Affair of Honor by Stephanie James Page B

have to face Ryder just yet.
    “Damon! What in the world are you doing here?”
    She looked up at the dark-haired man of medium height who stood on her doorstep. Professor Damon Fielding had spent a year studying at Oxford sometime in his academic past and it still showed. He wore the tweed jacket with its leather patches on the elbows, the button-down shirt, and the slacks and loafers with aplomb. Nearing forty, Dr. Fielding was aware of his position as next in line to assume the responsibilities of head of the Department of Philosophy when Paul Humphrey retired. He was a good-looking man with stylishly cut hair of the proper length and charmingly blue eyes. He had been divorced from his first wife, a professor of English, for three years. He was, above all else, a highly respected scholar in his area of expertise.
    “Good morning, Brenna. Going somewhere exciting?” He smiled down at her and the red sandal she still held in her hand.
    “No, no, of course not.” Hurriedly Brenna backed away, gesturing him politely inside. “I’m astonished to see you, Damon. Did you drive all this way just to find me?”
    “Who else do I know in Lake Tahoe?” He chuckled, stooping to kiss her lightly. “Got a cup of coffee for a man who’s had a long trip?”
    “Right away. How about breakfast? Did you stop along the way?” Thankful for the excuse, Brenna hurried toward the kitchen.
    “No, and I’ll admit that sounds like an excellent suggestion.” Damon wandered interestedly into the living room, glancing around. “Enjoying the summer, Brenna?”
    “It’s hardly started,” she protested a little weakly, searching the refrigerator for something edible. It would have to be eggs and toast and coffee. “Did you…did you drive up just for the day?”
    “No, I was visiting a colleague in Sacramento and decided on the spur of the moment to come on up to Tahoe. I was a little worried about you, darling.”
    She glanced up to see him watching her, his hands thrust into the pockets of his jacket. Any moment now he would light his pipe and the image would be complete. Her lips tightened as she closed the refrigerator door.
    “It’s kind of you to be concerned, Damon,” she began formally, “but this is something I’m going to have to think about for a while.”
    “That’s why I’m here, darling,” he explained magnanimously, “to help you think. Normally you’re one of the most rational, analytical people I know, but on this one subject you can’t seem to be realistic.”
    “Damon, Paul Humphrey is publishing my work under his own name, for God’s sake! That’s wrong, any way you look at it! Unethical, unprofessional, dishonorable, and unworthy! What the hell do you expect me to do? I may only be a very junior assistant professor but I’ve got my rights!”
    “You also have your future to consider!” he snapped forcefully, clearly annoyed with her inability to be reasonable.
    “My future involves teaching things like ethics and the honorable quest for truth! How can I presume to teach such things when I’m personally choosing to ignore them!”
    They faced each other across the short space of the kitchen. Where in the world was Ryder? Brenna wondered incongruously. Where had he gone when he’d left her bed this morning? And why was she thinking about him at a time like this? Damon Fielding had come all this way to talk sense into her. She should be thrilled at this sign of his concern!
    “Brenna, you’re living in the real world, not some perfect construct where everyone behaves according to an ethical code! Be reasonable. Paul Humphrey will be retiring very soon, perhaps even earlier than we thought. His career is over and yours is just beginning. You can’t punish him, because it would always be a case of your word against his. He’s got a brilliant academic career behind him. You’ve got virtually nothing yet, except your doctorate and a bottom rung on the faculty ladder. You’ll only wind up hurting