Relief poured through her in asoothing stream. He had guessed, so now she could talk about it. Kartauk alwaysmanaged to know what she was feeling and would have probed relentlessly untilshe unburdened herself. This odd bond between them had existed since thatafternoon three years earlier when he had come to her sitting room after herfather's funeral to express his condolences. She had never understood why shehad found herself talking to him when she could confide in no one else. She hadrevealed feelings toward her father she had not even shown Ian—love,disappointment... and bitterness. He had listened impassively and afterwarddismissed her confidences as if they had never taken place. He had gone back tohis workroom, leaving her blessedly free. "Ian won't go to Spain."
"You knew that threemonths ago. Ruel will change his mind. When does he come?"
"Tomorrow."
"Then you have nothing toworry about."
"You have greaterconfidence in Ruel than I do. I'm not sure I was wise in following your advice.Jane was upset when I told her he was coming."
"She must come to termswith Ruel sometime. You need help and he can give it."
"And nothing elsematters?"
"I'm very fond ofJane." He looked down into the depths of his cup. "But sometimes it'snecessary to make choices."
"And you chooseIan?"
"Ian?" He drank therest of his coffee in two swallows and set the cup on the table. "But ofcourse. Ian has the greater need. We all must make sacrifices for Ian. He had abad night?"
"How did you know?"
"You would have notbrought up Spain again before Ruel arrived if you'd not been prodded."
"He coughed allnight." Her hand tightened on the cup. "And yet when I mentionedSpain he laughed at me. He said Glenclaren needs him. It makes no differencethat I need him too."
"Did you tell himthat?"
"Are you mad? Isn't hecarrying enough burdens without adding guilt?"
"No, you would not wantto add to his burden." He smiled. "But I mean nothing to you and havestrong shoulders that can shrug off any burden. Tell me, I want to know."
Hedidwant to know.His gaze was fixed intently on her face, and she could feel the strength of hiswill enfolding her.
"Let it go," he saidsoftly. "Give it to me. Start last night when the coughing started."
She drew a deep breath andbegan.
He listened intently, hisclever fingers molding the clay in front of him as the words burst from her ina torrent. She was not conscious of the passing of time, but at one pointKartauk rose to his feet to light the lamp on the wooden support beside thetable. Then he sat back down and listened again.
She finally stopped speaking,and silence fell between them. Peace.
Kartauk's powerful handsmashed down on the clay form on the table in front of him!
"What—" Her gazeflew to his face. "Why did you do that? You worked on it allafternoon."
"It was not goodenough." He picked up a towel and wiped his hands. "It is better todestroy with one blow than try to make something magnificent out of thecommonplace." He grinned. "Not that I could ever be commonplace. Foran ordinary man, that effort might have culminated the work of a lifetime."
Her moment of uneasinessvanished, and she smiled back at him. "Arrogance."
"Truth." He stood upand stretched lazily. "And here is another truth. It is time you went backto your Ian. It will be dark soon and he'll begin to worry."
"Yes." She rose toher feet but stood there hesitating. "Are you coming to play chess withIan after supper tonight?"
"Not tonight." Hemade a face as he looked down at the mangled clay on the table. "I havework to do here."
She started for the door."Then I'll no doubt see you when Ruel arrives."
"Possibly." He wasfrowning with absorption, his hands once more kneading the clay.
