Deathstalker 06 - Deathstalker Legacy

entourage on one of her surveillance monitors, as they milled about the Court
    buttonholing people and getting in everyone's way. "They aren't going to be any trouble, are they, Jes?"
    "Oh darling, they wouldn't dare. They all live in fear of displeasing me, and quite rightly too. No; I sent them off into the multitude, to circulate among the lesser mortals, and spread rumors of my coming elevation to greatness. Always prime the pump, darling. How else will my public know how wonderful I am, if I don't keep reminding them?"
    Anne had to laugh. "You haven't changed a bit, Jes."
    "I should think not, darling. I put a lot of effort into becoming who I am. You're possibly the only person left who remembers who I used to be, back when I was using my real name; Elsie Baddiel. Thank God you made me change it. I just love this office, dear. It's so you."
    Anne looked about her with a certain amount of pride. "From here I can keep tabs on everyone in the building, up to and including the King, and I'm in constant touch with Security. A mouse couldn't fart in the pantry without me knowing about it. I am Mistress of all I survey, and I survey bloody everything."
    "I always wondered what attracted you to politics," Jesamine said dryly. "Now I know, you little voyeur, you. But . . . don't you ever miss show business?"
    "This is show business!" said Anne. "The shows I get to organize are bigger than anything you've ever appeared in, and I reach audiences you never even dreamed of. Also, I get to order people around that even you would curtsey to, and kick their arses if they get cranky. Even the King does what he's told, when I'm around. Luckily William's a real sweetie, and never any real trouble. Unlike some Princes I could name. I swear, if Douglas doesn't climb out of that bloody armor soon, I'm going to go after him personally with a can opener. I've planned every inch and detail of this Ceremony, and the whole Empire will be watching. I'm damned if I'll let Douglas screw it up, just because it's all about him."
    Jesamine frowned. "This is all very impressive, Anne, don't get me wrong, but... no one knows it's you. I didn't know half of what you got up to here, until I had some of my people investigate this setup. Now don't look at me like that, sweetie. I needed to be sure of what I was getting myself into. I mean, I've played enough Queens on stage in my time, but I never actually thought I'd be one!"
    "Yours was the first name I put forward, when King William told me Parliament was insisting on an arranged marriage for their new King," said Anne. "It seemed obvious to me. With your current popularity, you already are Queen of the Empire, in everything but name."
    "What other names did you put forward?" said Jesamine, with magnificent casualness.
    "Let's not go there," said Anne. "It would only lead to bad feelings. Suffice to say, there was never any real competition. Once your name came up, they just couldn't see anyone else as Queen."
    "You know, if I hadn't seen your lips move I'd have sworn I said that," said Jesamine happily. "Luckily for you, and I suppose Douglas, bless him, your people contacted me at just the right time. Like you, I need fresh challenges, or I get so terribly bored. It's only the fabulous wealth and endless adoration that keep me going. I mean, I've just finished playing Hazel d'Ark for the third time."
    "Deathstalker's Lament is a very popular opera," said Anne, almost reproachfully. "I've seen it twelve times."
    "Well yes, dear, but it's not exactly a. very complicated role. At least, not as written. And with all the
    historical records destroyed, there's nothing left to show what she was really like. I mean, no one even knows what finally happened to the poor cow. She just . . . vanished, after the big finale on Haden. I always do my best to make her interesting, imply some emotional shadings, but when you get right down to it, she's really little more than a sidekick. Yes, she was the great love of Owen's life, and it's all very tragic that they never got it together, but there's only so much you can do with that. The Deathstalker; now that's the really meaty role. I have played him twice, but I don't do masculine awfully well, even with the best holographic morphings. I was born to be a woman, and I glory in it!"
    "Trust me," said Anne. "Everyone's noticed. Actually, that leads me to a rather delicate question . . ."
    "I know," said Jesamine. "Is there anyone I'm going to miss, if I marry