"It's not a certainvictory yet. Have you arranged for anyone to manage Glenclaren while you'regone?"
"Timothy Drummond, thevicar's son, has recently returned from the university in Edinburgh. He's acanny, able man who has little imagination but could keep things in order untilI return."
"Then tell that to Ian.He appears to regard Glenclaren as an offspring he must nurture and carefor." He paused. "He wants very much to give you a child."
"Do you think I don'tknow that?" she asked fiercely. "He can talk of nothing else. It willnot happen."
"Ian said the physiciantold him—"
"Because I forced him tolie to Ian. He would never have married me if he had known there was nochance."
"No chance at all?"
"Almost none. Godsometimes performs miracles, but it's best not to count on Him."
"Too bad."
"Bad? It's worse thanbad. Not only does Ian feel guilty for robbing me of a child, but a babe wouldgive him purpose, a reason to live."
"I'm sorry,Magg—Margaret."
"Sorrow won't help Ian.We have to do that." She straightened her shoulders and moved toward thedoor. "I'll go up and talk to him now."
Li Sung. A railroad.
The words played over and overin Jane's mind. Why was she cowering on this bed, afraid to take up thechallenge Ruel had thrown down? He was only a man, like any other man. Well,perhaps not like any other man, but still human and fallible. He had told herhe intended to take revenge, but she knew him well enough to realize he wouldnot try to trick her to accomplish it.
A railroad.
Sweet Mary, but she wasafraid. She had no doubt Ruel would be completely merciless in anyconfrontation between them.
A railroad.
Why was she assuming she wouldnot be able to gather the strength to fight Ruel? She had spent the last threeyears preparing her defenses against him. She was no longer the child he hadknown in Kasanpore, and who was to say she could not best him?
It was after midnight whenJane slowly got up from the bed and moved across the room to pick up bothpackets on the floor. She lit the lamp on the table, sat down, and opened thesurvey report.
"I'll do it," Janesaid as soon as she opened the door to Ruel's knock the next morning. Shethrust the contract at him. "Here. I've signed the blasted thing. I'llkeep the survey report to study and send to the castle tomorrow a list ofsupplies and equipment I'll need to have immediately on hand when I arrive onCinnidar. When do I have to be there?"
"As soon as possible.I'll be leaving on the next ship and Ian agreed this morning to follow mewithin the month. You can travel with Maggie and him." His gaze searchedher face. "You look a bit haggard. A sleepless night?"
She ignored the mockery in hisquestion and said brusquely, "I was studying the survey. You said it wasaccurate?"
"As accurate as Medfordcould make it, but there are always surprises."
"Those penalties couldleave me with almost nothing if anything goes wrong."
He nodded. "Aye, that'strue, but there are always penalty clauses in any contract."
"Even the maharajah didn'tinsist on this heavy a penalty. Lower the first penalty to twenty percent andthe second to ten."
He shook his head. "Youknew I wouldn't agree to that, or you wouldn't have already signed thecontract. Lowering the penalties would lessen the incentive. I want you to workvery hard to complete my railroad on time, Jane."
"You want to see me slaveat your command and then lose everything."
"That would be one way topunish you, wouldn't it?" He smiled. "Do you wish to tear up thecontract?"
She had had little hope ofgetting him to give her better terms, but she'd had to make the attempt."It will be done on time."
