She stared at him, not really knowing how to feel. He had stubble on his chin, but his amber eyes sparkled and his skin glowed with health and vitality. Her fears over who might have told Chatur had continued to prey on her mind, and now she had no option but to question Jay.
‘Eliza, come in. Let us not talk in the corridor.’
She shook her head.
‘Tell me what the matter is?’
She opened her mouth but her voice caught, and she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze for a moment or two.
He frowned. ‘So?’
She hesitated, but then the words tumbled out. ‘I need to ask you something.’
He smiled. ‘Fire away.’
‘Was it you who told Chatur I’m a widow?’ she said, feeling sick inside, and now fully returning his gaze.
‘Of course not. Why would you think that?’
‘Indi swore it wasn’t her. She suggested it might be your friend Dev. He did know about me, but the thing is he hasn’t even been here, until yesterday that is.’
He frowned. ‘Devdan was here yesterday?’
‘You know he was.’
‘This is sounding most odd. To my knowledge Dev hasn’t been here during my absence.’
‘What time did you arrive yesterday?’
‘About midnight.’
She lowered her voice. ‘I thought I heard you talking to him.’
‘When?’
‘Just before nightfall.’
He shook his head. ‘Not guilty.’
She thought quickly. If it hadn’t been Jay talking to Devdan, then who? The voice had been a little indistinct and so maybe she had jumped to the wrong conclusion. Perhaps it had been Anish?
‘Where did you hear this?’
‘We can’t talk here. Can we go out to one of the courtyards?’
‘Of course. But you must admit this is sounding a little bizarre.’
In the courtyard they sat together on a bench beside one of the fountains. She gazed up at the luminous blue sky and watched the parakeets as they fluttered away from one dusty silvery tree to alight on another. The sight of flashes of yellow under-feathers usually filled her with joy. Today it did not.
‘It’ll be getting warmer soon, almost spring,’ he said. ‘And after that it’ll be unbearably hot.’
Eliza didn’t feel a bit warm, and that same self-consciousness once again rose in his presence, especially now that they were completely overlooked by thezenana.
‘Just act naturally,’ he said, as if he understood the reason for her reluctance. ‘Smile, and don’t twist your hands in your lap.’
She felt herself redden. ‘I didn’t realize I was.’
He paused and looked at the ground for a few seconds before turning to her.
