Always

Kira's lips tightened. 'Stefan put Marna in prison. He thought he could use her to pressure me.'

'But you broke her out and with Clancy's help whisked her here to Sedikhan,' Lisa said. Good heavens, it was like something out of a soap opera. No wonder Clancy had said that Kira and Marna were an explosive combination.

Kira nodded. 'Right. That was-'

'Kira, she shouldn't be out here in this sun listening to you chatter,' Marna interrupted. 'I will go prepare your room, and you take her inside and get her a cool drink. Make sure she takes her iron pill with it.' She turned away and walked briskly across the courtyard.

'I'm sorry.' Kira looked stricken. 'I didn't know you were that fragile.'

'I'm not,' Lisa said with a sigh. 'She acts as if I'm made of glass. I had a little difficulty with the baby during my second month and she's been wrapping me in cotton wool ever since.'

Kira nodded, her affectionate gaze following Marna. 'She has a very loving heart, and she likes you. I can tell. She's very protective of the people she cares about.'

'And I believe you are, too,' Lisa said, her eyes on the girl's face.

'I love her,' Kira said simply. 'She raised me. My parents and Stefan never had any time for me, and Lance couldn't stand Tamrovia and was always in Sedikhan. She's been my mother, teacher, and friend.' She shrugged. 'Everything. That's why I can't let her be exiled like this. Marna is a gy and they have very close tribal ties. She hataway from her people. I thought maybe she'd adjust to Sedikhan, but she's been miserably unhappy here.'

'And that's why you went back to Tamrovia?'

'What else could I do? I thought if I put up with all that courtship bull for a while, I could talk Stefan into a pardon for Marna.' She grimaced. 'I blew it. Maybe if I'd stuck it out just a little longer…'

'You're going back?'

'I can't do anything else. I have to try again.' Her shoulders shifted as if she were throwing off a burden. 'But that's not for a while. I'm free now and I'm going to enjoy myself.' She smiled. 'Come on, I have to get you that cool drink and your pill or Marna will have my head.'

In the hours that followed, Lisa found she was having a wonderful time. Kira Rubinoff had the facility of throwing herself into every situation and relationship with a lovable enthusiasm. The girl herself was lovable, and by the end of the evening Lisa felt as close to her as if they'd been friends for years.

They were having cbffee in the library after dinner when Lisa first began to have a niggling sense of uneasiness. It was almost ten o'clock. Surely Clancy should be home by now.

'You're frowning,' Kira said, eyes narrowing. 'What's wrong?'

'Nothing. I was just thinking about Clancy.' Lisa smiled with an effort. 'I know you said he might be late. I guess I worry too much.'

'You worry about him. He worries about you.'

Kira's expression was suddenly wistful. 'It must be nice to be in love like that.'

'Very nice,' Lisa said softly.

She frowned. 'Then why in the devil don't you marry him?' Her gaze touched on Lisa's abdomen. 'You're pregnant with his child, and Clancy's too old-fashioned not to want to legitimize it as soon as possible. It's probably bothering the hell out of him.'

'You think so?' Lisa asked. Clancy hadn't mentioned marriage since that night on Paradise Cay. Even then he'd assumed she wouldn't want to go through with a ceremony that would bind her to him.

'I know so,' Kira said positively. 'Don't you two ever talk? He's not liberated enough to embrace the concept of illegitimacy with open arms. I'm surprised he hasn't forced you before a magistrate at gunpoint.'

But he wouldn't have done that, Lisa thought with a pang of tenderness. Clancy had promised her freedom, and he would never go back on his word, even if it was hurting him.

'There I go again. I know it's none of my business. I just don't like to see Clancy unhappy. Forget it.'

'I won't forget it,' Lisa said slowly. 'Because I don't like to see Clancy unhappy, either.'

And she couldn't forget about it, even after she'd left Kira and retired to her room for the night. She showered, put on a nightgown, and slipped into bed but didn't bother to turn out the bedside lamp. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep am while she was worried about Clancy. Had she been too blind to notice Clancy's unhappiness with the situation? She hoped she hadn't been that self-centered, but there was a possibility that she might have been. He had seemed as content as she, but maybe…

The door opened suddenly and Lisa sat up in bed. Clancy! A wave of relief swept over her as she saw him standing in the doorway.

'Are you okay?' he asked as he came into the room. 'I'm sorry I couldn't get back sooner, but-'

'I'm fine,' she interrupted. He looked so tired. There were deep lines around his mouth, and the skin was taut over his cheekbones. 'How are you? I was worried about you.'

'Were you?' He came across the room and dropped on the bed beside her, then took her in his arms. 'That's nice to know.' He kissed her gently. 'Maybe I should go away more often.'

'No.' Her arms tightened about him. 'Oh, no.'

'I brought Galbraith back with me.' His hand stroked her back. 'I may have to go away again for another day or two. I wanted someone here to protect you.'

She stiffened. 'Protect me? Why should I have to have anyone to protect me?'

'Just a precaution. I don't like leaving you alone. You're too important for me to risk.' He changed the subject. 'How did you and Kira get along?'

'Wonderfully. I like her very much. I'm glad she's going to stay for a while. She practically oozes vitality.'

'She certainly does.' He frowned. 'But don't let her enthusiasm carry you away. She sometimes thinks everyone has as much energy as she does.'

Lisa nodded. 'I noticed that, but she's very appealing.' Suddenly her eyes grew wistful. 'And that gorgeous figure. I don't envy her vitality, but oh, what I'd give not to be quite so clumsy-looking.'

His hand went to her abdomen and rubbed gently back and forth on the slight swelling. 'It really bothers you?'

'It bothers any pregnant woman to be unattractive, even when she knows it won't last that long. There's no question that it's worth it, but yes, it does bother me.' She smiled uncertainly. 'Does it bother you, Clancy?'

'Unattractive?' He looked stunned. 'Why the hell do you think you're unattractive? You're more beautiful now than when I first saw you.'

'It's very kind of you to say that, but I know-'

'I'm not kind. I told you I'd always tell you the truth.' His hands cradled her face. 'Every day I look at you and see the changes and I'm filled with a kind of wonder. Your skin glows and becomes satin and velvet at the same time. Your hair shines and ripples in the sunlight. Your entire body is ripening like a young tree that blossoms in the springtime. It's all freshness and beauty and new life.' He looked at her with complete sincerity. 'Can't you see that?'

'No.' Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. 'But I'm very, very glad that you do.' She turned her head and kissed his palm. He was the wonder. How lucky she was to have found him. 'Then perhaps you won't be too embarrassed to starn with me before a preacher.'

He went still. 'What?'

'I'm asking you to make an honest woman of me.' She smiled shakily. 'If you want to, that is. Kira said she thought you did, but if she was wrong, I'll-'

'If I want to!' His face had the same radiant expression she'd seen the day she'd told him of Mama's prediction about the baby. 'Oh, God, yes, I want to.' His blue eyes blazed with joy. 'You know damn well I want to marry you.' He suddenly frowned. 'Kira didn't try to steamroll you into it, did she?'

'No, she merely pointed out that you probably wanted to make the baby legitimate. I find I want that, too.' She kissed him. 'I like living in sin with you, but I believe I'll love being married to you,'

He drew a deep, unsteady breath. 'Tomorrow. We'll fly to Marasef tomorrow and be married. I'm not taking any chances on you changing your mind.'

'I'm not going to change my mind. Why didn't you tell me it was this important to you?'

'I was afraid you'd run for the hills,' he said. 'You were so determined not to marry after your experience with Baldwin. I didn't want to push you into giving more, when I had so much already.'