“She was worried about what it would do to my reputation.”
Ellie absorbed his response.“I’ll admit I’m relieved.I mean, it had occurred to me that Constance’s parents might escalate the issue by threatening to arrange a match…”
Neil choked on his tea.“Hold on—what?”
“Well, it is fairly common practice in India,” Ellie reasoned.“I don’t believe Auntie Padma would actually force Constance into anything, but I wouldn’t put it past her to wave the threat around.The woman is entirely—”
Neil frantically spun Ellie around as Padma stepped into the breakfast room, Mr.Mahjoud looming at her back.
“Good morning.Lovely weather,” Neil sputtered.“Excellent… tea.”
Padma studied them mercilessly.“Jhia.Dr.Fairfax.I hope you are both feeling ready for your expedition?”
“Entirely ready,” Ellie confirmed, plastering a smile on her face.
“Yes,” Neil agreed, nodding his head excessively.
Padma drifted past them to the settee.One of the household staff followed her there, carrying a personal tea service.
Constance’s Aunt Parvati came into the room alongside her husband, Balaram.“Good morning, everyone!”she said brightly.
“Yes.Morning,” Balaram added more stiffly.
He planted himself in a chair and immediately put the newspaper up in front of his nose.
Parvati joined Padma on the settee, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek.
Neil hauled Ellie over to the window at the far end of the room, nearly causing her to drop her tea.
“But are you absolutelycertainAai wouldn’t compel Connie into something?”he whispered fiercely.
“She would have to get Sir Robert’s permission, and he’s English,” Ellie reminded him.
“Aren’t he and Lady Tyrrell the ones threatening her in the first place?”
Ellie frowned at the reminder.“But the maharaja must have a say as well, and he seems very modern.Surely he wouldn’t go in for that sort of thing.”
“We have only known him for three days!”Neil’s voice tightened.“How can you know how modern he is?!”
Ellie eyed the clammy cast to his complexion.“Are you sure you’re all right?You’ve gone over a bit peaked.”
Constance strolled into the room.Her thick black hair was coiffed with careless elegance.She wore a very smart skirt in hues of emerald and cream with a matching jacket and a dashing scarf.Her stride was militant as she crossed to them.
“Good morning,” she announced stoutly.
Adam followed her inside, his hair still damp from a wash.His shirt was open at the throat under his battered summer jacket, while his trousers were tucked into calf-height riding boots.Kalb trotted at his heels.
He headed straight for the food table.“These look like doughnuts.”
“That’s dahibara aloodam,” Constance explained.“You put that potato curry on them and some of those crunchy things.”
Intrigued, Adam began loading up his plate.
Neil faced Constance awkwardly.“So, then.Did you manage any more—er—planning?About… things?”
“I am still working on ideas,” Constance replied.“But don’t you worry about it.”
Neil looked worried.
