“Bring them here?”
“Aye. Be back by tomorrow. They’re at Chen Sheng’s.”
“Bring them here? Openly?”
“Aye, by God! Leave immediately.”
“I won’t do it, Tai-Pan. Not openly. You’d destroy yourself. You know you’d be ostracized.”
“The mandarins have put a ransom on their heads. Hurry!”
“Gott im Himmel!” Mauss tugged at his beard nervously. “I’ll bring them aboard secretly and swear Orlov to secrecy.
Gott im Himmel, forgive this poor sinner.”
Struan walked back to Mary. “Who told you about the kidnaping, Mary?”
“No one you know.”
“You put yoursel’ in great danger, lassie. Getting information, then acting on it yoursel’.”
“I’m very careful.”
“Leave Macao once and for all. Take yoursel’ out of that life while you have your life. Your joss will na last forever.”
“Let’s talk about you, Tai-Pan. You can’t flaunt your Chinese mistress here.”
“She and the children’ll be safe aboard, and that’s all that counts.”
“Not in our society, by God, and you know it. They’ll break you, Tai-Pan—even you—if you go against their godrotting code. They have to. She’s Chinese.”
“The pox on them!”
“Yes. But it’ll be a lonely curse, and you’ve your house to think of. So long as May-may’s kept private, she’s no threat to them—what’s not seen does not exist. It’s not my place to advise you—you know that better than anyone— but I beg you, keep her private.”
“I do, and I will—unless they’re in danger. I owe you a favor, Mary.”
“Yes.” Her eyes lit with a curious flame. “I would like a favor.”
“Name it.”
“Anything I ask?”
“Name it.”
“Not now. When I want my favor, I’ll ask it. Yes. One day I’ll want a favor.” Then she added lightly, “You should be more cautious, Tai-Pan. I’m a woman, and a woman’s mind works very differently from a man’s.”
“Aye,” he said, and grinned.
“You’ve such a nice smile, Tai-Pan.”
“Thank you, kind lady,” he said. He bowed elegantly. “That’s praise indeed!” He put his arm in hers and they began to walk back to the beach. “Who told you about May-may and the children?”
“We agreed, two years ago, that the sources of my information were sacrosanct.”
“Will you na use those long words?”
“I’m glad I met May-may at long last. She’s so beautiful. And the children.” She was feeling warmed by his touch.
“Is there a chance the information was incorrect?”
“No. Kidnaping for ransom is an ancient Chinese art.”
“It’s filthy. To touch women and children.” Struan was silent a moment. “How long are you staying here?”
“A few days. Horatio—Horatio gets a little lost when he’s alone. By the way, Chen Sheng knows I speak Cantonese, of course. Now May-may knows. I asked her to keep it secret. She will, won’t she?”
“Aye. Nae fear of that. But I’ll remind her.” He forced his mind off May-may and the children and Wu Kwok and the fire ships and the remaining three half coins. “One secret deserves another. The Noble House is giving a ball in thirty-odd days. Of course you’re invited.”
“What a marvelous idea!”
“We’re giving a prize. A thousand guineas for the best-dressed lady.”
“Good God, Tai-Pan, you’ll have your eyes scratched out!”
“Aristotle’s going to be the judge.”
“You’ll still have your eyes scratched out.” Her eyes seemed to change color. “You’d best remember. Now you’re the most eligible man in Asia.”
“What?”
Her laugh was half mocking. “Best choose a wife while you’ve the time. There’ll be many a doxy shaking her drawers at you and many a mother primping her daughters into your bed.”
“Will you na say such things!”
“Don’t say you weren’t warned, my lad. A thousand guineas? I think I’d like to win that prize.” Abruptly her mood changed. “I’ve the money to buy such a dress, as you well know—but if I did, it would, well, it would spoil the Mary Sinclair people know. Everyone knows we’re as poor as coolies.”
“But nothing says I canna give you a dress. At least, there’s nothing that says I canna make the offer through Horatio. Is there?”
“God’s blood, Tai-Pan, would you really? I’ll give you back the money.”
“If you’ll stop God’s-blooding, aye. But a gift is a gift.” He studied her thoughtfully. “Have you ever thought of your Great-aunt Wilhelmina?”
“Who?”
“Your mother’s second cousin once removed. In Holland.”
“Who?”
“The heiress—the one who could leave you a lot of money.”
“I’ve no relations in Holland.”
“Perhaps your mother forgot to tell you. Perhaps a solicitor in Amsterdam could write that you’ve come into an inheritance.” He lit a cheroot. “As an heiress you could spend money openly. Could you na?”
“But—but . . .” Her voice became brittle. “What about Horatio?”
“Aunt Wilhelmina could leave him two thousand guineas. The bulk to you. She only really liked female offspring. Your mother was her favorite—strange no one told you or Horatio about her. Poor Aunt Wilhelmina. She died yesterday.”
Mary’s eyes were huge with excitement. “Could you, Tai-Pan? Would you?”
“It will take three months for a letter to get to London. A month to make the arrangements in Holland. Three months back. In seven months you’re an heiress. But you’d better act the part of a church mouse for that time. And be surprised when it happens.”
“Yes. Sorry, I’m . . . I’m overwhelmed by . . . Don’t worry. Don’t worry. If I go a little mad and break into tears or scream—I worship you, Tai-Pan.”
His smile faded. “Will you na say such a thing!”
“I’ve never said it before, and perhaps I’ll never say it again. But to me you’re God.” She turned and walked inland alone.
Struan watched her for a moment, then headed for Gordon Chen. He looks more Chinese every day, Struan thought. Out to sea, the longboat with Orlov and Mauss aboard was still well away from
China Cloud. Hurry it up, by God!
Skinner intercepted him anxiously. “Afternoon, Mr. Struan.”
“Oh, hello, Mr. Skinner.”
“Great day in the Orient, isn’t it?”
“Aye. If you’ll excuse me, I have to—”
“Won’t keep you a moment, Mr. Struan. I tried to see you last night.” Skinner dropped his voice. He was sweating more than usual and smelling foul as always. “The notes of The Noble House’re due today, I seem to recall.”
“Do you, now?”
“Are they going to be met?”
“Had you ever any doubt, Mr. Skinner?”
“There are rumors. About bullion.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“I hope they’re true. I wouldn’t like a change in the ownership of the
Oriental Times.”
“Nor would I. This evening I’ll give you an item of interest. Now, if you’ll excuse me?”