Prinny pursed his lips. “I’m not the king yet,” he groused.
“Er, yes, but he knows you’re regent for the king. So…” The captain shrugged. “You’re the acting king as it were.”
“But I don’t control the East India Company. I have nothing to do with that.”
That wasn’t true. Half the business of the Crown was to manage trade routes. Indeed, one might say that it was nearly the entirety of what they did beyond going to parties and the like. They’d just been less than successful lately with China. Hence the current situation where merchants thought they could grab a piece.
Meanwhile, the captain continued to wheedle. “Begging your pardon, but he says, as king, you can make a decree. You can say, England will trade with the Wong cohong.”
“Because they sent me a woman?”
“Yes.”
“And they’ll kill her if I refuse.”
“Yes. On account of you rejecting her.”
“Damned barbarians.”
The captain nodded. He seemed to be shrinking into himself as he realized that there were guns pointed in his direction, too.“It’s the way they do things there. And you can interfere. You just have to make a decree.”
“It’s not how we do things,” Prinny snapped. It was a useless gripe. And damn it, unless something changed quickly, there was about to be a bloodbath right here.
Max didn’t think deeply about his next action. He certainly knew it could be dangerous. But no one else—Prinny included—seemed to see a solution and he did. He regretted that he had to do it hungover and unshaven, but some things couldn’t be changed.
Max crossed the last of the way around until he was even with the woman. She appeared oddly relaxed for someone about to get her throat cut. He glanced at the captain.
“Tell them I just want to look at the, um, offering. We can’t have the prince accepting a false gift, as it were.”
“Oh no, my lord. She’s pure and everything. Me and my men were kept away from her all during the trip. Most of us weren’t even allowed to look on her.”
“I’m sure you acted exactly as you ought.” He glanced back at room at large, but mostly at the guards. “Everyone stay calm. I’m just having a look. Nothing dangerous at all.”
The captain explained things to the Chinese official while makingstay calmgestures. Max blocked him from his thoughts. He was more interested in the girl and the sword pressed to her throat.
He approached slowly. His gaze took in the extended sword arm. To his dismay, the man holding it appeared rock solid. No wavering. No trembling. One swift pull backwards and the girl would be bleeding on the floor.
Max smiled weakly at the man. There was no reaction. He slowly raised his hands toward the woman’s face.
There were a whole lot of beads to either side of the woman’s face, and more still dangling in front of her eyes. He gentlywended between the dangling things to touch her face. Her eyes were downcast, but at his gentle pressure, her gaze came up to meet his.
Beautiful. Long lashes surrounding dark eyes. The kohl around them accentuated a shape that drew him in. Her face was powdered white, her lips blood red. It was theatrical paint, as far as he could guess, but she was exotic to his eyes. And he was man enough to like it. Until he looked closer at her eyes.
She was drugged.
Her pupils were dilated, her demeanor completely placid. He supposed if he were going to kill a girl in front of a prince, he’d make sure she was barely lucid. In truth, he was surprised she was able to stand.
“Hullo,” he said.
She narrowed her eyes as if sorting her way through the fog. Her gaze sharpened as she took in his features and her nostrils flared as she breathed. Then she swallowed and her eyes widened in surprise.
“Stay still,” he said.
He didn’t know if she understood English. Probably not, but he hoped his tone would calm her. She had to feel the sword at her throat. Indeed, he felt her tense and her breath catch.
“Don’t move,” he stressed. “I’ll get you free.”
Her gaze locked on his and she remained quiet. What discipline! He doubted he could be so calm.
