‘Who has accused him?’
‘I can’t tell you that.’
‘Very well. I don’t suppose I have much choice. Though I don’t see the need for this ridiculous skulduggery.’
‘You have the key?’
She nodded.
‘He must trust you.’
They walked slowly through the long, thick-walled corridors, though for Eliza the cooler air meant scant relief. She unlocked Jay’s door and they both went in. Clifford didn’t look at anything but went to sit at the desk and pulled the typewriter closer. ‘Where does he keep the paper?’
‘In the second drawer down. Why?’
He didn’t answer, but opened the drawer and pulled out a sheet and inserted it into the machine, slowly rolling it round to the top. The sound really irritated Eliza, who couldn’t help but feel Clifford was dragging this out – whatever this was. He typed a few sentences, rolled the sheet of paper through and pulled it free.
‘I think that’s enough,’ he said, as he got to his feet and pocketed the sheet of paper.
‘What did you just write?’
‘You can look. Nothing significant, I promise you.’
He handed her the sheet of paper and she read some nonsense about Kent being the garden of England.
‘You’re from Kent originally?’
‘I am.’
‘So what’s Kent got to do with Jay?’
‘Kent? Nothing at all. And now I must leave you.’
Eliza was puzzled. ‘But you said you wanted to look round his study?’
‘I’ve seen all I need to. Thanks very much.’
‘Aren’t you going to explain?’
‘Another time.’ And with that he gave her a cheery wave and left her not knowing what to think. Had she made things worse for Jay or had she made them better?
As if that was not enough, the very next day she was summoned to the outer rooms of the Maharajah. When she arrived he was already sitting on a smallgaddiwith Priya at his side. Standing facing him were Jay and Laxmi. Jay’s rebellious stance – arms folded, legs wide apart – indicated that there was trouble afoot. In addition Chatur was there, sitting on a high-backed chair with his back against the wall.
‘Thank you for coming,’ Anish said, waving at Eliza to come closer but not indicating that she should sit. Priya didn’t meet Eliza’s eyes, and Jay simply nodded at her. Laxmi turned away, but Eliza had glimpsed that Jay’s mother seemed to be looking very red-eyed. What on earth was going on here?
‘You took it upon yourself to do this?’ Anish was saying.
‘I did. It was all my doing,’ Jay said.
‘And you, mother?’
‘I –’
‘She had nothing to do with it,’ Jay interjected.
Laxmi shook her head but remained silent.
‘And how were you able to get hold of the key if your mother did not assist?’ Priya added, spitting the words in a disparaging tone and emphasizing the wordsyour mother.
