Rose Cottage: Shimla, 1802

By Puja Miri Yajnik

From the moment Emerald boarded the ship to India, she knew she was in for an exciting journey. Having never journeyed abroad before, she simply could not wait to see what these mystical lands had in store for her. She felt as though this would be the greatest adventure of her life. And it was. Little did she know, the true adventure had nothing to do with magic, snakes or elephants as her mother believed it would. No; the greatest, most wonderful adventure in Miss Emerald Dawson’s life was waiting for her in the seemingly inconsequential town of Shimla, in the form of a mysterious royal who liked to frequent the local library. What started as brief eye contact in a crowd soon grew into a connection that would forever change both of their lives. However, Miss Dawson could not help but ask herself: is it proper? Can a love between a sheltered young woman from London and a Maharaja truly survive? Emerald had no way to find out except experience it for herself. What had she gotten herself into? She didn’t know. All she knew was that she certainly never wanted to get out of it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665518345

Puja Miri Yajnik

Puja Miri Yajnik is a fiction writer. Her previous work includes: ‘The Curse of the Winwoods’, ‘My Strange Duke’, ‘Rose Cottage: Shimla, 1802’ and ‘Bandra Tales’, as well as ‘Love & Motorcars’, the first in a series. This is the sequel to the same.

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© 2021 Puja Miri Yajnik. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Published by AuthorHouse  03/04/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-1835-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-1834-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021903991

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Illustrations: Garima Yagnik

Cover Design, illustrations: Garima Yagnik

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Divvij Yajnik for his technical assistance.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Dedication

To His Highness.

Introduction

This is really too bad of you, Edmund… I declare… it is beyond everything! First, you go off halfway across the world to a land of snakes and elephants; of magic… nay, sorcery! And now… you wish to take my Emerald there! ‘Educating’ you say, ‘an adventure’ you say! I really want to slap you hard for putting such thoughts in her head!

My small, delicate mother drew herself up to her full height (which was not very much; a mere five feet). In front of her, her six foot two inches, broad shouldered son, who stood meekly, awaiting his punishment. They stared at each other for a moment before she burst into tears and he took her in his arms.

Mother, pray do not work yourself up. I will not take her if you so hate the idea. It’s just that I think she will see another part of the world. It is so very quaint and beautiful. You know I plan to wrap up my business there this year and come back to you. He smiled down at her, his eyes looking lovingly into hers. She could never resist him. She put her arms around him and then pushed him away.

Oh, you! Really, Edmund! You use me shamefully, just like your father! she added under her breath.

True enough, he said shamelessly and laughed, but you dote on us nevertheless.

My father was a scientist. Spoken of as a genius by some, he spent most of his time down at Oxford. We saw him now and then; on holidays, perhaps - something we were quite accustomed to that maybe others would judge strange. He, too, was extremely tall; an exceedingly handsome man with the same deep blue eyes as his charming son. In fact, we were referred to as an ‘uncommonly handsome family’ by most people we came across. I say this in all humility - a statement of fact, not vanity. I, on the other hand, was small, like my mother. I had her oval face, dark hair, clear complexion, a sharp nose and a small cleft on my chin. My eyes were grey and rather large. They flashed now, angrily at my closest relatives, as they appeared to have quite forgotten me.

One moment, please. If you two have quite finished, can we come back to the question of my visiting India? I said.

Oh dear, sighed my mother, and sank down on an old crimson settee that stood against the window. We lived in a large townhouse in a rather fashionable part of London; modern and comfortable, my brother having contributed sizably to it, making his fortune whilst working for the East India Company. For the past five years, he had lived in a place called Bombay, and now was quite ready to return to us. It was this decision that had prompted him to suggest that I accompany him on this, his last journey to Hindustan.

Do you have any idea of how much I suffer thinking of the danger you subject yourself to? I lie awake every night, worrying if you have got a fever, or got bitten by a snake, or crushed by an elephant or any such terrible animal one hears about! she said.

Yes, mother. I quite understand. But consider this… we are now in the 1800s. There are a lot of modern comforts. The cities in India are not at all what you think. Yes, there are cows and elephants on the roads… but they do not harm you! The houses are large, surprisingly quite cool. There are a lot of Europeans. I have a lot of friends, we meet at the club every evening. As for the natives, they are really quite charming. Most of them, even the uneducated, excessively wise and spiritual. I have learned so much from them. They have this inherent understanding of the basics of life, the truth of existence. I never fail to get amazed, I cannot tell you how much I despise the discrimination that I see them subjected to by our people. It is barbaric! And oh, so ignorant! Edmund paused. Mother was looking intently at him as he spoke, clearly pleased at her son’s words. It was getting dark outside, but we stayed there, Mother and I sitting on the settee and Edmund kneeling on the floor in front of us. So you see, I so wish Emerald to see and experience this world. I will be there with her, will take great care of her. You can be assured of that. You know how she has always thirsted for adventure. At least, that is what she grumbles to us, he grinned, falling back as I pulled at his thick, blond hair in mock anger. Well, let us give her an adventure. This is her only chance. If it is father you are worried about, I am convinced he will not object, cajoled Edmund.

Doubt if he would notice, sighed Mother, a wry look on her pretty face, so full of formulas and strange gadgets, his mind I mean!

And you, darling, added Edmund.

Hardly! she retorted but smiled contentedly.

Our father and mother had rather a romantic relationship. He doted on her and fought with her, often scolded her and walked off in a huff, and then came back, grinning with soft apology in his eyes. It is difficult to explain. To me, it was just a beautiful and unexpected relationship.

Emerald, dear child… tell me, do you really, really want to do this? Mother turned to me.

Oh yes! Please let me go! I promise, if you do send me, I shall take very good care of myself! I beseeched, holding her hands and looking pleadingly into her eyes.

Oh dear! she sighed. My brother sank back on the floor, grinning at me. We had won!

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Chapter 1

W e boarded the ship at Southampton. It was one of the Company’s ships. The most comfortable, Edmund said. The voyage, I was told, would take four to five months, depending upon the weather we encountered.

Mother had gone on a shopping spree to equip me for my visit to India; soft cotton and muslin gowns, hats and parasols. The heat, I believe, is killing! she said discouragingly, constantly trying to make me change my mind. An extremely large medicine chest was prepared for me with all sorts of potions in it, a list of possible ailments in my mother’s hand and the medicine I was to take for each. There were a few pieces of jewellery, just in case, she said. My maid, Annie, was given instructions as to their care and safety. Of course, she gave me a lot of advice on how to conduct and protect myself. My brother, having done his part, made himself scarce, no doubt catching up with his friends and providing business to all the best London clubs.

Now Emerald, this is the first time you will be on your own, that is to say, without me, she said in a voice of doom. Be very careful of men! her eyes looked fiercely into mine. They are not at all what they seem. Some are gentlemen… some appear to be gentlemen… do you understand? It is one thing they want from us… do not give it to them! She pressed my hand in a melodramatic fashion.

I burst into laughter, falling off my armchair onto the carpet. Really, Mother… you do not have to look so uncomfortable… I know full well what you mean, I said whilst rolling on the floor in merriment. We were sitting in the school room, where the trunks were being packed. I remember it was raining outside and felt warm and cozy inside. The room had wine coloured velvet curtains and a Persian carpet. It was an intimate room where my brother and I had spent countless hours doing nothing in particular.

Do be serious, Emerald! I declare… you behave like a man… laughing like that, almost a guffaw! Most unbecoming! she shook her pretty head at me, but there was a smile on her face. I grinned at her, lying flat on my back at her feet.

I do not want you to get into bad company, she said, looking down at me.

Yes, Mother, I mumbled. She looked distrustingly at me.

Be serious, girl! This is important! Toughen your heart. There are all sorts of men… even foreign ones… they may be attractive… you may find them so. But do be careful not to become too friendly! Do not risk your heart!

Yes, Mother, I repeated in the same exaggerated fashion, designed to irritate her.

Oh you! she grumbled, throwing a cushion at me. Make fun of me, by all means! But do not go and give your heart to some unsuitable man… no matter how handsome… even if he looks like Edmund!

Ohhhh! I said, for that was the ultimate compliment she could give any man. She poked me with one foot and made a face at me. I laughed at her, as was our way. But later, much later… I was to remember that moment.

There were not many passengers on the ship. Most people aboard were officials of the company. I suffered a little seasickness for the first few days, so it was only after a full week that I stepped out of my room and got my bearings, so to speak.

Edmund’s two closest friends, both of whom we had known almost all our lives: a Mr John Turner, nicknamed ‘Braveheart’ (a pun on his running away from an apparition at Eton), and a Lord Guilford Mayten Mayer, nicknamed ‘Mozart’ (due to his talent at the piano, which he was highly apologetic about), were travelling with us. Braveheart belonged to one of the richest families in England. He was a pleasant looking man of average height with blond hair and blue eyes. My mother thought him extremely ‘suitable’. I did not quite share her enthusiasm. Mozart, the young lord, hailed from one of the oldest noble families of England. He is terribly handsome, said Mother many a time, but he has the burden of the entire family and that castle in Yorkshire! Formidable! Set your cap at Braveheart, he will do very nicely, she would say. As both men treated me quite as a sister, I thought, there was not much chance of me ‘setting my cap’ at either.

Ah! Here you are, Emerald! greeted Edmund, getting up from his chair and offering it to me as I joined the men on deck.

Better? asked Braveheart, grinning at me.

A little… I thank you. Goodness! How pretty the sea looks! I said, walking up to the rail instead of sitting down.

Ocean, corrected Braveheart, joining me at the rail.

Careful Emerald, don’t lean too far. What will I say to Mother if you fell in!