"It was most probably theinstinct to abandon that ship and get my feet on firm ground again. A man whocannot swim is always uneasy on water." He kicked his horse into a trot."I will see you at the palace."
Her smile vanished as shewatched him disappear around the curve of the road. Strange that both Ruel andLi Sung had felt the same magnetism for this place. Beauty? From thatmist-shrouded mountain to the quaint village encircling the harbor, Cinnidarwas undoubtedly lovely, but neither Li Sung nor Ruel was susceptible to merescenery. Perhaps it was because the island possessed an almost magicalambiance. The air seemed lighter, easier to breathe, and yet thefragrances.. . vanilla, sandalwood, jasmine, the cedarlike odor of deodar and a hundredother scents too subtle to distinguish assaulted the senses with every breath.
Dear God, she was reacting asbesottedly as Li Sung, she thought impatiently. Cinnidar was just a place likeany other, a place she would mold to her needs as Ruel had molded it to his.
"Jane."
She turned to see Margaret'shead poking out of the window of the carriage.
"How far? Do you see ityet?"
Jane silently pointed to thepalace on the hill.
Margaret's eyes widened as hergaze followed the gesture. "Merciful heavens." She started to laugh."I believe I'm impressed. The rascal always said he'd do it."
Two white-coated servantsrushed to open the door of the carriage the instant it stopped before theentrance of the palace. Four muscular native men appeared a moment later,bearing a huge thronelike chair mounted on four carved poles and shaded with ascarlet-silk tasseled awning. Another boy grabbed Bedelia's reins and led Janetoward the hitching rail, where Ruel stood with Li Sung. Ruel was dressed allin pristine white, his suit and shirt as elegant and impressive as the palacethat was now his home.
He nodded politely."Jane." He stepped forward and lifted her from the mare."Welcome to Cinnidar."
"Thank you." Shecould feel the warmth of his hands through the cotton of her shirt and it senta little shock of sensation through her. She stepped quickly to the side, breakinghis grasp. Too quickly. She could see by his suddenly intent expression she hadrevealed what she had wanted so desperately to conceal. She promptly made itworse by saying hurriedly, "I didn't see any sign of Medford's tracks onthe way from the harbor."
His brows lifted. "Do youthink I lied to you?"
"I didn't say that."
He nodded to the west."Medford's camp is a mile beyond that rain forest. You'll meet him atdinner." He turned and walked toward the carriage.
Kartauk had already steppeddown to the ground and was brusquely motioning the servants aside. "I'llhelp him. He's used to me." He ducked into the carriage and emerged withIan in his arms. He deftly settled him on the cushioned chair and tucked a silkthrow over his knees. "There you are." He grinned. "The lasttime I saw one of these chairs it was occupied by the maharajah who was beinggrandly transported around the royal garden. You look much better in it."
"Well, I feel like abloody fool," Ian said sheepishly. He leaned cautiously back in the chair."But it's comfortable enough."
"That's all that'simportant." Ruel's gaze raked Ian's face. "How did you stand thetrip?"
"You'd know if you'dbothered to meet us at the harbor," Margaret said as a servant helped herfrom the carriage. "I'd have thought you'd have had the courtesy to meetus yourself instead of sending that bevy of servants to the harbor. After all,we're here at your insistence."
"I'm properlychastened." Ruel's eyes twinkled. "I realize excuses areunacceptable, but I feel I should explain I arrived here from the mountain onlyan hour ago. You'd have been even more disapproving if I'd met you in theextremely disheveled and smelly state I was in at that time."
"Then you should havemade arrangements to arrive earlier." Margaret cast a glance at thecarriage. "However, I must admit the carriage was quite comfortable andyour servants eager to please."
"I'm glad my humbleefforts weren't wasted." He gestured to a tall, golden-skinned man who hadjust come out of the palace. "This is Tamar Alkanar. I brought him fromhis village to watch over Ian."
Like the other servants, TamarAlkanar wore sandals, a waist-length white coat, and a colorful saronglikelength of cloth that draped his narrow hips and ended midcalf. Two broad brassbracelets shone on both wrists. A gentle smile lit his fine features as heinclined his head in a bow. "I am most happy to greet you." He bowedeven lower to Ian. "Be assured I will serve you well and obey your everycommand."
Margaret nodded graciously athim but turned immediately to Ruel. "We don't need him. Jock stayed at theharbor to supervise the unloading of the luggage, but Ian will prefer he—"
"Jock doesn't speak thelocal dialect," Ruel interrupted. "You'll need Tamar to help yousupervise the other servants."
"And to protect you fromthe heathen hordes," Kartauk murmured, shooting her a sly smile."They delight in eating virtuous Scots, you know."
"It wouldn't surprise me.But I've managed to survive three years of your barbarity, so I imagine I'llhave no trouble evading them." She started up the steps, motioning to thebearers. "Come along, and mind you, be gentle with him. He's not a sack ofrice, you know."
"They will be careful. Iwill not permit any harm to come to him." Tamar's thick, glossy pigtailbounced as he hurried up the steps to open the tall, carved door for them. Amoment later Kartauk, Margaret, and Ian's entourage disappeared within thepalace.
Ruel turned to Jane."Tamar will be back in a few minutes to show you and Li Sung to yourquarters. I felt it necessary to get Ian settled first."
"Of course."
"Would you like to goaround to the back terrace and get your first good look at the rest of theisland? The palace is perched directly over the canyon." He didn't waitfor an acquiescence but led them quickly around the palace to a many-leveledterrace tiled in cobalt-blue and emerald-green mosaic. The waters of an ornatefountain tumbled leisurely from terrace to terrace into pools arranged withgeometric precision and bordered with white jasmine trees.
