Monsoon Mists (30 page)

‘Then I need to hurry back to Surat to stop him. If he even made it through that storm, which is unlikely.’

‘How will you do that? You are a woman and I doubt there will be much you can do about it. William is a desperate man now, if he’s survived. I don’t think he liked you much before all this happened and now you’ll be in his way. He probably won’t hesitate to kill you. Equally, if he hasn’t survived, do you seriously think you can carry on running a business like that? A woman on your own?’

‘Yes, I’d hire someone to help me. Someone trustworthy. In fact, I have a good broker already.’ Her chin went up and he saw determination in her eyes. Normally, he admired her for it, but just now he wished she’d be more biddable. Damn it all, he was offering her his life here, his very soul, something he hadn’t thought he’d ever give a woman after his marriage to Elizabet.

‘But why go to all that trouble? If I was your husband, I could take care of matters for you.’

‘Yes, because all I own would be yours.’ She pulled her hands out of his and thumped him on the shoulder with one fist, then flung away, only to pace back and forth instead. ‘And I would be owned by you too,’ she said bitterly. ‘I’d have no freedom. No money of my own. While you’d be rich at my expense. That doesn’t seem like a very good deal to me.’

He shook his head. ‘I think you are forgetting something – I’m already rich in my own right. I don’t need your assets. In fact, I’m willing to sign a document to say I will give your share all into your keeping to do with as you please, as soon as we’ve dealt with William. It will just need to be mine temporarily so that I have a right to act in the matter.’

Zar stopped and regarded him from under lowered brows. Her arms were wrapped around her again in a defensive gesture and Jamie longed to undo them and put them around his waist instead. But he knew this wasn’t the time to persuade her that way. He had to allow her to agree to this with her brain, not her body.

‘How would I know you’re rich? You’ve never told me anything about yourself.’

‘Well, I can show you all the gemstones I have hidden away in various places. Or you can ask the people at the English Factory to vouch for me if you like. My parents own a merchant company in Sweden and their ships often come to Surat, so they are well known there. And although I’m a younger son, they have promised that I’ll inherit half their possessions one day, once my sisters have had a dowry or the equivalent in silver. But I don’t really need their wealth; I’ve done quite well for myself here in the gem trade.’

Zar seemed to digest this for a moment, but it was clear she wasn’t convinced. ‘And how do I know you won’t renege on your promise as soon as we’re married? Most men can never have enough riches.’ Her eyes were filled with suspicion and Jamie stifled a sigh. He thought he’d banished her demons, but they were obviously deeply rooted.

‘Because I can also sign a document to that effect if you don’t feel you can take my word for it. I had hoped you trusted me by now, but if not …’

They stared at each other in silence for a while. Jamie stood still, waiting for Zar’s mind to accept what he was saying. He knew it made sense. The fact that he also wanted her as his wife for other reasons was probably something better left for another time. She wouldn’t believe him now anyway, even though it was the truth.

The thought of losing her made him almost breathless and it wasn’t something he wanted to contemplate. How had this happened? How had she come to mean so much to him in such a short space of time? He hadn’t believed in love. He’d thought his brother a sap for being so enthralled by Elisabet, but he could see that he just hadn’t met the right woman until now.

‘I’m sorry, Jamie, but the answer is no,’ she said firmly.

She looked so sad and confused, he again had the urge to pull her close and persuade her the only way he knew how. That would be wrong though, he sensed it instinctively. If he did that, she’d regret her decision.

Somehow, he had to make her listen to the voice of reason instead. He knew she desired him, he’d already proved that. Now all he had to do was persuade her marriage wasn’t as bad as she feared. But he could see he needed to go slowly. First things first though, they had to find out how matters stood in Surat.

‘Very well,’ he said, pretending to capitulate. ‘But can we at least pretend we’re married so that I can help you deal with William? He’ll never know whether it’s the truth or not and if he believes I’m your husband, it will rattle him no end, I guarantee it.’

She bit her lip in that distracting way that had Jamie’s insides clenching with lust, but he hung onto his composure. ‘All right,’ she agreed. ‘But only if it’s necessary.’

Zar felt as if she was being pulled in half. One part of her wanted desperately to marry this man because now that she’d tasted the heady pleasures of being in his arms, the thought of living without him made her go all cold inside. But the rational part of her brain told her he wouldn’t stay anyway. He wasn’t born and raised in India. He’d want to go home eventually to that cold country he talked about so longingly, where his family lived. And his little daughter.

And then he’d leave her behind. Just like her father did.

He couldn’t possibly take her back to Europe because then he’d have to be just as ashamed of her as her father had been when he’d taken her to England. Jamie’s family and neighbours would no doubt be horrified if he arrived home with a half-foreigner. She was well aware that despite her magnolia-coloured skin, her looks were exotic and different to any of the women there. The tiniest bit of sun and she acquired a darker hue. There was no masking the fact that she wasn’t all white. She well remembered her aunt’s reaction, which had been as far from favourable as it could possibly be.

‘What on earth were you thinking, Thomas? No, actually, don’t answer that. I don’t suppose you were using your brain at all,’ had been her aunt’s verdict when first catching sight of Zar. She had felt humiliated beyond belief.

And when Jamie sailed home, she’d be left here, presumably with enough money to keep her and any children they may have in comfort for the rest of their lives. She doubted Jamie would return.
No, I couldn’t bear it!

She’d seen it happen before, to Indian women who had been concubines or wives of the foreigners. They were provided for and the children sometimes remembered in their father’s will, but they weren’t taken to England or Europe. Girls were married off if possible, boys sent to become officers in the armies of native princes. Zar closed her eyes. She didn’t want that for her children. But would there be a choice? She might already be carrying a child.

She had to pray that wasn’t the case.

Now she had to be strong.
I can cope.
And Jamie would soon forget her. He had his own demons, she’d gathered that much, and she was sure marriage had been the last thing on his mind when he arrived in Surat. He was gentleman enough to offer her the protection of his name and his assistance with William, but love had nothing to do with it. Only business.

And lust perhaps.

She couldn’t live with that.

Chapter Twenty-Three

‘At last we have come this far! I’ve never known a journey to take so long. It was exceedingly boring.’

Bijal was standing behind a thick banyan tree in the grounds of the Rajah’s cousin’s property outside Baroda, which wasn’t too far from Surat. The slow progress of the wedding entourage had made him want to scream in the end as he became impatient for news about the talisman. Now, finally, he had managed to get a message to Tufan, who’d come to report on progress.

‘I’m glad you have arrived safely, Excellency.’ The servant bowed.

‘What news? You’ve sent me no messages these last few weeks and I’d expected to hear from you.’

‘I’m sorry, but I’m afraid there has been a complication.’

‘What complication? Tell me this instant.’ Bijal felt an icy finger of foreboding scratch along his spine.

‘Well, first of all the foreigner who brought it from Madras refused to give it to the go-between as arranged. I think he was pressing for a larger payment.’

‘Outrageous! Did he not remember his friend’s family was at stake? I thought you made sure he knew the consequences of failure.’

‘I did, Excellency, but it’s difficult to understand these foreigners.’ Tufan spread his hands and shrugged. ‘The other one, the go-between, then became greedy as well and started to negotiate for passage to Persia with another shipowner. I was just about to intervene when the merchant Mansukh took matters into his own hands.’

‘How so? I paid
him
well, at least.’

‘He grew impatient, I believe, and had the second shipowner killed, then abducted both the foreigners concerned, plus a lady. I’m assuming he forced them to give up the, um, object as they then set sail as planned. He took the foreigners with him, presumably in order to dispose of them at sea.’

‘Sensible man.’ Bijal nodded, the feelings of unease receding. ‘Then the problem was solved so there is no need for panic.’

‘Ah, yes, but you see, there are rumours that the ship was attacked by pirates. I’ve not been able to verify this, but someone from another ship they’d also attacked reported hearing the pirates talk about a prize they’d recently captured. I don’t know what to do or how to find out more. I was just about to set out in search of you to see what you suggest.’

Bijal ground his teeth together.
Of all the bad luck
 …
pirates!
‘The only way we will know for certain is to wait and see whether Mansukh returns. It may be some time since the monsoons have now begun, but until then, there’s nothing we can do. You must go back to Surat and lie in wait. Keep your eyes and ears open for any other developments.’

‘Yes, Excellency.’ The servant bowed once more.

‘And report to me immediately you have news, understood? I will be here for a while.’

‘Of course.’

The Grand Vizier stayed under the banyan tree and paced back and forth for some considerable time after Tufan had left. He had come this far, he must not fail now.
I can’t!

But what if the talisman really was cursed and the gods were against him?

No, it can’t be because it’s rightfully mine.

‘We had better set out for Surat first thing tomorrow morning,’ Jamie said the following day. ‘I know we need to rest, but I’m afraid time might be of the essence. Do you mind riding? We’ll get wet, but it will be a lot faster.’

‘That’s all right. Any other mode of transport would be just as unbearable at the moment.’

It was true. They couldn’t go by ship, as the monsoon kept the sea in constant ferment. And carriages or bullock carts would invariably get stuck in mud this time of year as the roads turned into quagmires during the constant rainfall. Any progress would be agonisingly slow. Riding would be risky too, but they’d have to hope the horses didn’t slip and hurt themselves.

‘Then that is what we’ll do. Would you think me unbearably rude if I leave you for a while to go and make arrangements for our journey? I promise I’ll be as quick as I can.’

‘No, not at all. I think I’ll have a rest.’

Jamie nodded. Zar seemed to be trying to avoid his company – not easy in the small house – and would probably be glad of a chance to be alone in order to gather her thoughts. And so would he. He needed to find a way to persuade her to marry him for real, but he wasn’t sure what the best course of action would be.

He needed time to think.

That evening, they dined in the salon, sitting on cushions on the floor, on opposite sides of a low table. Jamie’s servants had brought in a selection of delicious smelling dishes – curried stews, saffron rice, bread and fruit – and left them to help themselves. It seemed very intimate, and Zar mostly kept her eyes on her plate, concentrating on her food.

‘I don’t bite, you know. At least not so it hurts.’

She looked up to see Jamie across the table, giving her one of his special smiles, although it didn’t quite reach his eyes the way they normally did. It was as if sadness lurked behind it, but she thought she was probably imagining that. After all, she must have just hurt his pride by refusing his offer of marriage. His heart didn’t come into it. Only desire, which was what he was alluding to now, judging by the teasing note in his voice.

‘That’s reassuring,’ she replied somewhat drily. ‘I’m not afraid of you.’

‘Good. Then perhaps we can have a conversation with our meal? I find the silence somewhat oppressive.’

‘Sorry.’ She hadn’t realised how quiet she was. They’d both been deep in thought. But what could they talk about? They’d already planned how to deal with William and the talisman so what else was there to discuss? Zar stifled a sigh, then wondered if perhaps she should turn the tables on Jamie for a change. ‘Jamie?’ she asked tentatively. ‘You remember how I told you about my marriage while we were on the beach?’

‘Mm-hm.’

‘Well, would you tell me about yours? I … you never mention anything about your wife.’

She saw him stiffen, then he hesitated, as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to talk about this. Eventually he replied though. ‘There’s a reason for that. I hated her and try to think of her as little as possible.’

‘Oh.’ Zar didn’t know how to react to such a statement, but she was puzzled and ventured to ask, ‘So why did you marry her then?’

He gave a short laugh, completely devoid of mirth. ‘I had no choice. She tricked me.’

Zar was taken aback. She had heard of women employing their wiles to catch husbands, but this sounded much worse somehow.

Jamie sighed and shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, it’s a sore subject with me, but you’re right, it’s only fair that I tell you since you confided in me. It’s not a pretty tale though. Are you sure you want to hear it?’

‘Yes. Please.’ She was curious now. ‘If you don’t mind?’

‘No, actually I’d like you to know and I swear I won’t lie to you.’

‘I believe you.’

She leaned back as he began his story, slowly peeling some fruit, but she soon forgot to eat it. He told her of his older brother Brice’s love for a beautiful girl, which appeared to be reciprocated. He recounted how Brice had gone on trading ventures to China in order to be able to provide for his young bride-to-be. ‘Because he knew she was spoiled and he was determined she’d want for nothing,’ Jamie said.