The China Bride

Troth. A fine Scottish name, meaning truth and loyalty. 'I've never seen anything like your wing chun. Can all Chinese do what you did? '

'If they could, you'd be dead,' she said dryly. 'Mastery of the fighting arts is rare and secret, the skills passed from teacher to disciple. My nurse in Macao was hired to be my mother's servant and protector, and she was an expert in wing chun. She began to teach me as soon as I'd learned to walk.'

'I didn't know that Chinese women could be warriors.'

'There have been some. Once there was even an army of widows. One of China 's favorite legends is about Mu-Lan, a dutiful daughter who took her father's place in the army and served with great valor.' She rose and donned the dark cap again. Her demeanor changed, her shoulders slumping and her expression blank. 'I must go now.'

'Wait!' Not wanting to lose her so soon, he raised a hand involuntarily and was rewarded with another stab of agony for his trouble. Biting back a curse, he said, 'It's late now, but I want to talk with you again soon, Miss Montgomery.'

'There is no Miss Montgomery. Only Jin Kang.'

'That's not possible, now that I know better. There is so much I can learn from you.' He gave her his best smile. 'Surely there is no harm in our talking.'

'No harm to you. For me, yes.'

'Would Chenqua be angry that your identity is known?'

She hesitated. 'He would be most displeased, for he gave strict orders that no one in the trading community could know my true nature. Female servants are not allowed among the Fan-qui, and if the governor's people learned of me, Chenqua would be punished, and perhaps his whole household with him. And there are… other reasons.'

'It would be too difficult to be Jin Kang if sometimes you are Troth?'

She frowned at him. 'A Chinese would not ask such a question.'

'But I am not Chinese, and neither are you, not entirely.' The sense of connection he felt with 'Jin Kang' was stronger now. Wanting to know everything about her, he asked, 'Are you content with your life?'

Her chin lifted. 'I am well treated and my master values my abilities. I consider myself fortunate.'

'Yet your life rests on a lie, which could break underneath you at any moment,' he said, as much to himself as to her.

Her gaze turned to ice. 'Are you threatening me?'

'Good God, no. Destroying your life would be a poor return for your saving mine. I shall tell no one your secret.'

She relaxed a little. 'Thank you. It will be easier if Chenqua does not realize how careless I have been.'

'You were heroic, not careless.' He studied her face. 'How old are you?'

'In Western reckoning'-she calculated-'twenty-seven. Soon twenty-eight.'

Though she looked younger, she was a woman grown, trapped in a life where she was not a woman at all. 'Have you ever wished to visit your father's land?'

For a moment, her eyes were clouded with almost unbearable longing. Then she shook her head. 'My joss binds me to China.'

'Joss?'

'Fate. Fortune. Joss sticks are burned to petition the gods for good luck.'

He'd seen the smoldering sandalwood sticks and even heard the word used, but hadn't thought to ask the meaning. 'See how much I am learning already?' Carefully he sat up and leaned toward her. 'Wouldn't you like to have someone with whom you could relax and speak freely, rather than always playing a role?'

Her mouth twisted. 'The fact that I saved your life does not give you the right to question me, Lord Maxwell.'

Realizing that he was being damnably rude, he settled back again. 'I'm sorry. I'm afraid that you fascinate me.'

'No doubt you find all freaks and monsters fascinating,' she said acidly. 'Good night, my lord. Do not go alone into public places again. The men who attacked you were hired, and the person who wanted you dead may try again.'

He frowned, realizing that he'd almost forgotten the attack. 'Why would anyone want to have me murdered?'

'I have no idea. Perhaps an enemy of Chenqua wanted to create a situation that would cause my master great problems. Or perhaps you've made enemies of your own, with your too-frank tongue.'

'It is the way of my people to be frank. I've said nothing in Canton to make mortal enemies.' From what Gavin had told him about the local politics, it seemed more likely that someone had wanted to injure Chenqua. The death of an English lord who was one of Chenqua's trading partners would be a great scandal in both China and the West. 'How did you learn that I was to be attacked?'

'An informant of mine in Hog Lane heard two gang members boasting of the money they'd earn for killing you. He had the wit to come to me as I left the hong.'

'So you are indeed a spy.'

'I am. And you have cause to be grateful for it.'

She walked out, her chin high, every inch a Scotswoman. He guessed that she'd be Jin Kang before she'd gone another dozen steps.

He rubbed his aching head, thinking of the spark of attraction that had flared between them when 'Jin Kang' had shown him how to hold a calligraphy brush. Never in his wildest imagination could he have believed that the shy clerk was really an incredible woman warrior who could defeat six thugs with her bare hands.

But now that he'd met her, how could he forget her?

Despite her fatigue, Troth reported the night's events to Chenqua as soon as she returned to Honam Island. He received her in his private study, wearing a hastily donned robe and a stern expression. 'What is so urgent that you must disturb my rest?'

She bowed deeply. 'I apologize most profoundly that such a useless creature as I has interrupted your sleep, but two hours ago there was an attempt on the life of Lord Maxwell.'

He frowned. 'Tell me.'

She gave a succinct explanation, starting with the message from Teng and ending with her helping Maxwell back to his hong. She told everything except that the Englishman had discovered her true identity, and not only because Chenqua would be displeased. Speaking of that rare interval of honesty would destroy its magic.

After she finished, Chenqua asked, 'Did you recognize any of the attackers?'

'One was Xun Kee, of the Red Dragon gang. I think they were all Red Dragons.'

He stroked his beard. 'Zhan Hu, the Red Dragon leader, would never condone such an attack-it must have been a private commission. I shall consult Zhan. Between us, we shall learn who hired these louts, and assure that they are suitably punished.'

Troth felt a chill down her spine. Her identification had just condemned half a dozen men to torture and death. Though they undoubtedly deserved it, she was enough her father's child to deplore the ferocity of Chinese justice.

Chenqua continued, 'You must protect Lord Maxwell until he leaves Canton. Stay close to him. Enlist Elliott's aid to achieve that if necessary-he will also be concerned for Maxwell's continued health.'

Dismayed, she knelt before him. 'Please, lord, choose another. I am not worthy of so great a responsibility.'

'You saved him from six Red Dragons bent on murder. There are few men in Canton who could do as much, and none are in my employ.'

Instead of accepting dismissal, she said, 'Maxwell is more perceptive than most Fan- qui. I fear that if I spend much time with him, he may see through my disguise.'

Chenqua gave her a faint, dry smile. 'I have faith in your ability to deceive him.'

She bowed again, then withdrew, weary to the bone from fatigue and the bruises she'd acquired in the fight. Though Maxwell and Chenqua had been impressed by her performance, she knew that it had largely been the element of surprise that enabled her to prevail against so many. She'd certainly taken her share of blows.