Burning Tigress (46 page)

"Why would you care?" snapped Charlotte. She immediately regretted her hasty words. Ken Jin obviously knew and trusted these people; she would be wise to remain silent until she understood things better. Unfortunately, she'd never been good at holding her tongue. "Gao Jin said you bought me from him."

"That was a ruse," Captain Jonas explained quietly. "Ken Jin and I have known each other for years. I am Tan Kui Yu's business partner," he added by way of explanation. It didn't help. At the moment, Charlotte couldn't even remember who Tan Kui Yu was, but she could tell that Ken Jin was perfectly comfortable with the man, especially when the Captain walked over and casually put a heavy boot on Gao Jin's back. "So this is the eunuch brother, huh?" he said in English.

Ken Jin straightened, which allowed Gao Jin to take his first deep breath since he'd hit the floor. Two moments later, the eunuch began cursing in Mandarin. Charlotte didn't know the words, but Little Pearl did and her cackle of laughter split the air.

"Arrogant words," she said, "for a man with his nose in the dirt."

That caused another round of vehement curses, until the Captain shifted his weight. When Gao Jin could no longer draw breath, his invective sputtered to silence.

Captain Jonas smiled at Ken Jin. "I know something of your past from Kui Yu. After I received your letter and heard about your disappearance..." He shrugged. "It wasn't hard to put two and two together. If nothing else, I knew you would come here to try and settle things with your brother." He glanced down at the purpling eunuch. "So, is it settled?"

Ken Jin didn't speak. He merely gazed down at the floor in mute misery. Charlotte knew she should stay out of it. She knew he had to decide on his own, but somehow she found herself moving anyway. Jaw firmly shut, she went to his side and touched his hand. His fingers immediately intertwined with hers. They were together, and that was enough. She trusted him to make the right decision.

He sighed and crouched down beside his brother. "We were brothers once, and I destroyed that. I thought we might be brothers again, but you have ended all hope of that. I am sorry, Gao Jin, for what I did to you. And I also grieve for what you did to me." He straightened. "We are done now. Pursue me or mine in any way at all, and even a white gunboat could not prevent the devastation I will visit upon your head."

At Ken Jin's cue, Captain Jonas eased his weight off Gao Jin. The eunuch lifted his head enough to spit at Ken Jin's feet. "You are a whoreson and no relative of mine."

Ken Jin nodded. "Then we are agreed."

It took few moments to dress and gather their belongings. Captain Jonas didn't release Gao Jin until all was ready. Then he leaned down and muttered something low into the man's ear. It was obviously a threat, because Gao Jin's quivering cheek paled to a sickly white, but Charlotte couldn't hear. Then Ken Jin, Charlotte, Little Pearl, and Captain Jonas all headed for the door. Charlotte glanced back long enough to see that Gao Jin hadn't moved. Even unrestrained, he remained on his belly in the dirt.

"My ship is waiting," Captain Jonas said. "We'll take you back to Shanghai."

"No!" Ken Jin said, his voice firm. "I must find a way to help the Tans." He grimaced as he looked behind him at his still-cowering brother. "But the only way into the Forbidden City is as a eunuch. And I—"

"There is news of Shi Po," Little Pearl interrupted, but then did not say more until they were out of the guest quarters and moving through the receiving hall. "A woman came to the school. General Kang's mistress. She told us of the Tans."

"Are they alive?" Ken Jin pressed.

Little Pearl nodded. "Yes. And safe for now." She glanced at Charlotte. "As is the Shaolin and his white woman."

Charlotte gasped. "Joanna? Joanna is all right?"

Little Pearl nodded her head, though there was confusion in her expression. "They build another temple in a place called Hong Kong."

"It's an island," said Captain Jonas. "South of Shanghai. I could take you there, if you like. Or..." He glanced significantly at Little Pearl.

The woman shot him a glare, but the anger quickly faded. Then she turned to Charlotte and bowed with all possible formality. "I offer you a home at the Tigress school. You can study there under my direction. I..." She swallowed and glanced at Ken Jin first, the Captain second. "I was in error when we last met. I beg your forgiveness."

Charlotte didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to take this humbled Little Pearl, especially since she didn't believe for one second that the woman was cowed. In any event, she already had her answer. He was still holding her hand even as they climbed into the Chinese carriage waiting by the front gate.

It was a tight fit—all four of them on one seat—but they managed. And Charlotte didn't mind curling tight to the man beside her. Neither did Little Pearl, apparently, as she settled tightly against Captain Jonas.

"Charlotte and I are to be married," Ken Jin said before she could speak. "We will have our own home, Little Pearl. I don't know where yet, but—"

"We can talk to Mr. Crane, Joanna's father," Charlotte put in. "Maybe he'll help—"

"No, no!" Captain Jonas said as he gathered the reins and set the carriage moving. "That's the other reason I came to find you. It's all a mess, Ken Jin. Mr. Wicks's accounts are a disaster throughout town. I can't keep Kui Yu's holdings together if you can't keep the Wicks partnerships from falling apart. We're in this together, and I can't do it alone." His voice was tight and angry, but the rest of his body appeared completely at ease.

Ken Jin shook his head. "I am no longer the Wickse's First Boy. My replacement—"

"Aie-yah,"
cried Little Pearl. "You still do not listen! The Wickses are gone. Your replacement cashed everything he could, then fled. All your partners—" She threw up her hands. "Disaster!"

"Gone?" Charlotte asked. "I don't understand." Captain Jonas turned the carriage onto a busier street, but she could still hear him clearly over the city noise. "Your family boarded a ship for England some days ago. They said you had dedicated yourself to the Church."

She jerked back slightly at the news, but then Ken Jin's arms tightened and his warmth braced her. "They're gone?" she asked, her voice gratifyingly steady.

"I'm afraid so."

They were gone. She was abandoned. Emotions blew threw her quickly, then faded. She wasn't alone—Ken Jin remained beside her, and a memory teased her mind. "That's what he meant," she breathed.

"What?" Ken Jin asked.

"William. The last thing he said to me. 'Thank you for removing your shadow.'" She looked at Ken Jin, her heart beating painfully in her throat. "He's out from under my shadow now. I can't protect him and so—"

"He can grow." Ken Jin nodded. "I remember. I heard it, too."

"But my mother..."

Ken Jin squeezed her hand. "They must sort out their power together."

She smiled, and though the act hurt, it was healing as well. "So... we're both disowned now."

He pressed his lips to hers. "No," he whispered. "We are both whole."

"Together."

He grinned. "And free to begin again."

AFTERGLOW—After orgasm, hold the top and bottom of the spinal cord simultaneously to encourage cerebral spinal fluid to circulate through the spine, conducting energy throughout the central nervous system. It also increases the flow of the life force through the meridians, sending healing energy through the entire body.

Acupressure for Lovers

Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D.

Chapter 19

Feb 2, 1899

Dear Charlotte,

I have never been happier to be on English soil. Proper tea, cold air, and not a coolie in sight—how could I have ever left? I work daily at the orphanage with the Pastor, and your father remains in London where his actions do not touch us in the least. I have no idea what he does there, and only care that he remain away and not interfere in the running of the baronetcy. So far, the arrangement has been perfect for us both.

I know you left the mission. I have received two letters from Father Peter, the first telling me of your departure, the second informing me of your marriage to Ken Jin. I suppose if you were to marry a Chinaman, you could have picked far worse. At least he knows how to act properly in an English home. Still, I cannot help but think we should have brought you back with us. You could have had the pick of the locals, and not a slanted eye among them. But your father insisted that China was best for you, and perhaps he was right. I understand that Ken Jin has been vital in managing the Chinese buildings your father still owns. At least I know you won't starve with him as your husband.

I am sure you are curious about William. He is deliriously happy in England. Indeed, he has gotten married—to Nanny, of all people. Without you on the passage home, he and Nanny became the closest of companions. At her age and looks, she had no hope of a decent marriage, of course, but she is a marvel at running the papers and whatnot of the baronetcy. Your father had no interest in it, of course, so he left it to me and I left it to her. Next thing I knew, she'd bound herself for life to your brother.

He adores her absolutely. And you know she is quite fond of him. Plus, now William has a proper outlet for his physical needs, which were becoming a bit of a problem. She seems quite content with her lot, especially since she will be a Baroness someday, and we no longer have to pay her that exorbitant wage. Indeed, they have even moved into the east wing of the manor so William could be closer to his cousins (Uncle Phillip's girls). The house is so large, we saw no reason to throw them out, and they do adore William.

Shocking as it all seems, I believe everything is exactly how it should be, praise God and His mysterious ways. I have enclosed our address in this letter, so you may now write me and tell me how your life proceeds.

Sincerely,

Your loving mother

* * *

Charlotte put down the letter with a sigh of relief. William and Nanny? Who would have believed it? Who would have thought any of it was possible? That she and Ken Jin would return after a shipboard wedding to live in her parents' home, the one where Charlotte had resided all her days. That Ken Jin and Captain Jonas could together repair the family fortune and build a successful business out of acupuncture shops, of all things. Or that she would find a surprising interest in learning herbs—from Little Pearl.