It had been Jane, gazing athim defiantly, wrapped in that damned MacClaren plaid that had set off thechain of memories and brought him here. He had thought he was prepared, but themoment he had caught sight of her he had felt... Dear God, what had he felt?Bitterness, lust... and possession. It was the latter emotion that he muststrive to vanquish. Revenge would rid him of bitterness, the plan he was aboutto put in place would eventually slake his lust, but to own was also to beowned. Over the years the thought of her had possessed and now obsessed him.
But this emotional turmoilwould end soon. Once he had rid himself of the bitterness and lust, she wouldno longer be important to him. He would be able to forget her as he hadforgotten this cottage, as he had forgotten that boy he had been, as he hadforgotten Glenclaren.
"Not overly luxurious butvery bright and pleasant." Ruel's gazed over Jane's head at the meagerfurnishings in the one-room cottage. "May I come in?"
"No," Jane saidbaldly.
"I thought that would beyour response. Then come and walk with me."
Walk out with me.
The words he had spoken thatnight in Kasanpore came back to her as if they had been spoken yesterday.
"But I'm not courting youthis time," he said softly. "We've gone far beyond that madness. Ihave a proposition to discuss."
Why did the devil always knowwhat she was thinking? she wondered with exasperation. "I have nothing tosay to you."
"Oh, I'll probably be theone doing the talking. The only word you need say is yes."
She gazed at him mutinously.
"You can come walk withme or I'll come in. I'm not going away."
She hesitated, and thendeliberately picked up her MacClaren shawl from the back of the chair by thedoor and strode out of the cottage.
"That's better." Heclosed the door and strolled beside her up the path toward the hill. "Didyou tell Li Sung of our talk?"
"No," she saidcurtly.
"That's all right, youcan discuss it later after you have all the details."
"I'm not going toCinnidar, and you're mad to think Ian will go. Have you talked to him?"
"This morning."
"And?"
"He refused, ofcourse."
She felt a ridiculous rush ofrelief. Of course Ian had refused. She had been worried for nothing.
"But I'll talk to himagain this evening." He paused. "And tomorrow morning, and as manytimes as it takes until he agrees to go."
Her relief vanished as sherecognized the implacable resolution in his tone. She had heard that note ahundred times before during those first days of Ian's illness. Ian had not beenable to withstand him then, and she doubted he would now. "I won't go withyou."
He smiled as they continued toclimb.
"I won't," she saiddesperately. "You can't make me go. I'd be a fool to let you put me in aposition where you could hurt me."
"Unless you saw anadvantage to you and your covey that would be worth the risk. I've thought along time about ways and means of gathering you into my net. I was going towait until you became a little more desperate, but circumstances have forced meto move a bit faster."
"Listento you. I'm just supposed to walk intothis net?"
"No, you'll cautiouslyedge forward, do everything possible to avoid it, work yourself into exhaustionto escape, and give in only when there's no other choice." He cast her asideways glance. "Because the carrot I'm going to offer is too deliciousfor you to refuse."
"What carrot?"
"A railroad."
