Page 63 of The Girl from the Tea Garden
‘Oh, I see.’ Adela did not hide her disappointment. ‘We’ve been having a few days’ holiday—’
‘Yes, I know. You’ve been at Eagle’s Nest.’
‘Word does get round Simla quickly, doesn’t it?’ she said with a nervous laugh.
‘You look very well, Adela.’ Sam smiled. ‘And you stole the show at the Gaiety.’
‘You came to see it?’ she gasped.
‘Of course he did.’ Sundar grinned. ‘All your fans were there.’
‘So why didn’t you let me know?’
‘Because someone else seems to be monopolising you these days,’ Sam teased.
‘Oh, Prince Jay.’ Adela blushed. ‘Well, he’s been very generous.’
As if on cue, Jay strolled over. Adela hurriedly introduced them.
Jay gave an urbane smile. ‘Gentlemen, would you like to join us for tiffin? The Raja of Nerikot is with us too.’
Sam’s gut clenched. Was this why Ghulam had come out of hiding? Was he preparing to confront the Raja? He looked over his shoulder, scanning the crowd, but he’d lost sight of the young activist. His feeling of dread grew. What if Ghulam was planning a violent protest, one that would whip up the already excited crowd of revellers? Prince Sanjay’s party could be the target and Adela’s life might be in danger. Sam had to find out where Fatima’s brother had gone.
‘That’s kind,’ said Sundar. ‘We’d like—’
‘We can’t stay I’m afraid,’ Sam cut in rudely. ‘We have to be elsewhere.’
He grabbed Sundar by the arm and pulled him away.
‘Sam,’ Adela chided, ‘please stay.’
Jay put a possessive hand to her elbow. ‘MrJackman seems in rather a hurry. Best just to let him go. Another time perhaps.’ He gave Sam a cursory nod and turned, steering Adela back to the picnic awning.
Adela sat down in frustration as Jay went off to speak to the Raja. Fluffy was fanning herself; she looked glassy-eyed in the heat.
‘Was that Sam and Sundar?’ she asked breathlessly. ‘Are they not coming to join us?’
‘No,’ Adela said. ‘Sam made up some excuse not to.’
‘Perhaps he has duties to attend to.’
‘Sundar wanted to stay, but Sam wouldn’t let him. You could tell he couldn’t get away fast enough– kept glancing round as if he wanted to be anywhere but here with us.’
‘I think you’re imagining that.’
‘No, I’m not. He probably disapproves of all this,’ said Adela with a sweep of her hands around the prince’s picnic spot.
‘Yes, probably.’ Fluffy sighed.
‘Are you all right?’ Adela was suddenly concerned. ‘Would you like to go into the tent?’
‘No,’ Fluffy said, flapping her fan. ‘It’ll be even hotter in there. We could do with a good downpour to clear the air, don’t you think?’
‘Not while the fair is on I hope.’ Adela smiled. ‘We don’t want the day spoilt for everyone. Would you like some nimbu pani to cool you down, Auntie?’
‘Yes please, dear.’
While Fluffy sipped and closed her eyes, Adela scanned the crowd, trying to pick out Sam. He had come after all to see her in the show; if only she had known he was there, she would have sought him out. So why hadn’t he told her? Perhaps she had never crossed his mind until that evening, and he had only gone because his friend Sundar had taken him along. To think he had been in Simla all this time and she had not known. If she had, she would never have gone to Eagle’s Nest. Or would she? An inner voice mocked her. She had jumped at the chance of staying in the luxurious mansion and being lavished with attention by the handsome Jay. If she had to choose again, would she not still pick Jay? Only last night she had been contemplating the prince’s wild promise of marriage. Was she really so fickle?
