Beside Ellie, Adam’s spoon continued to hover over his bowl.“I think I missed something.”
“Later,” Ellie pleaded under her breath.
Parvati rose from her chair, her round cheeks glowing.“Oh, but this is absolutely splendid!I am so very happy for both of you!”She turned to her husband, who still had his nose pressed to the financial section.“Su-?u-chha, Pati!”she exclaimed, batting him on the shoulder as she gesticulated at Constance and Neil, rattling on to him in Odia.
A liveried messenger hurried into the room, making a low bow to Padma.“Pardon the interruption, ma’am, but His Highness requests your presence for a moment.”
Padma pinned Neil and Constance with a look.“Do be sure not to run off while I’m away.We clearly have a great deal to talk about.”
She glided from the room.
Neil whirled to Ellie and her companions.“What did I just do?”he wheezed desperately.
“Sounded an awful lot like you announced that you were marrying Constance,” Adam offered.
Neil’s breath came quickly, his pallor deepening.“It all happened so fast.The maharajkumari started talking about arrangements, and then before I really knew what was happening, the words were coming out of my mouth—”
Constance’s eyes flashed dangerously.“Are you telling me that you just fake engaged me because of theflorals?”
“Fake?”Adam echoed.
“Florals?”Neil said, blinking.
“Fiddlesticks,” Ellie cursed.
Parvati hauled Balaram from his chair and dragged him with her as she crossed over to them.
“Smile!”Constance ordered in a hiss as she whirled Neil to face her relatives.
Balaram had his newspaper tucked under his arm.“My congratulations to you both.”
He extended his free hand.Neil stared at it.
Constance subtly elbowed him.
Neil took Balaram’s hand and rapidly shook it.“Yes.Thank you.Sir.”
“This is the loveliest news!”Parvati enthused with genuine excitement.“And Dr.Fairfax, let me be the first to officially welcome you into the family.We are so very glad to have you.”
Neil stared down at where Parvati clasped his hands, clearly both moved and mortified.
“But you shall have to tell me all of the details!”Parvati continued as Balaram sidled away to return to his paper.“How did the proposal happen?Was it terribly romantic?”
“Oh, yes!”Constance hurriedly assured her aunt.“Stuffy does love to put on a good show.”
“Stuffy?”Parvati echoed, confused.
Neil coughed, pounding his chest as his breath turned to a wheeze.
Ellie stepped in.“Excuse us for a moment.I haven’t yet had a chance to congratulate my brother myself.”
She grasped Neil and Constance by their arms and hauled them to the window.
Neil looked panicked.“I just lied to your aunt!”
“That’swhat you’re worried about?”Constance seethed.
“She’s nice!”Neil retorted.
