‘This is so new between us. Let’s not think about that now.’
And although Eliza was happy not to talk about it, she couldn’t help thinking.
‘Tell me more about your mother,’ he said.
She sighed. ‘My mother has had problems with drink for years. I think my father’s death broke her. She was proud but never a strong woman, and there was no money, you see. She had to rely on the charity of James Langton. Although she called him my uncle we were not related. She had known him before she married my father, and then when we returned to England he became my mother’s lover.’
‘That must have been hard on you too?’
‘I only had her. No relatives, or at least no relatives who would see us. I loved my father, but my relationship with my mother has always been difficult. She sent a letter while I was here saying such terrible things about my father, accusing him of ruining us with his gambling and of having had a mistress for years.’
‘Perhaps there’s some advantage to having more than one wife.’ He paused to gauge her expression. ‘No mistresses necessary.’
She knew he was joking or at least half joking, but couldn’t help her angry retort. ‘Except that it doesn’t work the other way round. Nobody stops to think that we might rather like to have more than one husband.’
He put on a severe expression and a mock-affronted heavily accented voice. ‘That is deeply shocking thing to say, madam. What good woman is wanting with two men when she has one? One man: many women. It is the correct way.’
Even though she wanted to be annoyed she couldn’t help but smile. ‘Oh, shut up, you idiot!’
‘You are telling a Raja to shut up? There is only one punishment for that. Come here.’
‘And if I refuse?’
‘I will keep you tied to the bed for many moons.’
‘You have to catch me first.’ She leapt to her feet and ran into the darkness beyond the fire. Then she hid behind a thorn bush while keeping an eye out for him and keeping her breath quiet. She could hear him moving about but could see almost nothing. From up above the powder of silver stars was the only light.
She heard the mournful cry of a distant jackal, then felt the sensation of a pinprick in her leg and shouted out.
Not knowing exactly where she was, he could only run towards the direction of her voice. ‘Are you all right? You shouldn’t escape into the darkness at night. All kinds of creatures are out there.’
‘I think I was bitten, but it didn’t really hurt.’
‘You shouted out.’
‘In surprise, that’s all.’
‘But did it hurt?’
‘Honestly, it was just a pinprick, perhaps an ant?’
He had his arm round her now. ‘You’re certain it wasn’t a snake?’
‘I’ve no idea. It was pitch black.’
‘A snake bite would hurt. I think we should pack up and get you back, just in case.’
‘It’s too dark. Honestly, I’ll be fine. I just want to go to bed.’
They turned in for the night immediately after that, but after only about an hour Eliza woke with cramps in her stomach. She sat up in bed and doubled over, trying not to wake Jay and listening to the silence that, frighteningly, was not silent at all. During the rest of the cold desert night she lay shivering in the makeshift bed, as close to Jay as she could be without disturbing him. She felt nauseous and wanted to move, but, too nervous to leave the tent, remained where she was until the first pale light of dawn. When Jay eventually woke he took one look at her and his face fell.
‘Tell me what you’re feeling.’
‘Sick. And I have a bad stomach ache. Maybe something I ate?’
But he looked at her so gravely she began to feel a prickle of anxiety.
‘I want to look for that bite again.’
