The Far Pavilions - Mary Margaret Kaye [182]
‘Have they, indeed?’ said Ash, frowning. ‘Yes… I suppose I ought to have thought of that. Does this mean that I am not to be asked to the durbar tent in future?’
‘Oh no,’ said Jhoti blithely, ‘for when they complained to my uncle he got much crosser than they were, and told them to remember that you had saved us all from great shame and disaster – for of course it would have been terrible for everyone if Shu-shu had been drowned – and that, anyway, he took all responsibility for this. So after that there wasn't anything else they could say, because they know very well how devout he is, and how he spends hours every day at his pujah' (devotions), ‘and gives alms to the poor and money and rich gifts to the temples. Besides, he is our father's brother. I was very cross too – with Biju Ram.’
‘Why with Biju Ram?’
‘Because he had asked me a lot of questions about what we did when you came to the durbar tent, and I told him; and then he went straight off and told the priests. He said he had only done it to protect me, because he was afraid that if it came to Nandu's ears, Nandu would spread it about to discredit me, and everyone would be angry with me for allowing it. As if I cared what Nandu or the bazaar-log think! Biju Ram interferes too much. He behaves as if he were my nurse, and I won't have it… Oh, here is my uncle coming to visit you. Salaam, Kaka-ji.’
‘I might have known that I should find you here, tiring the Sahib with your chatter,’ said Kaka-ji reprovingly. ‘Run away now child, for Mulraj is waiting to take you out riding.’
He shooed his nephew away, and as Jhoti ran off, turned to shake an admonitory finger at the invalid. ‘You are far too patient with that boy,’ said Kaka-ji severely. ‘How many times have I not told you so?’
‘I have lost count,’ admitted Ash with a grin. ‘Have you only come here to scold me, Rao-Sahib?’
‘You deserve to be scolded.’
‘So it seems, for your nephew has been telling me that I have caused trouble for you with your priests.’
‘Chut!’ said Kaka-ji, annoyed. ‘The child talks too much. There was no need to worry you with that matter. I have taken it on my own head, and it is now settled.’
‘Are you sure? I would not wish to be the cause of any trouble between you and -’
‘I have said that the matter is settled,’ interrupted Kaka-ji firmly. ‘If you wish to please me you will forget it; and also cease from allowing Jhoti to pester you. It is folly to permit him to tire you. You are letting that child worry you and giving your mind no rest.’
This was certainly true, though not in the sense that Kaka-ji meant. But Ash was not prepared to argue the point. His mind was very far from being at rest, and, as it happened, his worries on Jhoti's account had been greatly increased of late by certain things that Kaka-ji himself had let slip in the course of his frequent visits.
The old gentleman's intentions were admirable, and he would have been shocked to realize that his well-meant efforts to alleviate the invalid's boredom had proved far more disturbing than all Jhoti's questions put together. But there was no denying that Jhoti's uncle loved to talk, and Pelham-Sahib, immobilized by splints and bandages, proved an ideal audience. Kaka-ji had seldom found so good a listener – or Ash acquired so much valuable information by the simple expedient of keeping his mouth shut and looking interested. On the subject of Nandu, Maharajah of Karidkote, for instance, Ash had learned a great deal – far more, in all probability, than Kaka-ji had intended, for the old gentleman's tongue was apt to run away with him, and even when he was being discreet it was not difficult to read between the lines.
Janoo-Rani had undoubtedly been a clever woman, but as a mother she appeared to have been singularly unintelligent. Doting upon her sons, she had allowed no one to correct or punish them, and her first-born, Nandu, had been indulged to the point of foolishness, his easy-going father being too idle to take a hand in disciplining the boy. ‘ I do not think,’ said Kaka-ji, ‘that my brother really liked children,