Tiger Prince

"Margaret says a gown doesn't make a woman any more than trousers do a man. They're both just trappings that indicate difference, not superiority."

"How compliant you've become. You've changed a great deal since you left Kasanpore."

"It's not compliant to recognize good sense. Of course I've changed. Only fools fail to learn from the years." She added impatiently, "Why all this bother about a gown?"

"I don't like it."

Color flushed her cheeks. "The gown or the fact that I'm no longer the child you knew in Kasanpore?"

"You weren't a child. Even then you were very . . ." His gaze went to her breasts. "Ripe."

The flush burned brighter. "Then what's wrong with my gown?"

It wasn't the gown, he realized suddenly, it was the fact he hadn't been the one to give it to her. It had been Margaret who had persuaded her to give up those ma

She inhaled sharply. "No, I'm here to meet Medford. I assume that's him standing by the french doors."

"Yes, that's James. Unfortunately, he's not eager to meet you."

"Why not?"

"He thinks the only reason I hired you was that you're my mistress."

Her lips tightened. "And, of course, you didn't tell him otherwise?"

"Why should I? I'm a truthful man, and that is one of the reasons you're here."

"I'm here to build a railroad."

"But I have every intention of also making you my mistress. A mistress is only a humble vessel meant to please and grovel before her master. You would hate that, wouldn't you?"

He saw the flare of anger in her face, but she said evenly, "I don't have to worry about something that's not going to occur."

"But you knew I meant that role for you before you left Glenclaren. I was very honest with you. I want Ci

"You won't get what you want." Her gaze returned to Medford. "And, blast you, you might have told him I was competent at what I do."

"You'll be even more competent after I have an opportunity to school you."

"I meant . . ." She drew a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. "You know what I meant. Are you going to introduce me to him, or must I do it myself?"

"Aye, I'll introduce you." He turned and led her across the room. "I've made sure Medford will cooperate with you, but don't expect me to be your champion. It's another battle you'll have to fight yourself."

"I'd never make the mistake of believing you'd help me any more than you could possibly avoid."

He had shaken her, but she was trying not to let him see it. She was treating him with a composure and calmness that was thorn-abrasive in his present mood. "Did you know I built the summerhouse for you?" He hadn't meant to tell her that yet, but he had to reach her, touch her. "I wanted a place where I'd have you entirely to myself."

She didn't answer, but he could see the color deepen on her cheeks, the faint acceleration of the lift and fall of her breasts beneath the bodice of her gown.

It was not enough, dammit. "Gold."

She glanced at him, startled. "What?"

"I'm going to dress you in gold silk," he said softly. "A gown that will bare your breasts and limbs. You have lovely limbs."

"Be still," she said hoarsely.

"And I remember how pointed and red your nipples were after I had them in my mouth. How hard they felt on my tongue. Do you remember?"

"No."

"I'll have one of the local seamstresses start on the gown at once. The gold will be quite beautiful with your red hair."

"You'll be wasting your money. It's not going to happen."

"It will happen." His gaze lingered on her breasts. "I'd wager it's starting to happen now. It's only fair really. As James noticed, I'm going to have an extremely uncomfortable evening."

Her gaze went involuntarily to his lower body and then quickly away.

"You see?" he said softly. "It's begi

"You are a

"No, I believe he may be a very smart man." She wrinkled her nose. "Though he thinks I'm a little fool, and that will cause difficulties I could do without."

"He will soon learn his mistake. Did he tell you anything we can use?"

She shook her head. "He said all the information he had gathered was in the survey. He did mention something about the elephants."

"What?"

"He said the Ci

"So we must stand still and let them trample us with their huge feet?"

She shrugged. "We may have nothing to worry about. We'll face that problem when we must. Medford said he had caught only brief glimpses of them while he was doing the survey." She covered a yawn with her hand. "And soon I intend to put everything else out of my mind as well and get a good night's sleep. Are your quarters comfortable?"

"Splendid. I've even been allotted two servants to care for my every wish. This lowly peon is overwhelmed."

"That's probably our host's intention."

"Or perhaps Ruel wishes to pamper us a little before submitting us to the mercy of his mountain of gold." He grimaced. "And those big-footed monsters."

"Perhaps." She was weary of trying to guess Ruel's reasons for doing anything and even more weary of the unbearable tension that enveloped her whenever she was near him. Tonight had been almost unbearable, sitting in that opulent room that shimmered with lacy gilt and breathed of Ruel's power. For the entire evening she had sensed in him a rawness and anger just below the surface. She had no idea what had goaded him into that initial explosion, but she had come out of it feeling bruised and frightened. She could not wait until they reached the mountain and she could be free of him until the job was done. "Medford said the journey to the base camp will take us three days and Ruel usually overnights at Elephant Crossing."

"Elephant Crossing," Li Sung murmured. "That was mentioned in the contract."

She nodded. "The track has to be completed over that crossing in eight weeks."

"Ah, yes, the penalties. We forfeit a high fee if we don't meet the deadline, don't we?"

"Fifty percent."

He gave a low whistle.

"That doesn't matter. We are going to make it. We'll take the opportunity tomorrow evening to look over the area." She stopped at her chamber. "Sleep well, Li Sung."

"I will." His tone was abstracted as he moved down the corridor toward his own chamber.

Chapter 13

Ruel got off his mule and started to undo the strap on the backpack. "The sun won't set for another hour. I'll set up camp while you and Li Sung look around."