"Guilt?" Ruel shookhis head. "For God's sake, I knew you always walked a fine line betweenthe two of us. I didn't expect anything of you."
"I expected it ofmyself."
For an instant Ruel felt arush of warmth as he looked at Ian. Affection? God, he had thought thosegentler feelings had been burned out of him years before. Affection wasdangerous, and it was far safer to skate on the surface of emotion than plungeinto that quagmire. He said deliberately, "But then, you always were afool."
"Aye." Ian smiledgently. "But foolishness or not, I mean to give you back your place atGlenclaren."
Ruel stared at Ian withexasperation mixed with helplessness. Ian had always felt guilty about theirfather's treatment of Ruel, and now it seemed he was determined to put thingsright. Ruel was too familiar with his brother's dogged obstinacy not to realizeIan, once set on a course, would not give up. "Why should I go back?There's nothing I want there." He could see no softening in the resolutionhardening Ian's features, and for the first time realized Ian might actuallybecome a problem. Christ, he had a hell of a lot to do in the next few months,and he didn't need Ian plodding behind him, trying to lure him away from hisgoal. "Dammit, I don't want you here."
"Unfortunate."
"You'll get in myway."
"Only until we board theship. I'll leave you alone once we're on our way home."
"I'm not going toGlenclaren. When I'm well enough to travel I'm going to Kasanpore."
"Not to thisCinnidar?"
"Let's say Kasanpore is away station on the way to Cinnidar."
Ian frowned. "I don'tbelieve I've ever heard of this Kasanpore."
"India. The city ofKasanpore is the primary residence of the province ruled by the Maharajah ofSavitsar."
Ian shook his head."You'll be much better off at Glenclaren than traipsing off to anotherheathen country."
"I'm going toKasanpore," Ruel said through his teeth.
Ian gazed at him for a momentbefore sighing in resignation. "You have sufficient funds for thisjourney?"
"The claim producedexceptionally well for over three months. After I give a small nest egg toMila, I'll still have enough for my purposes."
"Good, then you canafford my company. Unfortunately, Glenclaren is still as land-rich and pound-pooras it was when you were there. I'll go with you and wait until you tire of thisfoolishness."
"And if I don't?"
"I'll wait somemore."
"Ian, dammit, I havesomething important to do in Kasanpore. I don't have time to—"
"God will provide thetime," Ian said tranquilly as he stood up and moved toward the stove."But you can tell me all about your business in Kasanpore later. I'll getyou a bowl of stew and you must stop this arguing and eat. As I said, you'llneed your strength for the journey."
Kasanpore, India
May 6, 1876
"A good evening to you,Miss Barnaby. Has no one told you that foreign ladies should not be in thissection of town after dark without protection?"
The tone was low, smooth, butan underlying menace darkened the words. Jane's heart lurched and then sped tobreakneck pace as she glanced over her shoulder. Only a few yards behind hershe saw Prince Abdar and the beautiful young man, Pachtal, who had accompaniedhim when he had come to question her at the site. Dear God, she had thought shewas being so careful, and yet tonight she hadn't even realized she was beingfollowed!
She responded instinctively,breaking into a run, flying down the dark, deserted street.
It was too late. They'd beentoo close. Before she reached the corner, a powerful hand gripped her shoulderand spun her around.
Abdar stood before her. Hishandsome young companion moved behind her and grabbed her arms, forcing her todrop the knapsack she carried as he pulled both her arms up behind her.
"It's not courteous torun away when I wish to speak to you," Abdar said as he set the lantern hecarried down on the ground. "I think we must chastise her for thatdiscourtesy, Pachtal."
