Goddess of Legend (Goddess Summoning #7)(61)

"You fill a need inside me. I cannot describe it. I know not what our solution is that will make us all happy, I only know this: I do not believe happiness is available to me without you in my life."

"We will figure it all out, Arthur. Somehow, someway, I believe that Gwen and Lance, and you and I will end up happy. Let us trust fate again on this one."

There was a knock from inside the solarium, and they quickly stepped apart. James stood there, his eyes lowered, shuffling his humongous feet.

Arthur picked up a pebble from the rock garden and tossed it at the door. When James looked up, startled, Arthur motioned him out.

"What is it, James?"

"I have a message for the countess," he said, with a small bow in her direction.

"What is it, James?" Isabel asked.

"Mary, miss Mary, the one who - "

Isabel smiled. "I know who she is, James. She is my trusted friend."

"She, well, she asked me to tell you that she has come down with a bit of a headache, and that she will be unavailable for the rest of the evening. She sends her sincere apologies and hopes that you" - he coughed - "are able to turn down your own bed furs this night. She is most sorry, Countess."

Right. Isabel would bet that Mary had never taken a sick day or night in her life. But it was so sweet that she almost cried. "Please, James, convey my sincere hope that her head feels better in the morning."

He looked up and nodded. "Oh, yes, she will be . . . I mean, she hopes to be better by morning light."

"If there's anything I can do? Shall I visit her?"

"No, no, I believe she is already abed."

"Well, then, James, I suggest that if she is still awake that she sips a bit of tea, with a dollop of honey and perhaps just a drop or two of sweet mead."

"I will most certainly offer such." He went almost as red as Mary's hair. "I mean, I will have her mate bring it to her, should she wish."

"Thank you. Please give her my best."

"I will."

"And James?"

"Yes, mum?"

"Tell her thank you."

"I will. And I believe she will already know you would say such, Countess."

"Of course she will. She and I are pinky-finger friends."

James's chuckles followed him back into the castle. "Pinky-finger friends," he said. "I have had a good laugh over that one."

Arthur looked at her, his puzzlement all over his face.

"Want an interpretation?" Isabel asked.

"If that means that you will explain what just occurred, then indeed, I most definitely need an interpretation."

"Quick or detailed version?"

"The one that I will understand."

"Okay, here's my take. James left the dinner table and went to see Mary. Mary assessed the situation and created an excuse she could give me, wanting me to know that she would not be breezing into my chamber this evening to assist me in preparing for bed."

"Because?"

"To give me complete privacy."

"To what purpose? Did she expect a man to visit you, Isabel? Are you expecting a visitor? Who is he?"

Okay, Viviane, I'm really stunned. Are all these men quite so dumb?

He's a man newly smitten, and he is so taken his recent history has left him shaken.

His denseness, Viviane, is leaving me mute.

Oh, come on, Isabel, it really is cute.

Viviane was right. Isabel knew that all of the emotional scars could not possibly have completely healed by now. Maybe that was part of her role. To help heal him.

She looked up at him and raised her hands to attempt to smooth the distress. The muscles in his jaw were clenching, his eyes begging for answers.

"Arthur - "

"Tell me true, Isabel."

"Listen to me. Mary has become my trusted friend. She knows me better than anyone here."

"Yes?"

"Who do you think she was clearing the way for? Who do you think she felt I would want to spend time with privately?"

"Every man here would want to be with you. I could not even begin to count - "

"Arthur. Who do you believe Mary would be convinced I would wish to be alone with?"

She watched as the lightbulb finally switched on in the big dumb man's head. It was a hilarious sight to behold, but she knew laughing at this point would not be a good idea.

"Me?" he said.

"The man wins the duh prize."

"She was attempting to give you and me time alone?"

She shook her head. "As was James, dummy. They conspired to allow us to spend time together without being interrupted."

"There is no other?" he asked.

Her heart broke. She placed a hand over his. "I know you've been hurt, Arthur. But we will go nowhere while you keep suspecting that I might be the next to hurt you."

He took her hand and kissed her fingers, then placed it right back against his beating heart. "I am so sorry, Isabel. I know not how to properly ask for your forgiveness."

She could think of several ways. But first things first.

"You told me today that you confided in me because you felt you could trust me."

"'Tis true."