"True." He shruggedphilosophically. "Perhaps I'll get used to the cold. Your brother will bemy patron?"
"Ian can't afford to giveyou more than a roof over your head."
"No matter. I will find apatron for myself. Perhaps your Queen Victoria. I hear she has much gold."
"I'm sure she'll bedelighted to know you have plans for it."
"Once she has seen mywork, I'm sure she will also. Maybe I will even consent to do her head."He frowned. "Though I doubt it. Her face does not please me and I abhordouble chins. I'll make her a salt cellar instead." He turned to Jane."Where do you and Patrick go after you finish here?"
"Patrick doesn't have anyoffers of employment yet. He said we'll make a decision as soon as we get themoney from the maharajah." She braced herself and turned to Li Sung."I want your promise you won't leave the temple until the night we go toNarinth."
He gazed at her withoutexpression. "No."
"Why not?"
"Why do you ask when youknow the answer?"
"Li Sung, Itoldyouwhat happened at Zabrie's."
"And I have not gone toher since that time."
"It's even more dangerousfor you to go to her now."
"You do not know shebetrayed you. She has given me gifts. It would not be proper for me to leavewithout saying goodbye." He didn't wait for a reply but walked out of thetemple.
Jane's hands clenched intofists with frustration. She wanted to strike out at something.
"Li Sung is no fool. Hewon't betray us to the woman, Jane," Kartauk said quietly.
"Do you think I don'tknow that? I'm afraid for him. I wish I'd never given that woman onerupee."
"And why did you give hermoney, Jane?" Ruel asked softly.
"Because I was stupid.Because I never thought—"
"Because she has too muchheart," Kartauk said. "She saw that Li Sung was hurting and tried toease his hurt. Because of his race and his crippled leg, he was shunned bywomen, even the whores in houses like Zabrie's."
"So you went to Zabrieand paid her to make sure he was made to feel like a man, not a cripple,"Ruel said.
"You're not to tellhim," she said fiercely.
"I respect Li Sung. Iwouldn't hurt him, Jane."
"Wouldn't you?" Shestrode across the room toward the temple entrance. "We'll leave thestation for Narinth at seven two nights from now, Kartauk. Ruel thinks thesafest place for you to wait for the train is on the other side of LanpurGorge. I'll come for you in the early afternoon of that day and take you to thegorge."
Ruel followed her out of thetemple. "I'd better be the one to come for Kartauk. If Abdar's found outI've managed to buy Cinnidar from the maharajah, he'll know you're his onlyroute to Kartauk and will be keeping a closer watch on you."
"You can't come herealone. You don't know the way."
"Yes, I do." Hesmiled as he saw her startled expression. "I could have led you here thelast three times. I have a very good sense of direction and the maze you ran mewas nothing compared to the sewers of London. Did I mention I was once a ratcatcher?"
Her lips tightened. "Soyou made a fool of me again."
His smile vanished. "Icould never make a fool of you, Jane. You have too much dignity andstrength."
For the first time since hehad arrived at the bungalow today, she really looked at him. The hardness thatwas so much a part of his expression was gone, she realized. No, perhaps notentirely gone, but the gentleness with which he was looking at her reminded herof Ian. Impossible, it had to be a trick. He was nothing like his brother."Sweet words."
"True words." Heglanced away from her. "I want to tell you something else." He pausedbefore blurting out, "I'm... sorry."
