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In fact it strongly suggests his plicity in some illegal activity； and Captain Serrano's innocence。 I would suggest that a search warrant； limited to Iklind's personal items and storage spaces； might prove fruitful。〃
〃But … ！〃 Cecelia got that much out before his hand clamped on her wrist。
〃It need not；〃 he went on； 〃inconvenience Lady Cecelia or interfere with her schedule； provided that you act in a timely manner。〃
〃Right。〃 Files seemed sapped of energy。 Cecelia wondered if Ser Granzia's voice had a hypnotic overlay。 〃I'll … get that done as soon as we've contacted the military。〃
Before she knew how it happened； Cecelia found herself sitting across a table from Heris Serrano in Desin's private office； with a tray of hot pastries and a variety of drinks before her。 Ser Granzia was still in conference with Mr。
Files and Desin； Desin's assistant had brought the refreshments and now left them alone。 Cecelia watched her captain pour herself a cup of something hot from a fluted pot。 The woman had a quality Cecelia had not yet defined； but found attractive。 She never fidgeted； never seemed divided against herself。
Yet she did not seem insensitive。。。 someone who had read and enjoyed Siilvaas could not be insensitive。
〃You may win our wager； milady；〃 she said now。 She offered the steaming cup to Cecelia； who shook her head。 She wanted something cold； and chose a bottle of fruit juice from an ice bucket。
〃Circumstances have changed；〃 Cecelia said。 〃Perhaps I should withdraw？〃
〃No … a wager's a wager。〃 Serrano's short black hair actually moved when she shook her head； Cecelia had begun to wonder if it was a wig。 〃I shall look forward to my lessons on your mechanical horse。〃 She had an engaging grin； Cecelia decided； which made her look years younger。
〃Ummm。 I still think the interruption of officialdom makes it unfair： suppose I exchange honors and let you teach me more about my ship？ I'm now convinced my own ignorance is both inconvenient and culpable。〃
The dark eyes measured her； Cecelia felt suddenly as if she had bee a novice rider； facing a stern judge in her first event Why had a woman with such a gift of mand given up her mission？ Cecelia could not believe it was anything dishonorable。。。 not with those eyes。 A mistake？ A quarrel？ She had not seemed quarrelsome so far； even when confronted with Ronnie's rudeness。
〃If it is your pleasure；〃 Serrano said。 〃Then I will be very glad to show you over your ship。 But I cannot consider it as your obligation under our wager unless I actually win。。。 and despite the best your legal firm can do； I expect we will be late leaving。〃
Cecelia snorted。 〃I'm beginning to think this year's season is jinxed。 Here I was invited for the opening day … planned to be early for once； planned to attend the first ball； even。 Then Olin got me to Court late； and I had young Ronnie foisted on me； and now this。 If I'm not careful I'll break a leg or something and miss hunting altogether。〃
〃How long does it last？ If it's more than a few days； we should be there for some of it。〃
The ignorance surprised her again； but she reminded herself that even among her class； not everyone knew much about fox hunting。 〃The season is just that；〃 she said gently。 〃A whole season … in this case； a planetary quartile。
Ideally； fox hunting is done when it is cool enough so that the horses don't overheat in the long chase； damp enough for hounds to pick up the scent。〃
〃Then …〃
〃Oh； we'll arrive before it's over； if something else doesn't happen。 But it's the opening … the first day … that excitement … 〃 Cecelia stared out the window at the view without seeing it。 〃You can't understand； you haven't been there。 I love it anyway； wet days and dry； I'm one of the last to leave。 It's just different； that's all。〃
〃Did you ever do any sailing？〃 Serrano asked。
〃Sailing？ You mean on water？〃 When Serrano nodded； Cecelia went on。 〃Yes； a little。 Bunny has lodges on island groups； I remember sailing little boats； hardly more than floatboards； one afternoon。 Why？〃
〃Because what you describe for hunting reminds me of racing season at my grandparents' place on Lowein。 There again there's a season； a weather pattern； that fits the sport； and on the first day all the boats； from the little sailboards up to square…riggers； parade along the coast。 Everyone wants to be there。〃
Cecelia recognized the note of longing。 〃Did you race sailboats？〃
Serrano smiled。 〃A cousin and I did； before we went in the Academy … it was a Rix…class； which wouldn't mean anything to you； any more than horse terms do to me。 And I crewed on a larger yacht one summer。〃
〃And will you do that when you retire？ Go back there and sail？〃
Serrano's face seemed to close into an impenetrable shell。 〃No； milady。 Lowein is where Fleet officers retire。。。。 I wouldn't fit in there； and I've no desire to embarrass my family。〃
〃I hardly think you'd embarrass anyone；〃 Cecelia said。 〃Is it such a disgrace to captain my yacht？〃 She was surprised herself at how angry she felt at that thought。
〃No … not at all。〃 The voice carried no conviction； though。 〃Nothing to do with that … this … at all。〃 Serrano managed a forced smile。 〃Never mind … my retirement plans are far away； and we have a present problem： how to get you to your hunt on time。 I'll check with Sirkin； and see if we can't cut some corners。〃
〃With your concern for my safety？〃 That was meant as a joke； but came out sharper than she had intended。
〃Yes … with due concern for your safety。〃 Serrano was serious again。 〃There's another matter； milady。 It's about your crew。〃
〃What … do you think they're all smugglers？〃 Again； a lightness she couldn't sustain。 Cecelia shook her head。 〃I'm sorry： I am trying to be funny and it's not working。〃
〃No wonder；〃 Serrano said。 〃You have had your schedule disrupted； you have lost a crewman through a dangerous accident； you have nearly been accused of smuggling； and you had to spend several days of unfortable travel under emergency restrictions。 Frankly； I think you're holding up surprisingly well。〃
〃You do？〃
〃Yes。 Nonetheless； I must bother you about the crew。〃 Serrano paused to sip from her cup and take a bite of pastry。 Cecelia noticed again the dark smudges under her eyes … had she slept enough？ Or was it worry？ She picked up a pastry herself； and tried it。 Leathery； pared to those her own cook turned out。 〃You hired your crew from one employment agency；〃 Serrano said。 〃Who remended that agency to you？〃
〃I hired you from the same agency；〃 Cecelia said。 〃What difference does that make？〃
〃It's a bit of embarrassment； but。。。 they don't send you their best。 They admitted that to me； when I asked them to forward some information on the crew。〃
〃But … but I'm a Bellinveau！〃 Cecelia's voice rose。 〃Surely they wouldn't …〃
〃What they said；〃 Serrano broke in； 〃was that you did not need the level of expertise that a large ship did。 Their top people go to big shipping and passenger fines； where they have a chance to move up …〃
〃I pay very high salaries；〃 Cecelia said。 〃That ought to mean something； if my name doesn't。〃 She didn't like being interrupted； and she didn't like the implication that her ship was un