The Charlotte Series: Book 1: The Pirate's Treasure

chapter 03

"Yes Sahib." Harshad answered breathlessly when he arrived a few minutes later.

"Can you go into town, to the docks? If I am to find Memsahib, I must first find where it is that she has gone. Do you think you can find out?"

"I can try, Sahib. My cousin is at the dock on most days. He..."He took a breath and smiled. "Yes Sahib. I will try."

James was surprised by the smile that tugged at his lips as the boy ran off. He left his study and made his way to his bedroom. His trunks arrived during breakfast and Shrimati Amala had them sent to his room. He asked her not to unpack them yet. He wasn't staying long and didn't see the point of repacking them.

He reached the room and began to sort through first trunk. His mind was distant and kept returning to his trip. While he could not forgive Dorthea for her murderous betrayal, he couldn't keep his mind from lighting on the idea that maybe he was partially to blame. If he had not gone...

Disgusted with the path his thoughts were taking he left the trunks and found Shrimati Amala in the kitchen.

"Do you desire tea, Sahib?" She asked sweetly, "I made lemon tarts."

His smile was genuine. He loved lemon tarts and it had been a very long time since anyone had thought to do anything nice for him. She was offering him comfort, he knew.

"I think I would like that." He said, recognizing the truth of it, "if you will join me in the library?"

"I-" she began.

When she started to decline, as he knew she would, he felt disappointed.

"As you wish Sahib." She smiled instead. "You go ahead and I will be along shortly."

"Thank you, Shrimati Amala." He dipped his head in a bow of respect and retreated to the library with a lighter heart than he thought possible.

"Sahib." She smiled as she entered.

"Shrimati Amala." He smiled, looking up from his book. "I am glad you could join me. After your kindness to my son, and to me, I would like to call you friend."

"I am honored Sahib." She said as she served him his tea and sat down in the seat he indicated.

"I know this is unprecedented. I simply cannot tell you how much..."his voice waivered.

"Do not trouble yourself, Sahib. Memsahib was not easy to get along with, but she was your wife. And you have never been anything but kind to Harshad and myself, even when my daughter..."

"Yes, I am so sorry."

"So you said at the time, Sahib."

He nearly choked on his tea as he remembered. Her daughter had died in her sleep! His son...

"You ..." he couldn't find words to voice the horrific thought.

She said nothing, only sipped demurely from the teacup in her hand. He could not believe...

"Sahib, I am grateful to you for this offer of friendship. I accept and will remain your true friend for the rest of my days. But now I must leave you if I am to tidy your rooms and have dinner ready on time. You've made quite a mess of your trunks already."

"How did..." he shook his head and smiled as he reached for a lemon tart. "Nevermind how you knew that. I thank you and I will let you do whatever it is that you have always done to keep my household running efficiently."

After she left him with a nod, he nibbled on another tart. These were excellent, made more delicious no doubt, by the fact they were made expressly for him. He felt like ...like when he was a child and cook had spoiled him, the baby. He grinned and settled back to read, determined to forget his troubles for the present.