He went into the silent house, taking the stairs two at a time. When he reached Tiarella's bedroom door he turned the handle, ready to push until the lock tore out of the frame. It wasn't locked.

Moonlight shone in through the open window, turning the world to a drab monochrome. Tiarella was sitting cross-legged on the double bed, wearing a blue cotton nightshirt. The eccentric pendulum was held out at arm's length. She didn't show the slightest surprise at his presence.

Eason closed the door, aroused by the scene: woman waiting calmly on a bed. «You have something to tell me.»

«Do I?»

«How did you know I was coming? Nobody could know that. It was pure chance I bumped into Althaea back in the harbour.»

«Chance is your word. Destiny is mine. I read it in the cards. Now is the time for a stranger to appear.»

«You expect me to believe that crap?»

«How do you explain it, then?»

He crossed the room in three quick strides, and gripped her arms. The pendulum bounced away noisily as she dropped it.

«That hurts,» she said tightly.

He increased the pressure until she gasped. «How did you know I was coming?» he demanded.

«I read it in the cards,» she hissed back.

Eason studied her eyes, desperate for any sign of artfulness. Finding none. She was telling the truth, or thought she was. Cards! Crazy bitch.

He shoved her down on the bed, and glared down at her, angry at himself for the growing sense of vulnerability, the suspicion he was being manipulated. All this astrology shit was too far outside his experience.

The nightshirt had ridden up her legs. He let his eyes linger on the long provocative expanse of exposed thigh.

«Take it off,» he said softly.

«Fuck off.»

He knelt on the bed beside her, smiling. «You knew exactly what you were doing when you asked me out here, didn't you? Eighteen years is a long time.» He stroked her chin, receiving another glimpse into that steely reserve, but this time there was a spark of guilt corroding the composure. «Yes,» he said. «You knew what you were doing.» His hand slipped down inside the nightshirt to cup her left breast. He enjoyed the fullness he found, the warmth.

«Don't push your luck,» she said. «Remember, the only way off this island is the Orphée , and she's affinity-bonded to me. If you want to clear out ahead of whoever is hunting you, you do what you're told.»

«What makes you think someone's after me?»

«Oh, please. Fresh off a starship, no money, desperate to get out of the city. I believe you're drifting.»

«And you still let me on board.»

«Because you were meant to be. It's your time.»

«I've had enough of this crap. I think I'll go see Althaea. How do tall handsome strangers fit into her horoscope today?» He let go of her and stood up.

«Bastard. Don't you touch my daughter.»