If Hoag can work this miracle, he thought angrily, why can't doctors cure the God-cursed English disease? It's not fair.

"Life isn't fair, is it?"' "No," she said. "Not fair at all."

"Did he leave a will, naming you his heir?"' "I don't know. Malcolm never mentioned one."

"Angelique, in future refer to him as your husband, and yourself his widow."

"Why?"' "To establish, to help establish your claim to his estate." He saw her nod to herself, awed at her control. Is it an Act of God that she can appear so tranquil?

"If there's no will, does that make a difference?"' "We're trying to find out. It would be best if there was one that named you. That would be best. Next, you must go back with... with his remains to Hong Kong.

Be prepared for his mother to be hostile--in public try to be her friend. You should be at the funeral, dressed correctly of course." Then he added, "Possibly Henri could give you a letter to our Ambassador, you've already met him?"' "Yes. Monsieur de Geroire. Henri "could"? What sort of letter could he write for me?"' "If Henri could be persuaded, with his strong recommendation you could be put under de Geroire's protection as ward of the State. It's my conviction you're legally the widow of the late tai-pan, Malcolm Struan. If Henri supported us strongly, this could possibly become State policy."

"Then I need serious protection?"' "I am sure of it. Henri isn't."

She sighed. This was what she had concluded too.

But State policy? This was a new idea, a possibility she had not thought of. State policy would mean the protection of France. Anything was worth that--no, not anything. "What could I possibly do to persuade Henri?"' "I could do that for you," he said. "I'd try."

"Then please start at once. This evening tell me what I can do in return. Would before dinner be suitable, or tomorrow morning--just as you wish."

There had been no need to say more. Tomorrow would be better, Andr`e had told her, and had left, and before her next guest, Skye had arrived she lay back in the chair and smiled at the ceiling, wondering about the price.

Ward of the French State? She had liked the sound of that for she knew she would need all the help she could have to combat the ogre of Hong Kong...

And now, curled up in Malcolm's other chair in the tai-pan's suite upstairs, the door bolted on the inside, she liked the idea even more and, again, wondered about the price. It will be expensive. The secret gold coins will be enough to begin with, then the ruby ring and now I have a chop, Malcolm's chop.

She replaced everything and shut the secret compartment.

Content with the headway made on the first day of her new life, she closed her eyes and slept dreamlessly until a knock on the door brought her back. It was almost four-thirty. "Who is it, please?"

"Jamie, Angelique."

A current of expectation went through her. Be calm, she cautioned herself as she unbolted the door, the ice you traverse is exceedingly thin and the waters below lethal. "Hello, Jamie, dear, please come in." Again she sat in her husband's chair, motioning him to the chair she had always used. The change pleased her. "You look so harassed, so sad."

"I still can't get used to the idea and, well, all the changes, Angelique."

"No. It's very hard."

"You've changed too. May I, may I say how marvelous you are being, so strong and, well, you know."

"That's the problem, dear Jamie, I don't know. I only know what has happened and can accept it, have accepted it. My tears... I think I must have cried all the tears of my life away. So, for the moment no tears. You saw Sir William?"

"Yes. Skye said he would come back around six, if that's convenient." He saw her nod absently.

"You don't like him, Jamie, do you?"

"Don't like any lawyers, they always mean trouble though he's not a bad man. I think he'll be all right for you. If you get worried, tell me at once. Mal... Malcolm liked him and you should have someone to represent you."

"I find it hard to say his name too, Jamie, "Husband" is equally hard. Harder. Don't be embarrassed."

Jamie nodded bleakly and took out the letters.

"Sir William said these were part of his estate, like the money. He could not rule on the legalities --he would write posthaste to the Solicitor General in Hong Kong--but he saw no reason why you shouldn't have these if you promise not to destroy them. As to the sovereigns you should keep them--I told him I didn't think you had any money of your own at the moment--but he asks, please, to give him a receipt for them."

"Whatever he wants. Did he read them?"

"No, no one did."

Hesitantly he put them on the mantelpiece. "There are a couple of other things, we've made some arrangements--would you like me to tell you now or... I can easily come back later."

"No, I'm fine. What arrangements, Jamie?"

He took a deep breath, hating to have to say all this but it was his duty. "In consultation with Sir William, Babcott and Hoag, we've arranged to send the body back to Hong Kong tomorrow for burial, we all agreed, we jointly agreed that would be best. Everything possible will be done and is being done to make this easy for you and the trip as tolerable as possible. Dr. Hoag will go with you to make sure you're in good hands."

Jamie's smile was empty and his face a mirror of unhappiness. "Can't tell you how sorry this all makes me. Ah Soh can pack for you in good time, Chen will help if necessary and will pack things to go with the ship, sailing on the evening tide, meanwhile if you need anything, say the word."

He saw her look down at her hands, her fingers twisting Malcolm's signet ring on her marriage finger. Poor Angelique, she doesn't even have a proper wedding ring.

"Well, that's all for the moment--would you like company at dinner tonight?"

"Thank you, but no, I'll eat here, or in the dining room or my rooms but please sit down.

Sorry, that's not all for the moment. My husband is not going to be taken back to Hong Kong for burial but will be buried here. Neither my husband nor I will ever go aboard Prancing Cloud again."

She saw his look but that did not divert her from what she had decided this morning: the confrontation must happen at the very first mention of their arrangements. "Would you like me to tell you the funeral arrangements now, or would you prefer them later?"

"But everything's done," he said, "arrangements are already made. It's best, we all felt it would be best and we... we know it would be the best for you and everyone. Mrs. Struan would certainly approve and would of course want him buried at home in Hong Ko--"

"Mrs. Struan? I'm Mrs. Struan. You refer to the other Mrs. Struan, Tess Struan, the other Mrs. Struan?" She spoke without emotion. "She doesn't have precedence in this matter. I'm his widow and take precedence over his mother."

"My God, Angelique, just because Skye says you are--"

"This has nothing to do with Mr. Skye, Jamie, he didn't suggest this, nor have I consulted him. Yet. But I do know my rights, and husband's wishes, and they will be carried out."

"But... but..." Jamie was in such shock he could not get the words out, then they came with a rush, "but you can't override what Sir William and ... and what Doc Hoag and Babcott and I think is best for you and him, what we're sure is best for you and everyone. You're overwrought.

Angelique. It's best, Angelique, it really is."

"Overwrought? Me? How silly you are, Jamie." She allowed a small glacial smile. "I'm not overwrought at all. I'm merely going to put my husband's wishes into effect."

"But everything's arranged, Prancing Cloud's ready to leave and the... everything's arranged."

"I'm glad the clipper's ready. By all means send her at once, his mother should hear the terrible news as soon as possible--you should do that yourself, Jamie, go with Prancing Cloud, you're the senior here, you should. I beg you don't wait until tomorrow, go tonight, you can break the terrible news to her, it will lessen her hurt. You must."