‘Well, not everybody, but you may.’
‘Isn’t it rather informal?’
‘I didn’t expect you to be bound by tradition. You certainly aren’t in your manner of dress. In fact it almost seems to me as if you dress with disregard.’
He was looking at her with an intent gaze and she was shocked to realize she felt indignant that he had somehow seen inside her. ‘That’s rather …’
‘Not very British, you mean, but I am not British, despite the attempts of Eton to make me so.’
‘Is that what they did?’
‘What do you think?’
She looked at the ground before lifting her head, realizing that the shadows of the past could still be present even on the sunniest day. ‘It’s Mrs Cavendish, by the way. But I’m using my maiden name, Fraser, instead.’
He glanced at her ring finger.
Though shocked by the loss of Oliver, it was not the loss of true love. In the circumstances, how could it have been? But her father; that had been a knife to the heart; so deep she couldn’t function. Couldn’t eat. Couldn’t sleep. And for several months could not even speak. And the knowledge of her own culpability had left her the victim of terrible nightmares.
‘I’m a widow,’ she said.
He raised his brows.
‘I didn’t intend to dissemble. It just happened.’
‘Best keep it between us, I think. People still believe widows bring bad fortune and things have a way of getting out.’
‘I’d prefer to tell Laxmi. She’s been so kind and I don’t want her to find out later and think I came here under false pretences.’
He shook his head. ‘People believe that outliving your husband means you didn’t look after him properly and that it’s generally your own bad karma at fault.’
‘As if I don’t already feel bad enough.’
‘You are expected to do penance for the sin, you are meant to eat only plain rice and never remarry, even though the law does now permit remarriage. It’s antiquated, I know, but it could make life difficult for you. They would also expect you to wear white and shave your head.’ He grinned at her.
‘I thought those beliefs were dying out.’
He inclined his head and shrugged as if to refute what she’d said. ‘And even though the British made suttee illegal it still happens. Old habits die hard, Miss … I mean Mrs Cavendish.’
‘I think you’d better just call me Eliza.’
As he nodded a young woman brushed past Eliza and ran up to Jay, where she gave an exaggerated curtsey and then laughed. She was very slight and at first Eliza thought she must be a child, a relative of some kind, but then she saw the young woman’s face: paler than Jay’s, it was a face of such extraordinary beauty Eliza could only stare. The girl’s loosely tied long hair floated down to her waist and her eyes were the most incredible green, not unlike Eliza’s own greenish-grey eyes but lined with something dark. And yet where Eliza’s were soft gentle English eyes, the colour of ponds, this girl had emeralds for eyes. They sparkled, catching the light while she laughed and chattered with enthusiasm. And joy, Eliza thought to herself. Sheer effervescent joy. She wore a nose jewel and was covered in bangles and necklaces. After a few moments Jay took hold of her hand and, smiling broadly, came across to Eliza.
‘Indira,’ he said. ‘This is Eliza, Miss Fraser to you. Eliza, this is Indira.’
‘Namaskar,’ the girl said, and placed her palms together close to her chest.
Jay interrupted. ‘She was educated at the castle and speaks good English, Eliza, so don’t let her fool you.’
As the day faded, Jay drove the three of them back to the summer palace beside the lake. It wasn’t as Eliza expected but was in rather a poor state of repair, with peeling walls within and crumbling walls without. He told her he owned a palace in a similar state of repair in Juraipore state, and that he was thinking of having it restored for the day when he would have a family of his own.
‘It is called Shubharambh Bagh.’
Eliza knewbaghmeant a place with a garden and orchard, specifically one containing fruit, andshubharambhmeant auspicious beginnings.
‘It could be beautiful there,’ he continued. ‘But it might be useful if you would consider taking photographs of it as it is.’
She nodded her agreement.
