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She chuckled. “Agreed. I am Maelin.”

“A lovely name.”

“I appreciate the compliment, but I cannot thank you since it’s not of my doing.”

“A House of Theryn name?”

“Actually, I’m not sure.”

“Well, I like it.” He smiled and touched her hand briefly. “It’s unusual, and it fits you.”

She gazed at him. “Who are you, Cyrus Drake? I know nothing about you, and neither does anyone else, it seems.”

Pleased, he grinned. “You asked about me.”

“Well, of course I did,” she flashed back. “Firstly I couldn’t believe that silly machine matched us. Especially since my questions were...well, somewhat distinct.”

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you put down things that were...less than serious?”

“I wanted a mate who knew how to build a cottage.”

Cyrus chuckled. “What else?”

“Um...let me think,” she pursed her lips. “A mate who could repair an aethercoach, then drive it.”

“I’m beginning to see the problem,” he grinned. “I asked for a mate who would be happy living in a cottage.”

She blinked, clearly stunned. “Really?”

He nodded. “Yes, really. And also I asked for a mate who could help me fix my aethercoach.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“It is beyond the realm of possibility, isn’t it? But that’s the absolute truth.”

Maelin simply laughed. “We couldn’t have planned it any better, could we?”

“Not at all.”

He watched her face as she laughed. No pretense, no desire for attention, just a simple charming laugh.

At that point, they were interrupted by the waiter, and the business of lunch began.

Oddly enough, they seemed to be both light eaters, although he did talk her into a glass of wine. “The pale mistvine here is excellent...perhaps you might like to try it?”

“That sounds lovely. Yes indeed, thank you.”

The food was discussed and selected, and the wine poured, all under the shade of a wide umbrella and accompanied by the soft sound of the ocean in front of them.

Maelin leaned back. “This is lovely, Cyrus. I’m glad I came.” She glanced at him. “You left rather quickly last night. I trust all is well?”

He sipped his wine, stalling for a moment, collecting his thoughts.

“I was called away on an emergency,” he began. “I have the honour—and also the responsibility—of keeping an eye on some friends of mine elsewhere. There was an issue, so they contacted me.”

Maelin was silent for a moment or two. “And it was resolved?”

He made a choice. “Sadly, no. There was a...a death.”