VI

The Conniving Accomplice

Umbrella in hand, he stepped down to the street next, locating his provate coach on the other side as it stirred to move closer to the curb. The driver hopped down from his perch, quickly pulling the door, allowing his master inside, and then dutifully closed it.

Nelson crawled into the darkened space of the carriage, folding his umbrella and leaning it on the seat beside him self. A sudden movement brought him to start, nearly jumping right out of his skin.

"God!" He gasped, finding himself looking face to face with Wu Chow.

An impish looking man in gentleman's clothing, Wu Chow draped his hands across the handle of his silver cane with unedning patience.

Rathbone grit his teeth with aggitation, not liking the idea of being startled… particularly by a man of such underhanded character. "Do you have any notion what would happen if we were to be seen together?" He snapped.

Wu Chow remained calm, smug and proud as ever, as any Chinaman of remote noble breeding had the right to be. Rathbone withheld an obvious sneer at his dislike toward the man. He couldn't understand what Wu Chow had to be so smug over… excpept perhaps sneaking expertly up on him. Being exiled by your baby brother over a trinket and joining with rebels hardly seemed worthy of smug exterior.

"Since you have returned I have yet to lay eyes on the seal."

Pursing his lips to the side, Rathbone studied his companion. He knew the question would arise sooner or later. Although being a known collector of artifacts, carrying around a 'trinket' such as the seal was hardly safe.

"I'm hosting a Jubilee Ball at my country estate soon. Be in the stables at midnight, on that night and you will see your seal." Sensing Wu Chow was waiting for something more, Rathbone lifted his briefcase to his lap and opened it. Producing the sheathed dagger, he handed over with some grimace. "As requested. A token of my esteem."

Wu Chow took up the dagger, balancing his cane against his knee as he unsheathed the weapon. Dried blood stained the creavices of the decorative blade, bringing a malicious grin to slither to his face. The gears in his head were turning, his eyes dancing with imagination as he looked over the blade.

"I wonder…" He said thoughtfully, unable to unlock his gaze from the blade, "Did the old man scream?"

Rathbone felt heated wave rise inside, making him both ill and tense. Wu Chow had already lured him into a Boxer camp under false pretenses, Rathbone could not imagine what other secrets the man was witholding. All the while Wu Chow acted as though they were equal in partnership… Rathbone said nothing, but instead raised his umbrella to knock firmly on the rooftop. The coach moved to a rocky stop. Wu Chow looked up from the blade, his eyes narrowing with some unspoken thought.

"This is where you get out." He said in a firm and bitter tone.

Courteously Wu Chow sheathed the dagger and tucked it into his waistcoat before gathering his cane and bowler and climbed out. A chilled drizzle of an early spring misted down from outside. Before the door was closed, he turned to face Rathbone who remained seated in his carriage. "I hope there will be more trust between us when I am Emperor and you are the new king."

Rathbone remained silent, biting his tongue from the many snide remarks that threatened to escape. However, a sour expression could not be stopped from surfacing. He reached out and pulled the door closed, shutting out the damp weather and the knowing expression of Wu Chow. The carriage jerked into movement. Rathbone thought of the grin upon Wu Chow's face. It brought a violent shiver down his spine and he cursed under his breath, knowing something was not as it seemed… and yet he could not put a finger on it.

One thought remained clear… Trusting Wu Chow was as likely as Big Ben flying through mid air to land in Hong Kong… Impossible.