He fell heavily into the sofa, but his gaze stayed on her. “I have no idea why you want to do something as deadly dull as studying when there are a million more fun things to do. But hey, if that’s what you want, we can totally talk about you going to college after we’re married. I can even have my mother speak with someone about your application.” He winked. “A call from the maharani of Sripore should move things along.”

This was who he was. All this while she’d told herself that he was being ironic when he said things like this. But he wasn’t.

“Please don’t speak to anyone. I want to get in on my own merit.” The way Omar had, fair and square.

Bram laughed again, in that patronizing way that hadn’t annoyed her before because she’d believed he wasn’t her problem. “Have it your way, my fiery darling. Ma-saheb is correct. You are so right for me.”

“You told Ma-saheb?” Shoban had the urge to start pacing again, but she was frozen in place.

“Of course. Naturally my mother was the one who spoke to your father. I’m not ill-bred, just ill-mannered sometimes.” He winked at her again, and she wished he would stop.

She loved Bram’s mother. If not for Maya Devi, Shoban would not have survived losing her own mother. She was the one who had helped Shoban see that life went on after the dark clouds of grief parted. Mortification burned inside her. How dare Bram have done this without giving her a clue. What was Maya Devi going to think of her?

“I can’t do this, Bram.” Clearly, there was no way to approach this other than honestly.

His patronizing smile didn’t budge. It didn’t even occur to him that her refusal might be real.

She folded her arms and for the first time since he’d walked into the room, she met his gaze squarely. “Listen to me.” She said each word slowly. “I can’t marry you.”

He laughed again. “Come on. Do we have to do this? I didn’t figure you for a woman who would exercise her privilege to say no just to get me to grovel.” He rose. “I’m sorry, I should have gone down on my knee, done the ring thing. But I figured you’d appreciate the traditional approach better with the parents speaking to each other. I was such an arse. Sorry. Wait here, I can set this straight. I’ll be back in a minute.” He made his way across the room.

“Bram, stop,” she said before he reached the door. “Where are you going?”

“To get your ring—my grandmother bequeathed her engagement ring to my wife. Ma-saheb gave it to me when I told her about us. I’ll get it and we can fix this.”