Page 96 of Her Royal Houseguest

The queen didn’t speak at first. She was clearly thinking. ‘That’s not very fair, then, is it? That the Siamese be the only ones who keep a record.’

‘I’m sure it was an oversight,’ Lady Anna said.

‘England should have someone of equivalent rank to keep a record of our own.’ Her gaze cut to Deva. ‘To see that we also demonstrate the strength of our faith.’ She glanced at a waiting servant. ‘Please make my request to the archbishop that he participate—as a moral leader—in the negotiations. That he will report to me exactly what is done in England’s name.’ She arched a brow. ‘We will countenance no murder or rape.’

‘What a clever idea!’ Anna enthused but the queen cut her a hard glare.

‘Flattery is not your talent,’ she snapped.

‘Sorry.’

The queen snorted. ‘Fortunately for you, we have a fondness for blunt speech. Occasionally.’

Anna’s cheeks flushed. ‘That is certainly something at which I excel.’

The queen gave a dismissing nod, which signalled an end to this topic and any more aid to Siam. The conversation changed to questions regarding the peerage. Gossip, mostly, but the queen was also keeping up the flow of information regarding society.

He was included in the conversation. He answered questions about Siam and how intertwined his religion was with governance. He answered them as best he could until another matter drew the queen’s attention and they were dismissed from the royal’s presence and escorted out.

Deva remained silent during the whole journey, his thoughts twisting about in amazement at what they had just done. At what Anna had done. How had he ever thought she could not hold her own in politics? Look what she had accomplished for him! The Queen of England had promised there would be no murder or rape in her name. That might seem like an obvious point but the East India Company had refused even so little a promise.

‘I’m afraid that’s all I can do,’ Anna said. ‘The archbishop will make everyone pretend to Christian morality. At least you won’t have to negotiate with a gunboat pointed at your people.’ Her eyes were pleading. ‘I do hope you understand.’

He gaped at her. Did she not understand? She had accomplished more this day than he had since negotiations began. She had forced the English to act with honesty rather than violence.

He knew of no other woman who could do so much. What children she would raise! Sons and daughters who strove for right action every moment of their lives. And so did their part to create a righteous world.

It was the final straw against his restraint. If it weren’t for the maid sitting with them, he would have taken a wrong action right there in the carriage. But the servant was there and, therefore, he silently swore that he would demonstrate his feelings for her in the most honourable way he knew how.

He only needed to wait until they arrived home.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Anna sat in the carriage and allowed her heartbeat to settle. That had been the most exciting thing she’d ever done in her life! Backwards, cursed Anna had met with the queen and influenced a trade negotiation! Perhaps, in the end, it accomplished very little but she’d long since believed that men’s actions and men’s religion should align more than they did. She prayed that the archbishop’s presence would push negotiations in that direction.

It was one of the reasons she so adored Deva. He lived his beliefs. And though that might be hard on himself and anyone who was around him, Vaji’s defrockment was evidence of that, she valued the daily effort.

‘Thank you,’ she said, her words flowing out of her. ‘Without you, I never would have seen what I’m capable of. I never would have tried.’ She giggled. ‘I’m not cursed or backwards or anything!’

‘No,’ he said, his voice oddly thick. ‘You are not.’

He said nothing more, though his gaze was hot as he looked at her. She felt her cheeks heat. And her whole body. She knew that look. She loved that look! It was how he came to her every night in her dreams and every day in her fantasies.

Rather than give in to her thoughts, she turned her head to look out the carriage window. Spring would give way to summer soon and that would be the end of the Season.

‘Won’t be long now,’ she said, more to herself than to Deva.

‘What?’

‘I’ll be sent away soon. The Season is almost over. I might be able to delay a week or more but I doubt it.’

‘I don’t understand.’ Deva’s voice was tight. She turned to smile at him.

‘Don’t feel bad for me. I’ve already delayed this longer than I thought I could. But once Father finds out I went to see the queen without him…’ She shrugged. ‘He’ll be furious. It’s not my place to interfere in politics. He’ll call me impertinent, wayward and backwards.’ She laughed. Odd how that felt funny to her now. ‘I think he just doesn’t like that a girl, even his own daughter, could do more than keep house and dance a quadrille.’

‘You are so much more than that.’

‘I know,’ she said, her tone light. ‘I know.’ And it was the most wonderful feeling in the world. ‘But I’m done with that now, don’t you see? He’ll send me to the dower house never to grace a London ballroom again.’