Goddess of Legend (Goddess Summoning #7)(91)

"Oh, the king already took care of that, lady. He banned it from the night's menu. I knew not why until this very - oof !" James rubbed his stomach. "He preferred not to offer such."

Isabel glanced at Arthur, and his heart thrummed. Gods, he wanted her. Maybe this night. Perhaps, because battle had been averted, all nights of his life.

She smiled at him, and he knew she knew his thoughts. "I have one very special request, King Arthur."

Oh, yes. She could ask for any star in the sky and he would find a way to snatch it for her. "Name it, Countess."

She looked back at the women. "Gwen, I trust you are going to make the hall beautiful once again."

Gwen rose, pulling Jenny with her. "Jenny and I will go pick the flowers right now and begin to decorate the hall."

As they went to leave, Arthur stopped Gwen. "I am proud of you, Guinevere. As is Lance. He is a lucky and happy man. And afore you begin to decorate, perhaps visit him. He is at the cottage, cleaning up after helping to put out the fires."

She looked up at him and smiled. "I am growing up, Arthur. With any hope, growing wiser. Thank the woman you love for that transformation."

"I thank her for so many things. But learning wisdom comes from within. That is all you, Gwen. Take the credit for that. Now go see Lance. I am certain that Jenny can begin cutting flowers without you."

WAS Isabel the only sane person in the room? She wasn't certain, so she asked, "Am I the only sane person in this room?"

"Trust me, love, you are most likely the least sane person in this room," Arthur said. He glanced at both James and Mary. "Anyone who considers Isabel the most crazed here, please raise your hands."

James and Mary both rose their hands.

"Mary!"

"I love you, Countess, but you are a bit . . . wild."

"Do you think I did wrong?"

"No way in Hades!" Mary said. "You were so earnest in your desire to save the king and Camelot. 'Twas something to behold. I aspire to that passion."

"But it was crazy?"

"Only because the king said it was so."

She glared at Arthur. "You, sir, are stacking the cards."

He smiled. "I have no idea what that means, but I suppose you would say so."

Isabel folded her arms over her ribs. "James?

"With all pardons, Countess, must I choose betwixt you and my king, I must land on the side of my king. And my wife. But you and the king are so in love, it seems that siding with one is also siding with another. Am I right, wife?"

"You are so right, husband."

"Good gods, it's the pickle factor," Isabel murmured.

"I heard that, Isabel," Mary said. "And, no, it is not. It is that we care very deeply about those we treasure most. James and I truly believe you two are meant to be with one another. So stop being dumb about it, and just trust your feelings. Come, James. I believe we have some time afore we need return to work. I will be back in . . . an hour?" she said, looking up at James. "Okay, possibly two."

Isabel and Arthur stared at one another before laughing.

If nothing else, she decided, Camelot was full of laughter.

"What is this favor, Izzy? I have high hopes that you wish to continue to practice the undressing thing."

"Oh, I've already mastered that one. No, the favor is to allow Ashton to ask for Jenny's hand tonight."

"In front of all?"

"Yes. How romantic is that?"

"Would that it could be me asking for yours. Because you have promised you would agree, yes?"

"I would absolutely say yes."

"Then I so wish it would be me tonight."

"Someday, Arthur, Someday."

Arthur shook his head, chuckling. "I have. I have lost total control over this entire realm, Isabel. And I find myself not worrying overmuch."

"You haven't. Why would you even think such a thing?"

"We have servants berating us, we have women taking up the charge. For crying out loud, Isabel, it was ideas of yours that stayed the enemy."

"Oh, please, all I did was try to think of any plan that did not involve the shedding of blood. Especially yours. That is all. It would be a mess to clean up."

"Ah, I see. Less work was your intent."

"Exactly. I'm lazy that way."

He kicked the door shut. "Mary and James say two hours?"

"I believe that was their time, yes," she said, backing away.

"Not nearly enough time, but I will take what I can get."

"Who says you get any?" Isabel asked.

"Your beautiful blue eyes, Isabel. Your eyes tell me you desire me as I desire you."

"Damn my non-lying eyes."

"Oh, no, praise those beautiful, honest eyes. Now tell me from those lips."

"I desperately desire you, Arthur," she said.

"See, we agree on so many things, Isabel," he said, then held out his arms. "A master at undressing me you say? I wish proof."

OH, yes, they were both sweaty and spent. Isabel had no idea how long they'd spent making love, but she was fairly certain their two hours were close to up.

"We should probably get dressed," she said.