Monsoon Mists (17 page)

‘You don’t want to report this to the magistrate?’ He was incredulous. ‘But you were … attacked.’ He didn’t want to say ‘raped’ out loud, in case it started a fresh flood of tears.

‘I know.’ She put a hand up and braced it against his chest so she could look up at him. ‘But I think it’s best if we keep it a secret. Only if there are … consequences, then we must tell someone.’ She gazed at him with her big, blue eyes, the lashes still sparkling with tears. ‘Please, Jamie? Only think what this would do to Brice if he found out.’

Jamie
had
thought of that. Brice was good-natured and slow to anger, but something like this would definitely make him erupt. If Elisabet could handle keeping it a secret, perhaps it was the best thing. Then again, if he were Brice, he’d want to know. His brother would be marrying a girl who was no longer chaste, even if it wasn’t her fault. Surely he deserved to be told about that?

‘I’ll think about it in the morning,’ he said. He knew his head wasn’t clear at the moment and he wanted his brain free of alcoholic fumes before he came to any decisions.

‘Very well.’

Elisabet’s maid, Karin, came rushing out of the house, babbling about the two grooms who had returned to the house without their mistress earlier. ‘I had to bandage their heads. They were each sporting an egg, having been hit from behind,’ she said. ‘Oh, but Miss
Elisabet, what happened to you?’ The woman wrung her hands and ushered her charge into the house. Jamie followed, not quite sure whether he was superfluous now or not.

‘Oh, please won’t you wait here while I see to her?’ Karin said to Jamie, indicating a chair by the kitchen table. ‘I may need your help,’ she added in a frantic whisper.

Jamie didn’t know what assistance he could possibly render when it came to dealing with a newly raped woman, but he sank onto the chair. His head was swimming a bit, so he put his arms on the table and leaned his forehead on them, willing the dizziness to subside.

‘
Fan också!
’ he muttered. This was a terrible business and he didn’t know what to do for the best. Could he really let his brother – his best friend in the world – marry a girl who’d been tainted in this way? What if Brice found out afterwards and blamed Jamie for not telling him? Then there was the revenge – he wanted to tear that foreign youth limb from limb for what he’d done. How dare he? Brice would feel the same.

After what seemed like ages, Karin came back looking grim and tearful at the same time. ‘Miss Elisabet would like to see you now,’ she said.

‘See me? Isn’t she asleep?’

‘Not yet. She … she wanted to talk to you first, she said.’ Karin stared at the floor as if she was embarrassed to look him in the eye. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be your chaperone.’ She bustled over to a cupboard and took down a couple of tankards. ‘Let me just fetch some ale. I want to give my charge a sleeping draught.’

Jamie followed Karin upstairs and into Elisabet’s bedchamber, trying not to stare at her lying under the covers of a large bed. She was fully dressed now in a nightgown and shawl, her face clean, but he still felt awkward being there. As it was in exceptional circumstances, he tried to suppress his doubts. She probably wanted to make sure he’d keep quiet and he would. For now.

‘Jamie, there you are.’ Elisabet beckoned him forward. ‘I just wanted to thank you again. If you hadn’t come when you did …’ She blinked, her eyes misty with tears again.

Jamie sat down on the side of her bed, wanting to get this over and done with. He patted her hand. ‘Don’t think about it. We’ll talk tomorrow. You should sleep now.’

‘I agree,’ Karin said, coming over with two tankards of ale. ‘Here, drink this.’ She handed Elisabet one, then gave the other to Jamie. ‘And you, young man, could probably do with some ale too, am I right?’

‘Well, I’ve already …’ Jamie started to protest.

‘Drink,’ Karin said firmly. ‘It’s only half a mug, it’ll do you good.’

Jamie was too tired to argue, so he swallowed the brew as quickly as he could. All he wanted now was to go home. The ale was bitter and he hid a grimace, then watched as Elisabet drank hers down and closed her eyes.

‘Thank you again, Jamie,’ she whispered. ‘It will all work out for the best, you’ll see.’

Jamie wasn’t sure what she meant by that, but guessed she was too tired to think coherently, so he just smiled and waited. When she looked as though she’d fallen asleep, he stood up to leave, but had to grab hold of the bedpost to steady himself. The room spun and he had the strangest feeling the floor was rising up to meet him.

The next thing he knew, everything went black.

And when he woke up, he was in Elisabet’s bed. Naked.

Jamie stood up abruptly, not wanting to think about it any more. It
was
all in the past and he knew he had to do as his mother had said, lay the demons to rest. But he wasn’t quite ready yet. Margot would have to wait just a little bit longer, but in the meantime there was another girl he could help. Roshani.

He’d teach her English and how to read and write. Provide her with a dowry perhaps? Then Zarmina could make sure she had a brighter future.

He strode to the door and called for her. The sooner the better. And although an annoying voice inside him insisted he was only salving his conscience, he ignored it.

I will do my duty by Margot, but not yet. It’s too soon.

Chapter Fourteen

The Dutch cemetery at dusk should have been eerie, but Jamie found it hauntingly beautiful. There were tombs aplenty, but also lots of what he assumed were mausoleums. They resembled nothing so much as miniature Indian buildings, painted white and with domed roofs. Some were open – pavilions with stone sarcophagi in the centre – others closed like houses for the dead. It felt like a peaceful place to rest for eternity.

The largest by far was that for a Baron Adrian van Reede. As Jamie had seen for himself during his earlier visit, it had a double cupola, with galleries supported by a row of columns. When he reached it, he noticed fading decorations in the form of frescoes and Biblical passages written in Dutch, although he could only read snatches in the fading light. And some of the windows still had lovely carvings.

A man stepped out from behind the monument and Jamie tensed momentarily until he realised that it was the one he’d come to meet – William Miller.

‘You’re late, Kinross,’ was the greeting he received.

‘I came as soon as I could.’ Jamie wasn’t about to justify his actions to Miller. Besides, he’d been tardy on purpose, to test the man’s nerves. If he was up to no good, he’d be impatient or nervous. Judging by the look on William’s face, he was both.

‘You need to hand over what you brought,’ William said. ‘It’s what you were paid to do.’

‘No one has paid me anything yet,’ Jamie pointed out.

‘You will receive what’s due to you when you give me the, er … item.’

Jamie pretended to flick some dust off his coat sleeve, then decided to take a gamble. ‘You know, Miller, I’ve been thinking. Perhaps I should just return it to the Rajah. I’d wager he’ll pay quite a lot to have it back, eh?’

William froze, his eyes widening. ‘You know about him? How?’

‘Oh, I have my ways and means.’ Jamie suppressed a smile. So Akash was right, the owner was a princeling.

‘I doubt Nadhur will do anything other than have you executed as a thief,’ William hissed.

Jamie had to swallow hard in order to stop a chuckle from escaping. Nadhur
.
So Akash was correct about that too.
Miller, you fool, you’ve just given me his name!
His face as serious as he could make it, he shook his head. ‘I don’t think so. I’m not stupid enough to show myself.’ He sighed and muttered, as if he was debating with himself. ‘It would be a tedious business though, as I’ll have to travel all the way back again. It would save me time and effort if I just—’

‘Yes! Give it to me. As I said, you will receive your due and perhaps I can even add a little extra if you insist.’

Silence stretched between them for a moment, while Jamie pretended to consider this offer. ‘I’d like the payment up front,’ he said at last. ‘Then I might hand it over.’

‘What do you mean “might”?’ There were beads of perspiration on William’s forehead and Jamie guessed they weren’t caused by the more than balmy evening air which admittedly was humid and cloying. His own neck was prickling with heat and he wished he’d worn his native clothing instead of the thicker European coat, waistcoat and breeches. ‘Now see here, Kinross, if you don’t give it to me very soon, you’ll be in a lot of trouble. Those who are waiting for it do not have infinite patience, you know. I can’t guarantee your safety, should you persist in playing stupid games.’

Jamie wondered who was playing games here. He had a feeling it was William, although perhaps he didn’t have the brains for that?

‘Someone is waiting for it? I thought you were meant to be taking it abroad yourself.’ Jamie was testing William, to see what else he might let slip.

‘Well, yes, of course I am, but I have to hire a ship obviously. That’s what I meant. I don’t own one myself.’

That didn’t sound like the whole truth. What exactly was the problem here? According to Zarmina’s information, Mansukh was not to be trifled with, if that was indeed the shipowner in question. Then surely William wasn’t idiotic enough to try and double-cross someone like that? His stepmother would probably say he was.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jamie saw movement behind another tomb and briefly the shadow of a man’s face was outlined against the white background. It wasn’t
Tulwar
Man, he would have been unmistakeable. So who was spying on them now? Zar’s man? Or someone else?

‘Well, I’m in no hurry,’ he drawled, deliberately goading William to see just how desperate he was. ‘Make me an offer if you’d like the “item” sooner.’ He smiled, but knew it was a very fake sort of smile.

William’s face darkened and Jamie saw him clench his fists by his side, as if he was contemplating violence. Since Jamie was both taller and fitter, the man obviously thought better of it, but it was clear it cost him a deal of effort to rein in his emotions.

‘Very well,’ William ground out between gritted teeth. ‘Ten per cent extra and not a rupee more. That’s my final offer. You will bring me the “item” here, tomorrow evening.’

‘No, I won’t. I’ll be attending a social event at the English Factory. Sorry.’ Jamie made sure his tone indicated he wasn’t sorry at all. ‘I thought you were too? And I’m busy for the following evenings as well.’

‘Three days hence.’ William was almost growling.

‘Sorry, but no. I’m engaged to go out.’

‘Fine. I’ll give you a week. Seven days from now, just before sundown. Make sure you are here or else.’

William stormed off and Jamie stood still, waiting to see whether anyone would follow him or wait for Jamie. Nothing stirred.
Very well, if you wish to play games with me, I’ll oblige.
He sauntered off towards the cemetery gate without hurrying, listening intently for sounds of pursuit. A slight scraping of stone told him he was being followed. But who was it? He had to find out.

He rounded the gatepost, ducked to the side and bent down as if searching for something on the ground. This meant he wasn’t visible through the railings, which should hopefully bring whoever it was out through the gate quickly. He was hoping to at least catch a glimpse of him as he passed, but he soon became aware that he wasn’t alone. Looking up, he came face to face with Roshani and Kutaro. They were sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall and covered with a tatty old piece of material. In the half-light, most people would have taken them for a sleeping beggar and her dog. ‘Damn it all,’ he hissed, ‘what are you doing here?’

‘Guarding y—’

‘Shhh, later.’ Jamie had heard the sound of rapid footsteps and moved away from them so that anyone coming out of the cemetery would focus on him. A man exited, looking right and left, then stopped as he caught sight of Jamie. Pretending he’d never realised he was being followed, Jamie stood up and raised his hand, holding his fob watch. ‘Aha,’ he exclaimed, ‘found it!’

The man looked startled and Jamie tried to explain by miming that he’d dropped his watch and only just retrieved it. With a curt nod, the man walked off and Jamie smiled to himself. He hoped he had fooled him into thinking he was oblivious. At least now he knew what this new spy looked like, even if he didn’t know who he was working for.

Roshani provided the answer to that question. ‘He bad man,’ she whispered, erupting from her position by the wall the moment the spy was out of sight. ‘Work with Uncle.’

‘Really?’ Jamie wondered how her uncle had become involved in this affair. ‘Is your uncle in the gem trade?’

‘What?’

‘Does your uncle like diamonds? Shiny stones, like this.’ Jamie unscrewed the top of his cane and took one out of the secret compartment to show her. ‘Diamond,’ he said, pronouncing it clearly so that Roshani could copy him.

She shrugged. ‘He like, yes. But he and bad man no look for dai-ah-munds. Work for other bad man. Rich.’

‘Ah.’ Jamie thought he understood. ‘Is his name Mansukh, by any chance?’

‘Yes, yes, Mansukh very bad man. More bad than Uncle.’

‘I thought so. We must make sure we stay out of his way then.’ He fixed Roshani with a glare. ‘That means you do
not
follow me when I go out at night, is that clear? It’s dangerous! Stay away from that man, from your uncle, and most of all from this Mansukh person, understand?’

Roshani pouted, but nodded reluctantly.

‘Good, now let’s go home and have supper. I’m starving.’

‘Me too. Kutaro too.’

Jamie laughed. ‘You two are always starving. In fact, I’m convinced you’re bottomless pits.’

‘What that?’

‘A hole with no end.’

Roshani smiled at him. ‘Is bad?’

He took her small hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. ‘No, it’s not. I’m glad you’re eating well. It means you will grow and be healthy.’

And her well-being, he realised, was becoming important to him.