''Governments I leave to people who have the illusion they run them,'' Abby said dryly. ''Protocol comes in handy when you have to keep such deluded people happy.''
Kris turned to her body servant. ''That's a side of you I haven't seen.''
''And not one I like,'' Jack added, ''coming from someone standing armed and close to my primary. Who did you say you worked for before?''
Abby raised her wrist unit, aimed it at Jack, and tapped it. ''Now you have my résumé. Read it when you have a moment. If I wanted someone dead, they'd be dead already.''
Kris left the two bickering while she took in her bedroom. If possible, it was fancier than the living room. The bed was big enough for four and soft as down. The Firebolt's bridge, the big, comfortable-sized one, was not half as big. ''And I forgot my tennis racket.''
''There are tennis courts on the third deck, as well as an Olympic-size pool and workout facilities,'' Nelly said. ''The pro shop has all the amenities for a passenger who forgot something.''
''Or outgrows their swimsuit. Have you seen the list of mealtimes available?'' Jack called from the other room. The thought of kicking back and enjoying the pampering had a surprising allure. As a Longknife, she'd never wanted for anything, but Father had no use for ostentation. ''It costs votes.'' Early in her teens Kris made it a matter of pride to make do with half of what Mother needed. What would it be like to really soak in this Princess thing? Kris returned to the living room, putting the seductive bedroom behind her. Jack had Abby's resume on-screen.
Abby shrugged as she eyed the simple page that held her life story. ''Looks impressive up there all big and the likes.''
''You got your degree, in what, marketing?'' Jack said. Kris was busy doing basic math. Abby was thirty-six. That made her a good eight years older than Jack, who would stay six years older than Kris until next month's birthday. Hmm, even if Jack likes older women, Abby is way too old! Isn't she?
''I worked my way through college baby-sitting elderly folks, wiping their noses, and their butts if necessary. I thought the height of job elegance was standing at a counter all day, helping women find their true colors and accessorizing.'' Abby made a face. ''My first client hired me after her grandmother died.''
''Your last client died,'' Jack said. Kris ducked back into her bedroom, realizing this had become a private conversation.
''I believe the police decided it was a shareholder's revolt that got personal.'' Abby undid one of her long sleeves and pulled it up to display entry and exit wound scars. ''Way too personal. This was verified by your service when I was hired.''
Jack turned to Abby, fixed her with an unblinking gaze. ''Earth flatfoots did the full field. All we got was their report. My bosses accepted it. I'm still thinking about it.''
''Think about it all you want, but I've got a job to do, and I'm going to earn my pay.''
''The pay's good around Longknifes, but it can present you fascinating challenges way beyond what they told you when you took the job. Where will you be when the rockets fly?''
''Where any smart person would be, going in the opposite direction. I'm a body servant. If it gets to that, I intend to be around to identify the body. That what you wanted to know?''
''No problem, ma'am. I'll call for backup elsewhere.''
''You got that right.''
Kris cleared her throat as she entered the room. ''Nelly says I have dinner with the Captain tonight. Abby, you have any suggestions for what to wear?''
''How about that outfit you skipped last night? You won't have mother issues this time. Why not dazzle the ship with a real Princess.''
''Go for it,'' Kris said. Why not let her cruise mates take her for all that glitter. Could come in handy, and who knows, I might understand more about why Mother is the way she is.
Two hours turned out to be just enough time for Abby to put a Princess together, and the experience did give Kris a few thoughts on why her mother was always late. The surprise was that Kris enjoyed it; her life had held few such sensuous experiences. Abby told Kris to just relax in the bath. Kris did, losing herself in warm water, jets, aromas, and all, drifting into a place with no pain and fewer worries.
Then Abby introduced Kris to a facial. Lieutenant Kris Longknife refused to believe there could be any tension left in her after the bath. Ten minutes later, after Abby finished on Kris's face, whatever dour worry lines the Navy wants a good Lieutenant to display had vanished from the Princess's visage.
Before Kris could mar the miracle with worry lines for the strapless gown, Abby introduced her to a push-up bra. ''You've never had one of these,'' the Earth woman said, eyeing Kris like a certified alien.
''No.''
''Your mother didn't show you?''
''No.''
''You didn't read about them in a women's magazine when you were, like, fifteen?''
Kris thought back to those days of first being dry after years of being lost in the bottle. ''No. I read histories and political commentary, studied soccer and orbital skiff racing, and don't remember having any time for trashy stuff.''
Abby shook her head. ''And your girlfriends didn't let you in on the secret?''
Kris refused to say, ''What friends?''
''Woman…'' Abby whistled. ''You have grown up on an alien planet. But don't worry, honey, you've got your Mamma Abby to see that you get home safely.''
Ten minutes before dinner, a young officer knocked respectfully at the suite door just as Abby announced Kris fit for public viewing. Kris had never had a man take her in with quite the stunned awe of the ship's officer. His stuttering and sputtering came under control only when Jack, now in tux and tails, cleared his throat and asked if Kris wished him to escort her to dinner. That helped the ship's officer find his tongue.
''The Captain sent me to escort you, ma'am. We understood that you are traveling alone.'' Which established the proper invisibility for her security guard and servant, as far as ship's company. Taking the young man's arm, Kris swept out onto the wide ship's corridors, Jack an invisible three paces behind her.
Dinner at the Captain's table was an artful study in vanity… and passing time without noticeable product. By Kris's catty measure, she was the only woman under forty at the table, and the only one with bare shoulders. Not having Nelly to rely on turned out the ''no problem'' Abby assured her it would be. The men paid court to her, the women said nice things to her face, though Kris would not have bet an Earth dollar that their comments later that night would be anything short of pure feline. Kris passed on the wine; still, she found herself intoxicated by the high-proof attention. Mother, am I tasting your addiction?
The Captain seemed to truly enjoy her company. His eyes did focus on the sash of the Order of the Wounded Lion that Abby had fastened just below Kris's breast. The medallion was on the side away from him. Kris made a mental note to fake, buy, or otherwise acquire some other way of keeping the sash in place. The Wounded Lion did not fit her present persona.
''And what brings you aboard?'' the Captain asked as the table talk sought to develop.
''Oh, Wardhaven is a beautiful planet, but a girl really needs to see the galaxy, don't you think? Besides, if Grampa Ray is really going to be the King of forty planets, don't you think a Princess should see more of them?'' The Captain didn't blink as Kris undershot Ray's present alliance by half. Had she started a good or bad rumor?
''I'm sorry we will have you for so little of your travels.''
''Oh?''
''Yes, the Turantic Pride will be going into dockyard hands for a brief period once we reach home. I am sure you can arrange passage on another ship.'' ''I doubt it will be nearly as finely appointed as yours.''
''We of the Turantic Pride would like to think so.''
''Oh dear, is there anything wrong with the ship, Captain?'' One of the other women passengers took this opportunity to insinuate herself into the Captain's attentions. She had a lot more to show the Captain when she leaned forward than Kris did, even with Abby's miraculous undergarment.