Lucy Gordon - And the Bride Wore Red

A book in the Escape Around the World series, 2009

Dear Reader,

A couple of years ago I visited China and was overwhelmed by its beauty, its magnificence and above all its mystery. In Beijing I saw the Forbidden City, where the Emperors lived and where their concubines had their apartments. Later I visited the Terracotta Warriors. Id heard so much about them, but nothing could have prepared me for their breathtaking, lifelike reality.

After that came a cruise along the Yangtze River, marveling at the high banks that rise on each side, giving the feeling of being enclosed in a separate world. It could be a perfect place for lovers, as my hero and heroine Lang and Olivia discovered. But at last the outside world intruded, facing them with decisions that threatened to tear them apart.

When they finally found their destiny it was because they were true to themselves and also because they had answered the magical call of China. It was a call that would always draw them back-just as it has drawn me back, and will do again.

Warm wishes,

Lucy Gordon

OLIVIA, come quickly! Theres been a terrible disaster!

Olivia looked up from the school books she was marking to where Helma, the young teaching assistant, stood in the doorway. She was only mildly alarmed by the girls agitated words. Helma had a wild sense of drama and a terrible disaster might mean no more than the school cat making off with someones lunch.

Its Yen Dong! Helma wailed.

Ten-year-old Dong was the brightest pupil in Olivias class at the Chang-Ming School in Beijing. He was also the most mischievous, using his impish charm to evade retribution for his many escapades.

Whats he done now? Olivia asked. Set a booby trap for the headmistress?

Hes climbed a tree.

Again? Then he can just come down. Its almost time for afternoon lessons.

But hes ever so high and I dont think he can get down.

Olivia hurried out into the garden that formed the schools playground and looked up. Sure enough, there was the little rascal, high on the tallest tree, looking cheerful even while hanging on for dear life.

Can you climb down? Olivia called.

He ventured a step, but his foot slid on the next branch and he backed off hastily.

All right, not to worry, Olivia said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. I need a ladder.

One was fetched immediately, but to everyones dismay it fell short of Dong by several feet.

No problem, Olivia sang out, setting her foot on the bottom rung.

Luckily she was wearing jeans, which made climbing easier, and reaching the top of the ladder wasnt too hard. But the next bit didnt look so easy. Taking a deep breath, she set her foot on a branch. It trembled but held, and she was emboldened to haul herself up. In another moment she had reached Dong, who gave her a beaming smile.

It is very nice up here, he said in careful, perfect English. I like climbing trees.

Olivia looked at him askance. At any other time she would have been delighted with his command of her language. In the six months shed spent teaching English at the Chang-Ming School, shed found that Dong was the one who grasped everything first. She was proud of him, but right now she had other things to worry about.

I like climbing trees too, she said. But I also like getting down safely. So lets try to do that.

She began to edge down, encouraging him to follow her so that he descended into the safety of her arms. One branch, then two, then three and finally, to her immense relief, the top rung of the ladder.

Just a little further, she said. Nearly there.

But it was the ladder which failed them, sliding away from the tree suddenly and depositing them on the ground with a bump.

Olivia gasped as she felt the bark scrape painfully against her arm, but her real fear was for Dong.

Are you hurt? she asked worriedly.

He shook his head, refusing to be troubled by a few bruises, and bounced back onto his feet.

I am well, he pronounced.

Clearly this was true, but Olivia knew she had to be sure.

Im getting you to a doctor, she said.

The headmistress had arrived on the scene in time to hear this. She was in her late forties with an air of common sense.

Thats a good idea, she said. He seems fine, but lets take no chances. Theres a hospital ten minutes away. Ill call a taxi.

A few minutes later they were on their way to the hospital. Olivia kept an anxious eye on Dong, but he was grinning, completely happy with the result of his escapade.

In the hospital someone showed them the way to the clinic, and they joined a short queue. A nurse gave Olivia some forms, and she filled them in while they waited to be seen.

A notice on the wall informed her that todays clinic was being taken by Dr Lang Mitchell. Briefly she wondered about that name; Mitchell suggested that he might come from the West, but Lang held a hint of Chinese.

After a few minutes the buzzer announced that the doctor was free, and they went in. Olivia saw a tall young man in his early thirties, with dark hair and eyes, and good-looking features that were mostly Western, yet with an intriguing hint of something else.

What have you two been doing to yourselves? he demanded, smiling and eyeing the state they were in.

Miss Daley climbed a tree, Dong said irrepressibly, and I went up to help her when she got stuck.

Olivia looked aghast, which made Dr Mitchell grin in perfect comprehension.

Perhaps it was the other way around? he suggested.

It certainly was, Olivia declared, recovering her dignity. On the way down the ladder slipped, and we landed in a heap.

He studied the forms. You are Miss Olivia Daley, a teacher at the Chang-Ming School?

Thats right. Yen Dong is one of my pupils. I dont think hes hurt, but I have to be sure when I hand him back to his mother.

Of course. Lets have a look.

After a thorough examination of Dong, he said, I agree that it doesnt look serious, but well have an X-ray just to be on the safe side. The nurse will take him.

Perhaps I should go too.

But Dong shook his head, informing her that he was grown up and didnt need to be protected all the time. When hed left with the nurse, the doctor switched to English to say, Lets see about your injuries.

Thank you. But I really dont need much done.

Smiling, he said gently, Why dont you let me decide that?

Sorry, she groaned. I just cant help it. My aunt says if Id shut up occasionally I might learn something.

He smiled again but didnt answer directly. Then he frowned, saying, It might be worse than you think.

Now she saw the true extent of the damage. The final slide against the bark of the tree had not merely scratched her flesh but torn the top of her sleeve so that it was barely hanging on.

Im afraid Ill need to remove your blouse, Dr Mitchell said. The scratches seem to go further than your arm. Dont worry, a nurse will be present.

He went to the door and called, Nurse. A smiling young woman entered, removed Olivias blouse gently and remained while he studied her abrasions. He eased her arm this way and that with movements that were as neat as they were skilful. His hands were large and comforting, both gentle and powerful together.

Disconcertingly she found herself becoming self-conscious. The blouse was high-necked and modest, even severe, as befitted a teacher, but beneath it she wore only a bra of fairly skimpy dimensions. She had breasts to be proud of, an unusual combination of dainty and luscious. Every bra she possessed had been designed to reveal them to one man, and although he was no longer part of her life she had never discarded them.