I never thought I could be so interested. Vargas is my secret informant and he sneaked the silk seller in to show me some, but I have to be so careful --I started talking about my idea for a factory with Malcolm and Jamie and they laughed.

Malcolm said not to be silly, making silk was a highly complex business (as if I didn't know) and not to worry my little head about business. I do believe they want us to be cocoons, to use or abuse at their whim, and that's all. Colette, send all the books on silk you can find...

How lovely to have one's own countinghouse, and money, she thought. Living in Paris there will be visits to London, occasionally to Hong Kong, dinners and soirees and lavish balls for my Prince Charming and his special friends...

She glanced at the letter to Colette on the bureau she had just sealed. More secrets shared, at least, in part: This Edward Gornt is becoming a real friend, so charming and attentive, a real friend, not like Andr`e. I'm sure, dear Colette, he will be a friend for life because my darling Malcolm seems to enjoy his company too. Isn't that strange--when Edward works for those awful Brocks I've told you about, and Norbert Greyforth who gets more venomous-looking every day, like the warlock he is!

Tonight we are having another BIG soiree.

Everyone will be there, Andr`e is playing, Edward, he is a dancer, light as a butterfly...

She had not written that the last time they had danced, at a dinner given by Sir William, he had held her hand differently, dangerously, with enough pressures to talk to her, once his little finger curled in his palm touching hers: the language of lovers, I want you in bed, yes or no and when --don't say no!

She had moved her hand, coolly and firmly.

He had said nothing, his eyes smiling, and she knew that he knew she was not really angry, merely beyond reach, engaged.

Nor was she angry at Andr`e, really angry. A few days ago they had met by chance at the French Legation. "You're looking well, Angelique, I'm delighted to see you. Can I have a word, privately?"' She had said, of course, and when they were alone he had told her it was about the money he had lent her. "I'm badly strapped, could you let me have it, please?"' "But I thought the... the other transaction covered that." Her heart had skipped a beat being reminded of their stratagem over the lost earrings.

"Sorry, no it didn't. That paid for the mama-san's advice and the medicine."

Her flush had been sudden. "We agreed never to mention the, the matter, ever again, don't you remember?"' she said quietly, wanting to shout at him for disturbing their solemn agreement. "It never happened, it didn't, that's what we agreed --it was just a bad dream!"

"I agree it never happened but you mentioned the transaction, Angelique, I didn't bring it up, just about the money. Sorry but the money's pressing." His face had gone cold.

Warily she had bottled her anger, damning him for disturbing her peace. She had convinced herself nothing had ever happened--except for the one man who could dispute it, nothing had. That was the truth. But for him. "About the money, dear friend, I'll return it as soon as I can. Malcolm doesn't give me money as you know, just lets me sign chits."

"Then perhaps we'd better arrange another "loss."

"No," she had said, her voice honeyed, and put a hand on his arm to soothe the flash of anger, "That's not a good idea." Though she purged the whole affair from her mind, for the most part, whenever it came back to haunt her, particularly at night, she was aware it had been a dreadful mistake. "Perhaps I can think of another way."

"I need it now, Wednesday at the latest.

Sorry."

"I'll try, I'll really try." And she had. Yesterday she had seen Henri Seratard and tearfully begged and pleaded, saying she needed money for a surprise for Malcolm, that she would be always in his debt and signed another piece of paper, pledging her diamond engagement ring as surety.

Wisely she had borrowed twice as much as she owed. This morning she had repaid Andr`e. He had thanked her and thanked her. No reason to be angry with him. He's my good and trusted friend and I did borrow the money. What did I need it for? I forget. Sans faire rien, that's one debt repaid.

Half the rest she had taken to McFay.

"Jamie, would you send this to my dearest aunt in Paris for me. She's poorly and also, my dear uncle," she had told him, pleased she at last could help them, and even more pleased that, as she had hoped, McFay had told Malcolm. He had asked her about it.

"Oh I borrowed it from Monsieur Seratard, my darling. I didn't want to ask you for money and I can't send them a chit. I hope you don't mind but I pledged some jewelry."

He had chided her, saying he would take care of the Seratard debt, that Jamie would have a revolving fund for her, the value of a hundred guineas which she could draw against as she wished, just give him note of what it's for, and that he would double the amount she wanted sent.

So easy when you use your intelligence. A warmth went through her remembering how she had thanked him for his kindness, and kissed him so fondly, and how he had responded. She would have liked to have gone further, much further.

Her fingers distracted her. Their smoothly knowing sensuality pleased her and she closed her eyes and cast herself back with Colette but that did not last long. As always he loomed in the front of her mind, vivid and almost alive, and with him the details of their last time, the time she had been deliberately wanton and had done everything she had dreamt possible--to save her life, not realizing she would enjoy everything as much as he had.

Dearest Blessed Mother, we both know it was only to save my life--isn't that true? But also true--ah, how lucky I am I can talk openly, direct to You, and not have to go through that awful Father Leo--but also true, between us women, that somehow we must rid ourselves of him, and the memory of the two nights and the ecstasy before it drives me insane.

Raiko was irritable. "Furansu-san, I will accept this partial payment but our agreement was very specific, so sorry."

"I know." Andr`e loathed being in debt--a phobia--to her more than any, not only because meeting the payment schedule was giving him nightmares, but also because she controlled his Hinodeh completely and if he failed to conform she would end their relationship without hesitation. And then he would kill himself. "Soon can give big payment. Earrings."

"Ah, is that so? Excellent." She smiled.

"Excellent. I presume Hinodeh is still to your liking, still pleasing you?"

His worry dropped from him for a blessed moment.

"She... everything I dream of. M."

She smiled strangely at him. "It is unwise to be so open, my friend."

A Gallic shrug. "You make me lifetime favor. Cannot say thank you enough."

The eyes crinkled in her round face, puffy from drink even though it was only dusk. Her makeup was good and her kimono expensive, the evening chilly but her rooms were warm and the whole Inn inviting. "I hear your gai-jin Princess is as healthy as ever."

"Yes." For a moment Andr`e thought about her, and her ever-present sexuality. "Think she make good Lady of Night."

Raiko cocked her head to one side, unable to resist taking the remark seriously. "That would be interesting to me. I could get her the best prices --the best--many in Yedo would pay a price to sample such a gross person. I know one rice dealer, very rich very old, no hard work for her to satisfy, who would pay huge money to be the first to examine such a Jade Gate, and it would be easy to show her how to become a virgin again, neh?"

He laughed. "I tell her, one day perhaps."

"Good. The best price, and secret. This rice dealer... Eeee, he would pay! She shows no other signs?"