Deathstalker 05 - Deathstalker Destiny

face…"
    "That isn't going to happen this time! Everyone wants this wedding to go ahead.
    Everyone."
    "I know that! That's another part of the problem. Everyone wants this marriage, wants us to be King and Queen, and it feels like I don't have any say in the matter anymore. I want Constance as my wife, but… I never wanted to be King.
    Hell, I never even wanted to be the Campbell. But both have been thrust upon me, and I couldn't say no. I know my duty. But… Am I putting Constance at risk by marrying her? You know my history; most of my Family are dead, Letitia is dead…
    Am I a jinx, Addie?"
    "Now you really are being silly, Robert. Everybody's lost loved ones in the last few years. Forget Letitia. That's the past. The times and the people that made her death possible are gone. Constance is in no danger from anyone here. You forget the past and concentrate on your future with Constance. I'm sure you're going to be very happy together, and the two of you can do a lot of good for the Empire as King and Queen."
    Robert sighed, and reluctantly unclenched his arms. "It all seems so sensible and obvious, when I hear you say it. It's just nerves, I suppose. This is supposed to be the most important day of my life, after all. But then, I suppose everyone feels that way about their wedding."
    "Not me," said Adrienne. "My marriage to Finlay was arranged by my father, who never liked me. They wouldn't even let me meet Finlay till the day of the wedding, and once I'd seen and talked to him, I knew why. I was already running for the door when one of my uncles tackled me and brought me down. I must be the only bride to give her vows in an armlock."
    "But don't you ever miss Finlay, now he's gone? I can't say I ever liked the man, but he did a lot of good, in his own way."
    "I missed him when he was alive, once. I didn't aim carefully enough."
    There was a polite knock at the door, and Baxter went to answer it, a gun suddenly appearing in his hand from nowhere. Weapons were forbidden to everyone here except designated security, but a gentleman's gentleman had many duties, and Baxter took them all very seriously. He eased the door open just wide enough to see out, gun at the ready but hidden from sight, and then he relaxed a little and made the disrupter disappear again. There was a short murmured conversation,
    and then Baxter swung the door open and stood back, allowing the masked figure of the Unknown Clone to enter. Robert and Adrienne immediately rose to greet him, polite smiles on their faces, as Baxter shut and locked the door again.
    One of the many political deals involved in putting the wedding ceremony together had involved a long argument over who should be Robert's best man. It was a station of some prestige, after all. Robert no longer had any close members of his Family left to stand at his side, so technically speaking, the position was up for grabs, and a great many people wanted it, for a great many reasons. And as in so many other matters, Robert didn't get a say. Eventually the clone underground made the best deal, or made the most noise, and the politically significant figure of the Unknown Clone was selected as Robert's official best man. Robert had never even exchanged a dozen words with the enigmatic masked figure, but he thought of all the possible alternatives, and decided he could have fared much worse, and kept his mouth firmly shut.
    "Good of you to look in," he said politely, as the masked man loomed over him.
    He put out a hand, and the Unknown Clone took it in a firm grip that lasted just a little longer than politeness demanded.
    "I thought we should talk, before the ceremony," said the Unknown Clone, the voice behind the featureless leather mask distorted by an electronic filter,
    "Evangeline and I put a lot of effort into ensuring that I was selected as best man."
    Robert frowned slightly, confused. Like everyone else, he had no idea who was behind the leather mask, but as far as he knew he'd never had much to do with clones. He wasn't bigoted; he just never moved in those kinds of circles. And then he caught his breath as the Unknown Clone slowly raised his hands and removed the mask, revealing the very familiar features of Finlay Campbell.
    "Good God!" said Robert, falling back a pace.
    "Bloody hell!" said Adrienne, rising to her feet.
    Baxter remained calm and unmoved, as befitted a gentleman's gentleman, but even he couldn't prevent one eyebrow rising.
    "You're supposed to be dead," said