The gentleness of his touchwas poignantly sweet. "I'm surprised you remembered that."
"I have a longmemory." His hand dropped away. "For the important things."
She wanted to reach out andtouch him, draw close to that flame that always burned within him. Give andaccept in spirit as well as flesh. She had thought she had loved him before,but her feelings had increased tenfold in these past days together.
"I'll see you in a fewhours." He turned and left the bungalow.
She shivered as fear rippledthrough her. Perhaps she did not need to worry. Fate could be kind and let herkeep this gift. Pickering might not tell him.
"The next troop carriergoes upriver on the twenty-seventh," John Pickering said. "I couldask the officer in charge to give up his quarters for the trip. Will Ian beready to travel by then?"
"As ready as he'll everbe." Ruel rose to his feet. "You're very kind. Thank you."
"No thanks are necessary.We're all fond of Ian. He's a fine man." The colonel added briskly,"Now, sit back down and I'll order you a drink. You look like you coulduse one."
Ruel shook his head. "Ihave to get back to—" "Sit down," Pickering repeated firmly,"Or I might rethink my kindness."
Ruel dropped back down in hischair. "One drink." The colonel motioned to a white-clad boy behindthe bar across the room. "If you don't get more rest, you may be the onewe have to ship upriver on a stretcher." He waited until the boy had settwo whiskeys in front of them before continuing. "I've seen men who look ashaggard as you do before, but it's usually after they've been through abattle."
He had been through a battle,Ruel thought. He sipped his whiskey. "I'm fine. Ian's the one who issick."
"Then why is your handshaking?"
Pickering was right, Ruelnoticed in surprise. His hand holding the glass was trembling. He exerted hiswill and steadied it before he said, "I've not been getting a great dealof rest. That doesn't mean I'm ill."
"I'm sure Abdar will besorry to hear that."
He glanced up."Abdar?"
"Pachtal's been displayinga good deal of curiosity on his behalf. He came to see me last week, askingquestions about your purchase of Cinnidar."
"What kind ofquestions?"
"The most pertinent waswhy you saw fit to buy it at all. Naturally, since you hadn't seen fit toconfide in me, I couldn't oblige him." He shrugged. "But I receivedthe impression his interest was going to continue in the matter. It's for thebest you'll be leaving Kasanpore."
"You filed the bill ofsale with the magistrates in Calcutta?"
Pickering nodded. "Allduly registered. Cinnidar is definitely yours. Abdar can't touch it."
"Legally."
"As long as his father'salive, you won't have to worry about Abdar interfering in the maharajah'saffairs."
"We shall see."
"I just thought youshould know." He paused. "Pachtal's also been seen wandering aroundLanpur Gorge. Can you think of any reason why he should be interested in theinvestigation?"
Kartauk. The only reason forPachtal to be at the gorge was if he suspected Kartauk had not been swept awayby the river. Then the last word of Pickering's sentence hit home."Investigation? What investigation?"
Pickering looked at him insurprise. "The investigation of the train wreck. The maharajah asked us tolook into the reason for it." He grimaced. "Not a pleasant task. I'vealways liked Patrick Reilly and hated being responsible for depriving him ofhis fee."
He went still. "What inhell are you talking about? Patrick told me the force of the waters pouringthrough the gorge and hitting the supports caused a vibration that weakened therails."
Pickering regretfully shookhis head. "My engineer tells me if those rails hadn't been of inferiorquality, they would never have broken."
Ruel felt as if he had beenstruck in the belly with a knotted fist. He said carefully, "Are yousaying that Ian's injury could have been prevented?"
Pickering blinked. "Ithought you knew. Patrick must have told Miss Barnaby about the inquiry."
