Tiger Prince

The torments he had deliberately brought her here to set free.

Who could be hammering at the door at this time of night? Margaret wondered drowsily.

Then, as she came fully awake, she glanced quickly at Ian. Thank goodness he had not been disturbed. She struggled into her robe, thrust her feet into slippers, and marched across the room to throw open the door. Ruel. She should have known who would be so lacking in consideration.

"Merciful saints, must you come pounding in the middle of the night? Ian needs his sleep, and it's a wonder you didn't wake him. Why could it not—" She broke off as she saw his strained face and glittering eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I need you," he said hoarsely. "Can you come?"

"Come where?" She cast a glance over her shoulder. Ian was still sleeping soundly. The pain had been bad last night and she had been forced to give him extra laudanum. She stepped into the hall and quietly closed the door behind her.

"The summerhouse." He took her elbow and strode down the hall, half leading, half dragging her. "I need you."

"That's the first time I've ever heard you say that," she said dryly. "I can hardly wait to hear in what ma

"You know about sickness," he said jerkily. "You took care of your father and Ian."

"You're ill?"

"Jane."

"Jane's here?" she asked, startled.

"Would I be coming after you if she were not? Stop asking questions and hurry. I've left her alone too long already."

Her pace quickened. "What's wrong?"

"If I knew that, I wouldn't have called you. Fever. Chills. She's out of her head. She doesn't know me."

"Have you sent for the physician?"

"Of course I have, but it may be hours before Tamar gets back with him. She needs someone now."

"What is she doing at the summerhouse?"

He looked straight ahead. "That's not your concern."

"What have you been up to, Ruel?"

He didn't answer.

It was clear he was not going to confide in her the exact nature of this particular deviltry. "I may not be able to help."

"You can try." He opened the french doors leading to the terrace. He added haltingly, "Please."

Good God, Ruel must be frantic if he was desperate enough to plead. "I'll try."

Margaret came out of the summerhouse and closed the door behind her. "She's better."

A muscle jerked in Ruel's cheek. "Thank God."

"The fever's down and she v/oke up long enough to answer some of the doctor's questions. He said the fever should leave her entirely in a few hours."

"What the hell's wrong with her?"

"Malaria. She contracted it in Kasanpore and the fever recurs periodically."

"She never told me."

"Nor me," Margaret said. "And I've known her for three years. She's not a woman who confides her weaknesses." She wearily rubbed the back of her neck. "I must go back in case Ian needs me. I'll come and see her this afternoon."

"No, I'll take care of her from now on."

"You don't appear to have done much in that nature as yet."

He flinched. "I said I'd do it. She might find facing you awkward."

"You're trying to save her shame? How unusual. Your tardy gallantry is u

"She wouldn't go."

"I think she would. She wouldn't admit it, but she's always been afraid of you."

"Not anymore," he said with a crooked smile. "Not when she's not burning up with fever. And even if she were, she wouldn't go. We have an arrangement."

She snorted. "She has more intelligence than to make a pact with a conscienceless rogue like you. Why is she here?"

"You wouldn't want to know."

"You may be right." She was suddenly overcome with weariness. She did not need this additional burden weighing on her when she was so bewildered and strained herself. Who was she to call Ruel down for his iniquities when she had lately found herself falling into the same temptation? "Can I trust you not to—"

"Oh, for God's sake, do you think I'm going to jump into bed with her while she can barely lift her hand?" he asked explosively.

Whatever had happened here, Jane's illness had shaken Ruel. She had never seen him so pale and distraught as when he had appeared at her door. She could not be sure it would last, but Jane was safe with him for the time being. "If you need anything of me, let me know."

She started back up the path toward the palace.

Ruel looked like a death head, Jane thought hazily. Something had to be done. She would tell him she would take the watch over Ian tonight. Not that she had much hope of success when Ruel was so afraid Ian would slip away if he wasn't there to pull him back. "Have to . . . rest."

Ruel's gaze flew to her face. "What?"

"You should rest more. You look . . ." She trailed off as she came fully awake. This was not the bungalow in Kasanpore in those days they had worked together to keep Ian alive. This was the summerhouse . . .

"You're the one who needs rest." Ruel leaned forward and put a glass of water to her lips. "Drink."

She swallowed the water. "I've been ill?"

"Fever. For the past two days. The doctor said it was a comparatively mild attack." His lips tightened. "It didn't seem mild to me."

She vaguely recalled the doctor staring down at her, asking her questions, talking to someone else across the bed. "Margaret . . . was here too?"

"Yes. Why didn't you tell me you'd had malaria?"

"Why should I?" She frowned. "Two days. I have to get back to work."

"I sent word to Li Sung to tell him you'd be delayed."

"You told him I was sick? You shouldn't have done that. He'll only worry."

"I told him you were out of danger." He scowled. "And it's about time someone worried about you. Li Sung should have seen you were working yourself toward something like this."

"My fault ... I forgot to take the quinghao after I got here."

"Quinghao?"

"It's an ancient Chinese herbal medicine. Li Sung gave it to me when I first fell sick with the disease in Kasanpore."

"Do you take it all the time?"

"Not all the time. Only when I think I may be coming down with—"

"And just how long have you been taking it since you came to Ci

She didn't answer.

"How long?" Ruel persisted.

"Four weeks."

"My God."

"It wasn't bad. Just night fever."

"That sapped you of strength during the day." His right hand grabbed the arm of the chair. "You had it the night you came here, didn't you? Dammit, you probably would never have even come if you'd been in your right senses."

Looking back at that hazy, disoriented period, she wasn't sure if he was right or wrong. "I don't know. It seemed the only thing to do at the time." She added quickly, "What's important is that I'm over it now and I'll be on my feet in no time. I had an attack last year while I was at Glenclaren and I was back at the mill the next day."