brought his horse from the stable. As he headed toward the animal, a small, grey figure shot out into the street.
‘My lord!’
A quick glance revealed the teahouse girl scurrying in his direction. He turned his back on her as he took the reins from the attendant.
‘My lord, please wait.’ She sounded harried and out of breath behind him. He didn’t answer as he faced the horse to the street, leading him by the bridle.
‘I must beg your pardon,’ she continued, her footsteps trailing behind his.
So, none of the impudence she’d shown the previous night. He could be generous. It was a small insult considering, and not worth the trouble.
‘Granted.’
He braced his foot in the stirrup to prepare to mount, when a tug at his sleeve stopped him.
The young woman recoiled as he turned to her. ‘Please. Forgive my intrusion, honourable sir. My lord …’
The list of courtesies made him impatient. He frowned as he waited for her to finish. She clasped her hands together nervously and spoke faster.
‘I’ve been thrown out by the teahouse owner!’
Her bottom lip trembled and she looked away, trying to hide the unsightly outburst of emotion. Her hair was tied in a simple fashion and allowed to sweep down over one shoulder. For the first time, he noticed that her eyes were red and slightly swollen.
‘That was not my intention,’ he replied gravely.
Once again, he tried to mount. Again, she reached for him. This time, he stopped before she needed to tug at him. She took two steps away instead of one when he swung around. Did propriety mean nothing to her?
‘I am truly sorry for ruining your robe. I’ll wash it myself,’ she promised. ‘If you can just speak to the proprietor and his wife.’
The horse tossed his head, agitated with the delay. Fei Long felt the same agitation growing within him.
‘This matter is not my concern.’
‘I’m being punished—’
‘As you should be,’ he replied simply.
There was no cruelty in his words. Despite being attacked without provocation, he hadn’t demanded retribution. She was fortunate he didn’t believe in beating servants.
‘But I’ve apologised.’ She blocked his path now, this willow-thin girl who was all eyes and hair. ‘Sincerely, humbly, with all my soul, apologised. Please take pity. Won’t you help me?’
He made a scoffing noise at the back of his throat, which seemed to startle her. She frowned at him.
‘These are your amends to make, not mine, young miss. Go humble yourself before your master and mistress and make your plea with them.’ He started to lead the horse forwards, trying to put some distance between them to show that the matter was closed. ‘Besides, you are not sorry at all.’
For a second, her eyes flashed. Her mouth hardened much like it had back in the teahouse before he found himself drenched in cold tea. If she’d had anything in hand to throw, he would have prepared to duck.
Less than a breath later, her expression grew plaintive and accommodating. ‘But I am sorry, my lord.’ She padded beside him, taking two steps for each of his one. ‘I’ve worked for the teahouse since I was a child. There’s nowhere else I can go. A girl like me out in the streets …’
Her voice trailed away in defeat and Fei Long halted. He was reminded of Pearl, though there was no reason for it. The girl looked nothing like his sister. Unlike Pearl, she was thin, hard-headed and she had a mouth on her.
He’d spared Pearl from the political marriage that their father had arranged, but now she was left to wander without a home. He would always wonder if his actions had truly been a kindness. Unlike Pearl, this tea girl didn’t have anyone by her side.
‘How old are you?’ he asked.
She was taken aback by the question. ‘Nineteen years.’
A little older than Pearl, but that might be a benefit. He already had a sense that this teahouse girl was much shrewder than his sheltered younger sister.
‘Can you read and write?’
‘Only numbers.’
A wispy cloud of an idea had begun to form while he was wallowing at the teahouse last night. A thin spark of light, before it had been effectively doused by a cascade of cold tea flung in his face. The plan came back now as he stared at the same culprit who’d snapped him out of those musings.
‘Smile,’ he said.
She blinked at him warily, then forced her mouth upwards in what ended up looking more like a grimace. He looked down at her feet next. They shrank back from his scrutiny, as she curled her toes back within the slippers.
His gaze returned to her face and he kept his open perusal for assessment purposes only: dark eyes set against smooth skin. Fair enough to pass for a lady’s. The set of her jaw was too hard and her face was on the thin side, though her features were not unpleasant to look at if she didn’t scowl so. Softened a bit she could even be … pretty. Not that beauty was required for what he had in mind.
‘You are more peculiar than I thought,’ she muttered, backing away.
With her head lifted and shoulders raised, as they were right now, she took on a semblance of righteousness and pride that might just be suitable for the part.
He let go of the reins. ‘I have a proposal for you.’
‘I know exactly what sort of proposal you mean.’ She shook an accusing finger at him. ‘I don’t care how rich you are, I was right to pour that tea on you.’
Now it was his turn to pursue her. And it took some effort. She was walking fast down the street.
‘Young miss, let me explain.’
Her step quickened. ‘Leave me alone. I may not be learned or wear expensive clothes like you, but I’m a respectable girl. I won’t do … do that.’
‘That wasn’t what I meant.’
The townsfolk paused in their morning stroll through the marketplace. Their discussion was starting to gather attention.
Fei Long angled himself in front of her, cutting off her escape. He dropped his tone. ‘What I’m proposing is very respectable. A matter of imperial duty, in fact.’
She snorted. He was suddenly convinced that before him was the answer to his dilemma. The teahouse girl had nowhere to go and he needed someone to replace Pearl. Khitan was a rough, untamed land compared to the empire. This she-demon was bold enough to carry off such a deception. She was delicate in appearance at least, and not so hardened that she couldn’t be schooled. There was little elegance about her now, but that could be changed.
There was much work
