Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/55

 cry, he cast aside his fan, and buried his head between her breasts.

She awakened suddenly at the sharp impact of his teeth. For a moment, she looked around in panic, then the echo of dream slipped from her like the last vestige of the garment he had tom from her.

She smiled slowly and her arms encircled him. His face matched the full moon's splendor.

In the garden, the fury of the storm increased. The windows' silk shook before the driving force of wind and rain.

Yuhan sighed. Let the storm carry away the roof of the Blue Lacquer Pavilion, let the trees fall, it did not matter. Nothing mattered now but this wondrous mad, glad moment, when her heart seemed to stand on tiptoe as she became indeed a woman, fit mate for a Prince, or even an Emperor.

Gradually the storm abated.

In the months that followed, Yuhan found life much to her liking. Only one thing was disquieting. Prince Shou consulted her about nothing but then there was nothing about which he could consult her. He was little concerned with affairs of state.

"After all," he told her, "when an Emperor has so many sons it is but fitting that one at least should enjoy leisure."

"But have you no ambition to be Emperor some day?"