“Yeah. Question iswhy. You don’t suppose he has a pain kink? Maybe he’s a closeted masochist? Wouldn’t it be interesting to discover that Sir Clarke is a freak between the sheets?”
“Trust me, that man is no freak.”
“Well, you didn’t really expect to enjoy the dates. I mean, that wasn’t the point. It’s not why either of you are doing this. Right?”
“Right,” Ceci said.
Even she could hear the reluctant tone in her voice.
Ceci’s phone buzzed. A text from Aunt Delilah.
Giving you a heads up. Expect a call from your father. I haveconfirmation. He is starting up an F2 team. He knows you’re considering a return to driving. And he’s seriously considering you for a spot, either on the F2 or F3 team. Don’t ask me how I know this, I have my ways. I think Clarke made an impression on him. Did you tell him you missed driving?
Ceci’s heart was pounding.
Just then her phone rang.
She stared at the screen.
Father?
Hurriedly, she ended the call with Pixel.
Prepared for it to be his assistant because he never called her himself, she answered. “Hi, Katie.”
“This isn’t Katie, Cecilia. It’s your father.”
Clarke
Clarke smiled at the girls playing with Holly and Boudica. They seemed happy he’d come and especially happy he’d brought Holly. The whippet flew all around the world with him. She was at every race. He noticed Ceci did the same with Boudica.
“Okay, back to work,” cried Sofia.
“Right,” agreed her sister.
They were creating avatars for their Knights of the Round Table video game. They told him they were going to present it to Pixel once they finished. They also informed him they planned on being the youngest billionaires in Silicon Valley history.
Given they had a knight in their very presence, they decided they would include him.
“But there isn’t a Sir Clarke,” said Sofia.
“Yeah, but he’s in a different time,” Beatrice said. “Now time. That’s what he’s called now, but back then he must have had a different name.”
Sofia’s eyes widened. “Like a dual identity!”
“Like a dual identity!” Beatrice exclaimed, mimicking her older sister. “Sir Percy must have a dual identity since he’s also the Black Knight.”
“That’s right. His identity is hidden under a helmet.”
“Yeah, like a mask.”
Sofia sighed. “He has the Ebony Blade.”
Clarke frowned. “Ebony Blade?”
“It’s magical. So long as you’re carrying it, no harm can come to you. Do you have one?”
“Unfortunately, no. Just ask your Aunt Ceci.”
