They hurried out of the almshouse and followed the sound of chattering voices. They stopped short as Theo and Vinita came to stand beside Surat and Chandra. Sarla and Will followed her parents' gaze and found Sunita in Rob’s arms. It was obvious they’d been caught, and Sarla wondered just what they’d been doing. After the second time Will offered her sympathy, they’d found reasons for their bodies to brush together, or they linked little fingers when they sat at patients’ bedsides. But hearing Surat bellowing at Rob and threatening to dismember him made them both fear going beyond the harmless displays of affection and attraction.
“How dare you!” Surat stormed toward the couple. “You came into my home, shared a meal with my family, assured me my people would be safe from yours, and now I find you corrupting my daughter.”
Suniti stepped around Rob, but he tried to place her behind him again. She shook off his hold and looked back at him. “Do you want to marry me?”
“Of course.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Implicitly.”
“Then let me talk.”
Their hurried and whispered conversation ended when Surat reached them. He extended his arm to grasp Suniti’s, but Rob wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Baba, no one corrupted anyone. You know Rob is an honorable man who respects you and the people of Bikaner. He’s done all he can to ensure accord between you and the Company. If he were Indian, he would be the man you’d choose for me. Admit it.”
“He’s not Indian.”
“But he intends to stay here with his wife.”
“Wife?” Surat bellowed.
“Me. We married by Gandharva.”
Everyone froze. All they needed was mutual consent to live together and copulate to make the marriage official. But people didn’t consider that official without consummation. Suniti made it sound as though that already happened. She watched her father flush red. He reached for his sword.
“Don’t, Baba,” Suniti whispered, reaching out a staying hand. “This is hardly how we wanted anyone to find out. It was foolish of us to show our affection in public, and I’m sorry that we’ve shamed you. But Rob is who I choose. You would too if he were Indian. I know you would.”
“When will he take you from us?”
“Maharaja, I’m not taking Suniti anywhere. My home is in India. I don’t wish to return to England. If you’ll allow it, I will remain here in Bikaner. I think I can convince the Company to approve it. I’ve told Suni that if she wishes to visit or move to England, we can. But I do not wish to do that.”
“Why? Are you hiding something? Another wife? A crime?”
“No. I’ve done nothing wrong. But I do not share most of my father’s views on—everything. I miss my mother and brother, and maybe one day we could visit them. My brother might even come to visit here. I never wish to live under my father’s roof again, and I will never depend upon him for anything. I can provide for a wife and family on my own.”
“Why Suniti?”
“Because she’s the singularly most amazing person I’ve ever met.” Rob spoke as though it were obvious, as though everyone should feel the same way about the woman in front of him.
“And you know this after a month and a half, a fortnight of which you were away.”
“I knew it the moment I met her.”
“So it is lust. You cannot care for someone the moment you see them.”
“Your daughter is beautiful. I couldn’t deny it, lest I paint myself a fool. But she is far more than her beauty. It radiates from her. I knew it when I saw it. We’ve talked many times over the past month, and my admiration grows with each day.”
“Baba, I don’t wish to be excised from your life or our family’s, but I’ve made my choice.”
Surat turned to Chandra, who approached with her other two daughters and Rob’s friends.
“I warned you something like this would happen. There’s nothing we can do now that she’s declared her marriage, and half the village saw them together. But you’d do well to get Sarla and Vinita’s marriages finalized.”
“Mine?” Sarla stepped forward. “Who do plan to marry me to? Were you going to tell me or just dump me at the groom’s home?”
“Now is not the time,” Surat snapped. He looked at Rob. “Do you intend to make my daughter live in a tent?”
