“I would never mock the solemnity of the English aristocracy.”Not out loud, usually.I reserve that for my articles.Especially the footnotes.You can get wild in the footnotes.
“Yes.I can see how seriously you take us.”
Oh, sarcasm must have already been invented, because it was just used on me.In a royal drawing room while I’m wearing a corset within shouting distance of Queen Victoria.
No one is going to believe this if I do get back to the right time.But that squashes any joy I just found, because what if I never get back?
Anne returns as I contemplate the future, a little out of breath, and I feel bad we sent her on a wild goose chase to the kitchens that are probably far in this oversized mansion.
“The tea is coming,” she says.
“Excellent.But we are going to see Her Majesty now.”Leo stands and holds his arm out for me as Anne purses her lips in frustration that her rushing is now pointless and her chaperoning was evaded.“She is usually out in the garden doing her correspondence or learning Urdu with the Munshi right about now.”
I could tell him I already know that.But I don’t want to explainhowI know that.“You know so much about her.”I even flutter my eyelashes, practicing being besotted with someone.Practicing flirting with someone.I need it, being out of practice myself.
I feel like this was easier with fans.Wait, thisiswhen they flirted with fans!Finally, something I studied might come in handy, so I don’t accidentally say, “Kiss me,” when I mean, “I wish to get rid of you.”
Take that, Mom; Iamusing my history degree in my daily life.
“Your Majesty, it is a beautiful day,” Leo calls out in greeting when we approach Victoria and her outdoor office.I don’t know who had to lug the table, boxes with papers and pens, chairs, tent and carpet out here, but they should get a raise, because this is not like when I work out in nature.I usually balance my laptop on my stomach on the grass and try not to position my hands in a way that offends ergonomics too much.But this is better, if you have someone to set it up for you.
Today, Victoria is wearing a simple but luxurious black dress, still mourning Albert even after all these years.Abdul is standing behind her in a white-and-gold silk turban and a long, deep red Indian tunic and pants, while she’s bent over some paper on the table in front of her.A quick peek shows all English, so it’s correspondence and not her Urdu lessons.
Unfortunately, the peek isn’t long enough to read the documents, even though the historian in me wants to, so much.But I think that might be against the law, and I’m already breaking enough laws already.
“Yes, it is.I hope you had a good night’s sleep,” Victoria says to me.
“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.The room and the clothes are lovely.You’re too generous.”No one is immune to flattery.
“Good.I do not know if you met at the assembly, but this is Abdul Karim.”Victoria’s Urdu teacher and general companion/helper with her correspondence.Who Victoria’s son will try to erase from the written record after Victoria passes, because he didn’t approve of the closeness of their relationship.But he won’t succeed, and I will learn about him.And write about him, to boot.Take that, Prince of Wales.
“The Munshi.Of course.It’s an honor to meet you in person.I’ve heard so much about you.”Victoria values his opinion, so I should use his legendary ego and try to get on his good side.
Abdul nods a regal head with a disapproving frown.So, he is still holding a grudge from last night.With how cruel Victoria’s family and household are to him, you think he would welcome an ally, but he apparently doesn’t think I’m worth having as one.This is not the solidarity I wish we could have.But I think his loyalty to Victoria is going to override our shared ancestry.
“Where are you from in India?”Yup, he’s still suspicious.
“I’m from Cooch Behar.”Now I’m committed to that, a claim I threw out as a joke.At least he’s from Agra and not royal himself, so I doubt he knows everyone in the Cooch Behar royal family personally.Especially since Victoria thinks I’m one of the nieces.
I’ll apologize later to my parents for not saying I was from Punjab, where they’re actually from, but considering that royal family is currently living in London, I’m really glad I didn’t.
If I see my parents again.Well, that is a depressing thought.
“It is odd that you are not with them,” Abdul says.
As everyone has already pointed out, thank you very much.“I was meant to do some studying here.You know how much the Maharani is an advocate for education, especially for women, as she has opened a school back home.But there was a miscommunication with the exact time and details of my trip, and they left without me, including my escort.Her Majesty’s birthday has been so big and busy, I think they got confused.Her Majesty was kind enough to offer me shelter.”
I combine a few of the lies I’ve told in the past day into one.Now hopefully I can remember this new, refined version.
“Hmm.They must be worried about you.”
“I’ve written to them already.We should sort this out soon.”It’s a point in my favor that letters take forever right now and there’s no e-mail.I never thought I’d be happy about a lack of e-mail, but it has bought me some time.And I’m being saved from getting hundreds of marketing e-mails asking me to buy things from a store I shopped at once.
Oh god, I’m going to have so many e-mails to get through when I get back.
“You have a strange accent.”Is everyone going to be interrogating me until I leave this time?Why are people so untrusting?Probably because I’m lying to them, but still.Why is the world so cynical?
“I was taught by American teachers.And I travel often, especially in America, and meet a lot of different people.I suppose it’s a mix of all those influences.”
