Page 66 of Her Royal Houseguest

Deva kept hold of his temper as he set the correspondence aside. ‘What has happened?’ He spoke calmly to his brother, hoping his tone would settle Vaji’s temper.

It didn’t. Vaji whipped around. ‘Tell me you didn’t create this uproar!’ His voice took on a sing-song tone. ‘The prince of Siam needs hot water. Boo hoo!’

Deva leaned back as he regarded his brother. ‘The household was run badly. I fixed it.’

Vaji dropped his hands on his hips. ‘You fixed it? Why? A badly run household is easy to manipulate.’ He pointed a finger at his brother. ‘We divided the duties, you and I. Yes?’

‘Yes.’

‘You get to eat delicious food, drink good wine, even smoke tobacco with the English royalty. You learn all their secrets.’

That was exaggerating the pleasures but yes, that was the plan. ‘I have not met everyone, much less learned their secrets.’

Vaji ignored him. ‘I talk to the others. The merchants, the servants, the beggar on the street.’

‘Yes. What is your point?’

Vaji threw up his hands. ‘I cannot do that in a well-run household! How can I bribe a footman if he is afraid of being thrown out? How can I kiss a maid into talking if she will not come near?’

Deva frowned. He ignored the fact that Vaji wasn’t supposed to be talking to women at all, much less kissing them. He focused on what he found more interesting. ‘Did any of the maids come near?’

‘No!’ the man huffed. ‘But I was trying.’

‘You can still try. It will be even easier now during the confusion as another housekeeper is hired.’

‘They will all be on their best behaviour. Thanks to you!’ His tone was accusatory.

Deva wasn’t moved. ‘You have never had a problem getting girls to kiss you. Even after you put on robes.’

Vaji whipped around the room again, his footsteps thumping with anger. ‘These English women are different! They are educated. It gives them opinions and makes them stubborn.’

Now this was interesting. His brother was unusually upset. ‘The servants are educated?’

‘Not all of them!’ He folded his arms. ‘Some can read. Lady Anna has encouraged them to learn.’

He was not surprised that she would encourage literacy. It would save her time if she could write notes to her servants.

‘You think them too educated?’

Vaji glared into the distance without speaking. A moment later, Deva stared at his brother in open-mouthed shock. ‘You speak of Miss Phoebe Gray.’

‘She is one of them,’ Vaji bit out.

‘Name another.’

His brother would not. Instead, the man went to the window to stare out at the cluttered landscape. ‘There should be more trees here. And more rain to clean the air. This city is not healthy.’

‘I think you are not healthy. What did Miss Gray do to make you so angry?’

Vaji whipped around to glare at his brother. ‘She will not be guided by me!’

Ah. Was Miss Gray the first woman to refuse his charm? ‘She has no softness for you, then? Boo hoo.’

His brother made a crude gesture. ‘She has questions for me. Always questions.’

‘A taste of your own medicine, then.’ When Vaji was a boy, he was well known for pestering people. How does this work? Why do you do that? Inquisitive. And mischievous.

‘She is nothing like me! Except in the most annoying ways!’