Her gaze flew to his face."Why didn't you tell me?"
"Why should you have toworry about such matters? I don't think Pickering will bother you withquestions. I've taken care of everything."
"What did you tell him,Patrick?"
His gaze slid away from her."It was better that he thought, that they all thought that—"
"Answer me!"
"I told him you orderedthe rails." He rushed on quickly, "I had to do it. The maharajah washolding me to blame. Don't you see? They might accuse me of being a fool fortrusting a decision like that to a woman but not for negligence or fraud. You can'tbe hurt by this. I might even be able to save something from this mess for usto—"
"Youliedaboutme?"
"Stop looking at me likethat. I told you, Pickering's engineer looked at those rails and knewthat—"
She couldn't believe it. Hehad not only done the unthinkable, he was making her shoulder the soleresponsibility for that hideous night. "It's not fair." Her voiceshook with anger. "You had no right to make me take the entireblame."
"Look, darlin', in a fewweeks we'll be away from this place and be able to forget all about it."
"Tell them thetruth!"
"It's not the thing todo. Just don't—"
"If you don't tellColonel Pickering, I will."
"No!" He tried totemper the sharpness of his tone. "Where's your loyalty, girl?"
"Where's your honor,Patrick?"
His tone turned soft,wheedling. "You made me a promise a long time ago. Are you breaking itnow?"
She stared at him indisbelief. "What are you saying?"
"I took you out of thatplace and gave you a respectable life. I gave you a chance to be more than atentcity whore like your ma. You said you'd always do what I wanted."
"I thought I'd paid thatdebt."
He flushed but repeated,"You made me a promise."
She felt her eyes sting as shegazed at him. Lost hope, lost faith. If she asked him now, he might even admithe was her father, he might say anything she wanted him to say to save himself.
She would not ask him."I'll keep my promise, Patrick."
He looked relieved. "Youpromise you won't tell anyone? No one at all?"
Each word he spoke was like aspike driven into her. "No one. I'll take the sole blame. If anyone asksme, I'll say I ordered the rails."
"It's for the best,darlin'."
"But we're paid in full,Patrick. I owe you no more debts."
"Of course you don't. Wecan start again, clear and fresh."
"We're not going to startagain." Somehow she managed to keep her tone even. "I don't want tosee you again, Patrick."
He appeared stricken."You don't mean that."
"I mean it. I've nevermeant anything more since that day I made you take me away fromFrenchie's." She turned her back on him and walked away.
