Monsoon Mists (13 page)

Chapter Eleven

Zar tried to shake off the hand which was lodged around her wrist like a manacle. Where was Priya? She’d sent the maid to buy some fruit on the other side of the
maidan
but it shouldn’t have taken her this long.

‘Mrs Miller, really, you are just being coy. We all know you must marry someone, and soon, and it may as well be me. I am the highest-ranking Company employee here at the moment, apart from the Chief Factor himself. You’d be able to lord it over the other ladies. What woman doesn’t want that?’

‘I have told you, Mr Richardson, I am not interested in marriage. I’m quite happy to remain a widow and “lording it” over other women, as you put it, is not one of my goals, I can assure you.’

‘But you must have, er … needs, Mrs Miller. And I can fulfil those. Give you children. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’

He was still holding onto her wrist, despite her struggles to free herself, and Zar felt panic well up inside her. She didn’t want him touching her and the thought of him fulfilling any of her ‘needs’, doing things to her to get her with child, turned her stomach. Bile rose in her throat and she looked around for help, but the money changer she’d been visiting was busy with other customers and had ceased to pay attention to her. The multitude of people around them were also going about their own business and no one seemed to notice the fact that she was being kept here against her will. The crowd jostled her and Mr Richardson repeatedly, but didn’t so much as glance at her trapped wrist. She should have thought to bring a weapon. But she hadn’t.

‘Let. Me. Go!’

She tried to prise off his fingers with her other hand, but his grip was strong. She was pushed against him by someone who bumped into her from behind, and he took the opportunity to put an arm about her waist too, pulling her even closer.

‘I think you owe me something for playing that nasty trick on me last time we met.’ His face was so near, she could see the veins in his cheeks, reddened by constant exposure to the fierce Indian sun. Although he couldn’t be more than ten years older than herself – so in his early thirties – his skin was prematurely wrinkled and his hair thinning at the front. What was left of it was lank and damp with perspiration and Zar didn’t think it had been washed in an age.

‘Mr Richardson, if you don’t let go of my wrist now, I shall be forced to scream and make a scene.’

His mouth curved in a sneer. ‘Do you think any of these heathens will care? Their womenfolk do as they’re told and they probably think you odd for being out doing business. No, I shan’t let you go until I have your agreement this time.’

‘I think you would do much better to unhand the lady now, sir.’ A new voice entered the conversation and Zar looked up to find Jamie standing in front of her, his arms folded across his chest. She blinked at the sight of him in native clothing. It was a bit strange, but somehow it made him seem even more powerful. Lethal even. The white of his coat and shirt enhanced the deeply tanned colour of his face and made his eyes look like shards of ice.

‘What business is it of yours?’ Richardson snarled, looking Jamie up and down with a scowl.

Jamie shrugged. ‘None, of course, other than the fact that my mother brought me up to be a gentleman. I’m sure yours did the same? And that included not manhandling women who aren’t interested in my attentions.’

Zar felt hysterical laughter bubbling up inside her, as that was precisely what he’d done to her the night before. Although ‘manhandling’ wasn’t quite how she’d describe that episode.
And I
was
interested.
She quelled that thought.

‘Let her go.’ Jamie’s voice was low, but colder than a snowy mountain spring, and his gaze bored into the other man’s.

Richardson freed her wrist at last, but pushed her away so that she fell backwards and stepped on some unfortunate soul’s foot. In the melee that followed, Richardson lunged at Jamie, who had evidently been ready because Zar saw him duck to the left. In the next instant, his right fist shot out and delivered a punch to Richardson’s jaw line that was so hard Zar heard it above the din around her. The man’s eyes rolled up, showing only the whites, and he went down like an animal felled by a shot.

Angry yelling erupted around them, with people gesticulating and asking what was going on. Jamie shrugged once again, mimed that he believed the man on the ground to be unhinged, then pulled Richardson’s inert body to one side next to a tent. The crowd muttered, but soon continued on their way.

Richardson stirred and groaned, but when his eyelids fluttered open, Jamie’s face was only inches from his. ‘If you so much as lay one finger on Mrs Miller again, I’ll hunt you down and put a knife between your shoulder blades. Understand? She’s not available.’

Zar saw her former assailant blanch and nod reluctantly. Then Jamie’s fingers under her elbow steered her away from the scene and soon after he grabbed her hand and pulled her along, ploughing a way through the mass of humanity without any trouble. She didn’t pull her fingers out of his grip. She told herself this was for practical reasons, but the truth was she enjoyed the warm feel of him. Safe. She was safe. And it was thanks to him.

He didn’t let go, in fact, until they neared her home. Then he stopped and turned to her, releasing her hand. ‘Are you all right?’ His gaze searched hers as if he really cared and Zar felt her cheeks heat up.

‘Y-yes. Thank you. For … for rescuing me.’ She managed a small smile. ‘Your mother would have been proud of you.’

He grinned, his teeth gleaming white against the dark colour of his face. ‘I hope so. Strangely enough, she often is, even though I don’t deserve it. But that’s the way of mothers, I believe.’

Zar nodded. ‘Well, thank you again. It seems I’m in your debt once more.’

‘Not at all. It gave me great pleasure to hit the man so you’ve done me a favour. May I give you some advice though?’

‘I suppose.’

‘If anyone else tries to hold you against your will, pretend that you’re going to kick them in the groin. It’s a well-used defence tactic, but your assailant would expect that from a woman so instead of following through, try to bash your forehead into his nose as hard and fast as you can. Like this.’ He demonstrated slowly, without actually hurting her, and his forehead came to rest on the tip of her nose. Then he looked up. ‘See?’

‘Yes, but won’t it hurt?’

‘It might hurt you a little bit, but with luck the man’s nose will be much more painful and he’ll release his grip on you. Noses are sensitive things.’

‘I … yes, I understand. Thank you. I shall keep that in mind.’

‘Excellent. Well, good day to you then, Zarmina.’

He bowed and strode off down the street without so much as a backward glance. Zar stood watching him until he was swallowed up by the crowd. Then she took a deep breath and walked slowly to her home.

Kinross – Jamie – was an enigma, but it would seem he had a chivalrous side to him, despite his roguish tendencies. Zar knew she should have deplored the violence he’d used, but she’d wanted to hit Richardson herself. He got what he deserved and next time, if there was a next time, she’d definitely give him a nose bleed.

As for Jamie, she was appalled to find she’d wanted to kiss him.

‘You wanted to see me again, Mr Miller?’

Jamie entered William’s
divan
for the second time in as many days, not really surprised to have received a summons. This time, however, they were alone, which he’d also anticipated.

‘Indeed. Thank you for coming at such short notice.’ They both sat down and William fiddled with some papers on the desk in front of him. ‘I’m sure you were expecting to hear from me, following our little exchange the other day?’

Jamie nodded. ‘Yes, of course.’

William moistened his lips. ‘And do you have it with you? The, er … object, shall we call it?’

‘No. I thought we ought to discuss the handover first, and the payment. Naturally, I need to make sure that all is in order.’ Akash had been promised there would be a small sum on delivery of the talisman, although Jamie had a feeling this was just a token as it wasn’t nearly enough to compensate his friend for all the trouble he’d been asked to go through. The priority was obviously the return of his family.

‘I need to see the object. Otherwise, how do I know you’re not cheating us in some way?’

‘Us?’ Jamie raised his eyebrows at William. It was as he’d suspected, Miller wasn’t acting alone.

‘I mean myself and the, uhm, person who will transport it during its onward journey to the final destination.’ William frowned. ‘Besides, I must admit that you being the courier came as something of a surprise. I wasn’t expecting an Englishman.’

‘Neither was anyone else, hopefully,’ Jamie said with a fake smile. ‘It made it easier for me to bring the object. And I’m a Swede, actually, or Scotsman if you prefer.’ He knew that wasn’t important in the scheme of things, but felt he owed it to his parents to clarify the point. His father had fought for the Jacobite cause so his son being taken for a Sassenach would have outraged him.

‘Ah, yes, I see,’ William said, although he didn’t look as if he understood at all. ‘Well, when can you bring it?’

‘I’m not sure. How do I know you’re the right person to give it to?’

‘Now see here, Kinross, I gave you the agreed answer to the question you posed. That should be enough.’ William’s cheeks had taken on a ruddy hue, as if he was keeping his temper in check, but only just.

Jamie regarded the man calmly. ‘Perhaps. If you don’t mind though, I’ll make a few enquiries first, then we can meet again.’

‘But—’

‘Let us meet in a week’s time in the Dutch cemetery at dusk, near the tomb of Baron van Reede. As I recall, that’s impossible to miss.’ Jamie had been there during his first visit to Surat and remembered the place, an enormous monument that certainly stood out. ‘If I’m reasonably sure that it’s the right thing to do, I’ll hand over the object then. I’ll be in touch.’

Jamie stood up and bowed to William before the man had a chance to protest further. He may have to give him the fake talisman eventually, but he wanted more time first so that Sanjiv could confirm the safe return of Akash’s family. No one was getting the talisman until that had happened. Did they think him stupid enough to let go of their only bargaining tool? If so, they could think again. Jamie also wanted to explore other possibilities. And as William was just a puppet, Jamie needed to make sure the man wouldn’t have to pay too high a price for his own involvement in this affair.

‘Good day to you, Mr Miller.’

William was left grinding his teeth in silent fury. Who did the man think he was? And what was he playing at?

He was just a courier, for heaven’s sake.

William stood and jumped up and down, trying to release some of the pent up frustration that had been building during his exchange with Kinross. He couldn’t afford to fail in his task. It was too important. And Mansukh wouldn’t tolerate it either.

The thought of what the merchant would do to him if he didn’t fulfil their agreement made his stomach churn. He simply had to get hold of the talisman and he would, by fair means or foul. If Kinross wouldn’t give it to him, as agreed, he’d simply take it. There were men for hire who’d think nothing of burglary. One such could be sent to search Kinross’s house without much trouble.

William calmed down. At least he had options and of course he wouldn’t fail. He just needed to be patient for a little while longer.

He sat down again, breathing more easily, then another thought suddenly hit him. What if he were to tell Mansukh that Kinross had refused to deliver the ‘item’ while keeping it for himself? William had contacts in Persia too and had, in fact, traded with some gem dealers there in the past. He could personally take the talisman and sell it. It shouldn’t be difficult to buy passage as lots of ships sailed to various parts of that country.

He smiled to himself. Kinross would be blamed and Mansukh would no doubt have him roughed up or worse in order to find out where he’d hidden the ‘item’. But no matter what they did to the man, he couldn’t tell them where the talisman was because he wouldn’t have it. Of course, he’d swear blind that he’d given it to William, but why would Mansukh believe him over someone he’d trusted enough to do business with?

He wouldn’t. And by the time the merchant began to suspect he’d been cheated, William would be far away.

If he could have patted himself on the back, he would have done. It was ingenious. All he had to do was to put his affairs in order, sell everything and prepare for departure. He could stop off in Persia on the way to England. Mansukh would never pursue him as far as Europe, surely?

He stopped for a moment and frowned. He still had one problem – he needed to get Zar married off, and quickly. There was only one thing for it, he’d have to go and see Richardson again.

‘He met with Mr Kinross, that new foreigner who’s just arrived.’

Priya was once more reporting Ali’s words and Zar felt her forehead crease into a frown as she listened.

‘Mr Kinross? But why? William already paid him for that big diamond he’s been trying to sell without success this week. What possible reason could they have for seeing each other again? I had the distinct impression they didn’t get on.’

The strange words Kinross had uttered just before leaving William’s office came into her mind. What was it again? Something about the monsoon and misty weather? It hadn’t made sense at the time and it still didn’t. So had they been speaking in code?

‘I don’t like it,’ she said out loud.

Priya shrugged. ‘It’s men’s business, isn’t it?’

‘No, it might be mine too. Can you ask Ali to follow Mr Kinross as well, please? Or get one of his friends to do it? I want to know what he’s up to.’

‘Very well,
sahiba
.’ Priya sighed and raised her eyes skywards, as if asking the deities to intervene. Zar ignored her, used to the servant’s ways. She knew Priya was loyal to the core so she tolerated her outspokenness and accepted it for what it was – concern for Zar’s well-being.