James Clavell - Gai-Jin

"With all the rest, that's understandable, Angelique. Better that way. I told you before, so long as you can cry, none of it will damage you. May I ask when you started?"

There were more bugles from the bluff. "What's going on? I saw Settry and other officers rush off."

"The bugles are just recalling officers, routine, nothing to worry about." Hoag looked around to make sure no one was near. "Thanks for telling me," he laughed nervously, "if a little abruptly. Can we talk as we ride?"

"Certainly," she said, knowing full well why she had told him. It was seeing Gornt today and Hoag convenient. And because she wanted the fight to begin. "It began Sunday."

"I don't know whether to say, you're lucky or unlucky."

"It's neither," she said. "It was the will of God, I accept that. I'm sorry for Malcolm, not for me. For me, it's the will of God. What do you do now, inform her?"

"Yes, but first I have to give you a letter."

It was her turn to be startled. "You had a letter all this time but didn't give it to me?"

"She asked me to give it to you if you were not bearing Malcolm's child."

"Oh." She thought about that, feeling slightly sick. "And if I was what then?"

"That's a hypothetical question now, isn't it?" he said gently, her sudden pallor worrisome.

This young lady's not out of the woods yet, not by a long shot.

"I want to know."

"I was asked to give you this letter if your period began, Angelique. Would you like to go back now?

I'll bring it to your suite."

"Thank you but I'll... I'll wait while you collect it, I'll wait outside Struan's." She spurred ahead, finished this circuit, oblivious of the others--every one of them watching her. On a whim she wheeled to take the path for a short gallop to clear her head of fear.

Spurs and knees and hands and the pony was smoothly flat out.

Ahead were two church spires and the perimeter fence, the Yoshiwara nestling outside but inside its own walls, the bridge and guard house. For a moment her mind took her back in time and it was as if she was galloping towards them panic-stricken, the bloody Tokaido behind her, hat gone, clothes torn, frightened nearly to death. The vision evaporated as she reined in--how long ago that all seemed. A different kind of fear remained.

She had cast the die.

Tess's letter read: I'm sure you will agree there is no need for pleasantries that are meaningless between us.

I'm glad that you are not bearing my son's child. That makes the future simpler and less messy. I do not accept or acknowledge the "marriage" or that you have any legal claims whatsoever against him--to the contrary.

By the time you read this the Noble House will have begun a new era, or be teetering on bankruptcy. If the first, it will be due in part to your sending me that person.

Because of that, as a finder's fee, I will pay capital into the Bank of England, in trust, necessary to provide you with an income of two thousand guineas a year--if, in turn, you provide me within thirty days from today's date (when your period has been established), with an affidavit on the following conditions: First, that you repudiate and relinquish forever any and all claims you or any representatives might dream up against my son's nonexistent estate--you realize that as a minor and never accredited legally as tai-pan, he had no estate to leave.

Second, that you agree to relinquish all claims to, and agree no longer to use the "Mrs. Malcolm Struan" title or any version of it. (for face, yrs, I suggest you have regretfully decided to do this because, being Catholic, you accept you were not legally married according to your faith and your Church, not that I accept the ceremony was valid in any way.) Third, that you will not set foot in Hong Kong again, other than to transship, nor seek to meet me, write to me or have any contact with me or my line in the future.

Fourth, that your affidavit formally notarized by Sir William Aylesbury, H.m.'s Minister for Japan, be delivered to me here in Hong Kong, via Dr. Hoag as surety, by February 14th, a little over thirty days approximately from today (the date your period has been established).

Last, that if you marry within the year the capital will be enlarged to increase the yearly stipend to three thousand guineas for the first ten years.

On your death the capital reverts to me or my heirs.

Within three weeks of reading this, please remove yourself from Struan premises. I have advised Mr. Albert MacStruan, by letter today, to that effect, and also that, from today, your credit with Struan's is ended and that any chits given, or purportedly given, by my son and authenticated by his chop only are not to be honored--excepting those that are personally signed and dated by him, thus completely bona fide.

If, within three weeks, your affidavit is signed and ready for Dr. Hoag, then Mr.MacStruan is authorized to give you at once credit to FIVE HUNDRED guineas on account of your guaranteed trust which will be erected within thirty days, the yearly amount to be paid quarterly.

Should you decline the above conditions (you have my solemn word they are not negotiable) or I do not see Dr. Hoag by said specified date, February 12th, the next day, Friday 13th, my solicitors will file court proceedings against you to the maximum I and they feel justified, the first of which is that with malice aforethought you caused the death of my son.

A piece of advice: Mr. Skye may twist and turn and scream duress, that these are threats against your person. They are not. My solicitors advise me they are not, that this is a generous, legal way to remove a tiresome problem my son, for whatever ill-advised reasons, has caused.

Please ask Dr. Hoag to return as soon as possible with your affidavit, or nonagreement. Tess Struan, December 28th December, Year of our Lord, 1862, at Hong Kong.

Gornt looked up from the letter. "You don't accept."

"That's exactly what Mr. Skye told me." Some of Angelique's fury dissipated on the spot. She sat in her tall chair, stiff and set-faced, Gornt opposite her, and they were in her boudoir. "I'm glad you agree. I'll reply in kind to that, that woman this afternoon!"

"No, that would be wrong. I'm saying you don't fight, that's the worst you can do. You compromise."

She became ashen again, more than angry. "You say accept these... this foulness?"

"I'm just saying you can compromise in due course," he said, his mind working well and logically though his chest and throat felt tight.

"I'm sure I can get you better terms."

"Terms? Then you do say accept this in principle? Accept this? I thought you were a fighter and my friend but you'll let her get away with dragging my face in the mud?"

"I know she said it's non-negotiable, I don't believe that, I can improve it. Her first offer, two or three thousand already makes you comfortable, five and you'd be rich."

"That doesn't outweigh her vile manners, her evil threats, constant hostility and enmity!

I was married legally. Legally!" Angelique stamped her foot. "Not to be Mrs. Struan?

Not to set foot in Hong Kong, to be addressed in this way, how dare she? As though I am...

I am a felon!"

"I agree. On your behalf I'll renegotiate."

"Jesus. I want her humbled, smashed."

"So do I, but now is not the time."

"What?"

"The great Dirk Struan really did ill-use my mother's family, the Tillmans, not as bad as Morgan, but bad enough." His smile was cruel. "If I can crush Brocks, why not Struans? It's all the same to me. Revenge is a meal we can eat together leisurely, morsel by morsel."

"We can?" A sudden warmth went into her loins, he looked so confident and handsome and strong.

"How?"

"First, what did Skye say?"

"He said at once to fight and showed me papers he has prepared for filing in Hong Kong, London and Paris an--"