Ruel's hands ran slowlythrough her hair again.
You didn't do it right.
He had to ignore the pictureshe had drawn for him with those few sentences. He would not let pity turn himfrom his purpose. The punishment he had chosen for her was trifling incomparison to what she had let happen to Ian.
He had hurt her as he had toldher he would; he had made her feel used, without dignity or pride, a mindlessobject of lust and pleasure.
No, she had not been withoutdignity even at the end. She had just kept her word and given whatever he askedof her. He hadn't expected anything else. She had never broken faith since theday he had met her.
Except when she had built thebridge over Lanpur Gorge. She had traded in iron instead of steel and Ian hadbeen the one to suffer for it. If she had to falter, why the hell couldn't ithave been at some other time, some other place. He could have forgiven anythingbut what had happened to—
Forgiven? It was too late forforgiveness between them. He had taken his revenge and would take it againuntil it was time for her to leave. What he had done was just. It was not rightfor Ian to suffer and no one else.
Iknow myself now, she had said.
But did he know himself? Didhe know how much of what had happened tonight was revenge and how much thefever of lust? The more he had of her, the more starved he became.
Starved and enchained. Attimes he had felt more enslaved than Jane during these past hours.
He would get over it. Thefirst wild burst of passion was always the strongest. By the time she left thesummerhouse, he would surely slake himself of both lust and revenge.
Idon't love you anymore.
I'm free of you.
He pulled her closer with amovement unconsciously possessive. She murmured something inaudible into hisshoulder and was asleep again.
He did not sleep for anothertwo hours. He was too filled with anger and frustration and— It wasnotpity.You didn 't do it right...
Li Sung frowned. "None ofyour guards sighted the elephant anywhere?"
Dilam shook her head. "Apeaceful night."
"You're sure?"
"You appeardisappointed."
"Foolishness," LiSung said curtly. "After his rampage I merely thought it odd he had leftus in peace for two nights in a row. Why would I want the elephant to come anddestroy what we have built?"
"Why indeed?"
He knew what Dilam wasthinking.Makhol.More foolishness. "There's work to do." LiSung turned away with a jerky movement and walked toward the track, carefullykeeping his gaze from wandering toward the west. Dilam was wrong. It was notsome mystical bond that was attracting him to the elephant. It was anger... andfear.
Margaret threw open the doorof the studio and announced belligerently, "I have no intention ofcontinuing to come here. I'm here today only because I couldn't think of a wayto—"
"Keep me from gettingwhat I want," Kartauk finished impatiently. "I know, I know. Now,come over and put on your apron. We have work to do."
She felt a surge of relief asshe realized there was no hint of intimacy in his tone. So much for theworrying and soul-searching she had undergone all night. He had closed the doorand it was as if yesterday had never happened. She moved across the studiotoward the worktable. "And I shall not pose for you."
"Not now," he saidabsently as he measured moist sand into a small box. "I have to castRuel's seal. I'll think about the statue another day."
"It will do you no goodto ponder the matter. I will not pose." She reached under the table forher apron and put it on, her gaze upon the mold they had started two days ago."What do we do first?"
"We powder the plastermodel with fine charcoal dust." He did so and then pressed the model intoone of the two caster boxes on the worktable before him. Wonderful hands;skilled, graceful, sure. Yet they had not been this sure when he had touchedher yesterday, but trembling with need. "Then we dry the portion of themodel where the figures come. Are you listening?"
"Of course." Sheguiltily looked away from his hands. "What next?"
"Pasta di pane crudo."
