Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
“We can’t wait much longer. I fear my father will make me marry the man now that Vinita won’t.
” Sarla stood behind the almshouse with Will.
She’d left her guards at the front door and wound her way through the building until she could slip outside.
He was waiting for her there. It’s where they met every day before she went inside to help, and Will went about his business for the Company.
“What do you want to do? Declare like Suniti and Rob? I know the plan was to get caught like the others, but I don’t want to do that to my parents a third time. They expect me to do better, I’m sure.”
“How can we have a Brahma ceremony or any other Hindu one without their consent?”
“Not a Hindu one. What do I have to do to convert and be a Christian?”
“I’m not asking that of you, Sarla. You will hurt and insult your family, and you’ll alienate your father’s people. We can’t do that.”
“We can. I know we’ll move to England one day. There is no way they will recognize our marriage without it being in a church. The others are going to have to do the same as us. We’re just doing it in a different order from them.”
Will appeared skeptical, but it was because he mulled over the logistics. “Do you want any of your family there?”
“I do, but I can’t invite my sisters without my parents.”
“We have to have two witnesses. The only ones I trust are Theo and Rob. I don’t feel right having them there without Suniti and Vinita.”
“Then there is nothing for it. All four will be there. When could a priest perform it?”
“In England, we would have to post the banns—a public notice—for three weeks. Or we could marry by license if we wed before eleven in the morning. A special license would allow us to marry at any hour.”
“Will the Company’s priest marry us?”
Will laughed. The man was the most corrupt person he’d ever met. The reverend would do just about anything for a bottle of Scottish whisky or French brandy. Will hoped the dubious priest would accept half a bottle of whisky and a month’s pay. It was the best Will could offer.
“I believe so. I will see him now. If he’s agreeable, I’ll tell Rob to bring your sisters. We will meet in the large tent.”
“All right. I will be here until the midday meal. I won’t have a choice after that. I must go home. Can it be before that?”
“I will do my best.” Will cupped her cheek and pressed his forehead to hers. “I will do whatever it takes, Sarla. I want you as my wife. I need you as my partner. I find such strength from you already. I wish to wake to you and fall asleep beside you, share my day with you.”
“I want the same. I want to build a family with you and watch them grow. I will stand behind you always.”
“Never behind, my love. Always at my side. I love you, Sarla.”
“I love you, Theo. There’s nowhere else I want to be.”
Will tilted her chin up, and Sarla came onto her toes.
The kiss was soft in the beginning, but heat fired between them.
It was their first kiss, and they’d just declared their feelings and agreed to marry.
There was a wealth of emotion between them, and it exploded in their kiss.
He lifted her off her feet and pressed her body against his.
She could feel his arousal, and it only strengthened hers.
A need took root in her core, an ache that she knew only Will could satisfy.
“You feel what you do to me, Sarla. I desire you above all else. There will be no one but you. No one could make me feel as you do.”
“I ache for you, Will. Marry me today, or I will compromise you. Then there will be no option but for us to marry soon.”
Will rubbed his nose against Sarla’s, thoroughly tempted to let her have her way with him. But he placed her on her feet before watching her enter the almshouse. He hurried to find his friends.
“Theo!” Will rushed to catch his friend before he stepped into the nearly complete office.
It would house bachelor officers on the upper floors.
Theo oversaw much of the construction, so he was often there.
“I heard what happened this morning. You’re lucky Surat didn’t murder you before Vinita’s eyes. ”
“I know.”
“Your face is a mess.” Bruises mottled Theo’s face, and it hurt like the dickens. But he’d accepted the beating and prepared for it.
“My ribs aren’t much better. But I think he’s accepted me. I feel badly for the Raja and him. They’ve had to adjust to a lot lately, and they’re losing all three daughters at the same time. I don’t know what I shall do if we have daughters, and I must one day let them go.”
“The man would have to live long enough to marry the girl.”
“True. What has you in a twitch?” Theo’s brow furrowed as he noticed Will’s nervous energy.
“Have you seen Father Everett?”
“Will, what are you planning to do?”
“I think you know. It was Sarla’s idea. She pointed out that you and I will both have to wed our wives in an Anglican ceremony if we wish the marriages to be recognized in England. If Rob ever takes Suniti home, he will have to do the same.”
“I know. I’d hoped to hold off mentioning it to Surat and Chandra until after things calmed.” Theo pointed to a man in dark clothes leaving the tent closest to the new construction. “There he is.”
“Father Everett!” Will hurried to him. The older man narrowed his eyes and appeared suspicious. Will assumed he was estimating how much Will would pay for whatever bribes ensued. “I wish for you to perform a wedding this morning.”
“This morning? Impossible. And who would you marry? There are no Englishwomen here.”
“Sarla Singh.”
“Absolutely not. I will not marry a heretic in a Christian ceremony.”
Will gritted his teeth. “She’s willing to convert.”
“So you wish for a baptism and a marriage.”
Will watched the man reconsider. Two sacraments were better than one. He knew the man would come around, but he was unprepared for the price.
“Twenty pounds.”
Will nearly laughed. “Five pounds and half a bottle of Scottish whisky.”
The priest thrust out his hand, sealing their agreement before Will could think better. But the younger man would have paid the twenty pounds if forced. He would pay his last penny to marry Sarla.
“Meet me at the river in twenty minutes. We can conduct the baptism and the marriage there.”
“Baptism?”
Will turned at Rob’s voice. His friend looked between Will and the priest, understanding dawning. He shook his head. But Will’s expression told Rob he would not dissuade his friend. He turned as Suniti and Vinita joined them. Sarla was only a few steps behind.
“We came to help at the almshouse, but Sarla said we should find you.” Suniti leaned against Rob as he took her hand in his.
“Yes.” Will held out his hand to Sarla. “Father Everett, this is my bride. Sarla, Father Everett agreed to your baptism then our marriage. We can do it now.”
“Baptism?” Suniti's and Vinita’s voices blended as they asked the same thing Rob had only moments ago.
“I must convert to marry Will in an Anglican ceremony. If either of you ever travel to England, you will have to do the same thing. Will and I can have a Brahma later. But I’m scared Baba will send me in your place, Vinita.”
“So are we. We came to ask if you wished to join our wedding, but you insisted we find the men.”
“If we are to do this, don’t dillydally. I have other things to do today.”
Six sets of eyes narrowed at the priest, who took a step back.
He nodded but led the way to the river. Will feared Father Everett would insist upon a full immersion baptism since they were beside the river.
But fortunately, the older man dipped his hand into the water and poured it over Sarla’s forehead.
Moments later, they stood, holding hands as they pledged their undying commitment and love to one another.
The ceremony flew by, and neither was ready when Father Everett pronounced them man and wife.
Their kiss made the priest look away and encouraged the other two couples to share their own.
“If you are quite finished making a meal of your wife, I would have you sign the decree and register.”
“Father Everett, wait.” Theo stepped forward. “Since we are here, would you marry Vinita and me?”
“Us too?” Rob looked at Suniti. “I never intend to return to England, but if anything should happen to me, our marriage entitles you to an inheritance. I don’t want anyone to contest it.
Even if you never step foot on British soil, you will be my wife and a beneficiary.
I want to provide for our children’s security, too. ”
Father Everett appeared beleaguered, but he performed two more baptisms and two more marriages.
The three couples entered the tent the priest used for Sunday services.
It wasn’t large since his congregation was miniscule.
They signed the paperwork before husbands and wives kissed each other.
The men returned to their duties while the women returned to the palace.
“When should we tell them?” Sarla’s anxiousness mounted with each step that took them closer to their home.
“Do you wish to consummate your marriage tonight?” Suniti waggled her eyebrows.
“Yes.” Vinita and Sarla’s response was adamant.
“Then we should tell them before the evening meal.”
“But do we wait for our husbands?” Sarla grinned, loving saying that.
“I don’t know. Maybe Maan and Baba won’t murder them if they have time to adjust to the idea before they arrive.” Suniti shrugged.
“I’m going to wait for Theo. I think it would hurt him if I made this announcement without him.”
“I feel the same, but I would protect Will as best I can.” Sarla realized she felt as protective of her husband as he felt for her.
“Girls!”