"Under the auspices of Ambassador Seratard, of dubious ancestry, father of all the French. Well I must be going--keep me advised and if Malcolm asks for a similar bout, check with me first, privately."
"All right. Thanks, Doctor."
Later Vargas knocked, "Senhor, Ah Tok says the tai-pan wants to see you."
Climbing the staircase, there was a sudden nasty twinge in Jamie's stomach, imagining himself in Malcolm's place.
"Senhor McFay!" Vargas called up from the stairwell. "Excuse me, but the Choshu samurai have just arrived, about ordering the rifles, senhor."
"I'll be right back."
McFay knocked and opened the door.
"Hello, Tai-pan," he said kindly.
Struan was propped in bed, his eyes strange, a flat smile on his face. "How're you today?"
"You saw Hoag?"
"Yes."
"Good, then you know she was very satisfactory and, well, thanks, Jamie. She helped tremendously though..." Struan laughed nervously, "though the finish shook me up a bit.
Terrific body. It was all very satisfactory but I don't think I'll need a repeat performance until I'm really better. She certainly got rid of the, the logjam." Again the short, nervous laugh. "Didn't realize, Jamie, how strong a little girl like that could be, or how much... you understand, eh?"
"Of course. Everything went according to plan?"
For an instant Struan wavered, then he said firmly, "Yes, better than that--I want you to double her fee."
"Certainly." McFay read the underlying anxiety and his heart went out to him. Obviously whatever happened Malcolm's deal with Shizuka was secret. If that's the way he wants it, fine. Not up to me. What's done is done. Just another secret to add to all the rest. "Glad it was all right."
"Better than all right. Did the girl say anything?"
"Only that she, er, worked hard all night, to, well, to try to please you."
A bright knock on the door and Angelique sailed in, blooming with good health, chic in a new lavender dress, parasol, feathered hat, gloves and shawl. "Hello, my love, hello Jamie, how are you today? Oh Malcolm, I'm so pleased to see you." As she bent over the bed to kiss Struan tenderly, "Oh, cheri, how I've missed you."
The moment the door had opened the hearts of both men stretched. McFay's nervousness soared, at once his eyes checked the bed and room to see if there were any telltale signs. But all was neat and tidy, clean new sheets and pillowcases daily--more Struan fastidiousness about cleanliness, to the point of foolishness, he thought-- clean shirt every day? Ridiculous, once or twice a month more than enough but then he knew the habit had been implanted by Dirk Struan and whatever the tai-pan had decreed was law for Tess Struan and therefore her family. Struan was freshly shaved, clean nightshirt, the windows opened to the sea breeze that would carry away any trace of perfume. He began to breathe easier then she said, "I saw Dr. Hoag," and both men almost went into spasm again.
"You poor darling," she said with hardly a pause, "he told me you'd had a bad night, poor darling, and that you won't come to Sir William's soiree this evening, so I thought I'd just drop in and sit with you until lunch."
Again, the gorgeous smile that seduced both of them and she arranged herself in the tall chair-- Struan weak with love for her, at the same time sick with guilt. I must have been insane to want a whore to substitute for the love of my life, he thought, glorying in her open warmth, wanting to blurt out about Shizuka, and beg her forgiveness.
The night had begun well enough with Shizuka undressing and smiling and pressing against him, fondling and encouraging. He had touched her too, fondling and was both proud and anxious. Awkward and painful to position normally and move normally so staying seated and beginning but not quite, then of a sudden Angelique's face and presence had swamped him, unbidden and unwanted. His manhood vanished. And as much as Shizuka had tried and he had tried, it would not return.
They rested and tried again, the ache for him awful now, overlaid with frantic, impotent rage and his need to prove himself. More groping and trying--she was well trained with hand and lips and body but nothing would create that which responded in varying degrees to lust and need, but especially to love and its indefinable mystery. Nor, whatever she did, could she or he dispel the spectre. Or conquer the pain.
At length she gave up, her young body sheened with perspiration and panting from her exertions.
"Gomen nasai, Tai-pan," she had whispered, again and again, apologizing, but hiding her fury and almost in tears at his impotence, for she had never failed before, and was expecting him to send for servants any moment to beat her and throw her out for failure to arouse him as a civilized person would do. And more than anything, she was beset with anxiety as to how she would explain her inadequacy to her mama-san. Buddha bear witness: this man failed, not me!
"Gomen nasai, gomen nasai," her mouth kept saying.
"It's the accident," he mumbled, despising himself, the pain grotesque, telling her about the Tokaido and his wounds even though he knew she would not understand the words, his frustration shattering him.
When that storm had passed and his tears had passed, he made her lie beside him, had stopped her trying again and had made her understand that she would get a double fee if she kept everything secret.
"Secret, wakarimasu ka?"' he pleaded with her.
"Hai, Tai-pan, wakarimasu," she had agreed happily, found the medicine he required and then cradled him to sleep.
"Malcolm..." Angelique said.
"Yes?" Struan said at once, concentrating, his heart pounding, reminding him he had used the last of Hoag's sleeping draft and that he must ask Ah Tok to replace the mixture--for just a day or so. "I'm so pleased to see you too."
"Me too. How do you like my dress?"
"It's wonderful and so are you," he said.
"Think I'll be going, Tai-pan,"
McFay broke in, seeing how happy Struan had become, pleased for him though still sweating. "The Choshu reps are downstairs--all right to proceed with them?"
"As we decided. Good, thanks again, Jamie. Let me know how it goes."
"Malcolm," Angelique said quickly, "while Jamie's here... you remember you asked me to remind you when we were all together about my, the small allowance."
"Ah yes, of course. Jamie," he said expansively as she took his hand, her open pleasure casting the night into oblivion--forever, he thought happily. That night never happened!
"Put my fiancee's chits against my account," he told him with a twinge of happiness at the word.
"Angel, just sign chits, whatever you want, Jamie will take care of them."
"Thank you, cheri, that's wonderful, but please can I have some money?"
He laughed and Jamie smiled also. "You don't need any here, there's no need for cash-- none of us carry money."
"But Malcolm, I w--"
"Angelique," he said his voice firmer.
"Chits are the way we pay for everything, at the Club or at any store in the Settlement, everyone does, even in Hong Kong, surely you haven't forgotten. It stops tradesmen cheating and you've a permanent record."
"But I've always had money, cheri, money of my own, to pay my own bills," she said with an outward show of complete honesty, "and as my father has... well you understand."
"Paying your own bills? What an appalling idea. That's unheard of in good society. Now don't worry yourself," he said, smiling at her, "that's for men to do. Chits are our perfect solution."