"And does the maharajah's train have these air brakes?"
She nodded. "I had to cut corners on other things, but I made sure of those brakes." She gave him a sidewise glance. "Why are you asking all these questions about Li Sung?"
"No reason," Ruel said casually. "Just curious."
"You were very strong tonight," Zabrie murmured as she brushed a kiss on Li Sung's shoulder. "Every time you get better and better." She rose from the bed, draped herself in a gossamer-thin shawl that accented rather than hid her nudity. "Wine?"
Li Sung shook his head as he sat up in bed. "I must leave now."
"Not yet. Stay awhile." Zabrie crossed to the table and poured herself a glass of wine. "I have no other customers, and even if I did, I would give them to one of the other women." She turned and smiled at him. "For you."
She was more beautiful than he had ever seen her, Li Sung thought. Or perhaps it was because this was the last time, she appeared more lovely to him.
She moved back toward him. "I should be angry. You have not come to see me in a long time." She sat down beside him on the bed, her middle finger tracing a line across his chest. "Why?"
"I was—" He broke off as her hennaed nail raked his nipple. "I cannot think when you do that, and there is something I must say."
"I don't wish you to think."
His hand covered hers on his chest. "I want to say goodbye."
Her head lifted. "You are leaving Kasanpore? When?"
"Soon."
"That is no answer." She was silent a moment, looking at him. "Take me with you."
His eyes widened. "What?"
"I want to go with you." She set her goblet on the floor beside the bed and leaned over to kiss his chest. "You know I please you and could make you happy. I'm weary of these men who use me and then spit on me because of my birth. You do not treat me this way."
"No." He felt a leap of hope as he gently stroked her shining black hair. The scent of jasmine drifted to him; he loved the way she always smelled of flowers and spices. "I also have known that pain. You truly wish to go with me?"
"Give me a week to settle my affairs here in Kasanpore and I'll—" She caught his expression. "No?"
"Two days."
"It will rush me, but it can be done." She threw aside the shawl and moved over him. "I want you again. We will talk of the details later. Yes?"
"Zabrie . . ." He closed his eyes as her hand closed around him and he began to harden. Did he love her? At times he was sure he loved her. Certainly his body was enslaved by her. "Yes, we will talk later. . . ."
He was a fool, Ruel told himself as he glared at the door of Zabrie's pleasure house through the heavily falling rain. Not only was he a fool but would probably be a drowned fool if he didn't give up this watch and go back to the hotel.
Li Sung walked out of Zabrie's.
Ruel warily straightened away from the wall as he saw Li Sung cross the street and head directly to the alcove where Ruel was standing.
"You appear a little damp," Li Sung said.
"I'm damn near floating away." Ruel grimaced. "You knew I was here?"
"I've grown accustomed to watching behind me in the last weeks. I suppose you had a reason for following me?"
"Maybe I only felt like taking a stroll."
Li Sung smiled derisively as he glanced out at the driving rain. "It is an odd night for a walk. Are you so fond of the rain?"
"I've forgotten it ever did anything else in Kasanpore."
"Are you going to answer me?"
Ruel shrugged. "I thought it wouldn't hurt to make sure you weren't surprised."
"Zabrie would not surprise me."
"It's not wise to trust anyone too far, Li Sung."
"I thank you for your advice."
"But you have no intention of heeding it." Ruel nodded. "I'm not good at taking advice myself. Zabrie asked no questions?"
Li Sung glanced back at the house. "She wishes to go with me."
Ruel went still. "How . . . surprising. And I suppose you told her about our plans to leave in two days."
"I told her."
Ruel said carefully, "May I suggest that wasn't the most clever—"
"Hush." Li Sung's hand closed on Ruel's arm and jerked him farther back into the shadows.
Ruel's gaze followed Li Sung's and his lips pursed in a soundless whistle.
Zabrie had come out of the house and was moving quickly down the street.
"An odd night for a walk." Ruel repeated Li Sung's words.
"Yes." Li Sung's voice was strained. "Come." He started down the street after Zabrie.
Ruel followed him. "Where are we going?"
"I have to see where she is going."
Zabrie's destination became obvious fifteen minutes later when she disappeared through the gates of the Savitsar palace.
"Abdar," Ruel said.
Li Sung stared at the gate through which Zabrie had disappeared.
"No harm done, Li Sung," Ruel said quietly. "We can change our plans now that we know she's betrayed us."
"No harm done," Li Sung repeated dully. He slowly turned and limped down the street. " boat from a point down the river to Narinth. I'm quite sure Pachtal and Abdar will be waiting on the dock in Narinth for us two nights from now."
Ruel's gaze narrowed on his face. "You suspected her?"
"I am no fool. At times she made me feel like a giant, but I know I am only a cripple." His lips twisted bitterly. "No, she thought me worse than a cripple, a dupe."
"Well, you're no dupe. You were planning on waiting outside to see if she would go to Abdar?"
"I had to be certain. One can know with one's mind and still not believe." He turned to Ruel. "It is finished and you need no longer stay with me. Neither you nor Jane have reason to feel uneasy any longer."
"Jane has nothing to do with this. You're going back to the temple?"
He nodded.
"It's a long way." Ruel's lids lowered to veil his eyes. "My hotel is only a block from here and Ian keeps a bottle of whiskey in his room."
"I do not drink liquor. It blurs the mind and makes children of wise men."
"Just a thought." Ruel smiled at him. "Sometimes a wee drop helps to keep the damp away. If you change your mind, you're welcome. Good night, Li Sung." He turned the corner and started up the street toward the hotel.
"Wait."
Ruel glanced over his shoulder to see Li Sung limping down the street behind him.
"Perhaps a wee drop."
Chapter 8
The pounding at the bungalow door jerked Jane from sleep. It was the middle of the night. Who could be—
The pounding sounded again, louder.
She hastily threw a robe over her white cotton nightgown, ran to the front door, and flung it open.