Goddess of Legend (Goddess Summoning #7)(68)

Isabel stood, stunned. "Oh. My. God. You tried. And I didn't let you. I was so afraid that it was a farewell gesture that - "

"Shhh," he said, putting a finger to her lips. "I understand your upset and confusion, Isabel. Please remember how quickly I grew angry at the thought of you with other men. Add to that that I am still married to Gwen, it is understandable why you would leap to that conclusion. Were the situation in the reverse, I fear I may have done the same."

"You are giving me an excuse, when I have none. No, you would not have done the same. You would have listened. But, Arthur, I was so afraid that what we had . . ."

"I know, love, I know," he said as he pulled her into his arms.

"Why are you so forgiving when I don't deserve it?"

He chuckled into her hair. "Perhaps because it is the kingly thing to do?"

"No, the kingly thing to do is telling people to do this, or people to do that."

"Then perhaps it is something a man does when he loves a woman."

"I'll take that one for a thousand, Alex."

He grinned, brushing her hair from her face as he kissed her temple, her forehead, her nose. "I know not what that even means, and I find I do not care. I know not who this Alex is, but I do not care. What matters most to me is that we clear this misunderstanding betwixt us."

"Oh, Arthur," she said, wrapping her arms around him, standing on tiptoe to rain kisses over his neck. "I am so very sorry."

"As am I. I am certain that there should have been a much better way to relate the events." He smiled down at her. "Okay, I fibbed. I am curious as to what you will trade for a thousand whate'ers. And who this Alex is."

"It is a game we play at home. It is a reverse thing. You, the player, will be given the answer, and then you will formulate what the question would be."

"Pardon?"

"Exactly. Although actually it would be, 'What is pardon?' "

He shook his head. "I am baffled, love."

"For example, someone would say, 'The land that King Arthur loves passionately.' Then you would respond, 'What is Camelot?' "

"This is a game you play in Dumont?"

"Yes."

"Okay then," he said. "I believe I understand the rules."

She laughed. "Okay, the answer is, 'The woman who is crazy about King Arthur.' What is the question?"

"I am hoping the question is, 'Who is Countess Isabel?'"

"Correct!"

"Then I have one for you."

"Lay it on me, big boy."

"The kingly thing Arthur is about to tell his woman - as is his right, mind you, as kingly matter involve telling you to do that and you to do this - to do."

"What is take off the king's kingly clothes?"

"Not exactly the one I was going for, but it very much works for me, Isabel. So I will give you a correct on that one."

Isabel went to work obeying his kingly command. "You know, every once in a while there is more than one right response."

"Good. My question was, 'What is allow the king to help the countess in taking off her clothes?'"

"See, more than one right response," she said.

MARY and James walked down the hall hand in hand, both grinning. "We may be in so much trouble," Mary said.

"Did you hear a single thing shatter?"

"I did not."

"Then I believe we are safe," James said.

"Isabel would ne'er hurt me. I am certain. No matter the outcome, good or bad, she will forgive me. But King Arthur?"

"Would ne'er hurt you, Mary. Nor me."

She stared up at her giant of a future husband. "How do you know?"

"Because he is the kindest man I have e'er met. He is tough in the battle training, no question. But always, always fair to all. No matter the outcome, he will most assuredly forgive us for he will realize our good intentions."

"Then we did okay."

"We did better than okay. Last I heard they were sharing laughter."

Mary stopped James. "There is a ritual in Isabel's land where you celebrate success."

"What is it?"

"It is called a high five." She held up her palm and waited for him to follow suit. He stood looking confused.

"Hold up your hand!"

He did, and Mary smacked it, grinning. "High five!"

"What does this mean?"

"It is a sign of success. I am guessing that the two are making up as we speak."

James grinned down at his love. He held up his palm. She looked at him curiously but smacked palms with him.

"High five," she said. "What was that one for?"

"For my luck that the lady I love returns those feelings. And that I will soon be the happiest husband alive."

Chapter Twenty-One

AT the sound of the knock, Gwen glanced up from her bed to find the countess standing there, looking quite beautiful in a wine-colored gown.

In comparison, Gwen knew she most likely appeared pale and disheveled and that this bed gown was not at all flattering. "Please," she said, running her fingers through her hair, "enter."