‘Then shall we walk, while it’s still cool and quiet in the town?’
They left thehaveliby way of a narrow alley, where only a few cats stretched indolently and failed to move out of their way. Then they went out into the streets of Jaipore. The early morning light revealed the beauty of the town. Everything seemed to shimmer, the pink of the buildings more delicate than they had been the day before. Most of the shops were still closed, and as they passed the Palace of the Four Winds she asked the most pressing question.
‘So how, Jay? How is this even possible?’
‘My younger brother is to be Maharajah, with Laxmi as the Regent. She will have full control until he comes of age and I shall be her adviser.’
‘Your mother agreed to this?’
‘She’s fond of you, Eliza, and when she saw how determined I was, she gave her blessing. The British too. We presented it as afait accompliso that they didn’t really have a leg to stand on.’
‘And what about Priya?’ She pulled her mouth down at the corners and raised her brows, intending the question to tease him. ‘I thought she was to be your wife.’
He made a face. ‘Never. Priya will be forced to take a back seat now, though I doubt Laxmi will insist she dresses in white and is sent back to her family.’
‘I feel rather sorry for her.’
He put an arm around her shoulders. ‘And I like you for it.’
‘What’s happened about Chatur?’
‘He has been divested of power and made to leave the castle. I have appointed a newdewan.’
‘Hurrah to that!’
‘Now, the most pressing question is where shall we be married? Do you have a place that’s special to you?’
‘You really do mean you gave up being Maharajah for me? Are you sure?’
He laughed. ‘Don’t change the subject. Where? You can have a fairy-tale wedding here at the city palace – the family are friends of ours – or we can have a quiet affair in Delhi. The city palace lies at the heart of Jaipore and is rather wonderful. You’d think it was the actual city if you didn’t know better, and it has everything from gardens of cypresses and palms to stables. There are weavers whose sole occupation is to weave silk clothes embroidered with gold flowers, and they are just for the elephants. The Maharajah has tamed cheetahs we could use in our marriage procession.’
‘Enough!’
‘You choose Delhi?’
She nodded. ‘The city palace sounds extraordinary and must be every young girl’s dream, but I think a fairy-tale wedding would be rather a sad affair for me, with no family.’
He stood still and looked into her eyes. ‘Except for Indi.’
‘She told you.’
He nodded. ‘I should have realized. You have the same eyes.’
‘Sort of, though mine are the colour of ponds and hers shine like emeralds.’
‘Your eyes are beautiful and you are beautiful … Do you remember I once told you that you, Indi and I were linked, but I didn’t know in what way?’
‘And that it was our destiny to come together? Is that what this is all about?’
‘Who knows? Life has a funny way of working out in unexpected ways.’
‘It is good though, isn’t it? You and me. Us?’
He laughed. ‘It is wonderfully good. And good for Indi too. As she is now going to be my sister-in-law I can take responsibility for her dowry.’
‘You couldn’t before?’
‘Not very easily. We are bound by certain traditions, as you know.’
