Page 87 of Her Royal Houseguest

She swallowed. Yes, obviously, she dared. And though his fury had a palpable presence in the room, she did not back down.

‘There comes a time when further learning is impossible,’ she said. Hadn’t he said that to her, not so long ago? But why hadn’t Vaji gotten up from his knees? Why were both brothers staring at her as if she’d sprouted wings. Or horns.

Oh hell. How had she failed now?

Chapter Thirty

Deva’s frustration roared inside him. It had been targeting his brother but now it crystalised into a dark place. It centred wholly on her, the woman who had been driving him mad with lust since the day they’d met. This English woman who had no idea that she was supposed to grovel before him. This defiantly beautiful woman who made him do things that he would never do, think things he would never think and be someone who was…

Cursed.

‘I begin to think,’ he said in cold tones, ‘that we are cursed. That this land of backwards people has poisoned us.’

He spoke in English because he wanted her to hear him. He knew how hideously those words had affected her, so she would know how deeply he had been affected.

He saw his words land. Her eyes widened and her shoulders stiffened. ‘You are cursed? This land is backwards?’ she said, her tone wavering. She was fighting deep feelings. So was he. But rather than run from them—from him—she lifted her chin to defy him. ‘Or my backwards country has turned you around? My curse has infected you?’

‘You are twisting words,’ he accused.

‘Am I? Or are you lashing out like a wounded animal? What pains you so much, what has hurt you so that you put your brother on his knees because he loves a woman?’

‘Love?’ he scoffed. ‘Do you think my brother loves her?’

He saw pain twist her features but she didn’t look away. ‘I think that any man who so publicly breaks his vows is driven by something powerful.’

‘Lust!’ he spat.

She sighed as she shook her head. ‘I do not think he is so inconsistent a man.’

Deva scoffed. ‘Then you do not know him.’

Now Deva had cut his own brother. He saw Vaji’s whole body flinch in reaction and no wonder. Vaji was no animal driven by passions. The truth was that Deva was lashing out because he had lost focus. He was the one to blame. As leader of this delegation, his subordinate’s crimes lay at his own feet.

But he had been watching Anna instead. He had step by step built her confidence until she could stand before him now without flinching. Even as she challenged him.

That, too, infuriated him, even as it impressed him. After one week’s support, she now stood without cowering. Imagine what she could be like after a month or a year.

And yet, damn her for facing him now. For pointing out his sins with the calm demeanour of a woman chastising a child. And damn him for deserving it.

Then, to make matters worse, his brother slowly stood. When he spoke, his voice was quiet but it filled the room like the sound of a gong. Or an explosion that destroyed everything around him.

‘I betrayed a woman this night,’ he said. ‘You betray yourself. You have hurt what you must love most. What do you gain, Prince Deva, except devastation?’ Every word was a well-deserved slap. Then he turned his back and left.

The insult was clear and devastating. He’d lost the respect of the one man he valued above all others. Deva’s gaze cut to Lady Anna.

It was so tempting to make this all her fault. She’d been disrespectful, coming into his conversation with Vaji. She’d pushed her opinion forwards, a woman and a foreigner. She had no right. But tonight’s disaster was not her fault.

‘You may go,’ he finally grumbled. ‘My anger is finished,’ he lied.

‘My butler will be relieved.’

He looked over her shoulder. The butler was indeed hovering in the hallway. As was appropriate. He was pleased with this new butler.

‘She will not be harmed!’ he growled.

The man bowed but he didn’t disappear. ‘Is there something you require? Tea perhaps?’

Deva snorted. The Siamese liked tea. The English revered it. Every situation good or ill called for more tea. At least he was not being offered alcohol.