"Yes." It would be a miracle. Freedom to build. Freedom to work. But it was only a deliciously baited trap. She had to stop thinking about it.
"You could give your friend Li Sung a high position in the company. He'd have a place in the community and the respect he deserves. You'd have enough money to properly take care of Patrick."
"Be still," she hissed.
"You want it, Jane," he said softly. "You know you want it."
"Not from you."
"Who else would give it to you? I know a dozen men who would sell their souls for an opportunity like this. Security for the people you care about and the chance to get rich."
Freedom. Li Sung. A railroad.
"I don't want to hear any more."
"Why? When it's so sweet to your ears?"
She whirled on her heel and started down the path.
He was beside her in an instant, his hand on her arm.
"Let me go!"
"Not until you've heard me out."
She had already heard an irresistible siren call, and it was tearing her apart. She said jerkily, "You've made your offer. It doesn't tempt me."
"The hell it doesn't," he said grimly. "You wouldn't still be at Glenclaren if you'd been able to get work anywhere else. You want this and so do I."
"And it's worth all that money to get me there?"
"Oh yes." He paused. "Because when I have you on Cinnidar, I'm going to find a way to punish you. You won't escape as you did here at Glenclaren."
It was the answer she expected; there was no reason to feel this jolting hurt. She laughed without mirth. "Good God, then why would I be fool enough to go?"
"I've told you all the reasons." He smiled. "Except one."
She waited.
"Obsession is seldom a singular passion. It demands a response and you're a very responsive woman. You want your railroad, you want safety and happiness for your friends." He paused. "And you want what we had together in Kasanpore."
"No!"
"It's not finished yet. We tasted just enough to tantalize us. We've never had enough. Neither one of us can ever be free of the other until we do." His gaze was almost caressing as it moved over her face. His words were soft, persuasive, weaving a sensual spell around her. "And you want to be free of me, don't you, Jane? Every night I was with you when you lay down in that bed in the cottage, just as you were with me on the mountain. Did you toss and turn and curse me as I did you?"
She moistened her lips. "It wasn't like that. I didn't—" Damn him, he was smiling faintly, knowingly, and she felt suddenly naked, as if he had been there watching her during those nights when she had not been able to close the thought of him out.
She had to get away from him! She whirled and ran down the hill. The cold wind struck her cheeks, but she barely felt it.
She didn't stop until she reached the cottage. She slammed the door, bolted it, ran across the room, and flung herself on the bed.
She was icy cold, shaking uncontrollably.
"Jane."
She tensed, her gaze on the locked door.
"I'll come back tomorrow for your answer," Ruel said. "I'm slipping the contract and Medford's survey report under the door. You'll have plenty of time before tomorrow to examine them both."
"I don't want to see them."
"But you'll still look at them. You'll think of Li Sung and Patrick. You'll remember how hard it is for a woman to make a place in this world." Two folded documents slithered serpentlike beneath the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jane."
She didn't hear the departing footsteps, but she knew he was gone.
She should be relieved, but she was not. It was as if he were in the room with her, looking at her, touching her.
It's not finished yet.
It was true. No matter how she had lied to herself, she had never been able to fight what she felt for Ruel. It had always been there in the background, like a melody with the verse left unsung.
Let it stay unfinished. She didn't want it to start again. She had struggled for three years to banish the love she had felt for Ruel. She could not imagine anything more terrible than caring for a man who wanted only to hurt her. The idea made her so frightened, she felt sick to her stomach.
But she couldn't tear her gaze from the two packets of papers on the floor.
Kartauk sat on the flagstones, his eyes closed, leaning back against the stone wall of the stable.
"You're not working?" Ruel strolled across the courtyard toward Kartauk. "I don't believe I've ever seen you so relaxed."
"I just finished firing a statue in the furnace. It's cooling down." Kartauk opened his eyes. "Margaret tells me I'm to go to Cinnidar. How very kind of you to invite me."
"I was going to get around to it. I've been busy. I need you, Kartauk."
"The entire world needs me."
"They need your work. I need your knowledge of Abdar. There's a good possibility he'll appear on the horizon and I'll need your help."
"I've spent three years avoiding Abdar and you wish me to place myself in a position where he cannot help but notice me?"
"You're not a retiring gentleman. Wouldn't you like to be permanently free of Abdar?"
"Permanently? Just how do you intend to 'permanently' remove a man in his position?"
"Cinnidar is mine. For all intents and purposes I'm the maharajah of Cinnidar. If Abdar makes an attempt to take it, I'd be within my rights to treat him like any other invader." He smiled grimly. "I have no compunction about making sure he won't get the opportunity to do it twice."
"In which case I can sit here and let you get rid of him for me while I tend to my own concerns."
"True, but his defeat will be swifter and more certain if I have an ally who knows the nature of the beast."
"Beast?" Kartauk savored the word. "He is one, you know. A total monster." He shook his head. "I do not think it wise for me to go."
"Why not?"
"Many reasons."
"You can have your own studio in the palace."
"I've gotten used to my studio here."
"And have you also gotten used to working only in bronze and wood?"
Kartauk's eyes narrowed on Ruel's face. "Are you about to dangle a bribe?"
"An irresistible bribe, a golden bribe. Cash may be a bit slim at present, but there's enough gold to meet even your needs."
"You'll be my patron?"
"Doesn't every ruler need an artist to beautify his palace?"
"Gold . . ."
"And my promise to give you my protection from Abdar."
"As long as you're alive to give it."
Ruel inclined his head. "Point taken. But I fully intend to survive Abdar."
Kartauk studied him for a moment. "It's a gamble."
"Yes."
"All the gold I need?"
Ruel said warily, "Within reason. I can afford a golden door, but I might balk if you decide your artistic soul requires an entire railway car."
"I will be reasonable." Mischief lit Kartauk's face. "Not a passenger car, perhaps only a caboose." He stood up and turned back to the stable. "You've wasted enough of my time. I must go back to work."
"You'll come?"
"How can I resist? Fate has obviously seen fit to tempt me beyond my powers to refuse. Abdar's head and a golden caboose . . ."