The devil's bride

Chapter 5: X-actly What Happened

"Nawab is the Devil," Pratha interrupted, stepping back as the woman reached for her, then realized that hadn't come out right. "I mean, he is not really the Devil. But Nawab is King Donchard" she said finally, exasperated with herself. "And he did not do this. I fell in the river. "

"Oh, yes. " Mira paused before her, open disbelief on her face. "And falling in the river ripped your bodice wide open, did it?"

"No," she admitted. "Nawab did that. "

Mira nodded and grabbed her by the arm. "We are fleeing. Gajendra is preparing three horses as we speak. "

"No,"Pratha cried, tugging at her arm, but her maid was determined to save her and held fast. "He did not mean to rip the gown, he was just trying to get it off… of him," she added quickly, when Mira clucked with disgust.

That brought her to a halt. Turning back with wide horrified eyes, she asked, "He is one of those? He was wanting to wear your dress?"

"No" Pratha gasped, shocked at the very idea. Really, she couldn't imagine Nawab or any other man wanting to wear a dress. "It was on his head. "

That explanation did not soothe Mira. If anything, it seemed to be exactly what she'd expected.

"The randy Devil!" she said with disgust, beginning to tug her forward once more. "Forcing his way under your skirt on first meeting you! And the two of you are not even married yet!"

"Mira!" Pratha cried with exasperation. " 'it is not what you think! Pray, stop and let me explain. This is all just a muddle. He really did not hurt me. "

"You can explain on the way to the stables. 'This-" Her voice died as she opened the door only to find herself confronted with several servants bearing a tub and pails of water.

"The Dev—King Donchard ordered a hot bath for you, my lady," one of the men at the front of the tub announced. "He said we were to make it as hot as you could stand. It would soothe your aches and pains from your fall. "

"See. " Pratha tugged her arm from Mira's grasp and moved a couple of steps away just to be sure she didn't grab it again. "I told you I fell. "

Mira hesitated, then instructed the men to set the tub by the fire, before moving closer to Pratha. "So he did not strike you? Not one of those bruises you are sporting are from his fists?"

"No. It was the fall in the river that bruised me, though I think he thinks I fell from my horse as he did," Pratha assured her in a whisper, her gaze moving nervously to the men now emptying pail after pail of steaming water into the tub. She didn't wish them to hear and possibly report to her stepmother. Drawing Mira to the far corner of the room, she quickly whispered the string of events that had led to her returning in the state she was in.

"So his head was not under your skirt?" Mira said slowly, once Pratha had finished. "He did not touch you in that way at all?"

"Well…" Pratha blushed and avoided her gaze. Then seeing the suspicion on the woman's face, she sighed and admitted, "He kissed me. "

Mira stared at her silently and quirked an eyebrow. "And?"

Pratha hesitated, but knew if she didn't convince her maid all would be well, Mira and Gajendra would risk themselves to try to make her escape, and she really had no desire to escape the marriage at this point. In fact, she was beginning to feel the first bit of hope for her future she'd had in a long time. She would be the mistress of her own home, without her stepmother there to make life miserable, and truly, she was beginning to have hope she might deal acceptably well with Nawab