"Probably." Ruelsmiled recklessly as his glance followed Ian's. "But Abdar was right. HisHighness and I do have a great deal of common ground. His lady isn't myfavorite goddess, but I've dealt with her before and I know her wayswell."
"Which goddess isshe?"
"Kali."
"That doesn't meananything to me. You know I pay no attention to these heathen practices."
"She's the wife ofSiva." Ruel strode quickly down the hall past two turbaned footmen and outthe front entrance of the palace. He paused a moment on the top step, the wetheat robbing him of breath as he looked down at the muddy river Zastu windingsnakelike past the palace. A scrawny, half-naked beggar crouched by the rivershaded by a palm-leaf umbrella as he dispensed blessings on the passersby whotossed him rupees, and curses on those who did not.
Kasanpore. Christ, what a miserableplace. Hot, stinking, overrun by disease and snakes that crawled on the groundand walked on two legs.
As Ian joined him, Ruelstarted down the hundred stone steps leading to their waiting ricksha outsidethe palace gates. "But that's not Kali's only distinction," Ruelsaid. "The diety Abdar admires so much is also the goddess ofdestruction."
Jane Barnaby wasn't what hehad thought she would be. Ruel leaned back against the rock and pulled his felthat forward to shade his eyes as he gazed down at the crew laboring on thetrack in the valley below. From Abdar's description, he had pictured astrident, Junoesque virago, but Jane Barnaby was none of those things. Smalland fine-boned, she appeared almost child-like in the baggy denim trousers,loose blue chambray shirt, and brown suede boots she always wore. A tan strawcoolie hat shaded her head from the merciless rays of the sun as she moved downthe row of track, stopping now and then to examine a fitting or speak sharplyto a worker who was carelessly hammering a tie. Today her every step, everyslightest movement, was charged with energy and vitality, but it was not alwaysso. Often at the end of the day, when the workers had been dismissed and shethought no one present to witness her weakness, Ruel had seen her lean herforehead on the saddle of her mare, Bedelia, her shoulders sagging withexhaustion before gathering enough strength to mount her horse for the longride back to Kasanpore.
Jane stopped, her gaze zeroingin on a wiry Indian whose pace in pounding the steel into the ground was almostleisurely. Ruel grinned as he saw her shoulders square and jaw tighten. Herecognized those signs of annoyance and determination as he now recognizedevery gesture and motion she made. It was odd how quickly he had learned toread the woman. He had thought the surveillance would bore him, but instead hefound himself caught, intrigued, and often amused.
She strode down the tracktoward the Indian and stopped before him. Ruel couldn't hear her words, but hecould tell by the scowl on the Indian's face that the spate blistered. Sheturned and walked away and the Indian gazed after her, an ugly expressiontwisting his features. However, he kept his place, and it was not because ofthe brawny overseer, Robinson, who watched from the side of the road. He knewabout the knife sheathed in Jane Barnaby's left boot.
And so did Ruel.
After a moment the Indianpicked up his huge hammer and started pounding the spike with slightly moreenthusiasm.
"Why don't you give itup?"
Ruel glanced over his shoulderto see Ian climbing the hill from the grove where he had tied his horse besideRuel's. "Why should I? She's the key to Kartauk."
"You've been watching herfor four days and she's done nothing but work like a galley slave." Iancrouched down beside Ruel. "Can't you see Abdar was lying to you? Shecouldn't be Kartauk's mistress. Just look at her, the lass isn't much more thana child."
"Appearances are almostalways deceiving. Remind me to tell you about a whore I once had in Singapore.Mei Lei had the face of a baby angel and the delightfully corrupt talents ofDelilah." His gaze returned to the woman below. "What did you findout from Colonel Pickering about Reilly?"
"Not much. Reilly'suneducated but good-natured enough and drinks like a sot. He had a fairly goodreputation in Yorkshire, and after he finished building a line between Doverand Salisbury, he entered a bid for this job."
"And the woman?"
Ian shrugged. "No oneever sees her. She never goes to the club with him. Reilly keeps her prettymuch to himself."
"And theirrelationship?"
Ian looked uncomfortable."There are rumors... but no one knows for sure." His gaze shifteddown to Jane in the valley below. "I believe it's all nonsense and she isReilly's ward."
"Because you want tobelieve it."
Ian tilted his head as helooked back at Ruel. "And you don't. Why not?"
Ruel realized to his surprisethat Ian was right. He wanted Jane Barnaby to be the promiscuous harlot Abdarhad described, and the reason lay in the odd fascination she held for him. Itcouldn't be lust, he thought impatiently. How could he feel lust for this bony,big-eyed waif? Nor was it pity. Even exhausted she displayed a strength ofpurpose and an endurance that defied sympathy. Yet, somehow, shemovedhim.
The acknowledgment caused hisdefenses to instantly rise. God, the sun must be addling his brains. He allowedno one to touch his emotions, and certainly not a woman whom he might have touse to get Kartauk. He turned to Ian and smiled cynically. "I haven't yourfaith in human nature. We're all what life makes us, and I'd wager JaneBarnaby's life has been as turbulent as mine."
"I still thinkthat—" Ian shrugged as he met Ruel's gaze. "You've been out here forhours in the sun. Would you like me to watch her for the rest of the day?"
"No." Ian's browslifted in surprise at the quick refusal. Ruel tempered his tone. "I'm usedto the heat. You'd probably get sunstroke after an hour."
"You're probably right. Ican't see how you can bear it." Ian's voice became wistful. "It nevergets this hot at Glenclaren. Remember how the cool mists on the hills rise inthe morning?"
"No, I don'tremember."
Ian smiled. "Then it willcome as a delightful surprise when you come back to us." He rose to hisfeet. "If you won't let me help now, I'll take my turn watching thebungalow tonight."
