The journey seemed long. We stopped at several of the dak-bungalows, which bore a striking resemblance to the caravanserai that we had discovered in the desert on the way from Cairo to Suez. We were usually given chicken and oatmeal bread there, and we had tea, too, with goat's milk, which I did not like very much. Still, hunger seasons all dishes, they say; and it certainly did on that journey to Delhi.
Every time we stopped the children greeted us as though they had not seen us for months, which amused us very much.
And in due course we saw in the distance the red stone walls of beautiful Delhi.
To ride through that city was an exhilarating experience. My first impressions filled me with excited anticipation. I wished that I had a guide with me to answer my eager questions and explain what these impressive buildings were.
The walled city stands on high ground, with a commanding view over verdant woods. Domes, minarets and gardens gave it a touch of mystery that enthralled me. I saw the red walls of the Fort, the old palace of Shah Jehan. I yearned to know more of its history. I thought suddenly: How Dougal must enjoy this.
We went through the city past Jama Masjid, the great mosque, which was surely one of the finest structures in India. I caught a glimpse of the imperial tombs. I did not know what the future held, but I did know I would always be glad that I had seen India.
And so we came to Delhi.
The house was much grander than the one in Bombay.
We were met by the Great Khansamah, a middle-aged man with more dignity than I have ever seen in any other person. The house might have been his and we distinguished guests, but not quite of his high caste.
He clapped his hands and servants came running. He cast an eye on Roshanara and his expression was censorious. I remembered that this was her future father-in-law; and I hoped for her sake he would not live too close to the married couple.
"Welcome to Delhi," he said, as though he owned the city.
We found ourselves talking to him deferentially. Watching him, I saw his eyes linger on Lavinia with a certain gleam in them which I had noticed in the eyes of others when they looked at her. She was aware of it and did not resent it.
We were taken to the rooms that had been assigned to us. There were punkahs everywhere and I noticed there was no surreptitious idling here.
I kept thinking of one thing: I shall soon meet Dougal ... and Fabian.
Alice, with the ayah, took the children to their quarters. I was shown to my room, which looked down across the veranda to the stately pipal tree with its abundant green foliage. The garden onto which I gazed was beautiful. In the pond, water lilies and lotus flowers floated under a tall, feathery tamarind tree.
There was a feeling of serenity and peaceful beauty. Later I tried to tell myself that it was a brooding calm before the storm, but I believe that did not occur to me at the time.
After a while I went along to see how Alice was settling the children in. Their quarters were more spacious then those in Bombay. Roshanara was there. I noticed she shivered intermittently.
I said, "All will be well."
She looked at me pleadingly, as if I had the power to help her.
"I feel it in my bones," I added with a smile.
"My bones tell different."
I believed it was the overbearing Great Khansamah who had struck fear into her heart.
I said, "Stern fathers often have gentle sons. You see, they have been brought up strictly and perhaps suffered. It makes them kind and understanding."
She listened attentively. I thought: Poor child! What a sad fate to be given in marriage to a stranger. I, who had successfully evaded the efforts of Lady Harriet to marry me off to Colin Brady, could feel especially sorry for frail Roshanara.
Alice was delighted with the new nursery. She, too, was finding life strange and exhilarating; but sometimes I detected a wistfulness in her eyes and I guessed then that she was thinking of Tom Keeping. A thought struck me: He had come to Delhi; he worked for the Company. Perhaps we should see him again soon. That thought delighted me. Alice was such a good sort. She should have children of her own rather than lavish affection on those of other people who, as the ayah had stressed, could so easily be snatched from her.
After leaving the children I went back to my room. Lavinia was there, sprawling in one of the armchairs.
"Where have you been?" she demanded.
"Just giving them a hand in the nursery."
"I've been waiting for you."
I did not apologise. I was a little irritated by her lack of interest in the children's welfare.
"You will dine with us tonight?"
"Oh, should I?"
"Dougal will be there. So will Fabian, I expect ... unless they are dining somewhere else, which they often have to do. Company business crops up."
"I see. But I am here as the governess."
"Don't talk nonsense. They know you. Dougal rather well, I fancy. There would be an outcry if you were put in the category of servant ... even higher servant."
"I don't suppose they would notice."
"Don't you fish for compliments from me. That's my province. I want you there. There'll be lots of boring conversation about the Company, of course. You and I can chatter on the side."
"Well, if I shall serve a useful purpose ..."
She laughed at me. "I wish we'd stayed in Bombay. Those awful dak things. They were horrible. I shall reprimand Dougal for not sending palanquins for us to ride in. I shall say it is an insult to the Company to have Company people's memsahibs riding around in those awful things. They might take some notice if I put it that way. Why couldn't we have stayed?"
"I know you hate to leave the romantic major and the aspiring captain behind."
She snapped her fingers. "Oh, they'll have a regiment here. They'll have to. This is, after all, the important place, where most of the business is done. Here and Calcutta ... I'd rather Delhi than there ... I must say."
"So there will be replacements for the gallant pair."
"There is no need for you to worry on that account. What shall I wear tonight? That's what I wanted to ask you."
She chattered on about her clothes and I listened halfheartedly, my mind on what it would be like to see Dougal and Fabian again.
I was soon to find out.
I saw Dougal first. I had found my way to the room that was a kind of anteroom to the dining room. Dougal was already there. I had a notion that he would have heard that we had arrived and was waiting for me.
He came forward and took both my hands.
"Drusilla! What a great pleasure."
He had aged quite a bit. He had lost that air of looking out on the world and finding it full of interest. There was a faint furrow between his eyes.
"How are you, Dougal?" I asked.
He hesitated just for a second. "Oh, well, thank you. And you?"
"The same," I said.
"I was delighted when I heard you were coming ... and so sorry to hear of your father."
"Yes. It was a great sadness."
"I shall always remember those days when we talked together." A wistful look came into his eyes. It had always been easy to read Dougal's thoughts ... though perhaps not always, for had I not believed at one time that he was growing fond of me? Fond of me he was. But not in the way I had thought.
And then Fabian came into the room and my attention was all for him.
He stood still, legs apart, studying me. But I was not able to read him as I did Dougal. I did see his mouth turn up a little at the corners as though he found something amusing in the fact that I was here.
"Well," he said. "Miss Drusilla Delany. Welcome to India."
"Thank you," I said.
He had advanced, and he took my hands, looking intently into my face as he did so.