"I suppose you're right, but it won't be the same. Bloody awful about Malcolm, he was Tess's hope. All the time I was in Hong Kong, I was thinking about our burial, so unnecessary, eh? It's best if we put that away forever.

Malcolm was buried there, off Shek-O."

"I wish he had been, as Sir William and we all wanted." Last night Jamie had another nightmare about what the Bosun said he had seen, the corpse clawing for the surface, eyes wide open. He felt chilled again. "We did the best we could. Now," he said, "why are you back?"

Hoag got up. "Tess asked if I'd, er, deliver mail to MacStruan, you and, and see Angelique and give her a letter."

He saw Jamie's eyes. "I don't know what's in them."

"Them?" Jamie said sharply. "You said a letter?"

Hoag reddened. "Oh, er, yes. Yes well a letter. I don't know what's in it. Well I'd better be go--"

"Come on, for God's sake!"

"Tess asked me to give her a, a letter that's all."

"Come on, I know you!"

Hoag said irritably, "I think I'd better go and see her, she'll want to know--"

"Sit down! What letters, for Christ's sweet sake?"

"I don't know ab--"

"Don't give me that shit! What letters?"

Hoag hesitated, then blurted out, "If you'll swear on your mother's head I'll...

I'll tell you."

"Done!"

The Doctor sat down. "She, Tess, she just said, "Give that woman this letter, wait a week or so and then give her one of these two letters." She gave me three in all, I don't know what's in them, I swear to God I don't."

"A week? You mean until Preggers Day?

One of two letters, eh? One if she's preggers one if she isn't?"

"The 11th would, would be the first day but it's not possible to tell then, have to wait at least two weeks after that and even then, safer to wait the month and see if she, if she does or doesn't menstruate. The date may be off, it's difficult to tell sometimes, in her case because the poor girl has gone through a tremendous amount of stress--Tess asked me to wait until I could be sure." He exhaled. "There, now you know everything."

"Tess asked you to wait until you've examined her?"

"Well, yes, until I'm sure."

"Then it's one letter if she is, the other if she isn't?"

"Yes... I told you. Yes."

"Who else have you told?" Jamie's eyes burned into him.

"No one."

"Who?"

"Go to hell!" Hoag shouted, then spat out, "Gornt!"

"Jesus Christ, why him?"

"I don't know, he seemed to know, jumped to the same conclusion as I suppose everyone will, I agree it's fairly obvious now I'm back-- I told Tess that but she said nothing, just looked at me with those grey eyes of hers. It's easy for you, Jamie," he said, seething. "It's easy for you and the Gornts of the world, you're strong and used to business and isn't business lying most of the time?

Well doctors aren't." Disgusted with his inability to keep secrets Hoag blew the breath out of his mouth. "Can't change after all this time. Tess said to tell Sir William why I was back, Albert and you, and no one else."

"Don't worry, you're right, there won't be a man in Yokohama who won't realize why you're here for Christ's sake. Poor bloody Angelique! Who else have you mail for, from Tess?"

"I... Sir William."

"Who else? Who else for Christ's sweet sake?"

"Heavenly Skye."

Pretending a tranquility he did not feel, Hoag handed Angelique the envelope that was sealed with the chop of the Noble House. Her stomach had been churning ever since Jamie had told her who had arrived with Prancing Cloud, however much she had tried to be detached. Even Vargas's almost immediate news that the woman was Senhor McFay's fiancee and not Tess Struan had not settled her. Nor had Hoag's rambling story about Malcolm's funeral which had confused her even more. The writing on the envelope was copperplate: "Angelique Richaud, By Hand."

"Why don't you read it while I'm here," he was saying, concerned at her sudden flush.

"You mean in case I faint?" she asked sharply, sitting up in the tall chair beside the fire, Malcolm's chair that she had taken from his suite before vacating it for Albert MacStruan.

Hoag said kindly, "I mean you may want to talk. I'm a friend, as well as a doctor."

He had rushed upstairs directly from Jamie, glad to leave the inquisition, had greeted and hugged her and brushed aside her immediate, What happened in Hong Kong, saying, "Just a second, let me look at you." He had scrutinized her as a doctor, then as a friend. In both cases what he saw had pleased him. "Just a suggestion."

"The letter's not addressed correctly. It should be Mrs. Angelique Struan, or Mrs.Malcolm Struan." Awkwardly, she returned it.

"Tess said you would do that." It was said gently.

"If she's so wise why didn't she address it properly?"

"It's difficult for her as it is difficult for you. She's a mother who's lost a son. Be patient, Angelique."

"Patient? Me? When I'm under siege for marrying and loving a fine man who... You're on her side, Struan's pays you."

"True but my side is what I think best, that's not saleable, even to you." Hoag sat amiably in his chair. The room was warm and feminine and filled with tension. He saw the vein in her neck pulsing hard, fingers twitching ever so slightly. "I helped you, and Malcolm, but only because I thought it best. For your private knowledge I resigned while I was in Hong Kong. This is my last task for the Noble House."

She was startled. "Why did you do that?"

Again the same strange smile. "I'm going back to India, I'm going to try to find that which I lost. Soon as I can."

"Ah! Arjumand." That made her feel better and she leaned over and touched him. "Sorry.

Sorry I said what I said, it was wrong.

Sorry. It's just--sorry." "Think nothing of it. Don't forget I'm a doctor, I do really understand the stress you're under. I was prepared for worse." He broke the seal and opened the letter. "She told me to do this."

Inside was another envelope. This was addressed simply: Angelique. "A compromise, eh?

A suggested compromise."

"Yours?"

"Yes."

"Do you know what it says?"

"No. God's truth. Do you want me to leave?"

Her gaze locked on to the letter. In a moment she shook her head so he went to the window to give her space, moved the curtains aside and watched the night, his own heart pounding.

She hesitated, then opened it. No greeting.

No name.

I cannot forgive you for what you did to my son.

I truly believe, at your father's behest and encouragement, you set your cap for my son to snare him into marriage, any form of marriage. Your "marriage" to my son is invalid, I am assured. This "marriage" hastened his death, I am assured--the death certificate indicates this, I am assured. To that end Struan's solicitors are drafting writs for the case to be brought expeditiously before the High Court in Hong Kong. If you carry my son's child this will not divert the course of justice or avoid declaring the child illegitimate.

I cannot thank you enough for the invaluable information given me, at your instigation, by a mutual acquaintance.

If, as I believe will be the case, his material proves to be valid, I and the Noble House will be indebted to you, and to this person in a manner beyond price. That he named a price, reasonable considering its value, is not your affair, you asked for none and will get none. But your gift to my son's memory and the future of Struan's deserves consideration.

How to resolve this impasse?

The resolution, if any can be found, must be private between us foes--we will always be that--and as women.

First I ask that you cooperate with Dr.Hoag, allowing him to examine you at the correct time to establish if you are bearing a child or not. Of course Dr. Babcott or any other doctor you wish can be consulted to corroborate the diagnosis.