Page 95 of Her Royal Houseguest

She looked at him, her expression turning sad. ‘You had your brother defrocked in front of everyone for defying his vows. Can I do anything less?’

He frowned. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘Our religion gives us commandments just as yours does. We are taught to treat others as we would be treated. I wouldn’t want to negotiate anything with a gunboat pointed at me or my people. Trade is supposed to be fair with equal benefit to all.’

Such naivete and yet he loved her for it.

He loved her. He, a Siamese prince, loved an English lady. Just what would he give to make her his own?

Everything, he realised. His position in Siam. All his worldly goods. Everything that made him a prince, he would give up to be with her.

Sadly, his everything would not be enough. He could not take her out of England and he could not stay here for ever. And he would rather die than see her saddened to leave her home.

Which meant they had no future together. And that thought was a cold ache in his heart.

So he did what he always did when his heart froze. He focused on the task at hand, which meant charming the Queen of England. He sighed. Vaji should be here instead of him. He was much better at charming women.

They arrived at the palace and were escorted inside. There was the usual manoeuvring when seeing a queen and Deva used that time to push aside all his emotions, to ready himself to plead with a woman on behalf of his country.

He could humble himself this way. Indeed, he was eager to. Except he never got the chance.

They were to walk with the queen in her garden but the moment they stepped onto the lush lawn, the queen greeted them with an arch look.

‘Welcome, Lady Anna,’ she said coldly. ‘I see you have brought extra company.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ Anna answered as she sank into a deep curtsey. ‘I thought Prince Deva might provide illuminating details.’

‘Details?’ Her tone was not warm and she did not look at Prince Deva as she turned to sit on a waiting bench.

‘Should you wish to hear them, of course,’ Anna said.

The queen was silent as she arranged her skirts. Then she shook her head. ‘I do not negotiate trade deals,’ she said.

That was exactly what Deva had told Anna but his lady love was not deterred.

‘You do not, Your Majesty, even though what happens is done in your name. Every peasant killed, every girl raped, every burden placed on a foreign country—all done in your name.’

The queen reared back, her eyes wide with shock. ‘Those are harsh words. Tread carefully, Lady Anna. We do not like such talk.’

‘Neither do I, Your Majesty. Indeed, I would prefer it if such things were stricken from our vocabulary. But that can only be if such things are not done. And most especially not in your name.’

She let her words hang there, dark and ugly. The queen did not like the accusation implied in them but neither did she refute them. And that, perhaps, was telling enough. The queen’s gaze cut to him.

‘Does your country give power to women? More than is allowed in England?’

Deva felt his cheeks heat. ‘No, Your Majesty.’

‘Then why are you here?’ Her question was aimed at them both but it was Lady Anna who answered.

‘You recall how Prince Vaji was defrocked?’ she asked. ‘Right in the middle of a ball. It is the nature of their religion to see that all actions—especially those done when on business for their crown—adhere to the dictates of their religion.’

The queen snorted. ‘All he did was kiss a willing girl. Did you think Siamese men were purer than the English? That they would not take what was offered?’

‘Obviously not. Nevertheless, Prince Vaji broke their moral code and suffered the consequences. Did you know that their abbot sits in on all negotiations? He is there to see that the Siamese do not act wrongly or negotiate against the precepts of their religion.’

‘Their abbot is there? That monk in his robes?’

‘Every day, Your Majesty. And he daily writes letters to the Golden Throne regarding the right or wrong actions of the negotiators. It’s their official record. And their king pays attention because it is done in his name.’