“How often do you come here?”
“Every day.”
Stephen let out an exclamation and grabbed her arm.
“Evie, what if you get caught?”
She scoffed and pulled her arm away.
“They have no idea I’m here,” she assured him. “They’re too busy doing their exercises. Besides, why should they be concerned with me? I’m just a girl.”
“Which is why you shouldn’t be here!” Stephen said. “Come on. Let’s go.”
“But I don’t want to go!” Evie turned her attention back to the students in the square. “Don’t you wish you could learn something like that?”
Stephen looked at her as if she had three heads.
“Like what? We don’t even know what that is! It could be a mating dance for all you know.”
She sighed and looked at him in disappointment.
“I thought you would find it interesting.”
“Well, I don’t,” he said roundly, “and neither should you. You’re a girl. You should be learning girl things, not running around the countryside all alone.”
“You sound like your mother,” Evie muttered. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“I left it in England,” he retorted, grabbing her hand. “Come on. I’m two years older than you, so you have to listen to me.”
“No I don’t,” she objected, pulling her hand away. “You’re not my father.”
“If I was, I’d lock you up until you’re an old lady.”
Evie stuck her tongue out at him. “Well you’re not, so there!”
Stephen glowered at her. “Fine. But I’m going to tell your father!”
The girl hesitated, clearly unsure if he was bluffing. Sensing her hesitation, Stephen nodded confidently.
“I will! I swear it!”
With a huff, Evie turned away from the hedge with a pout. Stephen grabbed her hand and pulled her away, heading back across the clearing.
Neither of them were aware of the pair of old, dark eyes following them from under an ancient, tiled awning. The old man shifted on his stool as the teacher in the front caught sight of the retreating young people through a gap in the hedges. He started towards the edge of the property purposefully, but halted at a single word from the old man. He turned to look at him in surprise, but the old man didn’t spare him a glance as he thoughtfully watched the young girl hurrying across the clearing.
Chapter One
Tai Po District, Hong Kong: 1936
Evelyn Ainsworth tucked her arm through her father’s and took a deep breath of warm, balmy evening air. The sound of laughter and music floated from the back patio where the guests had spilled outside to enjoy an after-dinner drink and some respite from the overcrowded rooms within. The lights from the house joined forces with torches placed near the stone-flagged patio to light up part of the manicured lawn, but the rest was in cloaked in shadows. She hugged his arm as they strolled into those shadows, away from the guests.
“This was lovely,” she told him, looking up into his angular face. “Thank you!”
“I wish it could have been more. You only turn eighteen once,” he replied with a smile. “When we return to England, you’ll have a proper come-out.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Is that really necessary?”
He chuckled. “I’m afraid so, Evie. Society demands it, and so does your mother.”
“Well, I certainly don’t want to disappoint Mum,” she said, glancing back at the patio where a tall, elegant woman was entertaining their guests with polished ease. “I know it’s important to her.”
“It’s important to both of us, and it should be important to you. It’s your opportunity to take your place in society.”
“Oh posh, you know I don’t give a fig for any of that.” She paused then smiled ruefully. “Although, I do enjoy parties. And you never said what you thought of my new dress!”
Evelyn pulled away to spin around in front of him. Diaphanous pearl-gray material shimmered in the moonlight and flared around her ankles as she twirled.
“I think you look stunning,” Mr. Ainsworth said with a fond smile. “I can’t believe how quickly you’ve grown. Your brother will be amazed when he sees you.”
Evelyn tucked her arm back into his as they strolled along a gravel path alongside beds of exotic flowers.
“I miss Robert. I can’t wait to see him again. He wrote that he’s learning to fly with a local flying club while he’s at Oxford.”
Her father grunted. “So I’ve heard.”
“How exciting! I wish I could learn something new and fun like that.”
Mr. Ainsworth looked at her in some amusement.
“Is that so? Learning an exotic fighting technique isn’t new and fun enough for you?” he teased. “I seem to recall that when you convinced me to allow you to attend that Kung Fu school of yours, you did so by telling me you wanted learn something fun and different.”
She looked at him ruefully from under long, darkened lashes.
“I did,” she admitted with a grin. “And you know I love it. I wish you wouldn’t call it Kung Fu. It sounds so silly. It’s called Wing Chun, and I think that sounds much more interesting. I have my final test next week. Sifu says I’m ready. I have advanced past his senior students.”
Her father chuckled.
“Of course you have,” he murmured. “Tell me, Evie, is there anything you won’t do if you put your mind to it?”
“There seem to be many things,” she retorted with a short laugh. “I’m struggling with Russian, as you’re well aware, and mother says my sewing is deplorable.”
He waved his hand dismissively.
“Evelyn, my dear, if you weren’t struggling with learning Russian, I’d begin to wonder if you were even human. I have nothing but respect for you even attempting it.”
“Well, you’re the one who always said I should learn all the languages I could because I have an ear for them. I’ll admit, though, I think
