“That’s beautiful. It sounds familiar . . .”
“‘Ode to the Plum Blossom.’”
“The poem you argued with A-Seng about!”
“Yes. It was a favorite of my mother’s. Li Xifeng . . . when you mentioned her, I thought of my own mother.” Shan Dao stopped, then continued, seemingly despite himself, “Sometimes it was difficult to understand what she wanted of me.”
Tinseng had warned them not to ask about Shan Dao’s parents, and Yukying could see why. His voice sounded very far away.
“I wanted to ask,” she said each word carefully, “how are you doing?”
In the early morning shade, she could just make out his expression: confused, as if the question was out of place. Her heart ached a little.
“Of course, this has been very hard on Tinseng, but it must be difficult on you too. His exposure could harm you as well. And you’re so far away from home, and your brother. If you wanted to talk about anything I would listen, not as Tinseng’s sister, but as a friend.”
His eyes fixed on her as she spoke. How different this gaze was than Lucas Grodescu’s, she thought, the comparison immediate and helpless. She’d felt horribly pinned by the Frenchman’s attention. Shan Dao’s gaze was no less intense, but where Grodescu’s hunger had reached outward to consume, Shan Dao’s caved inward like a crumbling cliff.
“I am well. Thank you for asking.” His eyes flickered away, then back. “I would also listen. As a friend. Rest assured I would not betray your confidence. Tinseng would not hear of—”
“Oh, no, I know,” Yukying interrupted. “You’re a very good listener.”
“I’ve been told I keep secrets well.” His tone was droll; Yukying suspected he was thinking of Tinseng.
“I believe it. How about this,” she proposed with a twinkle in her eye. “When I have a secret to share, you’ll be the first to know.”
“A generous offer.” His expression didn’t change, but she felt something shift, permanently, between them. “I accept.”
Though she had spent all of yesterday with Laurence, she had still made sure to follow through on her promise to help. The night before, she had initiated a small subterfuge in the form of bribing young Miss Duncan. She asked the girl to ask Marissa’s plans at mealtime, then report back to Yukying; in exchange, Yukying had agreed to be Miss Duncan’s escort to the first-class lounge, a privilege the girl desperately longed to lord over her brothers. The mutually beneficial exchange meant that soon enough Yukying knew that Marissa planned to visit Gibraltar in the morning with her husband, then cards in the afternoon with Mrs. Duncan. For an additional afternoon in the lounge of her choice, Miss Duncan agreed to ensure Yukying a seat at the card table.
And so, after the early morning conversation with Shan Dao and a pleasant half-day lounging poolside reading her book, Yukying headed down to the second-class lounge for bridge. Marissa was at the table already, paired as promised with Mrs. Duncan. Miss Duncan, who had “forgotten” to bring a fourth, waved Yukying over to the table with an unsubtle grin.
Yukying waited until the middle of the second round to ask casually, “Have you heard there were some thefts in second class?”
“Yes!” Miss Duncan leaned in. “My brother told me about it.”
“Happens on every cruise,” Mrs. Duncan said dismissively. “Can’t be avoided.”
“It was a string of real pearls!” continued Miss Duncan as though her mother hadn’t spoken. “The crew is trying to keep it from getting out—it reflects poorly on them, of course—but isn’t it exciting? Like ‘The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle’!”
“I don’t think they’ll be finding the pearls in any geese, dear,” her mother said.
“Well, you never know,” Miss Duncan pouted. “Who do you think it is? One of the staff? Somebody in steering? Ooh, someone in first class, stealing for the thrill of it?”
“I admit, I’m a bit concerned,” Yukying said, attempting to steer the conversation back where she needed it. “With the gifts we’ve bought everyone, I’d hate to see them go missing. I do miss having a hotel safe.”
“There isn’t much to be done, is there?” Mrs. Duncan set her cigarette on the tray to play a card. “That’s why I told Roger not to bring anything he wouldn’t mind losing. Then what does he do? Brings his grandfather’s pocket watch. For what, I asked? To tell the time, he says.”
“Does he keep it on him all the time, then?” Yukying asked, trying not to sound delighted at the perfect opening.
“No. And if it gets stolen, I told him, whose fault is that?”
“What about your husband, Mrs. Grodescu? Is he worried about these thefts?”
“No,” Marissa said. “He did not bring anything of value on the trip.”
“Really?” Yukying persisted. “Not even something he carries on him, like Mr. Duncan’s pocket watch?”
“He knew better,” Marissa mumbled, more to her cards than the table.
“He knows better than Roger, in any case,” Mrs. Duncan said, and that was the end of that. Yukying sank back into her chair and resolved to wait for another chance.
After three more rounds, Marissa rose to take a break. Yukying waited until she was away, then made her excuses and followed. She kept Marissa in sight and followed her down the spiral staircase at the back of the lounge to one of the smaller bars. She joined Marissa at the counter, but before she had the chance to make small talk, the bored bartender jumped up to take their order.
“Gin rickey,” Marissa ordered as she lit a cigarette. “A double. You?”
“A sloe gin fizz, please.”
As the bartender made their drinks, Yukying twisted her wedding ring and thought again about the questions Tinseng suggested she ask. Hooks, he’d called them, but they were just lies. Yukying couldn’t do that. She liked Marissa, and her instincts told her Marissa would see right through any lie she attempted. After all, Mrs. Grodescu would be used to a much higher caliber of liar. If she was to win Marissa’s trust, she probably shouldn’t be caught fumbling a manipulation. So, with a mental apology to Tinseng, she threw out his strategy and tried her own.
“It was lovely running into you in Lisbon,” Yukying said. “Perhaps we can meet again tomorrow in Málaga, or Barcelona, if you know where you’re going?”
“I am not sure.”
“No plan at all? Would you like suggestions? Perhaps we could rent a cabana together in Málaga, if you like the beach.”
“We spent too much time in the sun today. Tomorrow we will likely go to museums.”
