An Inch of Ashes by David Wingrove Page A

preparing the offices for his master’s return. She was about to turn away, not wishing to disturb the Master of the Inner Chamber, when she realized what it was she had found strange. There had been voices...
    She walked towards him; was halfway down the corridor when he turned.
    ‘Lady Fei...’
    She could see at once that he had not expected her. But it was more than that. His surprise in finding her there had not turned to relief as, in normal circumstances, it ought. No. It was almost as if he had something to hide.
    ‘You know Prince Yuan will be here in two hours, Master Nan?’
    He bowed his head deeply. ‘He sent word, my lady. I was preparing things for him.’
    ‘My husband is fortunate to have such an excellent servant as you, Master Nan. Might I see your preparations?’
    He did not lift his head, but she could sense the hesitation in him and knew she had been right.
    ‘You wish to
see
, my lady?’
    ‘If you would, Master Nan. I promise not to disturb anything. I realize my husband has his set ways, and I’d not wish to cause you further work.’
    ‘They are but rooms...’
    ‘But rooms are like clothes. They express the man. Please, Master Nan, indulge my curiosity. I would like to see how Prince Yuan likes his room to be. It would help me as a wife to know such a thing.’
    Nan Ho lifted his head and met her eyes. ‘My lady, I...’
    ‘Is there some secret, Master Nan? Something I should know?’
    He bowed his head, then backed away, clearly upset by her insistence. ‘Please, my lady. Follow me. But remember, I am but the Prince’s hands.’
    She hesitated, her curiosity momentarily tinged with apprehension. What could have flustered the normally imperturbable Nan Ho? Was it some awful thing? Some aspect of Li Yuan he wanted to keep from her? Or was it, instead, a surprise present for her? Something that, in insisting she see it, would spoil Yuan’s plans?
    For a moment she wondered whether she should withdraw. It was not too late. Li Yuan would hate it if she spoiled his surprise. But curiosity had the better of her. She followed Master Nan, waiting as he unlocked the great double doors again and pushed them open.
    She walked through, then stopped dead, her mouth fallen open in surprise.
    ‘You!’
    The two girls had risen from the couch at her entrance. Now they stood there, heads bowed, hands folded.
    She turned, her face dark with anger. ‘What is the meaning of this, Master Nan? What are these creatures doing here?’
    Nan Ho had kept his head lowered, bracing himself against her reaction. Even so, the savagery of her words surprised him. He swallowed and, keeping his head low, looked past her at the girls.
    ‘My master said to bring them here this morning. I was to—’
    Her shriek cut him off. ‘Do you expect me to believe that, Nan Ho? That on the morning of his return my husband would have two such...
low
sorts brought to him?’ She shuddered and shook her head, her teeth bared. ‘No... I don’t know what your plan is, Master Nan, but I know one thing, I can no longer trust you in your present position.’
    He jerked his head up, astonished, but before he could utter a word in his defence, Fei Yen had whirled about and stormed across to where the two girls stood.
    ‘And you!’ she began. ‘I know your sort! Turtles eating barley, that’s what you are! Good-for-nothings! You hope to rise on your backs,
neh
?’
    The last word was spat out venomously. But Fei Yen was far from finished.
    ‘You! Pearl Heart... that’s your name, isn’t it?’
    Overwhelmed by the viciousness of the attack, Pearl Heart could only manage a slight bob of her head. Her throat was dry and her hands trembled.
    ‘I know why you’re here. Don’t think I’m blind to it. But the little game’s over, my girl. For you and your
pimp
here.’ Fei Yen shuddered, pain and an intense anger emphasizing every word. ‘I know you’ve been sleeping with my husband.’
    Pearl Heart looked up, dismayed, then