She wandered indoors, passed through a corridor with lacy, latticed marble screens, put down her bag, and went back to the grand room with the high windows, where the light streaming in from above gave the impression that the ceiling was actually the sky. So much had happened since Jay had first shown her this place, and she had to admit that she found it hard to leave. The walls were glowing golden and it was easy to imagine the grand old days when this had been an escape for the royal family. But Eliza knew Jay did not have the funds to restore the palace and that he had put everything into the water project. She was about to retrieve her bag containing the new Leica Clifford had given her when she saw Jay standing in the doorway.
‘I didn’t think you’d be here so soon,’ she said. ‘I thought you’d be at the Juraipore castle for longer.’
‘Well, as you can see I am here,’ he said. ‘I’m glad I found you. I have managed to collect all your equipment from the castle and it will arrive this afternoon.’
She didn’t speak, but looked at the air just above his head. Why was he talking as if everything was normal between them? Everything stilled and the air seemed to leave the room, leaving only heat.
‘Eliza?’
‘Thank you,’ she said, her voice stiff. ‘So the fire really was a fabrication.’
He nodded, then took a few steps towards her and, though she wanted to back off, she stood firm. ‘How was your journey?’ she said.
Up went his eyebrows. ‘Must we be so British? Aren’t there more important things to discuss?’
‘You tell me.’
‘Ah.’
They stared at each other until she finally broke the silence. ‘So, are you to be Maharajah?’
He nodded.
‘I see. Very well. I was just about to pick up my bag. If you could arrange for my equipment to be sent on, I would be very grateful.’ She had not been able to keep a half-resentful tone out of her voice and she turned her back and began to walk off, but she heard him come up behind her.
‘Eliza.’ He reached for her hand but as she twisted round to look at him she shook him off.
‘I trusted you, Jay. I have never really trusted anyone, but I trusted you.’
‘You can trust me.’
She steeled herself to ignore the hungry expression in his eyes as he carried on speaking.
‘You knew I might have to take over if anything happened to Anish.’
‘Yes, I did. Silly of me to think anything had changed. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get going.’
‘Eliza. It’s different here. You know that. Personal desires do not come first, duty does.’
‘Well, don’t worry. Thispersonal desireis going to make it easy for you.’
‘Hear me out,’ he said. ‘There’s more.’
‘What more could there be, Jay? It’s all perfectly clear.’
He almost seemed to wince as he shook his head. ‘Stay here. Live here. I don’t want you to leave. I’ll be here as often as I can.’
Something hardened inside her and her jaw tensed. ‘I won’t be your concubine.’
‘I’m not asking for that.’
‘So exactly what are you asking? You know full well you’ll have to marry a non-European in order to have legitimate heirs.’ She knew she sounded bitter but she didn’t care.
There was no reply.
‘You think I’ll live here for the rest of my life,’ she continued, ‘just waiting for your ever-decreasing visits?’
He looked thoughtful as he replied. ‘I think you will have a beautiful place to live, a water project to manage if you wish, and a career as a photographer too.’
