"What? Are yousure?"
"It's very subtly done,but you can't miss the resemblance."
"An exquisiteabomination." Ian chuckled. "I believe I'm beginning to like thisKartauk. The man has a sense of humor."
Ruel's reaction had been thesame, and he had been fighting it since the instant he had seen that devilishlysly serpent. "The maharajah must not be overly fond of his son if hepermitted that particular bit of humor."
"That was ColonelPickering's opinion, if you remember."
"They're delivering thelocomotive to the station tomorrow, and Jane said the maharajah will be there.Why don't you go down with the colonel and see if you can't get anintroduction?"
"An excellent idea.You're giving up looking for Kartauk?"
"I didn't say that, butit's always wise to explore every avenue." He started toward the door,taking his glass with him. "Though, from what I saw of his taste in art inhis car tonight, I sincerely doubt if the maharajah and you will have much incommon."
"This must be a great dayfor you."
Jane turned to see IanMacClaren standing a few feet away and felt her spirits rise as she saw hiswarm smile. "Good afternoon, Lord MacClaren."
"Ian." He took astep closer, his tall figure blocking out the crowd of chattering men and womenmilling around the small station house. "What are you doing hiding inhere? I would have thought you'd want to be out on the platform, basking in themaharajah's approval."
"I did my part bysupervising the transfer of the locomotive from the boat." Her glance wentto Patrick, who was standing on the platform beside the maharajah and gesturingto the brass cowcatcher on the front of the locomotive. "Patrick's betterat this kind of thing than I am. Is Ruel with you?"
"No, he's laboring onyour behalf at the site. I came with Colonel Pickering." Ian nodded at abig man with steel-gray hair and an impressive array of medals decorating hisuniformed chest. "Have you met him?"
"No, but Patrick hasmentioned him. He's been very helpful using his influence with themaharajah."
"That's what Ruel hopedwould happen today, but I don't believe we're going to have any luck." Hesmiled. "Getting that behemoth of a locomotive here must have been no easytask. You deserve a reward. Come with me to the buffet table and let me get youa glass of fruit juice."
"No!" She took aninvoluntary step back. "I mean, I'm not thirsty."
"In this heat? You haveto be thirsty." Ian took her gently by the elbow. "Come along andwe'll… "
"No." She jerked herarm away. "I said I wasn't thirsty." He was staring at her with suchbewilderment she finally said, "Can't you see? I don't belong there. Theyall look at me as if I were some strange creature." She lifted her chin."Not that I care."
His gaze went over the looseshirt and denim trousers she wore. "You appear neat and clean. I'd behonored to escort you."
"Cleanliness isn'tenough. They can see I'm different." She turned on her heel. "I can'twaste any more time here. I have work to do. Good day, Lord MacClaren."
"Ian," he saidagain. "I don't believe formality is appropriate when I've given you theshirt off my back."
She looked at him, stricken."Oh, dear, I forgot. I meant to return it. I'm sorry, Lord—" Shestopped as she met his gaze. "Ian. I'll give the shirt to Ruel tomorrow toreturn to you."
"No hurry." He fellinto step with her as she left the station house, effortlessly cleaving a pathfor her through the crowd on the platform. "You're not going to the sitetoday?"
She shook her head. "It'stoo late now. It would be sundown by the time I reached the gorge. I'm going tothe supply yard and check to make sure a shipment of rails came in with thelocomotive."
"Then permit me to escortyou." He made a face. "I'm clearly not going to be able to arrange anintroduction to the maharajah in this mob, and I may not be as ferocious as mybrother, but my sheer size sometimes deters aggressors."
"I don't needprotection." She paused. "And I'm not certain Ruel's purpose isreally to protect me. Sometimes he reminds me of a great cat ready topounce."
"Tiger pad softly, tigerburn bright," he murmured.
"I beg your pardon?"
"It's a line from an oldScottish poem. It rather suits Ruel, don't you think?"
"Yes." She smiled."A Scottish poem? I didn't think there were any tigers in Scotland."
