Page 79 of The Girl from the Tea Garden
‘We could shoot some partridge or blackbuck on our way back to camp,’ suggested Kishan.
‘We can’t go back yet,’ Jay protested. ‘There’s still the tigress out there– and she’s the dangerous one.’
His uncle gave a weary laugh. ‘We’ll return to the ravine tomorrow and hunt her down.’
‘She might have gone by then,’ said Jay. ‘This could be our only chance.’
‘Your uncle is tired,’ Rafi said.
‘No one who is tired needs to stay,’ Jay said, ‘but some of us have plenty of appetite for more shikar. Don’t we, Adela?’
She jolted at his sudden attention on her. Before she could answer, Jay went on persuasively, ‘And you haven’t had a chance to fire a shot yet. This shikar is especially for your birthday, is it not?’
‘You are right, Sanjay,’ said Kishan. ‘Stourton was most ungallant for bagging Miss Robson’s tiger.’
‘I’m awfully sorry.’ The Resident looked sheepish.
‘No, really, I don’t mind at all,’ Adela assured him.
‘But you must be allowed to stay longer if you wish it,’ the Raja insisted.
‘What do you say, Adela?’ Jay challenged. ‘Shall we go back and see if the tigress has returned for the bait?’
She didn’t want Jay to think her weak, and she did want the chance to shoot at the man-eater.
‘Yes, let’s,’ she agreed.
‘Are you sure?’ Wesley gave her a warning look.
Ignoring it, she smiled. ‘Yes, I am. This might be my one chance of bagging a tiger before going back to England.’
‘Then I will come with you both,’ Wesley declared, casting a stormy look at the prince.
‘There’s no need,’ said Jay. ‘Your daughter is quite grown-up enough to look after herself.’
‘No doubt of that,’ said Wesley, ‘but I’m not letting her out of my sight on this trip. I promised her mother that.’ He gave a tight smile.
The Raja, Rafi and Stourton set off back to camp, the latter in a state of exhilaration and keen to oversee the gutting and beheading of his tiger. Adela, Wesley and Jay took a smaller number of shikaris and set off in the other direction.
‘Be back by nightfall,’ the Raja called out. ‘We’ll have a celebratory dinner!’
Back at the machans, Jay declared they should each have their own hideout. The heat was still intense and the large lunch had made Adela drowsy. She must have fallen asleep because she was roused by the machan being shaken. She sat up with a start. Was the tigress back? Then she realised someone was climbing the rope ladder up to her machan.
‘Jay,’ she gasped. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Coming to get you,’ he whispered with a soft chuckle.
Her heart began to pound. Had her father seen him? He was so stealthy that she assumed not. She couldn’t see her father’s machan, each of them hidden in the thick foliage.
‘You shouldn’t be here,’ she hissed.
‘I’ve been trying to get you alone all day, but your father is far too possessive.’ He dropped in beside her, jamming his gun in the corner. ‘I’ve missed you, Adela.’
‘Not enough to let me know what had happened to you,’ she accused. ‘Have you any idea the worry you put me through?’
He gave an apologetic smile. ‘I’m glad you care that much about me.’
‘But you don’t care an ounce about me,’ Adela said.
