Page 39 of Her Royal Houseguest

By evening, however, his discipline had failed him. He wanted nothing more than to go back to his bedroom and rest but he had no means of travel in this city beyond what the duke provided. And the duke wanted him to attend a ‘come out’ ball. Deva had no idea what that meant except that it was a party and he was the spectacle that everyone wanted to see.

He was not insulted by this. A foreign prince would always be a sensation. But such prolonged attention was grating. Vaji would preen under the attention but Deva did not. He was not in the best frame of mind to greet a blushing girl in her come out. Nor the myriad women who openly gawked at him.

His only respite came when he saw Lady Anna laughing gaily across the room. She stood in a mixed circle of women, like a ray of sunshine in a meadow of flowers. Was she the cause of the merriment? He had to find out.

She saw him coming. She turned her head, froze for a split second, then her eyes went soft. She smiled warmly at him. Those around her turned as well, showing him that she did indeed lead the group of people around her. He greeted her as any Siamese royal would a lower status woman.

He stood and waited for her to address him. His very presence beside her indicated that she was allowed to speak but it would be inappropriate for him to speak first. Such was the way in Siam.

Apparently, she didn’t understand this. She curtsied as he approached, as did all of the women. Then she waited with her hands folded and her head bowed. Indeed, everyone mirrored her exact pose.

He waited, his impatience growing. He had already nodded to her but her face had been lowered. She had not seen it. And the longer she remained silent, the graver the insult. Clearly this was not her intent but he could not bring himself to speak first. It was too ingrained that the lower status person—especially a woman—should speak first.

And so the silence stretched.

Anna began to fidget. She shifted from foot to foot. A slight movement but he noticed the sway of her body. Her head began to lift but then she dipped back down again. Others were starting to shift as well, again following her lead. He wondered how long she would keep herself lowered.

Finally, Anna dared look up at him.

‘Your Royal Highness,’ she said, her voice low. ‘How can I be of service to you?’

He exhaled. He did not like feeling awkward and he was too tired to restrain his frustration. ‘You may explain,’ he said. ‘I approached. Why did you wait in silence? Did you mean to offer insult?’

‘What? No!’ There was honest horror in her eyes.

‘Then why did you not speak?’ he asked, annoyed with himself for being too tired to understand.

‘Er, we’re not supposed to.’ Her cheeks flushed. ‘I mean, in England, the royal personage must address you before you may speak.’

‘But you spoke first.’

‘I did.’ She shrugged. ‘You seemed to expect it.’

He gave her a curt nod. ‘I did.’ Then he matched her shrug. ‘Such is the way in Siam. The lower status person must say a formal greeting first and wait for my acknowledgement.’

‘Then I suppose I should ask how you prefer to be greeted. Do we speak first? Or do you wish to acknowledge us first?’

A simple question but he knew that there were extra layers to it. Did he demand that the English adjust to his customs? Or did he adjust to them as all men must do when travelling? That would show respect to the English but he did not wish to appear as supplicant.

How did one stand as an equal in all things?

‘Who speaks first when two kings meet one another?’

‘The host,’ she answered. ‘Generally because it is he who welcomes the other to his homeland.’

Good. That fitted him perfectly. ‘Very well. You may address me first and I will acknowledge you.’

‘An excellent solution,’ she said. He detected no mockery in her tone. ‘Do you have other questions, Prince Deva? We must seem very different to you.’

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘You will explain what “come out ball” means.’

‘Of course, Prince Deva.’

And so he compelled her to stand by his side, speaking quietly to him as she explained their customs. Why had her father not done this for him? In a day of introductions and discussions, there had been many moments of confusion. But the duke had simply laughed and moved on, providing no explanation to ease Deva’s confusion.

Anna made things easy. Her voice eased the strain inside him. But she—apparently—was supposed to abandon him to dance with a long series of partners.

The men approached one by one, bowing before him, then her, before extending a hand to her. Many tried to engage him in discussion but he had no interest in conversations with men who gave no explanations. He’d had his fill of that during the day.