And the Bride Wore Red by Lucy Gordon Page B

nothing to do with Lang and everything to do with the fact that her wardrobe was inadequate. The only really glamorous item she possessed was the cheongsam , and something had to be done—fast.
    When buying the cheongsam she’d lingered over several other items, wanting them but too prudent to spend the money.
    But now she was going away with Lang, and to blazes with prudence.
    He wouldn’t arrive until noon. The shop was three streets away, and a quick dash there and back in a taxi would enable her to collect what she needed and return before him. She took her suitcases down to the front door, and spoke to the tenant of the downstairs apartment.
    â€˜If a man calls for me, will you tell him I’ll be back in ten minutes? Thanks.’
    She called a taxi and waited for it outside, waving cheerfully at a little girl from one of the other apartments who was playing nearby. The taxi was prompt and she took off, managing to be back barely five minutes after midday. With luck, she thought, Lang wouldn’t be there yet—but it wasn’t really a surprise to find him ahead of her. What did surprise her was the volcanic look on his face.
    â€˜Where the devil have you been?’ he demanded explosively.
    â€˜Hey, cut it out!’ she told him. ‘I’m a few minutes late. It’s not the end of the world. I went to do a bit of last-minute shopping. I left you a message with the woman who lives downstairs. Didn’t you see her?’
    â€˜The only person I’ve seen is a child who was playing here. She said you got into a taxi and went away for ever . That was her exact phrase.’
    Olivia groaned. ‘I know who you mean. She saw me get into the taxi but the rest is her imagination. I just went to buy something. I’m here now. Have you been waiting long?’
    â€˜Five minutes.’
    She stared. ‘Five minutes? That’s nothing. No need to make a fuss.’
    For answer he slammed his hand down hard on the bonnet of the taxi, causing the driver to object loudly. While they sorted it out, Olivia dashed inside to retrieve her suitcases.
    She was stunned at what she’d just seen. Lang was the last man she would have suspected of such an outburst. Here was a troubling mystery, but her dismay faded as she emerged from the building and saw his face. It was no longer angry, but full of a suffering he was fighting to hide.
    The driver, placated by a large tip, helped them load the bags, and then they were off.
    In the taxi Olivia took Lang’s hand and rallied him cheerfully. ‘We’re going to have a great time. Don’t spoil it by being mad at me.’
    â€˜I’m not. I’m mad at myself for making a mountain out of a molehill. After all, what’s five minutes? That’s the trouble with being a doctor, you get to be a stickler for time.’
    He went on talking, turning it into a joke against himself. But Olivia knew it wasn’t a joke really. It wasn’t about five minutes; just what it was about was something she had yet to learn. In the meantime, she fell in with his mood, and they went to the airport in apparently good spirits.
    The flight took two hours, and they reached the hotel in the evening.
    â€˜Is your room all right?’ Lang asked as they went down to the restaurant.
    â€˜Yes, I’m going to sleep fine. Not that I plan to do much sleeping. I’ve still got a lot of reading to do about the Emperor.’
    â€˜I saw you buried in a book on the plane. Good grief, you’ve brought it down here with you.’
    â€˜He fascinates me. He took the throne of Qin when he was only thirteen, unified all the states into one country, standardised money, weights and measures, built canals and roads. But he only lived to be fifty, and he seems to have spent the last few years of his life trying to find a way to avoid death.’
    â€˜Yes, he dreaded the idea of dying,’ Lang agreed. ‘He sent court officials