Read Online He Who Dares: Book Three by Rob Buckman - Free Book Online Page B

opposites, or so they’d thought, until she’d saved his life, and he hers. Even so, he never in his wildest dreams would have ever thought he would fall madly in love with a real live princess, and heir to the throne. How they were going to work out a marriage between them he didn’t know. He wouldn’t be an acceptable husband to the government, despite what her father, the King might say. There was the line of succession to consider, where they live, royal duties… It gave him a headache just thinking about it.
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TWO:
     
    Admiral Rawlings stood at attention as they fired the traditional salute over the graves of the fallen men. Behind his impassive face he hid a slight smile, contemplating the forces that had conspired to cause the shuttle accident that had killed the First Sea Lord and two senior fleet admirals. Accident or not, he didn’t care, only that the roadblock to naval progress had been removed. In the wake of the disaster several senior officers and a few captains had sought early retirement rather than wait until they were summarily removed or arrested. Now that their benefactors and protectors were no longer able to cover for them, an honorable retirement was better than the alternative, that of a general court-martial. Their crimes were long and varied, from misappropriation of funds and naval equipment, to willful misconduct, to cowardice, and in one case, possible homicide. Now that their shield was gone, the naval investigators could do their job and get to the truth. This development wouldn’t get all of them, just the most significant ones. It would also impel a few others to seek early retirement before the long arm of the Naval Police came knocking at their door. This would give him room to rearrange his ship captains and dump the more unreliable ones on the beach where they richly belonged. That in turn would mean the captains could then go about ridding their crews of the malcontents, shirkers, and general lay-a-bouts the fleet was infected with. Unhappily, it wouldn’t do much for the sad state the fleet was in from a physical point of view. He’d still have outdated, under-gunned ships; no match for any strong Sirrien fleet that came through the warp points.
    Later that same day the King put his signature to this year’s honors list with a flourish, nodding in satisfaction and handed it to John Cromwell. John smiled as well as he looked down at the names on the list.
    “Should I add …and may you rot in hell… your Majesty?” The King shook his head and wagged his finger at his private secretary.
    “John, I’m shocked you’d think I’d ever consider saying something like that. Very politically incorrect.” He scolded. John Cromwell smiled and soft footed across the carpet.
    “That wouldn’t stop you thinking it.” He murmured.
    “I heard that.”
    “Heard what, your Majesty?” John asked as he slowly closed the door behind him.
    Even if, as King, he couldn’t say what John Cromwell said, he was right, he could think it. There were eight men on that list in the military and government that could now be removed from their positions of power with little fuss. He knew the Prime Minister would have a conniption fit and probably have something to say about that. Putting people on the honor list was one thing the monarchy could do that the PM didn’t control. Preparations long since made were put into effect ensuring people loyal to the UK, the crown, and his point of view could move into those vacated positions and take control. It was a drastic move, and smacked of something Charles the First might have done. It hadn’t worked out so well for him.
    Charles quarreled was with the parliament of England who, at the time, sought to curb his royal prerogative. Charles believed in the divine right of kings and thought he could govern according to his own conscience. Many of his subjects opposed his policies, in particular the levying of taxes without