tilted her head. “Why have you changed toward me?”
“You think I’ve changed?” He shook his head. “Not really. I’ve just tried to keep my promise.”
“And promises are important to you?”
He nodded. “I’ve watched diplomats and heads of state make promises that affect entire populations and then not follow through for the sake of convenience or ambition.” He gazed past her, his eyes fixed unseeingly on the sea. “Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I like history. In this world we all need a code of honor like the ones back in King Arthur’s day.”
“From what I understand those knights broke that code rather frequently.”
“But a black-and-white code existed and when it was broken, you knew it was broken. The lines were cleaner and better defined. You didn’t slip into quicksand because you didn’t know it was there.”
She chuckled. “Perhaps I wasn’t far wrong when I called you Galahad. You definitely have a medieval turn of mind.”
He smiled faintly. “Not Galahad. Lancelot maybe. He was much more apt to break the rules and grab something for himself.”
“Guinevere?”
He nodded. “And glory and a piece of the pie. He was more of a materialist than Galahad.”
“You seem very well versed in Camelot.”
“Growing up with the Winter Bride bred a certain curiosity. She captured my imagination and I wanted to know who she was, where she came from.…” He paused and his gaze shifted back to Ysabel’s face. “And why she looked so frightened.”
“She wasn’t frightened, only unsure and a little nervous. She knew she could handle whatever was waiting for her. I’ve always thought her husband in that castle on the hill would have a woman to reckon with.”
His expression hardened. “Well, I suppose you should know.”
The moment of warmth and confidence had vanished and she felt a flicker of regret. She forced a smile. “Yes, I had plenty of time to study and think about her over the years.” She swiftly looked away from him to Ronnie, who was standing at the wheel at the far end of the boat. “She’s been steering for three hours. Perhaps I should go relieve her.”
His expression softened as his glance followed hers. “Heaven forbid. If that firecracker doesn’t have something to do, she’ll get out her camera and we’ll be in real trouble. She’ll probably decide to don scuba gear and try to film those dolphins that have been following us.”
“True.” Ysabel had discovered Ronnie’s crackling energy could be exhausting as well as exhilarating. The girl seemed to have to be busy every second or she became restless. She had taken over the cooking, the cleaning, and lately had commandeered the running of the cruiser. “Who did you think might be in that cabin?”
“What?”
“Ronnie said you were always edgy these days.” He shrugged. “You don’t specialize in investigative reporting and not have enemies. I’ve had a few death threats.”
She gazed at him, stunned. “Death threats.”
“Why are you surprised? You knew about Marino.”
“But I thought he was the only one and he’s on San Miguel. Why are you just walking around unprotected? Why don’t you have bodyguards?”
“They’d get in my way.”
She felt like hitting him. “Life is precious, dammit, and you go around risking …” She trailed off, unable to continue.
“You’re angry.” A slow smile lit his face. “I’ve never really seen you angry before. It’s … interesting.”
“I’m not angry. Why should I be angry at someone who could be so abysmally dumb as to wander around as if he owned the earth when people are trying to kill him?” She jumped to her feet. “And stop grinning at me!” She stalked across the deck to the opposite side. Her hands were trembling as they reached out to grasp the rail. Anger, she assured herself, it was anger, not fear for him that had struck her to the heart.
He followed her, but she refused to look at him. “Go
“You think I’ve changed?” He shook his head. “Not really. I’ve just tried to keep my promise.”
“And promises are important to you?”
He nodded. “I’ve watched diplomats and heads of state make promises that affect entire populations and then not follow through for the sake of convenience or ambition.” He gazed past her, his eyes fixed unseeingly on the sea. “Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I like history. In this world we all need a code of honor like the ones back in King Arthur’s day.”
“From what I understand those knights broke that code rather frequently.”
“But a black-and-white code existed and when it was broken, you knew it was broken. The lines were cleaner and better defined. You didn’t slip into quicksand because you didn’t know it was there.”
She chuckled. “Perhaps I wasn’t far wrong when I called you Galahad. You definitely have a medieval turn of mind.”
He smiled faintly. “Not Galahad. Lancelot maybe. He was much more apt to break the rules and grab something for himself.”
“Guinevere?”
He nodded. “And glory and a piece of the pie. He was more of a materialist than Galahad.”
“You seem very well versed in Camelot.”
“Growing up with the Winter Bride bred a certain curiosity. She captured my imagination and I wanted to know who she was, where she came from.…” He paused and his gaze shifted back to Ysabel’s face. “And why she looked so frightened.”
“She wasn’t frightened, only unsure and a little nervous. She knew she could handle whatever was waiting for her. I’ve always thought her husband in that castle on the hill would have a woman to reckon with.”
His expression hardened. “Well, I suppose you should know.”
The moment of warmth and confidence had vanished and she felt a flicker of regret. She forced a smile. “Yes, I had plenty of time to study and think about her over the years.” She swiftly looked away from him to Ronnie, who was standing at the wheel at the far end of the boat. “She’s been steering for three hours. Perhaps I should go relieve her.”
His expression softened as his glance followed hers. “Heaven forbid. If that firecracker doesn’t have something to do, she’ll get out her camera and we’ll be in real trouble. She’ll probably decide to don scuba gear and try to film those dolphins that have been following us.”
“True.” Ysabel had discovered Ronnie’s crackling energy could be exhausting as well as exhilarating. The girl seemed to have to be busy every second or she became restless. She had taken over the cooking, the cleaning, and lately had commandeered the running of the cruiser. “Who did you think might be in that cabin?”
“What?”
“Ronnie said you were always edgy these days.” He shrugged. “You don’t specialize in investigative reporting and not have enemies. I’ve had a few death threats.”
She gazed at him, stunned. “Death threats.”
“Why are you surprised? You knew about Marino.”
“But I thought he was the only one and he’s on San Miguel. Why are you just walking around unprotected? Why don’t you have bodyguards?”
“They’d get in my way.”
She felt like hitting him. “Life is precious, dammit, and you go around risking …” She trailed off, unable to continue.
“You’re angry.” A slow smile lit his face. “I’ve never really seen you angry before. It’s … interesting.”
“I’m not angry. Why should I be angry at someone who could be so abysmally dumb as to wander around as if he owned the earth when people are trying to kill him?” She jumped to her feet. “And stop grinning at me!” She stalked across the deck to the opposite side. Her hands were trembling as they reached out to grasp the rail. Anger, she assured herself, it was anger, not fear for him that had struck her to the heart.
He followed her, but she refused to look at him. “Go
Similar Books
