Silk and Secrets(31)

He expertly broke the rifle down and inspected it. "Lovely. Custom-made by a British gunsmith, I think?"

"Yes, it's a refinement of the Ferguson design, and it shoots very true. In this part of the world a good gun is essential. Care to try it?"

When he nodded, Juliet scooped half a dozen cartridges from her ammunition pouch and handed them to him. Wordlessly they managed the transfer without their fingers touching each other. It was ironic what perfect teamwork they could exhibit in avoiding contact. Even more ironically, offering him her rifle was a kind of intimacy that she had not allowed any other man.

Ross spent a moment more familiarizing himself with the weapon, then aimed at one of the remaining leaf targets. When he began shooting, Juliet started mentally counting the time. He fired all six shots in a little under a minute, which was not quite as fast as she had done—but the whole of the leaf had been obliterated, ripped to infinitesimal green fragments.

"I may be a bit faster," she said judiciously, "but you have the edge in accuracy."

"Perhaps." He returned the weapon. "The real trick is to be able to shoot that well when it counts. My rifle didn't do me any good yesterday when it was on my horse and I was not."

In some subtle way, Ross had changed overnight. As Juliet studied his face, she realized that the day before, there had been a questioning, tentative air about him, an openness to possibilities. Now that openness had vanished. He had made up his mind about his errant wife, and whatever he felt about her was locked behind a barrier of control as impervious as volcanic glass. His brown eyes showed neither warmth nor anger, just the impersonal politeness he would give any chance acquaintance.

Juliet resolved to try to match his detachment since that would be easier for both of them. Unfortunately, she was doubtful how successful she would be, for controlling her emotions was not one of her strengths.

Ross leaned casually back against a boulder and folded his arms across his chest. "Do I look that strange? Or are you hoping that if you glare long enough, I'll vanish?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare." Juliet felt her face coloring; she had blushed more in the last day than the whole previous year. She was tempted to retreat into generalities, but stopped herself. Control might not be one of her strong points, but directness was, so she should exercise some now. "I don't know how to act with you, Ross. You are both familiar and a stranger at the same time. Do you have any suggestions?"

Though he did not move, she had the impression that he stiffened before he replied. "Familiarity is an illusion. We knew each other very briefly a dozen years ago, in a relationship that was intense but basically superficial. We've lived most of our adult lives apart, doing different things in vastly different cultures. We are strangers, Juliet, though for the next couple of months we will share a common goal. I suppose we should act like distant relatives who have nothing in common but who are amiably disposed to each other."

Her lips twisted with painful amusement. For better and for worse, her love for Ross had shaped and defined her life, yet he could dismiss their marriage as "basically superficial." But having asked him what he felt, she deserved whatever answer he gave. "Very well," she said, making her tone light. "I'll think of you as a second cousin."

"A second cousin, long since removed," he said with dry humor. "Once we begin our journey, it would be appropriate if you show a groveling desire to please your employer."

Juliet raised her eyebrows loftily. "I was planning on being the sort of servant who is erratic and unreliable, but who won't let you be cheated by anyone other than myself."

"That does sound more your style than groveling," he said with a hint of a smile. "Speaking of servants, I've decided to dismiss the two I hired in Teheran. Having spent the night in your fortress, they will have heard about the mysterious Gul-i Sarahi by now, and once they know that a tall ferengi woman is the chief of Serevan, there's a good chance they'll guess who my new veiled servant is. That could be dangerous."

"I hadn't thought of that." Juliet frowned. "My people are unlikely to have said much about me to strangers, but you're right, it is wiser to dismiss your servants. Though I usually dress as a man, I've never tried to masquerade as one for a long period of time, and it might prove difficult to conceal my identity from people I am with constantly. Better to pay your servants off now." Mentally she reviewed other issues that needed to be discussed. "Did Saleh speak with you?"

"Yes. He will be an asset in Bokhara, and I assume that he can be trusted not to betray your identity. Can you and Saleh be ready to leave for Sarakhs by noon? We can be there by nightfall, and with luck we'll catch the caravan I missed in Meshed."