Page 29 of Her Royal Houseguest

The monk Vaji had an irrepressible humour, as if he looked on life as a glorious banquet. Prince Deva, on the other hand, seemed highly disciplined. That was something she admired. She was sure his force of will could accomplish whatever task set before him. His only obstacle was understanding English customs. And his arrogance.

And yet, he had apologised to her. She had seen the shock on his brother’s face. Deva’s apology and offer of recompense had to be unusual. She felt flushed with pleasure that he was giving her a rare show of respect.

It would be awkward accepting his help. She was prone to hiding her struggles. But if he could apologise to her, she could accept his demonstration of regret. Wouldn’t it be nice if every apology in England brought with it an action to demonstrate the truth of one’s feeling? Her kinsmen were prone to empty platitudes, not gestures of remorse.

Both princes had left after their bargain. Deva had put a hand on his brother’s arm and firmly steered the man away. Probably because the monk had spoken directly to her without using a footman as intermediary.

What a curious situation had landed in her home. For the first time this day, she didn’t resent the way they’d uprooted her life. Instead, she was intrigued by the novelty and excited to learn more about them.

Or more from Prince Deva who had attempted to bow to her in the British way as they departed. It had been charmingly awkward. Or perhaps the word was thrilling. She hesitated to even think it. When had a man thrilled her?

Never.

Projects, yes, at the beginning. New experiences, certainly. Like the first time she’d beheld the lights at Vauxhall or seen acrobats perform. But never a man and never from something as simple as an awkward bow. Or a kiss!

How was she to face him tomorrow without falling into trembling disarray? Because that’s what happened when she got excited. She became obsessed in an unhealthy way and could focus on nothing else for a week at least.

Why, oh why had her wild nature suddenly settled on a foreign man?

Whatever the reason, she spent a terrible night dreaming about him and about his strange shoes with rubies and the kiss that flushed her body with heat. She finally managed a fitful rest well after three, only to be woken at dawn by more chanting.

Normally, she’d lie in bed and wonder at the strange sounds. But after a night of dreams, the chanting made her feel like she’d stepped from her boring English world into the fantastical. All of which led her to rise much too early to see if the servants were as discomforted by the newcomers as her mother was going to be. If there was one thing her mother cherished, it was her sleep. And she would hate dawn chanting.

Her father wasn’t at home, thank God. He’d spent the night at Carlton House, no doubt regaling the prince with stories of saffron robes, chanting and attic debris. Her mother, on the other hand, was suffering a migraine that dawn chants did not help. Mama wanted ‘those blasted foreigners to stop making that racket’. Anna couldn’t force them to do that but she could grab the laudanum and bring it to her mother along with a cup of chocolate.

‘Why are they doing that?’ her mother said as soon as Anna opened the door.

‘It’s morning prayers, I believe. Christian monks do it as well.’

‘Not in my house, they don’t!’ the lady huffed.

‘Well, I’ve brought you some chocolate—’

‘Careful! Don’t spill!’

Anna was being careful but she was well used to her mother’s criticism. And she had been a clumsy child, so the admonition wasn’t totally misplaced.

‘I’ve brought laudanum if you want to sleep more.’

‘Of course I want to.’

‘And here’s beeswax if you want to fashion ear plugs.’

‘I want them to stop!’

‘We cannot do that any more than we could storm a monastery and demand—’

‘I know!’ her mother huffed. For all that the woman liked to complain, she knew the truth of the situation. ‘Is your father home?’

‘Carlton House, I believe.’

‘Blasted man fled as soon as the evening chants began.’ She glared again at the ceiling. Anna was beginning to enjoy the sound. There was a soothing rhythm to it.

‘Do you want the laudanum?’ Anna asked.

‘Yes!’

Her mother drank the dosed cup in silence, then flashed Anna a warm smile. ‘I appreciate you managing these heathens. Truly, they overset my nerves.’