“WE MUST GO,” he whispered against her ear. “Sweet Ji Yue, I am sorry, but we must hurry.”

She blinked. Shimmering delight still suffused her body-their bodies-since they were still joined. He gently raised her off him, and she moaned. She liked the way he cradled her in his arms. And she loved the fullness of him inside her. She noted regret in his eyes, but it did not stop him from gently setting her aside. With faster and faster motions, he pulled off his tunic and undergarment. Then his biceps bulged as he tore a strip from the cotton shirt.

“This was not the way to do it,” he murmured. “I would have laid you in silk and covered you in perfumes.” He glanced at her, the apology clear in his eyes. “But you are so beautiful, and you took me by surprise.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “I could not stop myself.”

With tender movements, he used his torn strip to clean her lower body. And when he lifted the cloth away, she saw the dark stain of blood. Tilting her head, she peered closer. The lantern light was dim, but the truth was horribly clear.

“I-” she gasped “-I am…”

He quickly wadded up the cloth and made to throw it away. But then he stopped and stared down at it. “I need to burn this,” he said softly.

“I am not…” she said again, her mind replaying what she had done and said. What had she done? He had felt so wonderful, and she had been swept away on her own fantasy.

“I am sorry, my sweet, but we have to go. The doctor will be here soon.”

Ji Yue pulled her legs together and curled her feet beneath her. What had they done?

He finished dressing, then he dropped to his knees before her. He held her hands and gazed into her face. She focused on him. She saw the dark center of his eyes and the loving curves of his cheeks. Even the length of his nose was beautiful.

“Listen to me, please. I have made reservations for us. There is a boat that will take us away at first light, but we cannot be caught here. Not now…” He glanced ruefully at the blood-stained cloth on the pallet. “I was so afraid for you, Ji Yue. I did not think, and then you were here, so willing in my arms. This was not smartly done, but-” he shrugged “-it is done. We must leave.”

“I am no longer a virgin!” she cried. “I have shamed myself and my family!”

He stilled. She did not think he breathed. She didn’t care. She was still reeling from what she only now began to understand.

“You planned this! You want us to run away from here! You planned all of this!”

He shook his head. “Not like this. Not now. I thought to talk to you.” He frowned. “We did talk! You chose me!”

“I did,” she whispered, but she hadn’t thought clearly. “I wanted you. I love you! But…” A tear fell on her hand and she realized that she was crying. “My mother will commit suicide in shame!”

His face was pale, his jaw tense. “Ji Yue…” he began, but there were no words. Not now with her heart pounding and her mind reeling.

The thud of footsteps sounded outside. Bo Tao could do no more than stand, before the door was pushed open and the women’s doctor stomped inside. Her gait was weary and her shoulders sagged, but her gaze was sharp as she looked from Bo Tao to JiYue and then to the wadded, bloody cloth. With a grimace, she spun and pushed the door shut. When she turned back to Bo Tao, her mouth was pressed into a thin tight line.

“It was not her fault,” he said.

The doctor rolled her eyes. “In China, it is always the woman’s fault.” She grimaced. “And now she will be killed.”

18

IT TOOK A MOMENT for Bo Tao to realize the doctor thought Ji Yue had been raped by a white devil. It was a reasonable guess. Many had seen Ji Yue on her back fighting those apes, and a surge of rage shot through him again at the memory.

“I came as quickly as I could,” he said. “I spent the day in the city and didn’t hear about the party until too late.”

She bustled forward, coming to sit before Ji Yue, but her words remained for Bo Tao. “Nine virgins, Bo Tao. How could this happen?”

“Because the eunuchs are corrupt,” he snapped. “I kill the Dutch who bring in bribes of opium, then not one day later Han Du Yu brings in a case to bribe the head eunuch. With the emperor away this night to dine with General Li, it was the perfect opportunity.” How stupid he had been not to guess that something like this could happen!

“Can you prove it?” the physician asked.

He shook his head. “Not yet. I merely guess. But it does not matter, does it?” He rubbed a hand over his face, his gaze on Ji Yue. Was there a way to save her life? The punishment for the loss of virginity was death. It did not matter the cause or who was at fault, her honor was gone. She would have to commit suicide even if someone else pushed her neck into the noose that hung her.

The physician cursed under her breath. “How did you hear of it then? Duan Xu usually covers his tracks better.”

Bo Tao had set a spy on Ji Yue, a eunuch he trusted to watch her every movement when he was not there. Unfortunately, the coward had been too afraid to interfere against the two most powerful eunuchs in the Forbidden City.

“It was well planned by more than just Duan Xu.”

Ji Yue shifted, her words a near whisper. “The head eunuch was there. He pushed us through the secret door.”

Bo Tao grimaced, his fears confirmed. “He and the dowager consort are thick as thieves. They likely chose the girls together. They picked the ones they wanted disgraced.”

“Bitch,” the doctor said under her breath. “There was no need to do such a thing.”

Ji Yue abruptly pushed up on the pallet. Her gaze remained panicked, but at least her body seemed composed. “How are the other girls?”

“Hysterical,” the doctor answered. “They all know their chances have been ruined.” She glanced at Bo Tao. “And there will be much blame attached to you. You are master of the festival. He could order-”

“I know.” Bo Tao could be killed for failing to protect the virgins under his care. “I should have been here. I should have watched things more closely.”

The doctor sighed as she pushed Ji Yue gently back onto the bed. “Come, come. Let me see-”

“No,” interrupted Bo Tao firmly. “You have examined her. She is like the others-high on opium, terrified, but not damaged.”

The doctor stopped with her hand on JiYue’s knee. “And if she is bleeding inside? Would you have her die in her sleep?”

That, at least, was one worry he could put to rest. “It was not that bad,” he said softly.

The doctor’s eyes narrowed on Bo Tao. She had known him from his youngest days. She had been at his birth and watched him run wild with Yi Zhen throughout the Forbidden City. She knew him, perhaps, even better than his own mother.

“She might escape death,” she said softly. “Perhaps a mercy marriage to someone else might be allowed.”

“No!” JiYue breathed. “The shame would be known by all. My father. My brothers!” She swallowed and gripped the woman’s hands, drawing the doctor’s attention back to her. “My family is…is not as wealthy as it might seem. A disgraced virgin would put an end to any work for my father as an imperial scholar.” She shook her head. “My brothers’ education, my mother’s food, my father’s livelihood-they all depend upon our connection to the Forbidden City. If I were to disgrace myself…” Her eyes shifted to Bo Tao. “There are other scholars anxious to take my father’s place. Others who do not have my taint.”

Her stricken expression was like a blow to Bo Tao’s gut. “Ji Yue,” he began, but she shook her head.

“My immorality will follow my whole family.”

She wasn’t referring to simply being thrown out of the Forbidden City. She was referring to his plan to run away, to escape and live with him in love.

Ji Yue looked down at her hands. “I cannot take my own happiness over the lives of my family. I simply cannot.”