Goddess of Legend (Goddess Summoning #7)(81)

"And should there be a greater king to serve than Sir Arthur?"

Again, deafening cheers.

Arthur looked like he wanted to pound his stein over James's head.

"James, you are my best mate," he said, "but I fear if you do not climb down from this table, the both of us will crumble in a sea of splintered wood."

"To King Arthur!" James said, before he not so elegantly began to climb down.

"To our king!" the entire hall cheered.

"Criminey!" Arthur said. "This is about our newlywed couple! Let us keep the eye on the prize, everyone."

"What?" Gwen said.

Isabel looked down. Arthur was picking up way too many phrases she happened to blurt out at any given moment.

"Mary and James," Arthur said, "here are the door keys to your cottage. A very, very happy night for you both."

"Oh, sir, that is a wonderful gift."

"Where is the queen?" Arthur asked. "Queen Guinevere, please come forward to tell them the rest."

Gwen again squeezed Isabel's hand. "This should be you."

Isabel shook her head. "No, you are the queen, Gwen. Go!"

Gwen walked forward, and Arthur stepped down from the table to greet her. They made such a beautiful couple, Isabel was ready to shoot them both.

Gwen smiled as she took center stage, her crown glistening atop her head.

And then she said, "No, I cannot take credit for the gift that comes next. It is Isabel, Countess of Dumont, who was insistent. Please, Countess, come here to tell Mary and James."

Isabel wanted to disappear, literally and figuratively.

She shook her head. "No!"

Gwen pointed at her. "Go get her, James."

Being dragged center stage, at least a foot off the ground, was not exactly her idea of making a grand entrance. But that was exactly what James did, Mary clapping and laughing the entire time.

"My pardon, Countess," James said as he set her down. "But you have been summoned by the queen."

"I will get you for this. I don't know when, I don't know how, but I will get you," she said to Mary's new husband. "So watch your back."

"I will, Countess. I am truly shaking."

She wanted to glare at him, but how could she? "Bend down," she said.

He did and she kissed his cheek. "Happy days, James. You make her happy or you answer to me."

"Now that truly frightens me," he said.

"Good."

"This is ridiculous," she told the crowd. "Your king and queen are responsible, not me."

"Not true," Arthur said. "As we all pondered gifts for Mary and James, it was the countess who suggested the one the queen and I offer. So, Countess, please let them know."

Isabel turned to the couple, then she couldn't help it. She held up her pinky finger to Mary. Mary laughed and the two hooked up. And then Isabel looked at Gwen. "Your Highness?"

"You know I dislike when you call me that," Gwen said, but smiled and wrapped her little finger around theirs. "Friends!" the three said, holding their entwined fingers in the air.

They broke apart, laughing. When Isabel finally glanced up, she saw just about everyone in the hall gaping at them. Including Arthur.

Isabel ignored him and cleared her throat. "What the king and queen are too modest to admit is that their gift to Mary and James is not merely the cottage for the night. The gift is the cottage, for the two of them to live in as long as they desire."

Mary gasped. James staggered a bit. The stunned expressions on their faces were priceless. Good gods, she wished she had her camera.

Mary reached for her and Isabel held her, waiting for Mary's heaving sobs to settle.

"Mary, it isn't my gift. It is from the king and queen. You should be thanking them." She pulled the hanky from her wrist and wiped Mary's eyes. "Mary. King. Queen. Gift. From them."

Mary pulled herself together and turned to Arthur and Gwen. She tried to curtsy, but her legs were obviously a little shaky.

Arthur took her arm. "Enough of that."

"We cannot," Mary hiccupped, "thank you enough."

"You may try," Arthur said, grinning. "I will not be offended."

Isabel shot him a disgusted look, but then he pulled the big move on her. He winked. And once again she was a goner.

DEAD on her feet did not even begin to describe how Isabel was feeling.

Without Mary there to help her out of this gawdawful gown, she was in trouble.

She contemplated just dropping down in bed, gown or not, when there was a knock on her door. "Thank you, Jenny, I need so badly help out of these clothes. Come in."

And in walked Arthur. "I am not Jenny, but I will gladly help you undress."

She smiled, but it was pretty weak. "Arthur, I am so exhausted, but I will gladly accept your help out of this contraption."

"My pleasure, madam."

She turned her back to him so he could work the back laces. "This could be a problem. Jenny might show up here at any moment."

"I gave Jenny the night off."

"Jenny is Gwen's girl."

"She is. Gwen gave Jenny the night off an hour ago. Just afore Gwen and Lance disappeared."