“I’m going to wait for Theo. I think it would hurt him if I made this announcement without him.”
“I feel the same, but I would protect Will as best I can.” Sarla realized she felt as protective of her husband as he felt for her.
“Girls!”
The three sisters knew the moment they saw their mother’s expression that they wouldn’t have the choice to wait. Their mother knew. But how? They entered the palace and followed Chandra to Surat’s study. He looked up from a document on his desk. He rubbed his brow and pinched the skin between his eyebrows.
“Imagine our surprise when Amrit arrived to share the joyous news.” Chandra sounded anything but joyful. “Not only did we learn from a villager who is the biggest gossip alive that you married, but we discovered you’d been baptized too.”
“How could you?” Surat appeared pained compared to Chandra’s aggrieved expression.
“Baba, it was my idea.” Sarla stepped forward. “I feared you would send me to Jodhpur in Vinita’s place. I needed to make sure you couldn’t force me from Will.”
Surat shook his head. “It would have been pointless to try. But there is a man expecting a bride, and two other men who’ve expressed interest in you and Suniti. I haven’t agreed to anything with them, but I responded and said I would consider them. Now I have no brides for three men who expect to be grooms. What am I supposed to do with that?”
The sisters looked at each other. They understood the significance of Surat going back on his word. They thought they’d only complicated one arrangement. They hadn’t realized all three of them were being considered for marriage to Indian men.
“Will this cause a war?” Sarla whispered.
“No. But it is likely to be extremely expensive. The only one I worry about it Ravi. He will insist his father assert their right to Vinita. He won’t easily give in. We need to have the Brahma sooner than planned. It must happen within the next two days, before news can spread to our neighbors.”
“I already have a sari I’d like to wear,” Sarla offered.
“I wish to wear my favorite ghagra and kurta.” Vinita preferred the tunic and flowing skirt over the sari despite the heat. She felt more comfortable being covered when that many people would watch her. Despite how she’d behaved that morning, she was the most modest of the three sisters.
“Very well.” Chandra sighed, and her daughters each felt a wave of guilt for their decisions. They recognized their selfishness, but none could imagine their life without the man they chose. They encircled their mother in their embraces. Chandra kissed each forehead and tapped her daughters on the back. “We must ensure we have enough gifts and finery for all three of you.”
“There is more than enough, Maan. It would have been too much for just me.” Suniti’s mind buzzed with a thought. “You knew this would happen. You knew we would need enough for all three of us.”
Chandra glanced at Surat before she nodded. “I knew the moment you saw them in our entryway. I was certain before the meal was over. It was only a matter of time. I just didn’t imagine you would each move so quickly.”
“You knew?” Surat rose from his chair and moved around his desk.
“I thought they would ask you first. I’d prepared for it, but I said nothing. I hoped they wouldn’t be as impulsive as they were.” Chandra sighed.
“I suppose I knew too. I just hoped denying it would keep it from happening. I don’t object to the men. I simply thought I would have each of you for a little longer. I’m not ready for my daughters to all leave.”
“They don’t have to.” Chandra turned to her daughters. “We have room. Suniti and Rob remain in the chamber they have now. Vinita and Theo take the chamber from this morning. Sarla, you and Will may have your current room.”
“Your husbands can’t all live away from the camp.” Surat shook his head.
“I think they can until they finish the quarters, or they can build homes for us.” Suniti hoped she was right. It would settle at least a few of their problems.
“We can ask when they arrive,” Vinita offered. There was little more they could discuss without the men, so the sisters followed Chandra to continue working on the decorations for the imminent wedding feast. The entire village would watch the Maharaja’s daughters marry their Englishmen.
“Sarla, come here.” Will sat on the end of the bed they would share until they could have a home of their own. It surprised all three Englishmen how well received they were that evening. They’d expected an explosive argument, but whatever the sisters said to their parents appeased Chandra and Surat. The mother and father appeared to have aged in the past month, but Will recognized they’d placed an undue amount of stress on them. He counted himself fortunate that he was not only preparing for his wedding night, he was actually still breathing.
Sarla approached, a seductive smile making her eyes twinkle. Will watched his bride as she tempted him. She came to stand between his legs as she pulled his cravat loose. She eased his waistcoat from his shoulders. While she believed the Englishman’s clothing was impractical for the weather, she was glad that Will opted to leave off several pieces. It would make it faster for her to unwrap the gift that was the handsome man sitting at the end of her bed.
For every two pieces of Will’s clothing that came off, he removed one of Sarla’s until they stood bare in front of one another. She hadn’t expected the sun kissed skin above his waist. She realized he must work outside without his shirt. She wondered if she would ever steal a glimpse of him laboring.
Will skimmed his gaze over her coffee-hued skin, soaking in the sight as his cock demanded it find its home within her. He lifted her off her feet, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. The feel of the tip of his rod sliding along her dewy entrance made them both groan.
“Soon, my love. I would introduce you to many ways to share love between a man and woman.”
“Will, you know I’ve seen the illustrations.”
“That’s a far sight different from actually doing the acts. If there is anything you don’t enjoy, you must tell me. I only wish to bring you pleasure. I don’t want this to be a burden to you.”
