Page 7 of Her Royal Houseguest

‘They did not expect us. How would you appear if a delegation woke you from your sleep?’

‘Not like that. He hadn’t shaved. He hadn’t bathed!’

‘I don’t think they do that here,’ Deva said.

‘I thought it was an exaggeration.’

‘We thought a lot of things.’

The conversation ended as they were ushered into a large carriage with an emblem painted on the side. Their host was an older gentleman—a duke—with bright eyes and a heavy cane. He gestured for the two princes to climb inside his conveyance, then leaned forwards onto his stick.

‘Your ability with English is impressive,’ he said slowly.

‘Thank you, your grace.’

‘You caught us by surprise. Most of us have never heard of your country.’

‘We are a small country in size, but very mighty.’

‘Yes, yes. The same can be said for England.’

Deva smiled. ‘This is why we came here. Because our two countries have much in common.’

The man grinned. ‘I have a map that shows where your country lies. It’s a great map, very expensive, very detailed. Though the area around your land is vague.’

‘I would be happy to share our maps with you. We can have a map exchange.’

‘A capitol idea! Capitol indeed!’

Vaji barely hid his snort. ‘He sounds like we’ve gifted him with a new concubine,’ he said in Siamese.

Deva responded in English. ‘Maps are very important.’

He held off saying ‘more important than a concubine’ because the English didn’t have multiple wives. That made them look weak, in his opinion. If a man couldn’t support multiple women, then how could he be considered rich? But he didn’t elaborate. Instead, he matched the duke’s eager stance. ‘Maps are the basis of shipping and trade. How can one work with a friend if one cannot find him?’

The Englishman brightened. ‘Exactly! Very clever of you to understand that.’

Deva kept his expression neutral. The duke was an enthusiastic man, one who gloried in new experiences. In that, he was very much like Vaji. Except this man had an underlying greed in his eyes. He eyed the gold in Deva’s ring and earrings. He surreptitiously stroked Deva’s silk fabric where they pressed side by side in the carriage.

‘Tell me more about your country,’ the duke said. ‘What do you make? What are your special skills?’

Definitely greedy. There was nothing wrong with such an emotion. Indeed, he was as eager as the duke, only in reverse. He wanted to bring England’s wealth to Siam.

‘Siam is a country rich with sugar and teak.’ Deva had practiced the English words to give them extra power when he spoke. ‘And many other beautiful things.’

‘Women. Tell him about our women,’ Vaji pushed in Siamese.

Deva ignored him. Vaji might be interested in such things, but he doubted an old Englishman could be tempted that way. But in this he was surprised.

‘Tell me about your women,’ the older man said. ‘Do they look like you?’

How to answer that?

‘They look like women. Dark hair, dark eyes, skin as soft as flower petals.’

The duke made a humming sound. ‘What I wouldn’t give to see that. In my day, I travelled very far. To the Continent in a grand tour, but I wanted to go farther.’ He sighed. ‘But I am the eldest son. Had to come back for the title. Oh, the women I saw…’ He licked his lips as if to emphasise his licentiousness, and Vaji had the nerve to chuckle.

‘The man understands exploration,’ he said in Siamese.