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or once？〃
He swallowed and managed a sharp nod。 〃Absolutely；〃 he said； opening his arms in his helplessness； knowing that his smile must appear inane。
Her lips curved in one of her gentle and delicious smiles。 〃Oh； Robie；〃 she said； turning her head from side to side； a look of wonder and joy on her face。 〃Haven't I done my best to show you how I care？ Even braving the sea to fish so we'd be together？〃
His paralysis ended at her gentle reprimand and he pulled her into his arms。 Her arms went about his neck； her hands catching in his thick hair as she pulled his head down。 〃I want a proper kiss from you now； Harper Robinton！ Not a polite birthday peck。〃
He was as properly improper as he dared。 Only she dared more and； before he could fret about any inadequacies as a lover； she was responding in such a way that it fuelled his ardour out of bounds。
Always； afterwards； he remembered that moment any time he smelled the pungency of varnish or well…seasoned wood。
In the loving aftermath； Kasia told him that Juvana approved and would support her choice with their parents。
〃How does she know？〃 Robinton demanded； startled to think that Lady Juvana had been discussing him with Kasia。 And possibly with Lord Melongel。
〃Because I've been filling her ears with Rob this and Rob that；〃 Kasia said； grinning at his reaction。
Kasia was more than old enough to choose for herself； and her parents had sent her to Tillek Hold so that she would have more choice … and fewer memories of the man she had lost。
〃Am I at all like him？〃 Robinton asked； a question which had run circles in his head for a long time。
She regarded him with a little smile on her lips； tracing the line of his mouth with her finger。 〃Yes； and no。 Not in looks。 Merdine hadn't your inches： as well for a seaman who'd be clouting his head all the time on beams。 He was good…looking； but your face has far more character。 You'll grow handsomer as you age。。。 and I'll be there to keep the roving women away。〃 She drew his head down to kiss him。 〃You've lovely bones！〃 〃Bones； the girl says。〃 Robinton burst out laughing in surprise。
〃Lots of long bones；〃 she repeated with a newly established proprietary delight。 〃Merdine was much more assertive。 Well； he'd have to be as a sea captain； whereas a harper has to be more tactful and persuasive。〃
〃He does？〃 Robinton mocked her。
〃Well； you are both。 I've heard you； Journeyman。。。〃
He interrupted her。 〃Your parents will not object to you espousing a harper？ I intend to get my Mastery； but it does mean we'll do a lot of travelling。 Will they mind？〃
〃And a sea captain doesn't travel？ A harper doesn't encounter the same sort of hazards。。。〃 She stopped there； her eyes darkening with the sorrow Robinton had hoped he had lifted for ever。
〃I don't know about that；〃 he said into the pause； speaking lightly and trying to restore the happy mood they had been enjoying。
〃Sorry； Rob。〃
〃No need to be。。。 love；〃 he said； experimenting with using the word in her presence。
〃That's what I especially love about you； Rob。 Your perceptions and understanding。 Merdine。。。 was not an understanding man。 Not the way you are。 And I think … on balance … that's very important in creating a good harmony for a long life together。〃
They would have explored that topic much further except that they both heard voices along the hallway outside the workshop。
They had straightened themselves and their clothing； and Robinton pretended to tighten a string on the harp。 The voices talked on； their owners continued past the workshop。 But that interlude was over。
〃I'll carry it for you；〃 Robinton said。
〃Then we will both explain its significance to my sister；〃 she said firmly。 〃Not that she'll need much explanation when we walk in with this beautiful instrument。〃
Nor did they。 Juvana was delighted； saying this was the best birthing day gift her little sister could possibly have。 There wasn't another harper in the family； so it was about time there was one。
〃Melongel's been wondering when you would declare yourself； Robinton；〃 she added； giving him a sly sideways glance。
〃And what gave him the need to wonder？〃 Robinton asked。 He had prided himself on keeping his feelings under control。
〃Oh； I thought he should consider the matter；〃 Juvana said airily； 〃especially since my baby sister has been sighing over you for some time。 He won't object。〃
Melongel didn't。 He already knew of the Telgar Blood connection of Petiron； and the fact that Merelan was a MasterSinger of Pern…wide prestige made no bar to an espousal。
〃But the summer's ahead of us； the busiest season for journeymen harpers；〃 he said more severely； since he did not permit pleasure to interfere with duty。 〃Autumn Equinox would be a better time for espousal than Summer Solstice。 We will； however； announce the pact tonight and spare Robinton petition for dances。〃
Melongel could not spare Robinton either the teasing or the envy of those who had also hoped to espouse Kasia。 But the public announcement of their intention made their lives far more fortable。
Rob had sent a formal announcement to his parents … at Juvana's suggestion。
〃Mothers need to know such things； Robinton；〃 she said； smiling with just a touch of maternal condescension。 〃You're old enough to choose your own partner； but even if your relations with your father are poor； you should include him。〃
Robinton stared at her； shocked。 He'd never mentioned anything about his father。
〃That's just it； Rob；〃 Kasia put in gently； touching his arm and peering into his face。 〃You don't mention Petiron； ever。 But you mention your mother at least forty times a day。〃
〃I don't。。。 that's exaggeration；〃 he said； but he relaxed and smiled at her teasing。 〃I don't want you to think that I don't admire Petiron's music。。。〃
〃That's what I meant；〃 Juvana said。 〃He's never your father。 Always Petiron。〃 She paused； watching the shock on his face。 〃It gives a clue to those who have your good interests at heart。 Not something a casual person would look for。〃 She wrinkled her nose。
〃Then； too； I've met your father and I agree： he's a remarkable poser。 It's your songs； however； that everyone sings。〃
Robinton didn't know what to say； since he had no idea that he had given himself away simply by not mentioning a subject。
〃You've heard me go on and on about my father；〃 Kasia said； now earnestly trying to ease the shock of their casual disclosure。
〃Mind you； I can see why he'd be hard to emulate。〃
〃Nonsense； I'd far rather have music I can hum or whistle than those intricate and … yes； I'll say it … tortured musical forms。〃
Robinton couldn't stifle a nervous chuckle at Juvana's remark。
〃There； that's better；〃 Kasia said。 〃If I ever meet him； I'll be oh so punctilious and formal。 Now your mother。。。 she's a dear and loving person。〃
Robinton gawked at her。 〃How do you figure that？ Have you met her？〃
〃Not really； but I've heard her sing。 And her face is so expressive that she must be loving。 And if she brought