Maharaja's Mistress

‘And that’s non-negotiable,’ she said.

‘Surely, you’re not still worried about it?’

She knew her eyepatch was a source of constant irritation to Ram. He always referred to it as the enemy that kept some part of her hidden from him. ‘I’m not worried about it at all,’ she said. ‘And as this is to be a quiet arrival and I shall stay in the background, it’s hardly relevant.’

Ram said nothing. Perhaps her offer to stay out of the way was what he’d hoped for.

They didn’t have much further to sail before the harbour itself came into view, and it was then Mia realised things hadn’t gone to plan—at least, not to Ram’s plan. She had never seen so many people waiting in one place before. The entire dock was a seething carpet of colour and life. Some people were clinging to lamp posts, while others balanced precariously on the rooftops. Every available square inch of space seemed to have been taken up by spectators, some of whom had even stacked themselves on each other’s shoulders to get a better view. ‘Wow!’ Mia grabbed Ram’s arm in her excitement. ‘That’s quite a reception!’

But all she could see on Ram’s face was surprise and anger.

As the noise of the crowd reached them she tried again. ‘News of your arrival has travelled fast—and that elephant you always wanted me to call for you? I think it’s here.’

She was trying to lighten the situation, and in fairness the sheer fun and splendour of Ram’s homecoming welcome was thrilling to see. Not so for Ram, apparently. He couldn’t have worn a deeper frown—and suddenly Mia realised how that would look. Whoever had gone behind his back to arrange this could be dealt with later, but Ram should smile and show his appreciation for the warmth of his people’s welcome. She pressed on with her own enthusiastic reaction to the festival atmosphere. ‘I’ve seen elephants before, but never any as richly caparisoned as these.’

But this fell on deaf ears too. Meanwhile, ropes were being tossed ashore and officials were lining up. She could see a limousine with blacked-out windows waiting by the side of the dock and guessed the limousine had been Ram’s preferred mode of transport before he knew anything about this reception. But he would have to adapt, and quickly, Mia realised, wondering who had designed this very different welcome home.

It was a shame Ram was so angry, but she couldn’t help but be fascinated by all the new sights and sounds—the horns, the bells, the rapid pulse of chatter overlaid with chanting and shouting. The elephant parade was forming up now, and the mighty creatures were being fanned by the mahouts who would ride them. Judging by their elephant-sized jewels they had turned out to honour one man—though it was the people who were the jewels of Ram’s country, and, forgetting her pledge to remain in the background, she began waving to the crowd. Lots of people waved back at her, but the focus of their interest was Ram.

Ram was Ramprakesh, Mia realised in that moment, and staring at him proudly she was glad for him and for his people. Just like the wonderfully vibrant country he was destined to govern, Ram was hot, spicy and exciting—and even a little bit terrifying, all rolled into one. ‘Oh, Ram,’ she exclaimed. ‘To think all these people have come here to see you—

‘Ram?’ She pulled back to stare at him.

‘This is not what you think.’

‘What is it, then?’ she demanded.

‘A contrivance—a set-up—call it what you will.’

‘A contrivance?’ Mia exclaimed. ‘You can’t fake this, Ram. There isn’t enough money in the world to pay all these people to come here.’

‘No, but they have been misled.’

‘By whom?’

‘Just don’t interfere in things you can’t understand.’

Ram’s rough tone shook Mia to her foundations. He had been her lover up to that moment, but now he was someone else—someone she didn’t like too much. ‘What have I said to upset you?’ she demanded as he tried to brush past.

‘Nothing. Now, please let me go. I can’t keep the driver waiting.’

‘The driver?’ she shouted after him. ‘Don’t tell me you’re going to climb into that limousine and sweep away when your people have gone to so much trouble to come to see you?’

‘Well, I’m not riding a bloody elephant, even for you, Mia.’

She blocked his path. ‘So drive away in your wretched limousine—I’ll take the elephant.’

‘And now you’re being ridiculous.’ He moved her aside and then was forced to shout after her. ‘Mia! Come back here.’

She was halfway to the gangplank when she stopped, realising she was being impetuous. It was just that she had wanted everything to go well for Ram. But he was right. She couldn’t just muscle her way into a procession intended for him.

Ram didn’t want this fuss, so the person who had arranged it against his express wishes didn’t know him if they thought Ram was so easy to manipulate. But if he took the limousine now as he had intended it would be a colossal PR blunder. Maybe the person who had arranged this did know Ram—and meant him to do the wrong thing. If someone didn’t do something this glorious occasion could turn into a damp squib—a cheap celebrity event where the celebrity was rushed away behind blacked-out windows. And Ram was so much more than that.

He was greeting the first person in the line of officials when she arrived out of breath at his side. She wouldn’t let him do anything he’d regret just because he was angry—

Much to the alarm of the security staff, Mia placed herself directly in front of Ram. He couldn’t ignore her now, though he made it clear from his expression that she wasn’t welcome, and he acted swiftly. Taking hold of her arm, he led her away into the shade.

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ he said. ‘Is this your idea of staying in the background?’

‘I meant to stay in the background—but then you were so angry—and I don’t understand why. I know you didn’t want a fuss, but just think how long your people must have been waiting for you in this baking heat. All they want is to catch a glimpse of you, Ram.’

‘Since when has the welfare of my people become your concern?’

‘Human decency is everyone’s concern,’ she said firmly. ‘Or it should be.’

‘And now you’re lecturing me.’ Ram’s eyes held such fire Mia wondered for a moment if he would simply turn his back on her and walk away. ‘You don’t understand,’ he said. ‘And I wish for once you’d just keep out of it.’

‘Hard luck, Ram. You should know me better than that by now. I can’t believe you’d give a welcoming committee of important people the benefit of your glittering presence and then sweep away in your fabulous limousine with its blacked-out windows so that the ordinary people of Ramprakesh don’t even get the chance to see your face.’

‘Are you so different?’ Ram snarled at her, bringing his face frighteningly close. ‘You hide behind your eyepatch like the coward you are, and then you have the audacity to criticise me.’

Mia took a step back. She could feel the blood draining from her cheeks as she stared at Ram, a man she’d thought she knew. But she didn’t know him, Mia realised. This was a man who had been hurt to his soul, and who hid his wounds as carefully as she did. ‘We’ll do this together,’ she said fiercely.

‘What?’ Ram demanded.

‘I’ve always wanted to ride an elephant.’ As she spoke she was already pulling the eyepatch over her head.

‘There are photographers everywhere,’ Ram said, shielding her.

‘So what?’ She stared at him defiantly, searching for any sign of revulsion in his gaze. Finding none, she felt her strength and determination grow. ‘If the press ask any embarrassing questions, I’m a friend of the family,’ she said, ‘and you invited me to share this wonderful moment with you.’

‘Mia,’ Ram said, in a softer voice. ‘They’ll never believe that. They’ll chase you to the ends of the earth, and your photograph will be flashed around the world.’

‘So I’ll get my fifteen minutes of fame,’ she said carelessly, t

hough her heart was thundering with alarm. ‘I’m up for it if you are…I meant it when I said I wanted to help you, Ram. I’ll help you in any way I can.’