Mary Putney - The China Bride

"Maxwell! Will ye have a wee dram with me?"

He turned to see Caleb Logan, the China trader down from Edinburgh, approaching with a bottle and a couple of small glasses. Though Kyle had run into him regularly in Canton, he hadn't realized that Logan had once been Hugh Montgomery's partner, or he would have done some quiet probing to learn more about what Troth's father had been like.

"Let's drink to Scotland, and the most unusual lassie in the Borders!" Logan said jovially as he handed over a glass of clear amber whiskey.

"To Scotland and Troth Montgomery." Kyle tossed back the fierce spirits, glad he hadn't had much to drink so far this evening. Logan was one of the more successful traders in Canton, and typical of his breed: shrewd, pragmatic, and determined to make a fortune large enough to allow him to retire to Scotland in grand style. "Good to see you again. How was your voyage home from China?"

"Fine indeed. I traveled with a cargo of best Bohea tea, and sold it at a premium price." Logan swallowed his dram and poured another. "Hugh would be glad to know his daughter has come home to Scotland."

"When Montgomery died in the shipwreck, was there any thought of sending Troth back to his family?" Kyle asked curiously.

Logan shook his head. "Not that I know of. He kept her and her mother very private. Even I never saw her, though Hugh and I worked together daily when I first went out East. After Hugh drowned, Chenqua told me the girl was going to live with Chinese relations, which seemed reasonable enough. No point in uprooting the lass and sending her halfway around the world if she had family nearby."

Chenqua had said Troth had Chinese relatives? That was strange. Li-Yin had come from the north, and had no communication with her family after she was sold as a concubine.

An uneasy thought struck him. Might Chenqua have told Logan that Troth had family so he could keep Troth's linguistic skills for his own use? Kyle disliked the idea that Chenqua might have turned Troth into a virtual slave for purely selfish reasons. Of course, from Chenqua's point of view, he might have been doing Troth a favor by offering a worthless mixed-blood girl-child a chance to be useful. "It must have been hard on your business when Montgomery and his ship went down."

"Aye, it took a lot of hard work, juggling of finances, and cooperation from Chenqua to stave off bankruptcy. By the next year, though, things were looking better, and I've done well enough since."

Remembering what Gavin had said, Kyle remarked, "In Canton, I heard hints of some kind of scandal about Montgomery. Why was that? "

Logan gave him a hard look. "There's no point in speaking ill of the dead."

"Did Montgomery do something that bad?"

Logan made a negative gesture with his glass. "Don't be thinking Hugh was a criminal. He was a damned good fellow in most ways. But… maybe a bit of a hypocrite."

Had Montgomery dealt in opium even as he preached against it? Or was there some other old scandal? Logan was right-there was no point in unearthing old tales, especially ones that might hurt Troth. He hoped she'd never heard any of the China traders disparaging her father. Changing the subject, he asked, "Do you have a family here in Scotland?"

"Aye. My wife went out with me to Macao at the beginning, but she hated the climate, and after we had a couple of bairns, she decided to come home for fear of the fever and illnesses there. That's why I come back regularly-to remind my family who their lord and master is." He chuckled. "Of course, when I'm here I miss my China girl, but there will be a fine welcome waiting when I return to Macao." His gaze rested on Troth. "There's something about Chinese women that European females can't match."

"Perhaps you should have brought your concubine along for your amusement," Kyle said dryly.

"I considered it, but all hell would have broken loose. By the way, what's this I hear about you and Hugh's daughter? Some say you're married, some not."

Kyle pulled out the official story once more. "We just performed a nominal handfast to help her come to Britain. The term of that will end soon."

"Och, that makes sense. She's a bonnie lass for sure, but a man in your position obviously couldn't marry her for real."

If Logan had made a comment implying that Kyle had done the handfast so he could sleep with Troth, then discard her, Kyle would have broken the whiskey bottle over the other man's head. Luckily, Logan had too much sense for that. Instead, he slanted a crafty glance toward Kyle. "I had some of Elliott House's Earl's Blend Tea. Fine stuff. Should do well. What's in it?"

Kyle smiled. "I may not be a real trader, but I know better than to answer that."

"It was worth a try. No matter, give me some time and I'll figure out the blend," Logan said, unabashed. "All's fair in love, war, and business."

"When do you return to China?"

"July, so I can reach Canton just as the new trading season opens. I wanted to spend spring in Scotland. I miss the summers, though not the winters. I hear you and your handfast bride are going to be taking a trip up to the Highlands?"

"We're leaving the day after tomorrow for Kinnockburn, north of Stirling. My mother was a Highlander, and she left some property there."

"Be sure to take Hugh's daughter to Castle Doom on the way. That will give her a rare view of the Highlands. No doubt you've been there?"

Castle Doom was the nickname of a ruined fortress on top of a ferociously steep hill, and it had some of the grandest views in central Scotland. "It's been years since I visited the place, but you're right, Troth would enjoy it very much. We'll stop on the way to Kinnockburn."

He was determined to make her journey a memorable one, because he suspected that it would be his last chance to win Troth's heart.

So exhilarated that she discarded caution, Troth skipped over to Kyle and caught his hands. "Come, my lord. I swear you're the only man here I haven't danced with yet."

" You haven't danced with me ," Caleb Logan said, his eyes gleaming with discreet lust. He was one of those men who was stimulated by the thought of mounting exotic women, Troth suspected.

Face straight, Kyle said, "Troth Montgomery, meet Caleb Logan, who was once your father's partner."

"Good evening, Mr. Logan." Troth curtsied gracefully, as if she hadn't seen him often in Canton. But Logan had obviously not made the connection between the interpreter Jin Kang and his old partner's daughter, and she wasn't about to enlighten him. "I heard of you from my father, of course, though it's been many years."

"What did he say?" Logan asked curiously.

"That you showed great promise, and you'd end up a rich man."

Logan laughed. "Hugh must have had a bit of the second sight."

While the trader was still chuckling, Troth detached Kyle and led him onto the floor as the dance music was starting. "I hope you haven't drunk so much whiskey you'll fall flat on the floor."

He smiled at her wickedly. "I'm enough of a Scot to dance best when I've had a wee dram or two or three."

It was the truth, too. He danced the old Scottish reels with passion, swift, sure footwork, and a clasp that dizzied her with his nearness when it was time to whirl her around. Damning the consequences, she gave herself up to the magic of the moment, for dancing was the closest thing to making love that she dared do with him.

When the reel was done, he took her arm and steered her to the table where cool, tart lemonade was being dispensed. As they sipped their drinks, he asked, "Have you been doing your chi exercises? I came by the Montgomerys' garden the last couple of mornings, but didn't see you."

"I'm afraid not. My grandmother and aunt have been keeping me too busy. I had no idea that so many cousins existed in the world," she said guiltily, knowing she could have found time if she'd wanted. But this early in her acquaintance with her father's family, she didn't want to do anything as strange as wing chun in the garden. Though they'd accepted Troth Montgomery without reservation, she'd wait a bit before introducing them to Mei-Lian. "Wouldn't Mairead make a wonderful tai-tai ?"