His gesture was perhaps not as subtle as he might have assumed, for Lord Sinclair had a twinkle in his eyes as he raised his glass in a toast.
“Enough talk of the past. My dear Katherine and Sebastian, you must focus on what is truly important. Bringing the next heir into the family. It’s a shame Charlotte only had a daughter.”
Charlotte wilted, her head drooping.
“Your place is here, in Calcutta, not the nizam’s court,” Lord Sinclair continued, raising his glass to his mouth.
Was this what awaited me? Another form of control wrapped in polite suggestions?
After dinner, the Sinclairs, including myself, moved to the drawing room for tea and port, their laughter and conversation filling the air. I excused myself, unable to endure the noise any longer. On my way backto my room, I paused by a window overlooking the gardens, the moonlight casting the foliage outside into silvery relief.
The house felt too quiet, too watchful. The servants who had once seemed invisible moved like shadows, their faces as blank as the statues that adorned the hall, averting their gazes from me.
I felt an outsider yet again.
Shivering, I wrapped my arms around myself as I stared out into the night, searching for some sign of the stars, some guidance, but found nothing but clouds blotting out the moon.
Had I made an impetuous mistake in mentioning my mother? Dared I pray? I had been so intent on securing my future, I had not truly searched for God’s leading before making my decision.
And I had been the one to mock Sebastian as a thoughtless man of action when I was no better.
The room I’d been given was large, its high ceilings and ornate furnishings meant to impress, with a bed draped in mosquito netting and posts carved from teakwood. A dressing table stood near the window, where curtains billowed faintly in the evening breeze.
Later that night, my assigned maid, Anjee, brought my nightdress from the armoire. She appeared my age, her brown eyes watchful. Without a word, she unpinned my hair and began combing it out. The sensation was soothing, but my thoughts churned restlessly.
“Have you worked long for the Sinclair family?” I asked, watching her in the mirror.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. “Yes, memsahib. My family has worked for Lord Sinclair for many years.”
“And do you enjoy working for them?”
Startled, she raised her head, her wide eyes meeting mine. “Is there anything else you will require, Mrs. Sinclair?”
That name...
I was one of them and not her—I was a part of the very family who had openly coveted the pearls of Hyderabad.
I didn’t press further. But as her hands moved deftly through my hair, brushing each strand, I couldn’t help wondering what she thought of this palatial house, of this family, and of me. When she finished, she bowed slightly and exited without a word, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I sat there for a long moment, staring at my reflection. My skin was flushed from the heat, and my dark hair fell in waves over my shoulders.
For the first time in years, I looked ... Indian.
A knock sounded on the door, then it opened, revealing Sebastian before he stepped inside, his jacket draped over one arm.
“I wanted to check on you,” he said. “You seemed ... unsettled earlier.”
I turned toward him, folding my arms while debating what to say.
He studied me for a moment, his gaze lingering on the dressing table and the discarded silver brush. “Anjee tends to everyone here. She’s very reliable.”
Fear rose in me. Fear that he would revert to being a Company man within the presence of his family and wealth, surrounded by so many servants who resembled me.
“She’s more than that,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “She’s a person, not just a name in your household ledger.”
Sebastian blinked, surprised. “Of course she is. I didn’t mean—”
I stood, cutting him off. “What does your family do for them? For the people of this community? You live in a mansion, as have I, surrounded by every luxury, while just outside people suffer—” I stopped myself, taking a deep breath. “How can I sit silently while the Sinclairs mock my heritage?”
