‘I don’t believe it will.’
‘And the British are willing to back this with their money?’ Anish asked Clifford.
‘To some extent.’
When they had all examined the detailed plans, Clifford wanted to speak with the Maharajah privately and Eliza hoped it was to insist that Anish’s orders about her must be overturned. Then the others left and only Jay and Eliza remained with Laxmi. Jay told her that even though Anish had not seen the plans until today, he had gambled on his brother’s agreement.
‘At the moment I’m using old steam-powered shovels, great for excavating and moving rock and earth. But they are heavy, complex machines needing three men to operate them, so I plan to get hold of some cheaper, simpler, diesel-powered shovels as soon as I can afford them. At least the men have arrived and the digging is already well under way.’
‘I tried to convince him to wait,’ Laxmi said, ‘but he needs the first lake finished before the rains come in July.’
‘There should be time as long as there are no unforeseen problems,’ Jay added.
Laxmi immediately held out her hands to Eliza. ‘Come here, my dear.’
Eliza took a step forward but hung her head, feeling terribly embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry …’
‘No need for apologies. I understand.’
Eliza glanced up and tried for a smile. ‘Really?’
‘Let us forget it. I will do what I can to persuade people to allow you to photograph them. Many of them are simple souls with little or no education beyond these walls, but if I explain that it is quite a different thing to be a widow in your culture they may understand. I heard you were enjoying taking pictures of the concubines?’
‘I was. They are so warm and funny.’
‘I’ll see what I can do.’
Jay looked at her appraisingly and with slightly flaring nostrils. ‘So am I forgiven?’
‘I suppose. Though I still don’t know who told Chatur.’
He held out a hand. ‘He must have heard through the listening tube. Now it’s time to leave my mother, for she must go to herpujas.’
As Jay and Eliza left his mother’s room they took one of the main staircases down to the large hall where the hugedurbarhad taken place. She asked him about the relationship between Priya and Laxmi.
‘Indian mothers-in-law can be very cruel,’ he said.
‘Surely Laxmi isn’t?’
‘No, but she was treated badly by my grandmother, her mother-in-law. My grandmother would lock her alone in a room for days to keep her from my father.’
‘But why?’
‘So that my mother couldn’t influence my father. My mother was always ahead of her time. But in our culture the parents’ will must always be obeyed.’
‘Even when they are wrong?’
‘Indeed,’ he said, somewhat gravely.
‘And your father could do nothing?’
‘Our etiquette expects a husband’s silence. Laxmi tried to please her mother-in-law, but it was hopeless. Luckily the old crow died young and my mother was able to blossom.’
‘But that doesn’t explain how things are between Laxmi and Priya.’
‘No, it doesn’t. I think my mother simply doesn’t like my brother’s wife.’
‘And maybe doesn’t trust her.’
