London - Edward Rutherfurd [529]
“Indian tea, hemp, cheap cottons,” said the captain.
“I shall certainly hope to see all that,” said Meredith.
“So you’re going to look for railways?” the Guv’nor demanded.
“No, sir,” Meredith smiled. “I’m not sure I’m going to look for anything so specific.” And again he paused. But if the Guv’nor’s sons-in-law had felt that he deserved a little help before, that help evidently had come to an end. From halfway down the table, there now came a gentle cough.
Despite the fact that their two families were linked through the bank, the younger generation of Pennys had never been warm towards their contemporaries in the Meredith clan. There was something just a little too aristocratic, too carefree about the Merediths that offended the cautious Calvinist and Scots nature of the Penny children. They did not mix. And listening to this young scion of the Meredith line now, the insurance man felt a twinge of irritation.
“One does not just gad about for months, halfway round the globe, without some definite object, surely,” he suggested, with more than a trace of disapproval in his voice. “Or are you travelling for pleasure?” he acidly enquired.
Mary Anne glanced at Meredith, saw him flush at the implied insult, and glared at her brother-in-law. She glanced over at Edward, but got no response.
“I have a project in mind,” Meredith replied evenly. “There is much to learn about India. Its civilization is so old and so varied. I thought I might spend a few months studying the Hindu religion and its gods.” And he nodded to Penny politely.
There were circles in England where this statement might have been well received. Some of the administrators of the East India Company were deeply knowledgeable. A recent renaissance of the study of Indian culture in the subcontinent itself had actually been led by English scholars rather than Indian. But the Guv’nor’s family at Blackheath was not such a circle. Even the Guv’nor seemed to be at a loss for words.
“How would you do this?” Mary Anne gently asked, hardly certain what she thought.
“I suppose that I should go to their temples and seek instruction from the priests,” he replied seriously. “Perhaps,” he added, “I should live amongst them for a while. It would be interesting to come to know them really well, I should think.”
The company looked at him in appalled silence.
“But Mr Meredith,” Esther Silversleeves said at last, “these people are heathens!” Esther was the most religious of the family. “Surely you cannot wish . . .” her voice trailed off.
“The heathen temples in India contain carvings that no God-fearing man would care to see,” Captain Barnikel said quietly.
“Savages,” said the Guv’nor. “Bad idea.”
Edward Bull laughed. He did not laugh with any particular malice, he just laughed because Meredith’s plan struck him as so obviously absurd. “Well I can tell you one thing,” he informed them all with a chuckle. “There are no Hindus in the brewery. I can promise you that.” He turned to Meredith. “I’m sure your father must know people out in India who could guide you, Mr Meredith. Pity to waste your time. And your father’s money.”
It was not exactly said with rudeness, but the tone was clearly patronizing and dismissive. Mary Anne found herself suddenly flushing with annoyance. Heathen gods or not, why should her family treat this nice young man like this? “I think Mr Meredith’s desire to know more about the peoples of our empire is most commendable,” she cried. “It sounds fascinating.” And though she had hardly been thinking about what she was saying, it suddenly occurred to her now that she knew nothing about the Hindu temples of India and the gods who dwelt therein. It really did sound interesting, and rather exciting. She looked at Meredith with appreciation.
Her husband was having none of it. “Don’t be silly, my dear. It’s all nonsense!”
She gave him a look. Edward might have given her a balloon ride, but he’d better not think he could start dismissing her, too. She glanced at young Meredith, to see how