Blushing and tongue-tied, she looked away.
Thirteen
“You know, the English have a saying. About needles and haystacks,” Yao grumbled from across the booth.
Wei nodded but kept his attention trained on the surroundings. He was on his weekly excursion into London’s seediest neighborhoods, looking for clues to his family’s killer. Yao had wanted to come along, and they were staking out the White Hart, a dockside tavern in Blue Gate Fields. The place reeked of smoky grease, stale ale, and sewage from the Thames…which wasn’t a bad thing as it masked the pungency of its unwashed clientele.
Wei had undertaken tonight’s surveillance out of habit rather than hope. It was also a form of penance. For failing to let go of Glory Cavendish.
He told himself his solution was just as good, if not better than his original plan of exiting her life completely. The shifu and pupil relationship set strict boundaries between them, making romantic entanglements forbidden. His honor would not allow him to dally with her. Instead, he would focus on protecting her and teaching her skills to keep her safe. It was the best outcome for all involved.
“You’re deceiving yourself, shihing,” Yao said.
Wei stilled. “Pardon?”
Yao took a slurp from his foaming tankard. “You’re not going to find what you’re looking for tonight.”
Right. He’s talking about my family’s murderer.
Wei loosened his grip on his own untouched drink. “If you’re worried about wasting time, you could have stayed at the clinic.”
Yao aimed his gaze at the sagging ceiling. “And let you court danger alone? What kind of a shidai do you take me for?”
“One who could use a napkin.” Wei gestured to his upper lip.
Yao swiped a sleeve across his mouth to rid himself of the foam mustache.
“Anyway, you need me here. There’s a reason I earned the moniker ‘Sharpest Eyes in Shandong.’ That’s why Shifu sent me to look after you.”
“And here I thought it was because he wanted you out of his hair,” Wei said wryly.
A spiritual man, Shifu Lam embraced an ascetic lifestyle. He spoke only when necessary, valuing silence and peace…neither of which were likely to be found in Yao’s presence. Since the arrival of his youngest disciple, he’d escaped to the forest behind his cottage to do his meditation, and he hadn’t disclosed the location.
Yao grinned. “I’m our master’s favorite pupil.”
“If by favorite, you mean ‘loudest,’ then you’re probably right.”
While Yao finished his drink and started on Wei’s, Wei surveyed the usual assortment of dockhands and sailors packed into the dingy establishment. Some looked deep into their cups and into other substances as well. He recognized the glaze of opium over the dilated stares of more than a few men slumped in the scarred wooden booths. At the center of the room, two burly coves were arm wrestling to the cheers of a betting crowd.
Their rolled-up shirtsleeves revealed hairy forearms…but no tattoos.
“I reckon you are as likely to find that tattoo tonight as you are to hire some companionship for the eve.” Yao waggled his thick brows. “I plan to make a stop at a nunnery after this. I don’t suppose you want to join me?”
Their shifu had recommended but not required celibacy of his pupils, and Yao took full advantage of this liberal policy. The “nunnery” he referenced was a well-known bawdy house in Covent Garden.
Wei shook his head.
“Be honest. Don’t you miss the feeling of…” Making a circle with his thumb and forefinger, Yao poked a finger of his other hand through, his huge shoulders shaking with laughter.
Wei’s shidai had the strength of five men and the sense of humor of a small child.
“There is this thing called self-discipline,” Wei said mildly. “You might try it sometime.”
“Having seen your version of self-discipline, I will decline. Any routine that involves practicing kung fu half-naked in the courtyard before dawn and taking ice-cold baths is not for me.”
“To each his own.”
“I suppose every fellow has his own way of dealing with his, uh, needs.” Yao’s expression grew crafty. “I’ve noticed, for instance, that your, er, self-discipline habits have grown in frequency ever since a certain miss paid us a visit.”
