a secret power over that damn Russian, and now to find he had
nothing. Nothing! „Did you search for her?“
Both men nodded quickly.
Of course they had searched, Bassinger realized with fury.
So had Savron and his friends. The damn bitch had escaped
from all of them. He whirled and strode toward the door. „I’ll
make damn sure you never find work on this wharf again.“ He
slammed the door behind him and strode down the street.
She was gone. The key was gone. Those stupid sons of
bitches had let her get away. He had to get control of himself.
He was so enraged, he couldn’t think, and he needed to plan
his next move.
Silver Delaney was gone, but Savron suspected she had
returned to St. Louis, Bassinger thought. Perhaps he was right.
But even if Savron didn’t find the woman, Bassinger’s best
move would be to stay close to him. If one key had been lost,
perhaps another could be found.
He could see the lanterns of the Rose in the distance and
quickened his steps. He would be on the Rose when it sailed
for St. Louis at dawn.
9
„God, you look tired.“ Khadil’s pink eyes were concerned as
her gaze ran over Silver’s sweat-stained, dusty and torn
shirtwaist and skirt. „And those clothes look as if they’ve been
dragged through bramble bushes.“
„They have.“ Silver sat down on Khadil’s brass-studded
leather trunk, trying to ignore the weariness that plagued every
muscle. „Among other shrubbery. I’ve been traveling for
nearly two weeks, most of it on foot. How is Etaine?“
„Well.“ Khadil’s expression was reproachful. „But she was
worried when you didn’t come. Sebastien even went to your
school but they would tell him nothing except that you had
gone on a short trip.“
So Mrs. Alford had believed the note Nicholas had sent,
Silver thought. Well, it should have come as no surprise. The
woman had always regarded Indian women only one step
above prostitutes. No, it wasn’t surprise she was feeling, but
the same depression that had been nagging at her since the
moment she had been released from the stateroom by
Bassinger. It had followed her like an annoying shadow on the
long, hard trip from Memphis and was still with her now. But
it had nothing to do with her leaving Nicholas, she assured
herself quickly. She had her life to live and she must not be
beguiled by Nicholas Savron. She moved her shoulders,
unconsciously trying to shrug off the thought of him. Why did
memories of Nicholas persist when she would probably never
see him again?
„It was impossible for me to leave a message when I
suddenly had to leave the academy,“ Silver explained. „Where
is Etaine now?“
„Performing. She should be through soon. I will go and tell
her you are here.“ Khadil stood up. „You will need a bath and
a change of clothes. I’ll get Sebastien to bring you some hot
water and you’ll find my hairbrush in that chest. I don’t think
my clothes would fit you, you’re much taller than I am. I’ll see
if Fatima has something that will do.“ She smiled shyly. „It is
good that you have come back to us, Silver. We have missed
you.“
Silver’s throat tightened. „I’ve missed you too.“
The albino’s smile was wide with pleasure as she left the
tent.
Silver gazed at the flame flickering in the lantern on the
crude table a few feet away. They had missed her. They cared
about her. This was where she belonged, not as the woman of a
man who cared nothing for her once she had left his bed. She
had been right to leave Nicholas and come back to the people
who found worth in her.
She rose quickly, luted the lid or Khadil s chest, and located
the hairbrush. She would keep herself busy repairing the
ravages of the trail until Etaine was free to come to her, and
would not give one more thought to Nicholas. She began to
run the bristles of the brush slowly through her long hair, her
gaze once more on the golden flames of the lantern. How
beautifully it shimmered in the darkness of the tent, like a
burst of golden sunlight, like Nicholas’s hair beneath the
chandeliers in the Grand Saloon….
Etaine’s laughter pealed out as soon as she caught sight of
Silver. „You look like one of the caliph’s dancing daughters in
Fatima’s act.“ She clapped her hands in delight. „I like this
costume much better than that ugly uniform. You should wear
it all the time.“
„I’m afraid Fatima wouldn’t appreciate my appropriating
her costume on a permanent basis,“ Silver said dryly, glancing
down at herself. The filmy scarlet skirt and matching short-
sleeve velvet jacket were very comfortable and she was
beginning to think Eastern women must be more sensible than
she had dreamed if they had eliminated the wearing of
undergarments. Still, the extremely low square neck of the
jacket was far from practical and seemed purposely designed
to lift and frame a woman’s breasts for the delectation of the
onlooker. „She made it clear she wanted it back.“
Etaine laughed again and ran across the tent into Silver’s
arms, hugging her with all her strength. „You look better in it
than she does. You look beautiful. Oh, Silver, I’ve missed you
so.“
Silver’s arms tightened around the child’s slight body.
Etaine didn’t seem any thinner, and her color was good. „Well,
I’m here now. You haven’t had any more attacks?“
Etaine shook her head. „I’ve been fine. Maybe I’m growing
out of it, as you said I might.“ She sat down on Khadil’s pallet
beside Silver and nestled into the curve of her arm, her short
white-gold curls shimmering against Silver’s flame-colored
bodice. „I was worried about you. I thought perhaps my father
– “ She broke off and was silent a moment before continuing
haltingly. „I wondered if you’d had an accident.“
What the child meant was that she had been afraid that
Monteith had found a way of getting rid of Silver.
„No, I had to go away for a while, but I’m back now and
everything is going to be better.“
„Is it?“ Etaine’s voice was wistful. „I hope so.“ She
brightened. „Anyway, I’m glad you came back before we left
St. Louis.“
Silver stiffened. „You’re leaving?“
„I think so. For the last week my father has been talking
about it. He says the Americans don’t appreciate the circus as
Europeans do and – “
„He’s taking the circus to Europe?“ Silver interrupted,
startled. „When?“
Etaine shrugged. „He didn’t say. I can’t ask; it wouldn’t do
any good.“ She was silent a moment before whispering, „I
don’t want to leave you. Silver. Sometimes I think of being far
away from you and I get so scared. While you’re here I always
believe everything will turn out fine, that I’ll get well.“
„You will get well,“ Silver said fiercely. „And you won’t
leave me. I’ll find a way to keep you here in America.“
Etaine tilted her head and looked at Silver, and for a
moment the child’s eyes had the weary sadness of a woman in
her twilight years. „I don’t believe he’ll let me stay, no matter
what you do. I’ve been thinking a lot lately and I know now
what he wants of me.“
Silver frowned. „What?“
„Death,“ Etaine said simply. „He wants me to die.“
Silver shivered and her arm tightened convulsively around
Etaine’s thin shoulders. „You could be wrong.“
„No.“ Etaine’s clear gaze met her own. „He hates me. I