Ram; being the tale of one Ramillies Anstruther, 1704-55 .. (18 page)

"Aye," Hume nodded. "Now, about that gumlac. The ship's due soon, so I've bought two hundred guineas' worth on your account. Ye can pay me back out of the fine profit ye'll make. Nay, dinna thank me. Soldiers are poor at trading, but I've spent ma life at it."

Ram knew he was being bribed. To be friendly to the girls? That was unnecessary, for both were cursedly handsome. So he gave his thanks and went with the Scot into the drawing room, where Mrs. Hume served thick, sweetened coffee in tiny Chinese cups.

Since he was only a year away from Britain, the women showered him with questions. Dales view, especially, seemed to fascinate them; how many acres, how large was the house, what of the cattle?

"Home," Bea sighed. "To be there, far from this awful land!"

"How long since you were there, Mistress Bea?" he blundered.

"Never. But 'tis home just the same. The braes and lochs, the crofters' cots and the sheep in the fold. Divine!"

"I want to see London," Annie declared. "I want to visit the playhouses and have all the gallants ogle me."

"Annie!" Mama Hume protested.

"And I will. I'm not going to rot out here forever."

When Ram was leaving, he bowed dutifully over Mama's fingers. But both girls shook hands man-fashion, and he fancied that each returned his pressure. He was sure then that they liked him.

As he was falling asleep, he thought of Carla. Where was she now, poor lass? Memory of those moments with her beside the Danube made his body ache to feel again that mad passion. Her face formed and her words came clear: "Take me, take me fast!" . . . Now she was Bea, tall and stately, pink tongue between white teeth . . . No, she was minx Annie, her gray eyes lambent with promise. . . .

n?

Next day, raw-nerved, he tallied stores until he was summoned by Ritter, who was furious. "You've taken in that rogue I had flogged!"

Ram tried to explain the circumstances.

"Insubordination! Drive him away or face the consequences."

Ram bowed woodenly. "Jawohl, Hen Oberleutnant."

Seething inwardly, he went to his bungalow and sent for Bolal Sen. "The wounded one, what progress makes he?"

"Weak he is, sahib, but recover will he."

"Him I go to."

Baja Rao lay on a charpoy, a bandage over his empty socket. Ram told him bluntly that he must leave. "Tliis regret I, but orders are. In peace go." He poured rupees into the man's hands, then hurried out, for the Maratha rose from the pallet and tried to grasp his legs, calling him his preserver. Poor devil, he thought. And damn Ritter for a cold-blooded swine!

Barely had he resumed tallying when the governor's peon brought him a chit from Mama Hume, asking if he would lend two of his fine Arabs for her lassies, who wished to take a canter after the sun waned. Might he, she postscripted, care to escort them?

He wrote his delighted acceptance, sent word for his head syce to take Battle and a mare to the governor's stables and saddle Chota for himself. Then he reported to Ritter and explained that he'd been ordered to escort the governor's daughters on a ride.

"But I haven't yet been introduced to them! I forbid you to go."

"No doubt you'll explain why to the governor?"

"Go, Engldnder, before you drive me mad. Himmel, he's a foreigner like you, you're hand in glove. Go!"

Feeling much better. Ram left. He was almost sorry for Ritter. So he wanted to meet the ladies, eh? Wait until he saw Mama!

When he reached the Hume compound, the girls awaited him. Wearing voluminous riding skirts that covered all but the tips of their shoes when they mounted their sidesaddles, he thought them ravishing, with their pert cocked hats, frogged coats and close-fitting waistcoats. He felt exhilarated, yet incipiently stirred.

Leaving the factory, they broke into a canter, the tattoo-mounted syces following discreetly behind.

"Delicious to be riding with a brave cavalier," Bea laughed.

"More so, not to have Mama's eyes on us," Annie amended. " 'Tis mortal hard to play the lady all the time."

"Ram—och, aren't I forward to call ye so?" Bea broke in. "But we're friends, eh? And you may call me Bea."

"My sister is forward," Annie apologized. "But she's right aboot being friends. Eh, Ram?"

So, formality dropped, they rode until the sun slid behind a ruined temple ahead. "Shouldn't we turn back?" he ventured reluctantly. " 'Twill soon be dark."

"Not without a wee rest." Annie grimaced. "I've not ridden for months and I'm chafed in places I dare not mention."

"Annie!" Bea deplored. "But I am, too, so let's bide a wee." Ram dismounted to help her down ... as he did her breasts brushed against him excitingly.

"Will ye no' help me too?"

He hurried to Annie, and as he helped her also her cheek came against his. Heat seared him and his grip on her waist tightened.

"You're hurting me," she breathed. Crestfallen, he let her go.

"Let's see the temple," Bea proposed. "It seems deserted, so our heathen presence won't be desecrating its holiness."

It was the first temple he had ever visited; astonishingly, the broken columns were covered with relief figures of human males and females, many in poses depicting coition. His face began to bum. Though frankly fascinated, he was embarrassed to be looking at them with these girls. Expecting shocked protests, he glanced at Bea. Her lips were open, her black eyes wide and lustrous. And Annie was biting her lips, her breathing audible.

"Come." Her voice was tight, throaty. "The sun's almost gone." Silently they returned to their horses.

Halfway back, they were met by Ritter. "Gnddiges Frdulein," he bowed to each giri. And to Ram. "Present me. Do you think to keep two women to yourself?"

Furious, Ram complied, translated his compliments and passed back the girls' acknowledgments.

"Good," the Austrian nodded. "Now say I feared they weren't safe, so far from the factory, so came to offer my protection."

"Tell them yourself, they understand Bengali!" Ram spurred into the lead, where Bea soon joined him, leaving Ritter to talk to Annie in his stumbling vernacular.

"La," Bea derided, "he looks just like a pink pig."

"He does. But he's a good soldier, and now he's met you, he'll doubtless learn English to tell you how brave he is."

"Mayhap the Ostenders will be more to my taste," she pondered. "Is he strong?"

"Strong enough. He's also overly short of temper when crossed."

She became so silent that soon he wished she were back with Ritter and Annie up with him. After all, she was the elder, while Annie was about his own age. But, damme, I like 'em both, he admitted. Of course they were unapproachable. And yet . . . ?

At the Hume compound, Bea let him help her down again, but held away from him and, without a word, went into the bungalow.

"Lud, I'm sore," Annie said as she passed him. "Tell your officer Mama will be charmed to receive him soon. Good night—Ram!"

When he gave Ritter the message, the latter grunted. "Good. They're lusty wenches and both open to persuasion."

Because the other had voiced what he himself half hoped. Ram flared: "They're our governor's daughters."

"And are so different from other sluts? Fool, if I but spoke English, I'd have them both on their backs in a week."

"Good night, sir." Blazing, Ram rode home.

That night he again dreamed erotically of both girls, and the next night and the next. But his days were sheer drudger}', for now Ritter was driving him deliberately. Too, the Austrian had been invited to the governor's, but not himself, not even as interpreter.

On the fourth night, when he was in his bedroom writing home, a cloaked figure glided in. Startled, he stood up, heart pounding.

"Draw the chicks, do."

Annie!

He closed the window lattices, watching her sideways. Near panic churned his stomach. Why had she come? How should he behave?

"The servants?"

"Gone, long since." His voice sounded strange, even to himself. Sinking into a chair, she threw back her hood. "Leave only one lamp on." And, when he had. "D'ye ken why I've come at this hour?"

"No." Damme, why else, save for what he hoped?

"To talk, and wi' folks always around 'tis mortal hard to open one's mind. Now, what like is Ritter? Is he of birth?"

"In the German states, they'd say not," he answered, deflated.

"There, the well-bom carry a 'von' before their names." So she was setting her cap for that swine! He felt sick. "Why d'ye ask?"

"Just woman's curiosity." Her tone changed, became softer. "And you? Why didn't ye stay in your fine manor instead of risking death in this cursed land? Ah, if only I could be home!" She signed for him to bring his chair beside hers. Their voices grew intimate as he explained why he'd come to India.

"Glor)', bah!" she derided. "Well, since you're here, make a fortune fast and go home. Father'll help you, he's a rare hand at trade. Ye may even marry a fine British lass out here. I knew many such when we were wi' the John Company."

"But I don't want to marry; not till I'm old, anyway," he objected lamely, acutely aware of how close her face was to his.

Soft fingers stroked his arm, sending an electric shock through him. "But ye should, instead of going to women of the bazaars."

His temples pounded. Damme, why must she talk of other women? Or was it a hint? Dared he take it? Yet, she was Hume's daughter.

While he hesitated, her voice came throatily. "Lad, it's not necessary to go to the bazaars!"

Then they were on their feet, pressed close. Her lips parted hotly. As last she drew back her head. "I'll give ye all!" she panted. "Aye, more than ye dream of! When Father's made your fortune, take me home!" Her tongue probed deep, her body demanding.

"Slutr

The word struck like a bolt. Stunned, he released her and faced the doorway. Bea stood there, the lamp's rays making her eyes seem balls of fire. Slowly she came into the room.

"You whore!" she flung. " 'Tis well I wakened and found ye gone. Had it been Father, ye'd be turned into the bazaars before your time!"

"Ye'll not tell him?" Annie whimpered. When there was no reply, she grew defiant. "What business is it of yours? I'll have ye know Ram's to wed me and take me home. Aye, while you rot out here, waiting for some underpaid clerk who'll be too good for you!"

"Wed you—Ram? Woman, ye're daft! WTiat would he want wi' the likes of you, save to throw on the bed? Get ye gone."

Briefly Annie held her ground, but then broke into sobs and, snatching up her cloak, fled.

Ram watched Bea uneasily, awaiting an outburst. If Hume found out about this, it could mean disaster, disgrace.

"Ram." She came toward him, smiling strangely. "Lad, you'll no' waste your time on a chit like her? She's but milk and water."

Even then he didn't understand until her arms slid around his neck and her pliant body pressed so hard against him that he knew she wore nothing under her cloak. "The light!" she breathed.

But before he could blow it out, she had dropped the cloak and lain invitingly on the bed, her arms opened for him.

Later, as they lay together, she ran caressing fingers along his body. "Och, ye're strong! I knew well ye'd be a better man than yon pink German, wi' his swine eyes and ugly hands." She drew away to rest on her back, "Poor Annie," she giggled. "Poor wee fool!"

Next day he was in turn elated, guilt-ridden and shocked. He'd known what Carla was, yet it had made no difference because she was—Carla. But Bea! True, he'd taken her avidly, yet she'd given herself too easily. Also, there'd been no after-ecstasy, no feeling of completeness. To make it worse, there came a chit from Hume inviting him to sup that night. All day long he dreaded having to face Bea before her parents, before Annie.

When he did arrive, he found he must serve as interpreter, for seated there were writers de Boer and Materna.

At table, de Boer knew just enough English to set everyone laughing at his gaucheries. But soon Ram grew jealous at the way Bea smiled at the ponderous compliments he had to translate for Materna. He kept looking at her, thinking: Last night I had you; perhaps tonight you'll go to his bungalow. He was glad when it was time for leave-taking.

But as the two clerks clattered down the veranda steps, Hume detained him. "Wait, lad. We'll take a final drap and a cheroot."

Ram became wary. Was old Leather-face dissembling, did he know about Bea? But not until they had lighted up and were sipping their wine, did Hume speak.

"Laddie, we've no' enough Britons here."

"But we're an Austrian venture, sir."

"What do the natives know of Austria? They know the Dutch and the French, but most the H.E.LC. which, Lord help me, I served

twenty years. No, we understand natives and they do us. So I'm thinking a few British lads would help build us up the sooner."

"You'll send home for some?"

"In time. But for now there's a gang of idle young whelps down at Calcutta I'd like well to get ma hands on."

"It would be fine if you could get some, sir."

"Nay, I canna do it myself. That Parliament act makes me a traitor, so I'd be putting ma head in the noose to try. But you, that's different."

"But I'm British too."

"Ye're an Imperial officer, they'd dare not harm ye. If ye could drop down on a visit, off-duty so to speak, you could sound out some lads. Being young yourself and not on the trading side, the principal men would pay ye no heed."

Ram frowned. Though serving under an alien flag himself, he felt it wrong to seduce men from their loyalty. Seduce! Bea! Did Hume suspect and was he taking advantage of it to force him into this unsavory task? Then he remembered Ned Machin. True, the Welshman was a soldier, but hadn't he said he hated garrison life?

"I know an ensign who might come," he admitted. Gad, 'twould be fine to have Ned here, to drink with him and hear his wild songs!

"Good. I'll arrange for a craft. We could all be a happy family. Ma lassies would also appreciate it, I'm sure."

So that was it: he must seek victims, so that from them the girls could pick mates to marry and be taken home respectably!