Page 14 of Princess & Prejudice

“So, will he be in town for much longer? The polo match is tomorrow, right?”

“Yes. I’m hoping he joins us for the fundraiser in the evening, as well,” she replied.

Aryan hid his grimace as he remembered the Devgarh Foundation’s annual fundraiser, which was to be held the next day. He was the keynote speaker, and the thought of Deep hanging around Jessie while he was schmoozing the fat cats of Devgarh was enough to turn his stomach.

Just then, Deep came towards them with a warm smile.

“Sorry, sweetheart. Had to take a leak. Aryan, long time, bro,” he said, putting one arm around Jessie’s shoulder, and extending the other hand towards Aryan.

“Nice to see you, Deep,” replied Aryan, with a glacial smile.

Deep made a point of trying to squeeze his hand hard, but Aryan was no pansy. He had the pleasure of watching Deep trying to hide a wince as he let go of his hand.

“You left the dining room in a hurry, Aryan. I hope everything is all right,” said Jessie.

“Yes. My mother’s having a meltdown because Nivy came home after being AWOL for five years,” he replied, with an eye roll.

Jessie stared at him in horror, and then put out a fist and punched him in the arm.

“Oww!”

“Nivy’s back, and you didn’t think to lead with that? My best friend returns home after ages, and you didn’t even tell me, you doofus?”

Aryan rubbed the injured appendage and glared at her.

“I thought you already knew. Since when does my sister do anything without telling you?”

“Since she ran away to Mumbai to become an actress, Dr Clueless! Do you think I would have allowed her to go if I’d known about it? I’ve barely seen her thrice in the past five years, and even that was only because I was in Mumbai. So, yeah. The prodigal’s return to Devgarhisa big deal,” she scolded.

“Fine! I’m sorry, Your Brattiness,” he retorted.

Jessie went red in the face, and just when he thought she was going to haul off and punch him in the face, she straightened her back and looked down her adorable nose.

“I’ll see you at the fundraiser, Dr Sharma. Have a lovely day,” she said icily.

Before Aryan could apologise for his childish remark, she strode away, Deep trailing in her wake like a faithful puppy.

CHAPTER5

JESSIE

Deep offered to drop me home in his Lamborghini, but I refused to be seen dead in that puke-yellow monstrosity. I could hardly tell him that, though.

Thankfully, my car was already in the driveway of the Club when we stepped out.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Deep. All the best for the match,” I called out, as I stepped into the car.

He looked slightly let down at my casual farewell, and I wondered why. I certainly had no intention of kissing him goodbye. There was time enough for that later. Ugh.

The thought of kissing that wet mouth made me want to throw up. And the thought of doing anything more than that made my chest go tight with fear. I sat back against the seat, my breath coming in short, shallow puffs. If even thinking about the physical side of marriage with Deep was enough to make me almost pass out, I was so in trouble.

What was I doing, planning to marry a man that I wasn’t attracted to? I wondered if everyone who entered into an arranged marriage felt the same anxiety, or did they magically fall in lust at first sight with their intended husbands.

My mother was waiting for me when I reached the palace. She was pacing up and down the courtyard, and as soon as my car pulled up, she stomped over and waited impatiently for the chauffeur to open my door.

“Well?” she asked, as soon as I stepped out of the car.

I rolled my eyes at the impatience. Any other mother would be excited, but my mother looked as if she was waiting for me to confess to a murder. Sure, she’d help me hide the body, but not before she tanned my hide for doing such an awful thing.

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