"Whoa there, Nelly!"
She laughed in spite of her anger. "You're a devil."
"Yes, but I'll make a fine husband.
Ma'am."
Her smile faded. The anger vanished. She got up and went to the window and stared out at the bay and the ships there. Lots of activity around the warships. He watched and waited, hoping that he had judged correctly. When she was ready, she said, "You say compromise, Edward. How?"
"I'd take the next, fastest boat to Hong Kong," he said. "I'll see her at once and make changes you and I agree on--and I think are possible. I'm sure I can up the stipend.
Five instead of two or three thousand would be acceptable, yes?"
"She says those disgusting terms won't be changed."
"I will change them, some of them."
"Which?"
"We can discuss those today and tomorrow. I'm confident about the money."
"Mon Dieu, the money's not everything, and why so quickly? There's till the 14th of next month."
"I must be first with the news, to catch her off balance. That makes my bargaining position better. For you," he added.
She turned and looked at him. "Also for you too."
"Also for me," he said, these twists and turns and risks and gambles, a wrong word fatal, more thrilling than the best poker game he had ever been in, the stakes the highest. Her. Her and his future indivisible. And she holds most of the aces, he told himself, though she doesn't know it: her immediate agreement to Tess's demands, at his persuasion, would make Tess more keen than ever to be his ally, so vital to his future; her five thousand guineas would help to cement Rothwell-Gornt; and her venom would ensure Tess's end.
"I love you and want to marry you," he said.
"Please."
"It's much too soon to answer that."
"I don't agree, you're footloose and fancy free."
"Because I'm not married and never was?" she snapped.
"Calm down, honey, think calmly! We're adults, I have a right to ask, to say I love you and to want to marry you."
She dropped her gaze and conceded, needing him, he alone could shield her from Tess. "Sorry, yes, sorry, the... the letter unsettled me.
But, it's too soon to answer you, really."
"I don't agree. I believe you love me, the promise could be private, not to be advertised, between us. I love you, we would make a grand team," he said, meaning it, "the future's vast for us once this..." he motioned at the letter, "once this no longer threatens you. We've much in common and a common goal, to destroy your enemy and mine, at leisure."
"I don't love you, I like you, immensely, perhaps I could, perhaps I would love you in time and I would try if... if I was to marry you, no, don't move, let me finish." Her fingers were toying with a pearl buckle that she had bought in the village and that reminded her as MacStruan would not honor her remaining chits it was, apart from her engagement ring and the jade ring, the only jewelry she still possessed. And Andr`e would be around this afternoon again. She put that worry away for later and concentrated. Curious that Edward should have the same idea that I have. We think alike in many ways. "For the moment let me answer that later. When's the next ship for Hong Kong?"
"The best and fastest would be tomorrow night.
Cooper-Tillman's Atlanta Belle, direct Hong Kong then San Francisco," he said at once, arrivals and departures in the forefront of every trader's mind. "She'll be in Hong Kong before our clipper, Night Witch --she's not due here for three days."
"You'd want to be on her, the Atlanta Belle?"
"Yes."
"Then, Edward, let's discuss what you think can be bettered with that woman in the morning, that gives me time to think. If we agree, then please go quickly to Hong Kong... and hurry back, quickly."
"Good. But your answer to my proposal?"
"I will give you that when you return."
"I must have it before I leave."
"Why?"
"For my pleasure," he said.
She saw the same strange smile and wondered what was behind it. "Why? Seriously?"
He got up and stood over her. "Because it's vital to me. If you'll marry me the sky's the limit, you'll adore Shanghai, it's the greatest city in Asia, makes Hong Kong like a backwater, you'll be the toast of the town and live happily ever after. I promise. Now, please promise."
"I promise to give you my answer when you return, there should be trust between us," she said and he remembered saying the same thing to Tess. "When you return."
"Sorry, my dear Angelique, I need to know before I go."
"Or you won't negotiate for me, with Tess?"
He did not answer at once. "I'll negotiate for you. And I'd like to marry you tomorrow, tonight--nothing to do with Tess, but that's not possible."
He went closer and held her shoulders in his hands, and kissed the tip of her nose.
"Jolie Mademoiselle, an answer please? By sunset tomorrow? I'll have to board then.
An answer before God."
That afternoon the news about Katsumata and Meikin's suicide reached Raiko in her private quarters. She fainted. When she had begun to recover, she sent a maid to ask Hiraga to find Akimoto and Takeda urgently, there were terrible facts to report. They came quickly.
Weeping unashamed and wringing her hands she told them about Yoshi capturing Katsumata, about his death and that of Meikin, Koiko's mama-san, but not that she had betrayed him. "This is the end... if Yoshi found out about Katsumata and Meikin, he knows about me, about you, we're all betrayed.
Who's the traitor? It's only a matter of time..." Again her terror soared. "You must all leave at once before Enforcers discover you... you must leave..."
"Stop!" Hiraga hissed, face chalky, no longer disguised as a kitchen skivvy. He was wearing an ordinary kimono and was ready to rush for his tunnel sanctuary, the lookouts reliable now on pain of death. Akimoto and Takeda were also devastated. That Katsumata could die a coward was inconceivable.
I cannot believe the Sensei would allow himself to be caught alive, Hiraga thought. And for Yoshi to allow Meikin to do that to him was disgusting, however merited. Baka to be caught alive!