Page 30 of The Girl from the Tea Garden (The India Tea #3)
Abruptly he smiled. ‘Of course it would. Two beautiful goddesses could bewitch Rafi and change his mind, I know it.’
Adela laughed. How quickly he could switch from belligerence to utter charm.
She studied his profile as he turned to look at the sunrise.
His skin was as light as hers and his sculpted features– the straight nose and high cheekbones– were perfect.
With his long, dark lashes, Sanjay was almost beautiful; she could look at him for hours.
She wasn’t in love with him, but he stirred her physically.
Above the canopy of deodars, the light was turning the distant mountain peaks marigold orange.
Soon they would be hidden in haze. That way lay Narkanda and Sam.
Adela felt a sharp pang for the elusive man.
Why did she have to fall in love with such a hopeless case?
Sam could be passionate and impulsive yet funny and down to earth; appearances and possessions meant nothing to him, only the welfare of others did.
He would be happy to stay in the hills for ever and probably hadn’t given her a second thought since she’d left.
Out of sight and out of mind; she was sure that Sam only lived in the moment.
On the other hand, Adela was quite sure that every thought and gesture of Sanjay’s was calculated.
He took great pride in his appearance; for all his protesting that he preferred to lounge in cricket whites, he was always immaculately dressed and manicured.
He planned things down to the last detail, but made them look effortless, such as this morning ride.
She knew from the looks he gave her and the attention he lavished on her that he desired her.
It would be so very easy to give into his seductive charm.
‘I know what you’re thinking.’ Sanjay turned to her suddenly.
‘Oh?’ Adela blushed.
‘That you would like to dine with me after the show finishes on Saturday night.’
Adela laughed with relief. ‘Well, there’ll be the after-show party at The Chalet ...’
‘I thought Wildflower Hall would be nice.’
‘Wildflower Hall?’ Adela gasped. ‘I’ve only ever been when Rafi and Sophie visited and they treated me to Sunday lunch there.’
‘This will be better,’ declared Sanjay. ‘And perhaps afterwards you would like to spend a few days at Eagle’s Nest relaxing after the show is over. We can go to the Sipi Fair.It’s always good for amusement– all that wife-swapping that the coolies do.’
Adela’s stomach tightened in excitement. She and Fluffy had been entertained to dinner at the Raja of Gulgat’s villa beyond Mashobra, but never stayed over.
‘And Auntie can come too?’
He hesitated for just a heartbeat, then said, ‘Naturally MrsHogg is invited.’
‘That would be lovely, thank you, Your Highness.’
‘Please’ – Sanjay stretched out a hand and clasped her arm – ‘you really must start calling me Jay. I think we know each other well enough by now.’
‘Jay,’ Adela said and smiled. ‘Let’s go and tell Auntie now. She’ll be expecting you for chota hazri .’
Jay rolled his eyes. ‘Porridge and devilled kidneys. The things I do for my sweet English rose,’ he teased.
Fluffy was captivated by the idea of a few days at Eagle’s Nest. Fatima was more critical.
‘We hardly ever see you at the hospital these days.’ Fatima eyed her. ‘You spend so much time with Prince Sanjay.’
It was the first time Adela had been back to the doctor’s flat since she had found Ghulam hiding there. She had just called in to make sure Fatima was going to come to the show.
‘The play has been taking up most of my time,’ Adela replied, avoiding her look and glancing out of the window as if something had caught her interest. A woman was spreading out washing on a roof to dry. ‘I’m sorry. I’ll have more time once it’s over.’
‘Not if you are going to spend it at Eagle’s Nest.’
‘That’s just for a day or two.’
‘I’m surprised at you wanting to spend time with a man like that.’ Fatima was blunt.
‘Like what?’ Adela bristled.
‘One that spends his time in gambling and indulgence and keeping company with autocrats like the Raja of Nerikot, who cares nothing for ordinary people.’ Fatima was disdainful. ‘My brother Ghulam would be rotting in his palace prison if it hadn’t been for Sam Jackman.’
‘Sam?’ Adela’s stomach jolted at his sudden mention.
‘Yes, he rescued Ghulam from Nerikot and hid him in a forest bungalow. If the authorities found out– or the Raja– Sam would be in big trouble.’ Fatima gave her an anxious look. ‘You won’t say anything, will you? I shouldn’t have said—’
‘Of course I won’t,’ Adela cried. ‘How could you think I would?’
‘Sorry,’ Fatima said, touching Adela’s head in affection. ‘I didn’t mean to get on my high horse. I just worry about you with that man. He’s from a different class to us, Adela, and thinks he can have whatever he wants. You will be careful, won’t you? There can’t be any future in it.’
‘Who cares about the future?’ Adela was impatient. ‘I’m just enjoying this season. I won’t pretend I’m not flattered by Jay’s attention– who wouldn’t be?– but I know he’s not going to propose to a girl like me. We’re friends, that’s all. So stop worrying.’
Sitara brought in tea and ginger cake. Fatima talked about the hospital and no more about Sanjay. Before she went, Adela asked, ‘Is your brother safe?’
Fatima shrugged. ‘I don’t know where he is and it’s probably best not to.’
‘Does Sam know?’
‘I haven’t heard from him for a month or so– he sent word that Ghulam was safely away from Nerikot, that’s all.’
‘So Sam hasn’t been to Simla?’ Adela could feel her cheeks redden despite her attempt to sound nonchalant.
Again Fatima shrugged. ‘I think Sundar would have told me if he had; they are good friends now.’
Adela grinned and nudged her friend. ‘So even the busy DrKhan finds time to see her admirer Sundar Singh.’
To her delight, Fatima also blushed. ‘Very occasionally,’ she admitted, ‘I beat him at backgammon.’
‘Well, I hope you will drag him along to the play too,’ Adela said with a departing hug.
Rushing to the theatre on the eve of the first night of the play, Adela ran into her former boss, Bracknall, by the bandstand, where a military band had just finished playing.
‘Hello, sir,’ Adela said. ‘When did you arrive in Simla?’
He took her hand and held on to it. ‘MrsBracknall arrived last week to set up house; I came two days ago.’ He swept her with a look. ‘I’ve been hearing things about you, Miss Robson. Running about with some Indian prince, my wife tells me.’
Adela laughed, trying to withdraw her hand. ‘Prince Sanjay is a family friend, that’s all.’
‘I thought your family were tea-wallahs?’
Adela winced at his derogatory tone. Pulling her hand away, she said proudly, ‘My Aunt Sophie and her husband, Rafi Khan, are good friends of the Rajah of Gulgat. Prince Sanjay is the Raja’s nephew.’
Bracknall stared at her as if she had grown a second head. Adela said, ‘Well, I must get to the theatre ...’
He grabbed her arm to stop her. ‘Rafi Khan from Lahore?’
‘Yes.’ Adela regretted at once mentioning them. Too late she remembered Sophie’s antipathy to Bracknall and that he had once been Rafi’s boss. She didn’t like the twisted smile on Bracknall’s craggy face.
‘Well, well. So Sophie Telfer is your aunt– or MrsKhan, as she no doubt prefers to be called.’
‘That is her name,’ said Adela.
Still gripping her, he said, ‘Perhaps I’m old-fashioned, but I’m not one of those who believe in these mixed racial marriages. Can’t quite see how a Christian marrying a Mohammedan can be lawful, but then Sophie Telfer would do anything to escape the shame of her first failed marriage I imagine.’
Adela was shocked at his words. She threw off his hold. ‘Auntie Sophie married Rafi for love. They’re devoted to each other.’
Bracknall gave an indulgent laugh. ‘Oh, the innocence of youth is quite charming. I could tell you a few stories about your aunt and uncle that would have your eyes on stalks.’
‘I must go.’
‘I’ll see you at the office next week, my girl, and we can talk more about the Khans.’
‘I don’t work at the Forest Office any more, MrBracknall.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I haven’t been there since January.’ Adela noticed his annoyance with triumph. ‘Did Boz not tell you?’
‘No, he did not.’ Bracknall quickly recovered. ‘But then your role was very minor, wasn’t it? And I suppose if you have caught the eye of a rich native you don’t need an office job to keep you in stockings and lipstick.’
Adela felt revulsion at his lascivious look and turned away with a curt goodbye.
No wonder Sophie disliked the overbearing man; he made her skin crawl too.
But his words troubled her; they had been full of menace for Sophie.
Sam had warned her about Bracknall– Boz too– but she had dismissed their concerns.
It struck her for the first time that anyone who crossed the bullying Bracknall would be made to pay for it.