‘I think we were sick of fighting each other and of how much it cost us. Your people used to fear challenges from the princely states, so they kept us isolated from each other. It’s a little better now that they are more sympathetic towards a co-operative relationship.’
‘We’re very different, aren’t we?’ she said. ‘The British and the Rajputs, I mean.’
‘Absolutely, though the British like the notion of nobility. But the differences are hard for some of us to assimilate. Educated in England, men lose their way when they come back to India and, with no real purpose, they turn to drink.’
‘And you?’
He laughed. ‘A foot in both worlds and no real place in either. My brother is happy to be a fancy-dress Prince. Not I.’
They were silent for a few moments, during which time Eliza turned it over in her mind and he lit a cigarette. She climbed out of the sidecar to stretch her legs, then watched him as he smoked sitting astride the bike. His hair was dishevelled from the wind and his left hand was smeared with oil. He wiped it carelessly on his trousers, then smiled at her. He was a complex man who had spoken light-heartedly about his life but she didn’t believe he could be happy to live in such an aimless way. Though he was full of ease and charm, she guessed there was more to it.
‘But you are not happy either,’ he said, as if he had read her thoughts.
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she said, feeling suddenly irritable. This was too close to the bone. Also the fresh moistness had left the air and the increasing heat was making her cross.
‘There’s something about you that suggests detachment, though I am beginning not to believe it.’
‘That’s rather blunt,’ she said, and made an effort not to sound upset. ‘And hardly any of your business.’
There was a slight pause.
‘I told you: I’m not British.’
‘Clearly!’
‘The British think we have mended our wicked ways,’ he said, ‘but some of the old customs have simply gone underground.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘I’m thinking of Indi, I suppose. And what could so easily have happened to her.’
Eliza frowned.
‘She came to the castle because her grandmother once helped save my life. My mother gave her grandmother a miniature painting as thanks, and told her if she ever needed help to bring the miniature to the castle and ask for the Maharani.’
‘And?’
‘Indi learnt to copy it.’
‘With the help of a Thakur?’
‘Yes.’
‘But what might have happened to her?’
‘I’ll tell you later. We need to get going now.’
‘Look,’ she said, ‘before we go I’ve been wondering if I should say anything, but Devdan warned me off spending time with you, said I could cause trouble with Chatur.’
‘Did he?’
‘The thing is, I saw something at the polo match where you got hurt. I haven’t spoken of it before because I thought it might just have been my imagination, but I saw Chatur with another man seemingly laughing at your fall. I wondered if …’
He interrupted. ‘You wondered if Chatur was behind it. That’s what you think?’
‘I thought it was just a prank, but could it really be more serious?’
His eyes darkened and he looked very thoughtful, then he muttered, ‘The man is a menace but my brother does not see it. Chatur will stop at nothing. I’ve warned Anish.’
