Midnight Jewels

something about feeling free to use the pool at any time and we took you at your word. Mind giving us a little privacy while Mercy and I put on some clothes?"
    "Of course not. I'm the one who's sorry." She nodded at Lance. "As you can see, there's no problem. Thanks for alerting me. You may go back to bed."
    Lance accepted his dismissal without a word and vanished back into me bushes.
    Isobel smiled at Croft, who was still standing in front of Mercy. Her dark gaze slid over his nude frame with what Mercy could only describe as professional interest.
    "Don't let me interrupt your swim," Isobel said. "You are quite welcome to finish it. Lance and Dallas have rooms at the back of the house on the floor above. Lance happened to be up getting himself a drink of water or something and thought he heard a noise. We have to take strange noises seriously up here in the mountains. We're so isolated and Erasmus has so many valuable things here in the house. But now that I know what the problem is, I won't disturb you further. Good night and enjoy your swim. I'll turn out the overhead lights on my way back up the stairs. Shall I leave on the path lamps? It's a little difficult to find your way down here when they're off."
    "That would be great," Croft said. "Thanks. And sorry again about alarming everyone."
    "No problem. See you at breakfast, unless you'd prefer to sleep in."
    "We'll be at breakfast," Croft assured her.
    Mercy exhaled in relief as Isobel disappeared down the garden path. "Good grief. How embarrassing."
    "If you want to save yourself further embarrassment in the future, try not giving Lance an eyeful."
    "Don't you dare blame me for this. Everything that's happened tonight is all your fault." Mercy scrambled out of the pool and grabbed her robe. "And I'm not the only who who got leered at tonight. I saw Isobel staring at you. That water doesn't conceal much, you know. It was obvious you didn't have on a swimsuit."
    Croft planted both hands on the edge of the pool and hauled himself out in a single, smooth movement. Then he surprised Mercy with an unexpected grin. "You can stare all you want, honey. I won't mind."
    "Thank you very much." Primly, she turned away and fastened the sash of her robe. "But I think I've seen all I want tonight."
    Croft shrugged. He glanced regretfully toward the far end of the room. "I haven't seen all I want, but I guess I've seen all I'm going to see tonight," he muttered quietly. "Now that the hired hands are awake and alert, I can't risk going back into the vault. Somebody might be paying attention this time. I'll have to try again later." He followed Mercy out of the garden room and back up the stairs.
    When Mercy walked into her own room and closed the connecting door he didn't try to open it.
    For a long while she sat on the edge of her bed staring out at the endless mountain sky. Tomorrow, she decided, she was going to have a serious talk with Croft. She would insist he take her for a hike to some place where she wouldn't have to keep her voice low and watch every word.
    It occurred to Mercy that this business of having to worry about listening devices in the bedroom was very useful for Croft. It was an effective way to keep her from asking too many questions or making too many demands. The man definitely had a talent for getting his own way.

    Croft wasn't thinking about his talent for getting his own way the next morning as he sat down to breakfast with Isobel, Gladstone and Mercy. He was giving grave consideration to the limitations on his time at Gladstone's mountain fortress. The party was scheduled for that night. The next day he and Mercy would be leaving. Last night had very nearly turned into a full-scale disaster; that left only tonight to try to accomplish something useful.
    Breakfast was a delightful meal served in a glass walled room that had spectacular views on three sides. Dallas and Lance served the fresh fruit, heated silver racks of toast, Colombian coffee and goat cheese omelettes. Croft was served tea perfectly brewed in a pre-warmed ceramic pot. The tea was a very rind blend of Ceylon and Indian leaves, full-bodied with an excellent color and aroma.
    The room was rilled with morning sunlight. It reflected very nicely off the sterling and crystal. The peach colored nappery and a beautifully restrained arrangement of peach gladiolus provided just the right hint of color in the elegantly light room.
    Croft knew that from a purely aesthetic point of view he should