His Little Courtesan (6 page)

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I'll try harder. I
promise."

"I know you will." Usha smiled softly,
kissed her forehead a final time, and turned gracefully to depart.

Jane stayed glued in her spot until Usha walked away.
She then grudgingly sought out Rama, dreading how he would respond to her
apology. She found him playing croquet with his older children.

"Uncle Rama?
Namaste
.
Please forgive me for interrupting, but it's important I speak with you."

"Rather brazen Little Monkey, aren't you?
Interrupting my game when I was clearly winning!" Rama said with
amusement.

"You were losing, Father! Miss Jane? Please take
him so that he may rest a while," Rama's eldest son teased. "The
years are beginning to slow him down."

"Insolent boy. Who taught you to be this
way?" the man scolded, catching his son's head under his arm and knuckling
him.

"You did, Father," the boy laughed.

"He's correct," Rama grunted, and excused
himself. He joined Jane under the shady trees, where she kneeled at his feet in
respect.

"Raja Rama," she bent her head, "I
wanted to say that I am so sorry for disobeying you. I should have trusted you
to help me, even if I wasn't trusting Papa. I thought about your words
carefully and see that you, as my protector and friend, only meant the best for
me. I beg your forgiveness."

Rama tilted her chin up with his thumb and index
finger. "Did you learn an important lesson?"

"Yes, sir. I won't quickly forget it."

Rama leaned down to kiss her nose. "Stand. What
lesson did you learn?"

"To trust those who I love, and love me back, and
to investigate everything before I come to a conclusion. Oh, and to obey you."

Rama laughed, hugging her tightly. "Be happy,
little one. That is all I desire for you. Did you and Philip resolve your
differences?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did he tell you that he was to be grounded until
he reconciled with you?"

"You grounded Philip?" Jane's mouth hung
open in stunned surprise.

"That is the identical expression to the one he
gave me when I enacted my authority upon him."

"But he is a grown man!"

"And I am old enough to be his father. The age of
a man does not eliminate the need for discipline and consequences. A man worthy
of esteem must set an example to his family. He must also present himself as
one who is beyond reproach if he expects to maintain that standard around those
of whom he has charge. The responsibility of a papa is great, Little Monkey.
Our Philip must be taught that, just as you must be taught to stay out of too
much mischief."

"I intend to stay out of trouble for a long, long
time, Uncle. I promise you that."

Rama hugged her with a laugh. "I hear that same
promise from my little Lynette every time she finds her bottom being painted
with my strap. Be who you are. Finding trouble will not change our feelings for
you, only your ability to sit." He squeezed her hand. "Now, if you
would please excuse me to return to my game. My children seem to believe that I
have grown too old and weak to beat them at the sport, and I am obligated to
prove them wrong."

"May I watch? Please?"

"You may, on the condition that your cheers are
for me."

Jane grinned broadly when he lost to the youngest
girl, and showered her with hugs and kisses as a reward. Feeling more at peace,
she roamed the gardens in search of Lynette. She found her sitting under a
gigantic weeping willow that Rama had had imported from China.

"Lynette? May I join you?" she asked, parting
the heavy curtain of hanging branches.

"Of course!" Lynette patted the ground.
"I pretend that this is a fairy's house and only other faes can come
inside to visit me. Sit here. The moss is thick and soft."

"Please forgive my outburst. Your news caught me
by surprise and I reacted poorly."

"I should ask you for forgiveness." Lynette
took her friend's hand. "I was insensitive to how the news would affect
you. I often forget that others are not accustomed to the things that I find
normal."

"It is a different world to the one I have lived
in all my life."

"Kick off your shoes and stockings," Lynette
urged. "Enjoy being in this world. It is a beautiful one."

"It is," Jane answered, digging her bare
toes into the soft ground. "Philip tells me about all the turmoil outside
the palace, but it's so hard to comprehend. I know I sound naïve, but I'm
coming to realize how sheltered I've been all my life."

"For a long time, I wanted to get out and see the
world. You know, the one beyond the royal sanctuary. One day, I snuck past the
guards and headed towards the city. I didn't know where I was going,"
Lynette said with a sigh, twirling a tiny flower between her fingers, "nor
did I consider what I would do when I got there. I was so young and ignorant
about the things of the world."

"What happened?"

"A buggy came by and offered me a ride. I was
tired and accepted, not considering that my clothing indicated wealth, or that
my blonde hair gave away my position as the Raj's English bride. Next thing I
knew, I was being held for ransom in a tiny apartment in the middle of the
city."

"Oh dear…"

"I was lucky. This time. They did not harm me,
and Rama tracked them down. It opened my eyes, though. The world really isn't
like this." She swept her hand towards the gardens. "I never wanted
to leave again."

"Did he punish you?" Jane asked with
concern.

Lynette shook her head. "No. I wish he would
have. I felt guilty for months about the worry I put him and the family
through. He was just grateful I came home unscathed."

"So now you sneak out to areas where there are
snakes and spiders instead," Jane said with a chuckle.

"I'd much rather deal with a cobra than a person.
Let's walk a little. I thought I smelled popovers earlier."

 
"Lynette? I wanted to ask something
of you," Jane said, linking her arms in the other girl's elbow.

"I hope it is not to take you to the pond again?
Or outside the gates," Lynette teased. "I heard Daddy was very stern
with you."

"It was the worst punishment I have ever
experienced. And no less than what I deserved." Jane shuddered. "No,
I was going to ask you to teach me to dance. The way you did at dinner. Would
you?"

"Yes! You would look so beautiful doing the
temple dances. It also helps with your flexibility." Lynette giggled.
"Many of the love positions require that we twist ourselves like a
pretzel."

"Pretzel? What is that?"

"I will have Cook make them for you. They are
wonderful. The savory ones covered with salt are from Germany, and the sweet
ones with sugar and cinnamon are from Norway. They are divine."

"There are so many things I have not learned and
experienced. Things I might never even have known about if Papa had not taken
me here. I need to show more gratitude."

"You've only just arrived, Janie. Think of the
things you have yet to see!"

"I look forward to it. Will you teach me
something now? I would like to surprise Papa when we get to the cottage."

"Let's go into the hedges. No one can see us
there," Lynette suggested, grabbing Jane's hand and running into the small
garden maze built from tall bushes.

They'd been there for an hour before they heard
Philip's voice booming through the yard.

"Jane! Jane Amelia! Where are you, young lady?
Now is not the time to play hide and seek! Jane!"

"Uh oh," Jane giggled, her hip hitched in a
dipping position as Lynette tried to show her some dance moves. "I was
supposed to come right back after I finished making amends."

"You aren't going to get spanked again, are
you?" Lynette looked worried.

"Nah," Jane peeked out through the bushes.
"He only spanks me when I do something really bad, not when we play. I've
always hidden from him, ever since I was little. Shhh, he's coming."

Jane held her friend back, ducking out of Philip's
view as he stomped through the garden. She tiptoed out once his back was turned
and, dragging Lynette with her, ran back to the guest house.

The two girls were sitting prettily, sipping tea when
Philip returned.

"Where have you been, Papa? I've been waiting for
you for hours."

"You little liar. I know you were hiding from
me," he scolded, removing a leaf from her hair. "Is everything better
with the family now?"

"Yes, sir. Lynette is teaching me some special
things to share with you later."

"I see." Philip raised an eyebrow. He sat
down across from them. "I hope it is nothing that will cause your bottom
eventual pain."

"It depends on how you look at it, Uncle
Philip," Lynette said with a straight face. She plopped herself in his lap
and hugged him warmly. "Thank you for bringing me a friend. May I come
visit her sometime?"

"You're always welcome," Philip hugged her
back. "Just make certain you get your daddy's permission."

"I will. I should be going. We have history
lessons this afternoon, and have to dress like schoolgirls
again
." Lynette wrinkled her nose. She excused herself, kissed
Jane's cheek and scampered away.

"I like her, Papa." Jane smiled, accepting
his invitation to perch on his knee. "She is so different to the girls
back in Epsom. She holds no interest in my position in your household, or our
wealth."

"She's a good girl and her disposition is
untouched by her title and affluence. She is much like you in many ways."

"I know," Jane tittered. "Including the
need to make mischief." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "How
did you know I was hiding?"

"I heard you two giggling. That was very naughty
of you."

"I could not resist. Even since I can remember,
I've hidden in the bushes. Papa?"

"Yes, baby girl?" Philip cuddled her
lovingly.

"Usha wants me to meet with her and the wives
first thing in the morning. I think she is going to punish me for how I
acted."

"If she does, then she will be fair about
it."

"You aren't going to stop her?" Jane's eyes
widened.

"No. First, I value the respect this family gives
me and I wish to return it. I trust them to guard and properly care for what is
precious to me. Second, she is the Rana… the First Wife of the Raja. That makes
her a princess. One does not interfere with royal business."

"But she is not
our
princess. Papa, please—"

"Not another word, Janie. You must learn to
trust. Rama was very severe with you. Do you hold that against him?"

"No, sir," Jane said quietly. "He was
very sad when he punished me, but I know nothing was done in anger. I deserved
it."

"Yes, you did. And if Usha feels you deserve
more, then she will give you what is needed, and nothing less."

"Yes, sir."

"Cheer up, baby," Philip squeezed her.
"You've enjoyed your pampering over these last two days, have you
not?"

"Yes."

"Then you shall receive more if needed. I know
Usha well. I suspect what she has planned has little to do with
punishment."

***

As the sun kissed the horizon and blanketed the
grounds with the warm light of the morning, Jane paced nervously in front of
the First Wife's chambers. She had announced her arrival and been told by the
guard to wait until she was summoned. Despite Philip's promise to soothe her
afterwards if she needed it, her anxiety rose.

"You may enter, Marchioness," the guard
said, bowing. Jane blushed, recognizing him from her session with Rama. He said
nothing, nor did he give any indication the memory had even entered his mind.
It was as though the event had never occurred, and for that she was grateful.

She offered the proper greetings to Usha and the other
three wives, noticing that Lynette still looked half asleep and somewhat
irritable.

"Why do you come this morning, Jane?" Usha
asked, standing tall before the girl.

"To give my respects and prove my repentance. I
truly am sorry."

"We have all been in your position, Jane,"
Usha explained, her hand resting on Jane's shoulder. "We did not have the
same upbringing as you, so our methods are not as frightening to us. I ask your
forgiveness for not explaining the expectations we have when we conduct lessons.
I am sorry."

"I, uh, I don't know how to respond."

"Just say that you forgive me," Usha said,
and smiled.

"Of course I forgive you. I just did not feel it
necessary for you to apologize."

"If I caused fear or offense, it is necessary.
The reason you are here before us this morning is to allow you another chance
to learn the lesson we had begun. Your papa has interests much like our
husband, and it is felt that some preparation is needed before you leave for
the cottage."