Page 46 of Ravishing Camille
Over the past twenty odd years in that country, palanquins had given way to horse-drawn omnibuses. Candles to electricity. Fire to gas for cooking and heating.
Because the Japanese wished to change and enjoy the benefits of science and industry.
He frowned at the stage when one of the geisha appeared and made fun of the old samurai who bemoaned the loss of his honorable warrior-past.
One didn’t have to abandon the past to make a bright future. Pierce knew it to be true, because he’d seen his father do it. Watched Lee Macfarlane do it, too.
He himself had done that in business in America, England, France and lately in the totally new and different culture of Shanghai. But now he questioned if he might also embrace the knowledge that he wanted Camille in a new way that did not abandon the friendship they’d had before, but built on it.
* * *
He shot to his feet when the curtain went down. In the cloak room, the two men donned their evening capes and helped the ladies with their wraps. Camille avoided his gaze and when he asked her if she enjoyed the opera, she forced a smile and nodded once. It was not like her to be out of sorts.
As they left their box and emerged into the grand circle, he offered his arm to her and strode alongside Lee and Brianna.
Lee’s expressions during the performance had gone from insult to disgust. Like Pierce, Lee headed numerous projects with Japanese businessmen, most former samurai who were fearless but measured in their attempts to build railroads, ships and improve their ports. Fearing Lee might be furious at the play’s portrayals of Japanese, Pierce had to hear his friend’s reaction. “What did you think?”
“The Japanese are far more intelligent than those in the play.” Lee scoffed. “I would hope the world might learn more from us in Asia than that we are foolish in our efforts to modernize.”
Brianna touched his arm, her gesture a sign of empathy and concern. “I’ve read that the Japanese make great strides to build their country.”
“They do. It takes courage to change that much. Leaders must be respectful of the past, but fearless.”
“And well-financed?” she asked.
The look on Lee’s face told Pierce that his friend found this lady extraordinary, not just in her looks or her charm but in her uncanny abilities to understand his challenges as atai-panin a mixed community.
“Indeed, my lady. To take a society from the tenth century to the nineteenth is no easy feat. Courage is necessary. Compassion even more so. At the moment, the Japanese have a larger measure of both than we do in China.”
Camille regarded Pierce as they headed toward the staircase. “There is so much more you could tell me about what you do abroad.”
He appreciated her interest. “The story is complex. I can rattle on. You must warn me when I begin to bore you.”
“But there should be no limits on a good education, don’t you think?”
Gratified, he grinned as they rounded the landing. “I can begin any time.”
“Tonight. Why not? Others should want to learn what you do and how you navigate the—”
She halted.
“What’s the matter?” Her gaze led his downward.
At the foot of the circular stairs stood Aldridge Connor. His hand upon the bannister, he glared at them.
Pierce did not like the looks of him. Earnest, glassy-eyed. “No matter. Come.”
They took the remaining steps, Lee and Brianna in front.
But as he and Camille reached the last step, Connor neared.
Pierce led her around him.
But Connor jumped in front. He bared his teeth, his eyes red.
Foxed, was he? Pierce stared at him and tightened his hold of Camille’s arm. “Pardon us, sir.”
“No,” he seethed. “I know what you two are doing.”
