was certainly one hell of a woman, but he was going to have to tread carefully. It seemed quite evident that she was pleased to see him, mainly because the Russian element in her nature was uppermost and she considered herself to be a Westerner, an alien in a strange land.
He wondered how she managed for suitablemale companionship. Heaven knows, Hoffner was too old for her, but Captain Tsen had made no secret of his regard, and there was always Colonel Li, an unknown quantity in more ways than one.
The door opened and Joro entered, carrying a neat bundle which he placed on a chair. He squatted beside the tub and grinned. âThe woman told me to bring you fresh clothing.â
âI was wondering when youâd show up,â Chavasse said. âAre they treating you all right?â Joro nodded. âIâm sleeping in the kitchen, which is warmer than the stables at least.â He frowned and shook his head. âThere have been changes since I was last here.â
Chavasse reached for a towel, stood up and started to dry himself roughly. âIn what way?â
âThereâs no longer anyone here I know, which in some ways is a good thing, and Iâd never met the Stranoff woman before today. There are only two servants now, a man and his wife.â
âAnd why should that worry you?â
âBecause theyâre both Chinese and they donât care for Tibetansâtheyâve made that plain enough already.â
âAnd you think theyâre working for Colonel Li?â
Joro nodded. âOne canât be certain, but I think youâll have to be very careful.â
âDonât worry,â Chavasse said with feeling. âI intend to be.â
He dressed quickly in the clothes which Katya Stranoff had sent up. There was a black silk Russian shirt like the one she had been wearing, a pair of quilted pants and a heavy woollen sweater.
He examined himself carefully in the mirror, combed back his hair and turned to Joro. âHow do I look?â
Joro grinned. âVery pretty. Iâm sure sheâll be impressed.â
âLetâs hope so,â Chavasse told him. âIt might prove to be important. Youâd better go back to the kitchen now. Iâll see you later.â
As Chavasse was going downstairs, a door clicked open and Katya Stranoff crossed the hall. She paused as she heard his foot on the stairs and glanced up, and her eyes sparkled in the lamplight.
She was wearing a Chinese sheath dress of heavy black silk embroidered with scarlet poppies, which fitted her lithe body like a second skin. It buttoned high about her neck, and two discreet vents on each side of the skirt gave him a glimpse of slender legs as she moved to greet him.
âYou certainly look better for the bath. All you need now is a drink and a decent meal.â
âIâd love both,â he said, âbut first, would it be in order for me to compliment you on that astonishing dress?â
He could have sworn that she blushed, but inthe lamplight it was difficult to be sure. She took his arm and smiled. âDoctor Hoffner is waiting to meet you.â
She opened the door and led the way into a large and comfortable room. The walls were shelved from ceiling to floor and packed with books, and a table in the centre was laid for a meal. A pleasant fire burned on the large open hearth and flames danced on the shiny surface of a grand piano which stood against one wall by the window. The whole room possessed a wonderful air of peace and tranquillity.
The man who had been sitting reading in a chair by the fire turned and got to his feet. Wearing an old corduroy jacket and an open-neck shirt, he was one of the largest men Chavasse had ever seen, with a great breadth of shoulder and hair like a snow white mane swept back behind his ears. But it was the remarkable eyes which most impressed Chavasse. They were dark and deep and full of a tremendous serenity.
For a brief
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