Chapter 25

The following day Eliza was surprised when a handmaiden came to say that Clifford had asked to see her and was waiting in the durbar hall, wanting to talk with her. Only ten in the morning and already hot, Eliza slipped into a summer frock she had made herself: vibrant green with white spots, a fitted bodice that had taken ages to get right, short sleeves and a crisp white collar. Then she made her way to the durbar hall, where she found Clifford walking the length of it with his back to her. She watched for a moment or two. How stiff his narrow shoulders were. She imagined him naked, and at the thought of his pale body she couldn't help the comparison with Jay, whose skin, when lit by a lamp, glowed like burnished copper. She pictured touching Jay in the way he loved, his body molten and moving in tandem with her so that they seemed to have been designed to fit. She was sorry for Clifford, but when he twisted round to look at her, she shrank from what looked like triumph in his eyes. 'So, Eliza, you decided against Shimla.' 'You know I did. I still have things to do here.' 'Things to do, Eliza?' Even though she realized he was trying to embarrass her, she refused to lower her eyes and held his gaze. 'So?' he said. She drew in her breath. 'Clifford, I'm busy. Was there something?' 'Yes. Here's your camera back.' He handed Eliza a box. 'Thank you, Clifford. Was there anything else?' 'Oh yes. Most certainly. Your prints will be back soon.' He still showed no sign of moving. 'And?' 'Let us walk out to the courtyard.' Outside it was already sweltering and Eliza began to perspire. 'Aren't you hot in that linen jacket?' she said. 'Don't worry about me, old girl. I'm used to the heat.' They walked across to a wide flame tree and made themselves comfortable on a bench beneath it. The birds were sleeping now and all you could hear was the water falling from a small fountain and the mali moving slowly as he tended to the flowerbeds at the other end of the courtyard. 'So you're wondering why I've come.' Eliza looked up at the endless blue of the sky and wished he'd leave. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts of Jay. She liked to go over each moment they'd shared, and when she did a little shiver of physical memory gripped her. She was becoming addicted to recalling moments too thrilling to share with anyone, though she knew they'd have to tell people something soon. And by people , of course, she meant Laxmi. She was lost in her thoughts when Clifford spoke again, and for a moment assumed she had heard incorrectly. 'Say that again?' 'Jayant Singh is likely to be arrested.' She twisted her body towards him, thinking it must be a joke. He wasn't smiling. 'Why?' He puckered his chin. 'Under suspicion of insurrection.' 'Don't be ridiculous. He's almost as British as you and I.' 'But not where it counts.' He thumped his chest. 'His heart is Indian through and through. Anyone caught circulating seditious papers can be imprisoned indefinitely. Anyone. No appeal. And for a member of a royal family to be active precludes their right to rule for ever.' 'But he wouldn't do anything like that,' she said, feeling heat at the back of her eyelids and pleading with herself not to cry. 'And you know that, how?' 'I just do. He's good and honest.' 'And you have been spending far too much time with him.' She stiffened. 'That isn't any of your business.' 'Does his mother know?' She looked away, knowing her eyes would tell him the truth. 'I thought not. She won't be best pleased.' 'Clifford, please don't say anything. I'm asking you as a friend.' He gave her an ingratiating smile. 'We'll see.' Eliza hated that phrase. That and Let me think about it or I'll give it some thought – the dismissive phrases her mother used to make her feel as if she were insignificant and whatever it was she had asked for was of little or no consequence. She got to her feet. 'You know what, Clifford. I bloody well don't care. Do your worst.' He glanced up at the gallery that circled the courtyard, hidden behind jali screens. 'Never know who's watching. Personally I can't imagine anyone wanting to remain in a place like this. Don't give the silent watchers anything to gossip about. Calm down and sit down. That's not why I'm here.' So that was why he'd led her out here. He had known they'd be in full view of the zenana and she would not wish to make a scene in front of them. 'Now smile and be a good girl,' he continued as he patted the seat. She took a deep shuddering breath and sat, though it only made her want to slap his smug face. 'So what has Jay done? Tell me exactly.' 'I can't say just yet.' 'You've no proof, have you?' She watched his eyes. 'No proof at all.' 'Eliza, be assured I have everything I need to put your Prince Jay behind bars for a very long time.' Even though it was terribly hot, a chill passed through her. He had to be bluffing. Surely. She had a sinking feeling that seemed to be growing by the minute. First, all the things Indi had said about Jay's affairs with women, and now this. But still she could not believe what he was saying. 'Why tell these lies, Clifford?' she said. 'It won't make me care for you more.' 'I need you to take me to Jay's study without him being there. Can you do that? Is there a way we can do it without being seen?' 'Why?' 'There's something I need to check.' She narrowed her eyes. 'You want me to help you prove he is disloyal to the British?' 'You can look at it that way. Or on the other hand it might prove that he is loyal.' She snorted. 'And that this is some ridiculous trumped-up charge.' 'Exactly.' 'Who has accused him?' 'I can't tell you that.' 'Very well. I don't suppose I have much choice. Though I don't see the need for this ridiculous skulduggery.' 'You have the key?' She nodded. 'He must trust you.' They walked slowly through the long, thick-walled corridors, though for Eliza the cooler air meant scant relief. She unlocked Jay's door and they both went in. Clifford didn't look at anything but went to sit at the desk and pulled the typewriter closer. 'Where does he keep the paper?' 'In the second drawer down. Why?' He didn't answer, but opened the drawer and pulled out a sheet and inserted it into the machine, slowly rolling it round to the top. The sound really irritated Eliza, who couldn't help but feel Clifford was dragging this out – whatever this was. He typed a few sentences, rolled the sheet of paper through and pulled it free. 'I think that's enough,' he said, as he got to his feet and pocketed the sheet of paper. 'What did you just write?' 'You can look. Nothing significant, I promise you.' He handed her the sheet of paper and she read some nonsense about Kent being the garden of England. 'You're from Kent originally?' 'I am.' 'So what's Kent got to do with Jay?' 'Kent? Nothing at all. And now I must leave you.' Eliza was puzzled. 'But you said you wanted to look round his study?' 'I've seen all I need to. Thanks very much.' 'Aren't you going to explain?' 'Another time.' And with that he gave her a cheery wave and left her not knowing what to think. Had she made things worse for Jay or had she made them better? As if that was not enough, the very next day she was summoned to the outer rooms of the Maharajah. When she arrived he was already sitting on a small gaddi with Priya at his side. Standing facing him were Jay and Laxmi. Jay's rebellious stance – arms folded, legs wide apart – indicated that there was trouble afoot. In addition Chatur was there, sitting on a high-backed chair with his back against the wall. 'Thank you for coming,' Anish said, waving at Eliza to come closer but not indicating that she should sit. Priya didn't meet Eliza's eyes, and Jay simply nodded at her. Laxmi turned away, but Eliza had glimpsed that Jay's mother seemed to be looking very red-eyed. What on earth was going on here? 'You took it upon yourself to do this?' Anish was saying. 'I did. It was all my doing,' Jay said. 'And you, mother?' 'I –' 'She had nothing to do with it,' Jay interjected. Laxmi shook her head but remained silent. 'And how were you able to get hold of the key if your mother did not assist?' Priya added, spitting the words in a disparaging tone and emphasizing the words your mother . Jay looked at the ground before answering, then raised his head and met Anish's furious glare. 'I knew where she kept the keys to the jewel safe.' 'And the mortgage you raised on these family jewels? My inheritance, not to put too fine a point on it. Not yours.' Priya made a sharp tutting noise, but Anish held up his hand as if to warn her to keep silent. If looks could kill, Priya's face would have had Anish dead on the spot. Laxmi's shoulders heaved. 'It was I who suggested it. It is not Jayant's fault.' Priya stood suddenly. 'Say that again!' Laxmi squared her shoulders and stared at her daughter-in-law. 'I gave him the key! It was my idea to mortgage the jewels. The irrigation of our lands is crucial if the people are to survive another drought. You, Anish, were doing nothing. Your father would be ashamed of you. Don't you realize the British will accuse you of misrule unless you act, and then we'll lose everything.' 'Mother!' Anish said in a shocked tone. 'Mother,' Jay repeated, but more sadly. 'I can't let you take the blame.' Priya sat down. 'Send her away. Do it, Anish.' Laxmi stood her ground. 'I've warned you about this, Anish. You haven't gone far enough to reform the land revenue systems, nor have you agreed a fairer arrangement for land management. The people will rise up against us if we do nothing to help. You know the States Subject Conference is there purely to undermine the Princes.' Anish looked at his hands and fiddled with the rings he wore, at least two on each finger. Priya glared at him with a sourer face than you could imagine, and that made Eliza feel sorry for Anish. He was weak and his wife despised him for it. He was also incredibly effeminate, and Priya did not give the appearance of a satisfied woman. 'You want the peasants to turn to the British instead of to us?' Laxmi said. 'Nonsense, mother. You're getting worked up over nothing,' Anish said. 'And of course you weren't to blame for the theft of the jewels. This is Jay's responsibility, not yours.' Priya snorted, loudly enough for them all to hear, and then spoke. 'So when will this so-called mortgage be repaid?' 'We had to extend when the first British investors dropped out, but we have others on board and the papers are due to be signed in a few days' time,' Jay confirmed. 'And how much do you owe?' Jay swallowed visibly. 'Thousands, brother, thousands.' Anish spluttered. He had turned bright red and then, clutching his chest, he winced as if in pain. Laxmi took a step forward but Priya stopped her before speaking bitterly. 'It has happened before. It will pass. That British doctor the Resident sent was useless. And your Mr Hopkins told my husband to lose weight and take more exercise. We wanted medicine.' 'Do not over-excite yourself, my son,' Laxmi said, with a sad shake of her head. While Eliza watched, Anish turned a normal colour again and began to look better. She realized that Clifford must have assumed Anish would support Jay's arrest for stealing the jewels. That was what it had to have been about, not seditious papers at all, and Eliza worried that Anish would, indeed, press charges. But she didn't understand why Clifford had wanted to use Jay's typewriter to type a paragraph about Kent, and if it was about the jewels, why had Clifford spoken of disloyalty to the Crown? Anish pointed at Jay. 'I hold you responsible and you alone. What does a woman know about these things? If the mortgage is repaid by the end of the week then I will overlook this, but if it is not I will divest you of your lands in return for the loss of the jewels. Is that clear?' Eliza held her breath as Jay gave a sharp nod and then spoke. 'Why did you bring Eliza in here?' 'Because she is at the bottom of all this,' Priya said. Anish ignored her. 'Because I need her to witness the papers I have had drawn up explaining what will happen if your mortgage is not repaid in time. Chatur will sign too.' Eliza had been uncomfortable throughout the entire exchange of words but now let out her breath. The papers for the loans only had to be signed on time and then the mortgage would be repaid and all would be well. She glanced at Jay as if to say, should I sign? He simply nodded his assent and looked away. Chatur smiled at Eliza, but it was a smile that left her with a chill in her blood.