In Death 14 - Reunion in Death

keyed in something on a panel. "Night's young yet."
    A droid that looked remarkably French wheeled a cart in as the elevator opened. Instinctively Eve tossed an arm over her breasts, the other below her waist. And made Roarke laugh.
    "You have the oddest sense of modesty. I'll fetch you a robe."
    "I never see droids around here."
    "I assumed you'd object to Summerset bringing in the dinner. Here you are."
    He handed her a robe. Or she supposed you could call it a robe-if you didn't define one as actually covering anything. This was long and black and completely transparent. His grin flashed when she frowned at it.
    "It's my anniversary, too, you know." He shrugged into a robe of his own, one, she noted, that wasn't so skimpy on the layers.
    He poured the champagne the droid had opened, then offered her a glass. "To the first year, and all that follow." He touched his glass to hers.
    He dismissed the droid, and she saw he hadn't missed a detail with the meal, either. There was the same succulent lobster, the tender medallions of beef in the delicate sauce, the same glossy hills of caviar they'd shared on their wedding night.
    Candlelight shimmered and the music of the rain was joined by something that soared with strings and flutes.
    "I really didn't forget."
    "I know."
    "I'm sorry I tried to push it aside. Roarke." She reached over, closed her hand over his. "I want you to know that I wouldn't change anything, not one thing that's happened since the first time I saw you. No matter how often you've pissed me off."
    He shook his head. "You are the most fascinating woman I've ever known."
    "Get out."
    When she laughed, started to pull back, he tightened his grip on her hand. "Brave, brilliant, irritating, funny, exasperating, driven. Full of complications and compassion. Sexy, surprisingly sweet, mean as a snake. Disarmingly lacking in self-awareness, and stubborn as a mule. I adore every part and parcel of you, Eve. Everything you are is a maddening joy to me."
    "You're just saying that because you want to get laid again."
    "Hope does spring. I have something for you." He reached into the pocket of the robe and drew out two silver boxes.
    "Two?" Dumb shock covered her face. "There's supposed to be two gifts for this thing? Damn it, marriage should come with an instruction disc."
    "Relax." Yes, a maddening joy. "There are two here because I see a kind of connection between them."
    She frowned over it. "So, it's really like one? That's okay then."
    "I'm relieved to hear it. Have this one first."
    She took the box he offered, lifted the lid. The earrings sparkled up at her, deep and rich multicolored hunks of gems in hammered silver.
    "I know you're not much on baubles, and you feel I heap them on you." He picked up his wine as she studied them. "But these are a bit different, and I think you'll appreciate why."
    "They're great." She lifted one, and because she'd learned enough to know it would please him, began to fumble it into her ear. "Sort of pagan."
    "They suit you. I thought they would. Here, let me do that." He rose, came around the table to fasten the earrings himself. "But I think their history will appeal to you more. They once belonged to Grainne Ni Mhaille- that's the proper name for her in Irish. She was a chieftain, head of her tribe in a time when such things were not heard of-or admitted to. She is sometimes called the Sea Queen, as she was a great sailing captain. So..."
    He sat again, enjoying the way the earrings gleamed on his wife. His voice fell into a storytelling rhythm, so fluid, so Irish, she doubted he heard it. But she did.
    "Tribal chief, warrior, queen, what have you. She lived during the sixteenth century. A violent age, in a country that's seen more than its fair share of violence. And known for her courage was Grainne. In her life she had triumph and tragedy, but she never faltered. On the west island where she was fostered, the castle she built still stands on the cliff-strategically. And there, at sea, or at one of the several strongholds she acquired, she held her own against all comers. She stood for her beliefs. She defended her people."
    "She kicked ass," Eve said.
    "Aye." He grinned at that. "That she did. And so do you, so I think it would please her for you to have them."
    "It pleases me."
    "And here's the second part."
    She took the other silver box. Inside this was a silver medallion, an oval with the figure of a man carved on it.
    "Who's this guy?"
    "This is St. Jude, and he