“They were killed because of me.”
Her heart hammered at his revelation. At the fathomless agony in his eyes.
“What happened?” she asked softly.
“I was eighteen and a selfish scoundrel.” Self-loathing dripped from his tone. “I’d started attracting attention from the females in my village, and it went to my head. I thought that I could have any woman I wanted. When the most beautiful lady showed interest, I went after her. Had an affair with her even though I knew it was wrong.”
Since he’d called the relationship an “affair,” she asked, “Was it wrong because you were not married?”
Even as the question left her, Glory realized the irony. She and Wei had shared physical pleasure without the sanctity of marriage. Yet nothing they’d done together had ever felt wrong; to the contrary, everything felt right.
Once again, Wei showed his uncanny ability to read her thoughts.
“What we have is different,” he said emphatically. “My intentions toward you have always been honorable, even when they didn’t seem that way. I tried to deny my feelings for you because I wanted to protect you and keep you safe. But now that we have acted on our attraction—twice—things have changed. I want to do right by you, and that includes telling you about my past. Afterward, if you still deem me worthy, if you still want a future together”—his eyes blazed with intensity—“then I will have an important question to ask of you.”
Her heart soared.
“Yes,” she blurted. “The answer is yes.”
His mouth suddenly twitched. “Why is your impatience so damned adorable, sweeting?”
He leaned in and gave her the kiss she’d yearned for. Their lips clung softly, sweetly before he broke away.
“Now, don’t distract me,” he said with mock sternness.
“All right, O Mighty Shifu.”
She regretted her attempt at levity when he drew his brows together, frowning.
“I lied.” He expelled a breath. “I have not been honorable where you are concerned.”
It was her turn to frown. “What do you mean?”
“Wanting to teach you how to protect yourself wasn’t my only motivation in becoming your shifu.” His gaze was troubled. “I took on that role specifically to put up a barrier between us. In my culture, it is forbidden for a shifu to have a relationship with his student. Yet here we are.”
His explanation relieved her.
“Surely there are exceptions to the rule,” she argued. “Here in England, tutors and students fall in love and elope. As do footmen and ladies, dukes and scullery maids. In fact, my mama was working as a barmaid when she first met my papa. Such relationships may be seen as taboo, but that doesn’t mean they are wrong for the people involved.”
“The relationship is wrong if it violates universal principles,” he said stubbornly.
She tilted her head. “How can love be wrong?”
“It can be wrong if it hurts other people. If it is selfish and uncaring of who gets injured.”
She’d never seen him look so grim. A chill snaked up her spine.
“Are you talking about us,” she said slowly, “or about the past? About what happened with the lady in your village?”
His jaw taut, he said, “Her name was Chun, and she was married.”
Of all the secrets Glory thought Wei might reveal, an adulterous affair was not one of them.
“You had relations with a married woman?” she said incredulously.
“Chun was seven years older than me. When she was fifteen, her parents arranged for her to marry a man named Li. Li was in his fifties, a powerful merchant who was also the village governor. He abused her; when they did not produce children, he publicly laid the blame at her door. Chun hated her husband and was miserable in their marriage. After she and I had a chance meeting at the market, she sent me a note, and we met up. Became lovers.”
“Were you in love with her?” Glory asked hesitantly.
