“Who knows? Maybe this time we’ll be luckier.”

Chapter Fifteen

“I CAN’T believe you’re serious!”

Hamish Alexander shook his head sharply and glared at Honor. They sat in the study of his Landing mansion, with Samantha stretched across the back of his chair, resting her chin on the backs of her true-hands. Nimitz lay across Honor’s chair back, and she could taste the cats’ unhappiness, their grief at the prospect of a lengthy separation. But she also tasted their acceptance.

There was no trace of that emotion in the Earl of White Haven.

“I’m completely serious, Hamish,” she said, far more calmly than she felt. “And before you say it, of course I realize that at the very least this is a political Trojan Horse from High Ridge’s perspective. But you and Willie have the situation as well in hand in Parliament as anyone could expect to, under the circumstances, and whatever we may think of Janacek, this is a job that needs doing. And given Sidemore’s involvement in it, I feel a certain personal responsibility to do whatever I can to keep Marsh from getting run over in the scrimmage.”

“Damn it, Honor, of course you do! And they know exactly how your head works when somebody punches the responsibility button. They’re manipulating you into taking this on, and you know it as well as I do!”

“Maybe they are,” she agreed evenly. “And certainly I can see a lot of advantages for them in getting me out of the Star Kingdom. But let’s be honest, Hamish. There could be some advantages for us in getting me off of Manticore, as well.”

“Somehow I don’t expect Willie to think that,” White Haven said tartly. “And even if he did, I—”

“Willie might surprise you,” Honor interrupted. “And I asked you to be honest. When I said ‘advantages for us’ I wasn’t thinking about Parliament.”

He closed his mouth abruptly, biting off whatever he’d been about to say, and something inside her flinched from the sudden pain, almost betrayal, that flickered in his ice-blue eyes. But she couldn’t afford to show that, and so she made herself return his gaze levelly. Silence crackled between them for several seconds, and then she smiled sadly.

“We need some space between us, Hamish,” she said gently. He started to speak again, but her raised hand stopped him. “No. Don’t say anything. I didn’t come here to argue with you, or even to debate my decision. I came because I’ve already decided to accept the command, and I needed to tell you that myself. It wasn’t an easy decision, and I’m fully aware that Janacek didn’t offer it to me out of the goodness of his heart. But that doesn’t keep it from being a godsend.”

“But—”

“No, I said,” she cut him off quietly. “Hamish, we’ve danced around this for years now, and it’s killing both of us. You know it, Nimitz and Samantha know it. So do I… and so does Emily.”