He began to button her shirt. "I want to do this. Kneel down," he murmured. "There's something else I want to do."
The maharajah's painting. Her gaze flew to his face as a sudden memory of that day in the summerhouse came back to her.
His lips tightened as he realized what she was thinking. "No, though I'd like to try that again someday. I think I'd get it right this time. You wouldn't find fault with the way I look at you now, would you?"
She remembered the tenderness in his expression as he had looked at her while they were standing in the lake. "No." She slowly sank to her knees on the blanket.
He knelt behind her, his fingers braiding her hair. "I've wanted to do this since that first day you took me to the temple to see Kartauk. I watched Li Sung care for you and I was jealous as hell. I should have known then . . ."
His fingers were not as practiced as Li Sung's, and it took him a long time to complete the thick braid. She didn't care, she thought dreamily. She felt cosseted and infinitely treasured.
"There. It's done." He stood up and pulled her to her feet. "And now I have to get you back to camp before you take a chill."
He lifted her onto Bedelia, but his hand closed over hers as she reached for the reins.
His voice was suddenly harsh with feeling as he blurted out, "When will you realize I'm not going to ever cause you pain again? When the hell are you going to believe me?"
She wanted to believe him, to take the chance. The temptation was so strong, it was nearly irresistible, but she was afraid. She looked at him helplessly. "I can't. I told you, there's too much—" Her voice was uneven as she struggled with tears. "I can't!"
The next moment she was galloping wildly through the jungle back to the encampment.
Chapter 20
There's something you have to see," Kartauk said. He grabbed Margaret's wrist and pulled her down the hall toward the front entrance.
"Let me go." She struggled to release herself. "I have to get back to Ian. It's almost time for his lunch."
"He's going to miss it."
"Why should he have to—" She fell silent as she saw the frightening grimness of Kartauk's expression.
He pulled her out on the front veranda and pointed down the hill toward the seaport. "Look."
Fire.
The dock and warehouses bordering the sea below blazed in an inferno of destruction, sending black curls of smoke to darken the heavens.
"What is it?" Margaret whispered.
"I have an idea, but I've sent Tamar to find out for sure." Kartauk strode quickly back to the door. "You go to the servants' quarters and fetch the bearers and Ian's chair. I'll get Ian ready to travel."
"What's happening?" Margaret followed him. "You know how hard it is for Ian to travel."
"It will be harder on him to stay," Kartauk said. "If it's Abdar knocking at the gate."
"Abdar! But Ruel said we should have another two months."
"It seems Abdar has decided not to honor tradition." He moved down the hall. "I've told Jock to saddle your horse and bring it around for you. Be sure to tell the bearers to put extra cushions on Ian's chair. It's going to be a rough journey for him down that incline to the canyon."
"Terrible. Couldn't we hide somewhere in the rain forest near the palace?"
Kartauk shook his head. "They'd find us. We have to get to Ruel."
"But will the bearers be quick enough?"
"We have no choice. We can't get a coach down that narrow canyon trail. It's barely wide enough for the tracks that Medford laid." He snapped over his shoulder. "Move!"
She nodded and flew down the corridor toward the servants' quarters.
Kartauk threw open the door to Ian's chamber and found him in his chair by the window, staring down at black smoke rising from the seaport.
"We're leaving," he said curtly.
Ian shifted his gaze from the fire to Kartauk's face. "Abdar?"
Kartauk nodded. "More than likely. I sent Tamar to determine how much time we have." He went to the armoire and pulled out Ian's cloak. "You may need this." As he withdrew a large carpet bag he glanced at the collection of medicine vials on the table beside Ian's chair. "We'll need a valise to put those in."
"There's a small leather box in the bottom of the armoire that Margaret packed them in when we came from Glenclaren." He sat up straighter in the chair. "Bring it here. I'll pack them while you pack Margaret's things. Where is she?"
"Fetching your bearers."
"Ah yes, even in the direst emergency I must travel in suitable pomp and glory." He took the leather valise Kartauk handed him and began to place the vials carefully in the case. "Be sure to pack Margaret's blue shawl. It's warm and she looks so lovely in it."
Kartauk grabbed the shawl and tossed it in the carpet bag. "You're being very calm."
"Why not? When I have you and Margaret to care for my well-being." Ian smiled. "What is scum like Abdar when one is surrounded by one's friends?"
"A threat."
Tamar burst through the door, his usual calm demeanor vanished. "Abdar! We must depart!"
"You're sure it's Abdar?" Kartauk asked.
Tamar nodded. "His soldiers wear blue and white livery as you told me."
Kartauk swore. "How many?"
"Perhaps two hundred. But they carry English rifles."
Kartauk frowned. "Two hundred. Why not more?"
"It seems quite enough to me," Ian said mildly.
Kartauk nodded and turned back to Tamar. "How much time do we have?"
"Not long. The soldiers fired the docks as they set out for the palace. I ran into Abdar's forces outside of town and turned around and came back."
"Then he's right behind you," Ian said. "And we have no time for my foolish bearers." He met Kartauk's gaze. "Margaret."
Ian was right. It would take a miracle for the bearers to avoid Abdar's pursuit down that canyon trail, and if Margaret accompanied them she would not desert Ian even if it meant being captured herself. He nodded. "I'll see to it. Finish his packing and get him into his chair, Tamar. He's leaving immediately."
He had to step around the four Cinnidan bearers as they entered Ian's chamber. He grasped Margaret's arm as she would have followed them. "No." He half pulled, half pushed her down the corridor. "I'll tend to him. You go on ahead."
"Are you mad? I won't leave without Ian."
"Someone has to warn Medford and Ruel to be ready for Abdar. Medford's camp is directly at the bottom of the canyon wall. Give him the warning and then ride on to Ruel's camp. The last time I heard from him he was located about fifteen miles from Medford. Tell him Abdar has a force of only two hundred and that, though they're well armed, I don't think he will have any reinforcements to draw on. There's a good chance he's overstepped his power with this move."
"You go warn Ruel. My place is with Ian."
It was what he expected of her, strong as gold and brave as a lion. "Are you strong enough to protect him in battle?" He pushed her down the veranda steps toward Jock, who was holding her horse. "You have a great heart, but I am mighty as Goliath."
"Whom David defeated without batting an eyelash."
"He struck a lucky blow." Kartauk grinned. "Goliath should have won." He said to Jock. "Don't let her stop until she reaches Ruel."