Page 66 of The Seaside Homecoming
“Yes. You wear dark clothes like Papa. But I had to use color for Sonali. She is like a rainbow.”
Armaan glanced at Miss Patel and quickly away again. “I agree.”
Mira slid the paper toward him. “Now you draw something.”
“What shall I draw?”
“Something from India. I have never been.”
“In that case, I wonder if you’ve ever seen an elephant?”
The girl shook her head, eyes wide. Claire listened with interest as well.
“Of all the animals in the East, the elephant is the largest. More than twelve feet high.” Armaan took up the drawing pencil and began sketching as he talked. “The legs are short and stout, and the tail is curly like a hog’s. It has large ears and a long trunk, which is strong but also nimble, able to retrieve the smallest nut from the ground. Elephants also havetwo long tusks, which protrude like so. One they keep sharp as a weapon, the other they blunt to gather food. They are remarkably intelligent. Thehotteewalliestrain them to serve the nabobs and rajas, but I preferred to see them in the wild, coming down from the mountains to drink and swim in the river. They are excellent swimmers.”
“I would like to see an elephant,” Mira breathed in wonder.
“Perhaps someday you will. When I was in London, I learned they keep one in a menagerie there.” He shook his head. “Though seeing a magnificent beast in captivity would not be the same.”
Claire went and fetched refreshments for their visitor, bringing enough cups for all of them. The men enjoyed a pleasant conversation over hot tea and sugar biscuits while Sonali listened, Mira made another drawing, and Claire finished her list.
When the clock struck the hour, Mr. Hammond looked from Armaan to Sonali and rose. “I shall take Mira up for her nap today. I promised to read her another story anyway. You stay and finish your tea.”
After the two left, Claire rose as well, having some tasks to complete before dinner. “And I should get back to work. A pleasure to see you again, Mr. Sagar.”
She’d intended to go outside and water the flowers, but noticing someone’s coat had fallen from the pegs in the hall, she walked over and picked it up.
Through the morning room’s open door, she heard Sonali say, “You are not fooling anyone, you know. Wearing English clothes and speaking in an educated accent.”
“It is not my intention to fool anyone.”
“Then why do it?”
“I have not worn traditional clothing in more than twenty years. When I left home, I wore a uniform, first as a soldier and later as translator in the office of the governor. That’s where I became acquainted with my friend, Major Hutton.”
“Pff,” she scoffed. “Do you really think he is your friend. Truly?”
“I do, absolutely. He risked his life for me, and I would do the same for him. And if I speak as an educated Englishman, it is because I attended a British school for several years. Vanita’s father saw to my education. Mr. Aston was a generous man, you must admit.”
“True.”
He added, “And your English is excellent as well, I noticed.”
“Out of necessity. I grew up speaking a different language than your family—Tamil. I learned to speak English in Mr. Aston’s household. He preferred it.”
“I see,” Armaan replied. “And as far as my clothing, it was difficult enough to find someone willing to make an English suit of clothes for me here. Do you think the local tailor would agree to make adhotiorkurta?”
“I suppose not. Yet I still wearsareeandcholi.”
“And you look lovely in them.”
“Th-thank you.” She gave a nervous little laugh. “Can you imagine me in English dress?”
After a brief hesitation, he replied, “I could, but there is no need. You look well as you are.”
As silently as possible, Claire slipped from the house.
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