Raj by Mehta Gita

Author:Mehta, Gita [Mehta, Gita]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: London : Mandarin Paperbacks
Published: 1997-05-05T19:00:00+00:00

huge vases, their heavy perfume adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Lady Modi laughed at Jaya's expression. 'This is to impress the British with Victor's loyalty and expertise in the jungle. It's all they really want to know about him. Now, darling, don't take forever with your pujas. We're expected at Flury's for tea.'

She led Jaya up the staircase, and Jaya's spirits rose again when she saw her white-and-gold apartments and the sunlight pouring in through French windows, dispersing the gloom of the black hall below with its mementos of death.

At Flurvs Tea Rooms, it was obvious from the frigid greetings of the owners that they still had not forgiven Lady Modi for stealing their pastry chef, Marco, to teach Jaya tennis. Lady Modi swept past them, weaving between the small tables towards a banquette where two Indian women dressed in silk shifts, cloches and pearls were sitting with their backs to the glass panes that gave onto Park Street.

Lady Modi had scarcely completed her introductions before her cigarette holder was waving at a glamorous redhead examining a pastry trolley. To your right, darling. Anita Delgado, the Spanish Maharani. She used to be a flamenco dancer until she married the Maharajah of Kapurthala.'

Jaya examined the creamy skin and dark eyes of the slender Spanish woman dressed in a sari as Lady Modi whispered, 'She's just commissioned a life-size portrait of herself in the nude to be hung in the palace where the entire population of Kapurthala can feast their eyes on it.'

'What nonsense, Bapsy.' Jaya didn't know whether to laugh or be angry at the absurdity of Lady Modi's suggestion.

'It's probably true, darling. It's the sort of thing that always happens when East meets West. I suppose it's just as well that the British Empire insists marriages between Indian rulers and foreign women can only be morganatic, and their children can never sit on the thrones. Drink your chocolate and guess what the Spanish Maharani's companion did before she became a maharani herself.'

Jaya peered over her cup. Talking to the flamenco dancer was a pretty, plump woman, blond hair escaping in thin streaks across her rouged cheeks.

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