‘Ah, yes,’ and Pavna clapped her hands. ‘I am forgetting the great thing!’

She clapped them again, and a tiny woman appeared in a thin cotton sari pulled over her face so that as crossed the lawn she looked like a walking ships funnel. She had been hand picked by Pavna and specially tutored to care for a foreign baby. ‘The ayah. She speaks no English of course, but neither does the baby.’

The ayah took the baby off to the shade of the orange blossom but just as Quinn was turning to go upstairs with Manju, the Rani turned round and said,

‘I hope you will be happy here. Because, I wonder what the real reason for your visit is. I have much experience abroad you see. I have been to London and Tokyo. Even Moscow.’

‘Really?’

‘I have always found the Soviets very emotional as people. Their palaces have great humanity. They have soul. They understand suffering. I have always thought the Soviets would make marvelous Hindus if it wasn’t for all the vodka.’ She paused, reloading. ‘I have always

valued the emotional face. Well we are very emotional people here you will find.’ She paused as if an argument had been made, then changed the subject. ‘Will you honor us Miss Quinn by coming to a party we have been invited to tomorrow? You will not be the only western visitor as the Prince of England will be there. It is part of his royal tour at the Rambagh Palace, now a Hotel. Have you seen the papers? No. And I don’t expect you care much for royalty -’

‘No I don’t.’

‘But your presence would give us pleasure. You must see something else of India whilst here surely?’

‘When you put it like that.’

‘Good. In the meantime I am sure Manu will help you find this oh-so fashionable guru.’

Manu bowed.

‘Please Manu collect us all tomorrow afternoon for this party. The colors of India will be out and we don’t want to be late or they will fade.’