seizing Will’s whiskey instead. She sips at it. “Don’t the Canadians have the funniest names for their teams?”
“Regiments, Trudy,” he corrects.
“What are they, the Royal Guns or something? ” says Angeline.
“No, they’re the Royal Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers. They’ve just come from Newfoundland to help protect us. They love Hong Kong.”
“I’ll bet they do,” he says. “I’m sure it seems like heaven.”
She pouts.
“You’re not going to be all dull and jealous, are you?” She adjusts the straps of her dress, distracted. “Anyway, I’m spoken for the next few dances. Angeline, you’ll take care of my Will, won’t you? ”
Angeline and Will look at each other and shrug.
“Of course, darling,” Angeline says.
As soon as Trudy leaves, they drift away from each other. Will finds Angus Enderby leaning against a wall. Trudy’s cousin, Dominick, wanders by, gives them a curt nod.
“Strange fellow, that,” says Angus. “Can’t figure him out.”
“Trudy says he’s a girl.”
“Something more than that, though. Less innocent.” He pauses. “You know there are Fifth Columnists infiltrating. They’re supporting that Wong Chang Wai chap, who the Japanese installed in China. I’ve heard Dominick has been seen with a lot of that crowd. And Victor Chen, of course, thick as thieves with whoever can help him. Rumor has it that he had the Japanese consulate over for dinner last week. Very hush-hush. Better watch himself. That’s a dangerous game.”
“He’s a survivor.”
“Yes.” Angus shrugs. “Can’t believe the war effort’s been turned into a party. The new governor’s a fool for coming.”
A stout woman is at the bar, with a thinner lady, both sipping whiskey, watching the dancing impassively.
“Do you know Edwina Storch?” Angus asks Will, nodding toward the two.
“I’ve seen her around. Not met them formally.”
“Headmistress of Essex, old-timer. Grim, formidable. Been around forever. Her partner, Mary Winkle.”
Will and Angus walk over to the women. Edwina inclines her head regally, a queen holding court.
“Hello, Angus. Merry Christmas.”
“Edwina, I wanted you to meet Will Truesdale, somewhat of a new arrival to these shores. And Will, this is Edwina Storch and Mary Winkle, Hong Kong institutions. They know where all the skeletons are buried.”
“Pleased to meet you,” says Will.
“I’ve seen you around,” Edwina says. “You’re with the Liang girl.”
“Yes,” Will says. He is not surprised by her bluntness. He has run into this type before: the unapologetic, rude English matron who fancies herself an adventuress and desires nothing more than to intimidate.
“That didn’t take you long.”
“No, it didn’t, luckily,” he says lightly. “She’s been a wonderful introduction to Hong Kong.”
Edwina Storch harrumphs.
“That’s a skewed sense of Hong Kong you’re getting! ”
Mary Winkle lays a small, reproachful hand on Edwina’s arm.
“Now, now,” she whispers. “Trudy has always been lovely, if misunderstood. I do like her so very much.”
Will smiles at her. “She is lovely, isn’t she?”
Edwina sips noisily at her glass.
“What’s that you’re drinking? ” she asks.
“Single malt.”
“A man’s drink. Since you’re with Trudy, I thought you might be a champagne drinker.”
“Are you friends with her? ” he asks politely.
“Of course,” she says. “In Hong Kong, everyone has to be friends or it’s very unpleasant.”
“Of course,” he says agreeably to the women and bows to them before taking his leave. After a pause, Angus joins him back at the bar.
“Something about that woman turns me into a schoolboy about to wet his trousers,” Angus says.
“And you keep going back for more,” Will says drily.
“That one likes her creature comforts,” Angus says. “Always after me about civil salaries and what an outrage they are. Never met a headmistress more interested in
“Regiments, Trudy,” he corrects.
“What are they, the Royal Guns or something? ” says Angeline.
“No, they’re the Royal Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers. They’ve just come from Newfoundland to help protect us. They love Hong Kong.”
“I’ll bet they do,” he says. “I’m sure it seems like heaven.”
She pouts.
“You’re not going to be all dull and jealous, are you?” She adjusts the straps of her dress, distracted. “Anyway, I’m spoken for the next few dances. Angeline, you’ll take care of my Will, won’t you? ”
Angeline and Will look at each other and shrug.
“Of course, darling,” Angeline says.
As soon as Trudy leaves, they drift away from each other. Will finds Angus Enderby leaning against a wall. Trudy’s cousin, Dominick, wanders by, gives them a curt nod.
“Strange fellow, that,” says Angus. “Can’t figure him out.”
“Trudy says he’s a girl.”
“Something more than that, though. Less innocent.” He pauses. “You know there are Fifth Columnists infiltrating. They’re supporting that Wong Chang Wai chap, who the Japanese installed in China. I’ve heard Dominick has been seen with a lot of that crowd. And Victor Chen, of course, thick as thieves with whoever can help him. Rumor has it that he had the Japanese consulate over for dinner last week. Very hush-hush. Better watch himself. That’s a dangerous game.”
“He’s a survivor.”
“Yes.” Angus shrugs. “Can’t believe the war effort’s been turned into a party. The new governor’s a fool for coming.”
A stout woman is at the bar, with a thinner lady, both sipping whiskey, watching the dancing impassively.
“Do you know Edwina Storch?” Angus asks Will, nodding toward the two.
“I’ve seen her around. Not met them formally.”
“Headmistress of Essex, old-timer. Grim, formidable. Been around forever. Her partner, Mary Winkle.”
Will and Angus walk over to the women. Edwina inclines her head regally, a queen holding court.
“Hello, Angus. Merry Christmas.”
“Edwina, I wanted you to meet Will Truesdale, somewhat of a new arrival to these shores. And Will, this is Edwina Storch and Mary Winkle, Hong Kong institutions. They know where all the skeletons are buried.”
“Pleased to meet you,” says Will.
“I’ve seen you around,” Edwina says. “You’re with the Liang girl.”
“Yes,” Will says. He is not surprised by her bluntness. He has run into this type before: the unapologetic, rude English matron who fancies herself an adventuress and desires nothing more than to intimidate.
“That didn’t take you long.”
“No, it didn’t, luckily,” he says lightly. “She’s been a wonderful introduction to Hong Kong.”
Edwina Storch harrumphs.
“That’s a skewed sense of Hong Kong you’re getting! ”
Mary Winkle lays a small, reproachful hand on Edwina’s arm.
“Now, now,” she whispers. “Trudy has always been lovely, if misunderstood. I do like her so very much.”
Will smiles at her. “She is lovely, isn’t she?”
Edwina sips noisily at her glass.
“What’s that you’re drinking? ” she asks.
“Single malt.”
“A man’s drink. Since you’re with Trudy, I thought you might be a champagne drinker.”
“Are you friends with her? ” he asks politely.
“Of course,” she says. “In Hong Kong, everyone has to be friends or it’s very unpleasant.”
“Of course,” he says agreeably to the women and bows to them before taking his leave. After a pause, Angus joins him back at the bar.
“Something about that woman turns me into a schoolboy about to wet his trousers,” Angus says.
“And you keep going back for more,” Will says drily.
“That one likes her creature comforts,” Angus says. “Always after me about civil salaries and what an outrage they are. Never met a headmistress more interested in
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