a marriage, you will stay in Serenity for five years, working for House von Hasenberg. You will not interfere with Catarina’s marriage. And if Director Bishop leaves you, I get to pick your next husband.”
I wasn’t sure if I should be insulted or amused. “No.”
“No, what?”
“No to all of it. Don’t insult me, Father. In return for leaving us alone, Ian and I will continue working for the House. I will come and go as I please, but I will spend the majority of my time in Serenity for the next year. If anything at all happens to Ian or his job, I will move to APD Zero before the news has hit the rumor mill. And I’ll never again marry a man you choose, even if Ian publicly denounces me to the entire Consortium.”
“Tread lightly, daughter. You are not irreplaceable. Three years,” he said. When I inclined my head in agreement, he continued, “I’ll have the contract drawn up.”
“Save us both time and don’t be a dick,” I said.
Exasperation gleamed in his eyes for a brief second. “You are dismissed,” he said.
I knew when to pick my battles, so I curtsied again and fled.
With nothing else that required my immediate attention, I retreated to my suite. It wasn’t until I was in the lightly shielded room that I realized the normal signal level in the House hadn’t bothered me.
I stepped back