Page 83 of Her Royal Houseguest

And to one side near Miss Gray stood Vaji with his head bowed and his ears tinged with red.

It was that bit of red that told the tale. Vaji was ashamed. Whenever his brother was embarrassed, he put on a cheeky grin and dared the world to laugh with him. But when his ears turned red, he had done something to hurt another—likely Miss Gray. Which meant…

Hai! Just how far had he gone with the lady? It would have been consensual. Vaji would never trespass where someone was unwilling. And Deva had been aware of the growing interest between the two.

But tonight of all nights? And while wearing saffron robes? Could he have been more stupid?

Anna stood up when they entered, dipping quickly into a curtsey. Miss Gray scrambled to do the same, though she was obviously unsteady. Had Vaji gotten her drunk first?

Rage simmered in Deva’s blood but he kept it back until he had details.

Ignoring protocol, he looked directly at Anna. ‘What happened?’ His voice came out harder than he intended. Anna winced, adding a dash of guilt to his already explosive mood.

‘Your Royal Highnesses,’ she began, only to be interrupted by the other woman, the one he didn’t know.

‘Oh goodness!’ she said as she sank into a deep curtsey. ‘It’s not a very bad thing. I mean, this is something that happens between men and women, isn’t it? But he is a monk and that’s really not allowed, is it? She’s a cit and she probably didn’t know. Are others taught that monks aren’t allowed to…well, you know? It’s quite a shocking thing, isn’t it?’

She looked up with a gossip’s glee. Deva turned his back on her to glare at his brother. When he spoke, it was in harsh Siamese.

‘You dog! Could you not keep it in for one night?’

Vaji swallowed, his expression blank but his skin blanched. ‘She is blameless.’ He spoke in English but Deva responded in Siamese.

‘That is not how it works! Hai, you know that! Already her people damn her.’

‘No!’ Vaji said, his eyes wide.

‘Do you know what will become of her?’ he demanded. Because he didn’t. Anna would know but he could not ask now. Especially since Vaji sank to his knees before him.

And when the abbot manoeuvred his way inside, Vaji continued the motion by pressing his forehead to the thick rug.

The abbot took everything in and his expression hardened. He knew what must be done.

‘Now?’ the abbot asked in Siamese.

‘Now,’ Deva confirmed. ‘Else they will think we are animals. That our convictions mean nothing.’

Vaji had to be stripped of everything.

And so it was done while the prince Regent of England watched, not to mention Anna, Miss Gray, the gossipy woman and the royal footman who stood nearby with his mouth agape.

The abbot spoke clearly in Siamese. ‘Prince Vaji, did you have sexual congress with a woman?’

Without lifting his head, Vaji answered. ‘Yes, abbot.’

‘Then you are expelled.’

The word was spoken in Siamese but it still seemed to reverberate through the room. The impact on Vaji was clear. The man trembled as he rose up on his knees. He kept his head bowed and his body curved as he began pulling off his robes.

Finally understanding what happened, Miss Gray jolted forwards.

‘No! It was my fault—’ she began but Vaji cut her off, his words loud and in English.

‘I am at fault!’

‘No!’ she exclaimed but Anna was smart enough to hush her before looking to Deva.

He didn’t know what she wanted. There was no way to stop this now, even if he wanted to. Which he did not. He could not forgive such a breach. Not on this night of all nights. And neither could the abbot.