The Secret Mandarin by Sara Sheridan Read Free Book Online

Gordon ushered our luggage into place and told us the arrangements for dinner.
    ‘Your rooms are the two on the left at the top of the stairs. They overlook the street,’ she informed us. We were set to ascend when a door opened and a cross-looking lady emerged from the drawing room with her husband. Mrs Gordon introduced them as the Hunters.
    Mrs Hunter fiddled with a chain around her neck. She reminded me of a dog playing with its tail, the links twistinground her fingers never quite satisfying her, the amethyst and pearl locket constantly out of reach.
    She inspected me plainly while Mrs Gordon introduced us.
    ‘We are off to inspect the Filigree before it gets dark,’ she said. ‘We sail tomorrow.’
    ‘You will be my shipmate, then, Mrs Hunter,’ I smiled.
    ‘How nice. What takes you to Calcutta?’
    Behind me, Robert froze.
    ‘I will visit relations,’ I lied smoothly, aware of his eyes on me. ‘And my brother here is to board the Braganza. ’
    Mr Hunter nodded towards Robert. ‘Well now, you must envy your sister, Mr Fortune. Hong Kong is no match for the delights of India.’
    This topic was no better for Robert than that of my reasons for going to Calcutta. The East India Company did not wish his mission to be common knowledge. I realised my mistake and tried to divert the conversation. This chance encounter was rapidly becoming unexpectedly difficult.
    ‘So you have been to India already?’ I attempted.
    The Hunters giggled good naturedly as if I had said something particularly amusing.
    ‘Half our lives,’ Mr Hunter replied. ‘Is it your first voyage to the East, ma’am?’
    I shook my head. ‘This time I hope to arrive, though.’
    ‘It was you who survived the Regatta ? Oh my,’ Mrs Hunter’s voice rose, ‘how exciting! Freddy, Miss Penney shall be our lucky charm. No one has ever gone down twice! You must wish very much to visit your relations. What are their names? Perhaps we are acquainted.’
    Myself, I would have concocted a name, but before I could answer, Robert cut in, unable to bear it any longer.
    ‘Mary will marry in India,’ he barked, staring pointedly at Mrs Hunter. ‘There is no more to tell.’
    My cheeks burned with discomfort and quickly the Hunters excused themselves and hurried out of the front door. Such rudeness was entirely unnecessary and I rounded on Robert as the door closed behind them.
    ‘Did you think I would be able to embarrass you halfway across the world?’ I snapped, though in truth I pitied him. The poor man would never be free of himself. He pushed me forward a little to escort me upstairs, past the trunks that were now piled on the landing—ours and the Hunters’. He could scarcely wait to stow me away.
    ‘I have enough to think of, Mary. You and your bastard child are the least of my worries.’
    That settled it—I had had enough. Incensed, I turned on him and as I did I saw a cricket bat piled up among Mr Hunter’s things. I grabbed it.
    ‘How dare you?’ I raised the bat, furiously swiping as hard as I could. ‘You pompous, self-important, short-sighted fool!’ I lost my temper.
    Robert backed downstairs, away from my blows and nonchalantly and with his hackles down, easily wrestled the bat from my hands, tripping me up so that I landed with a thump on the thin carpet. The man was all muscle. My blood boiled even further.
    ‘You must rest, Mary. You leave tomorrow,’ he said coolly to dismiss me.
    I scrambled to my feet and, disarmed and furious, I ran to the first room, slamming the door behind me. There were tears in my eyes. I cursed Robert as I sank onto the bed. How dare he? After a minute there was a soft knock at the door. I threw a pillow at it.
    ‘Go to hell, Robert,’ I said.
    I thought he surely must regret behaving so callously but when the door opened it was the ample figure of Mrs Gordon that entered.
    ‘Now,’ she said, her tone comforting and motherly, ‘here is some arnica cream, Miss Penney. My guess is that fall