It took a moment for Robin to make her trembling legs behave. She followed Louise out of the bathroom and through the deserted dormitory. For a brief moment, she contemplated breaking away, sprinting down the passage between the dormitories and climbing over the five-bar gate, but she had no confidence that she’d make the woods without being caught: there were too many people in the courtyard, some of them grouped around Daiyu’s pool to make the usual obeisance, others heading for the dining hall.
Louise and Robin, too, paused at the pool. When Robin said, ‘The Drowned Prophet will bless all who worship her,’ she felt her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth. Having daubed her forehead with water, she followed Louise towards the dragon-carved doors of the farmhouse.
Inside, they passed the scarlet-carpeted staircase, then stopped at a shiny black door on the left-hand side of the hall. Louise knocked.
‘Come,’ said Jonathan Wace’s voice.
Louise opened the door, indicated that Robin should walk inside and then closed the door behind her.
The room Robin entered was large and very beautiful. Unlike Mazu’s study, there was no clutter here. The walls were covered in peacock blue fabric, against which figures of ivory and silver, most of them Chinese, stood in graceful, modern shelving cabinets, in pools of carefully directed light. A fire burned beneath a modern surround of white marble. In front of this, on a black leather couch, sat Jonathan Wace, alone, eating off a low black lacquer table that was laden with various dishes.
‘Aha,’ said Wace, smiling as he set down his knife and fork and got to his feet. ‘Rowena.’
He was wearing an upmarket version of the white tracksuits nearly everyone at the farm wore, which appeared to be made of raw silk. On his feet he wore very expensive-looking leather slides. Robin felt the colour leave her face as he walked towards her.
Wace pulled her into a hug. Robin could still feel herself shaking, and knew he could feel it too, because he was holding her so tightly her breasts were squashed against his chest. He smelled of sandalwood cologne and held her far too long for her comfort. She tried to relax, but every muscle was tense. At last Wace loosened his grip, though still holding her in his arms, so he could look down at her, smiling.
‘You’re quite wonderful, aren’t you?’
Robin didn’t know whether he was being sarcastic. He looked sincere. At last, he released her.
‘Come,’ he said again, and returned to the sofa, beckoning her to a black leather chair that sat at right angles to the fire.
‘I’ve heard how you helped deliver Mazu’s baby, Rowena,’ said Wace. ‘Thank you, very sincerely, for your service.’
Momentarily confused, Robin realised he was talking about Wan’s daughter.
‘Oh,’ she said. Her mouth was still so dry it was hard to get out the words. ‘Yes.’
‘And tonight you offered poor little Lin solace,’ said Wace, still smiling as he added ragout to his plate. ‘You are forgiven,’ he added, ‘for speaking intemperately to Dr Zhou.’
‘I… oh good… I mean, thank you,’ said Robin.
She felt certain Wace was playing some kind of game. The smell of rich food, coming as it did immediately after the smell of blood, was making her stomach churn.
‘Is Lin going to be all right?’ she asked.
‘“The way of yang goes to and fro, up and down,”’ quoted Wace, still smiling. ‘She’s been foolish, as you’ve probably realised. Why didn’t you tell anyone she was consuming mugwort?’ he asked, apparently idly, as he picked up his knife and fork again.
‘I didn’t know,’ said Robin, as sweat broke out over her scalp again. ‘I guessed. I saw her with some plants a while ago.’
‘When was this?’
‘I can’t remember, I just saw her holding them one day. When I saw that rash she’s got tonight, I thought it looked like an allergy.’
‘There are no allergies,’ said Wace smoothly. ‘The rash was her flesh revolting at what her false self made her do.’
‘Will Dr Zhou be able to help her?’
‘Of course. He understands spirit work better than anyone now alive.’
‘Has he taken her to a hospital?’
‘He’s treating her now, and Taio’s about to remove her to a place of recuperation, so you needn’t distress yourself about Lin,’ said Wace. ‘I want to talk about
He smiled at her, chewing, then, widening his eyes, he swallowed and said,
‘But this is shocking of me… you’re missing dinner.’
He pressed a small bell sitting among the various dishes on the table. Moments later, bald Shawna appeared, beaming.
‘Shawna, another plate, glass, knife and fork for Rowena, please,’ said Wace.
‘Yes, Papa J,’ said Shawna importantly, bowing before leaving the room again.
‘Thank you,’ said Robin, trying to act the part of an innocent woman and church member, one who desperately wanted Jonathan Wace’s approval. ‘Sorry, but… what conflicting reports are there about me?’
