‘They delighted us when first you came here, Colonel, if you recall.’

‘I do, ma’am.’ And her saying so told him everything about her recollection of those days.

What, in turn, that told him of his mission here, he’d have to ponder.

But they were gone as suddenly as they’d come, and the tamasha resumed its more stately progress.

At length, after a final procession of delicacies for the table, and excellent coffee, the whole assembly retired to take the evening air on the terrace. Except Fairbrother, who with one of the officers of the bodyguard went to smoke a cheroot with the hijdas. Fireworks and more music entertained the rest until at last the Ranee gathered up her ladies to take formal leave of her guests.

As she made to withdraw, however, she turned to the rissaldar of the bodyguard, who had detached himself elegantly from Georgiana and Annie to be by her side. ‘You will bring me the principal of the dancers,’ she said, in measured Hindoostanee and for all to hear. ‘She has displeased me.’

Even the dewan looked uneasy.

Hervey, uncertain but believing he understood the import, mustered his own party to take leave of those who remained, saying little but what was strictly necessary. This was not a time to be witness to the Ranee’s reproval.

In the corridor beyond, out of earshot, the Ranee dismissed the dewan imperiously: ‘I will make example of those whores. I will do to their principal what the Begum Sumroo did to that conceited beauty of her household.’

The dewan, his look of unease now one of anxiety – for he’d no idea what had occasioned the anger of his ‘sovereign’, and must thereby cede a deal of control – touched his chest in submission. ‘Highness.’

XIX

The Fatal Gift of Beauty

Next day

They began to quicken pace, amble to extension, and one or two to jog-trot. The horses had recovered well, even Acton’s, who’d looked particularly sorry for himself the evening before. Minnie showed no sign at all of the exertion, as if the chase had been a mere canter on the heath at Hounslow.

Hervey had said little, just as last night when they retired. But he couldn’t turn things over in his mind for ever. Nor could he reasonably expect to understand the intricacies of court etiquette against which the poor nautch girl had evidently offended. He could only trust that the Ranee’s tongue did not leave her crushed for too long. He’d hoped to see their art again.

‘The dancing – very graceful, was it not?’ he said abruptly, glancing at Georgiana and Annie uncertainly out of the corner of his eye. There was just something about the nautch that was perhaps too … advanced for an Englishwoman’s sensibilities, though as respectable a thing here as the ballet or quadrilles in London.

Georgiana smiled. ‘Indeed, sir; there was much grace.’

‘I fear the Ranee found fault that eluded us, though.’