Rajasthani Moon Read Online Free PDF Page B

Harrowsmith—emissary of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.”
    Sarita released an audible sniff of disdain. “ She’s an agent of Queen Victoria? She looks like some farmer’s wife, just come from slopping the hogs.”
    “I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Lady Sarita,” Cecily swallowed her annoyance and replied with as much courtesy as she could muster. She would need allies against Amir and Pratan, and as unlikely a friend as this woman seemed, it wouldn’t help to antagonise her. “I suspect that a bath and a change of clothing might help make my identity more plausible.”
    “That is exactly my Lord’s orders for you, though why he charged me rather than my maids with this loathsome task I don’t know.”
    “Because my brother respects your intelligence and your loyalty, Sarita,” Pratan soothed. “Miss Cecily’s dangerously tricky. She might well get the better of a simple ladies’ maid, but you are more than a match for this agent’s skills. He knows the captive will be secure in your capable hands. And I’m sure you will more than merit his confidence.”
    “Of course I will.” Clearly Sarita’s temperament did not match her demure appearance. “You—and you—bring her to the women’s quarters.”
    “Don’t be concerned,” Pratan murmured in Cecily’s ear. The tickling of his moustache sent little thrills racing along her skin, despite her attempts to ignore the stimulus. “I’m sure Sarita will take especially good care of you for my brother’s sake—though I don’t doubt that if the choice were hers, she’d be more than happy to slit your throat.” After this less than comforting communication, he relinquished Cecily to the designated guards, much to her undeniable regret. “I will undoubtedly see both of you at the festivities this evening.”
    “Come on then—Miss Harrowsmith,” Sarita urged with exaggerated politeness. “Let us see if we can make a silk purse of a sow’s ear.” The soldiers marched Cecily down richly decorated corridors, into the inner precincts of the palace. She couldn’t help looking back over her shoulder to send a desperate glance in Pratan’s direction. The bandit prince merely grinned.

Chapter Five

    Two muscle-bound female warriors, taller than Cecily, flanked the intricately carved door to the women’s domain. Gleaming armour hid their breasts but their short skirts bared legs with the girth and strength of tree trunks. In contrast to the traditional bows of the male guards, these women carried pistol-like weapons of dull metal the same colour as the automated ropes.
    “Electrical stun guns,” Sarita commented, noticing the direction of Cecily’s gaze. “Like being struck by lightning. On low charge, they’ll immobilise you in an instant. At maximum strength, they can kill you.”
    One of the Amazons opened the door. Sarita directed the guard inside with a curt gesture, then pushed Cecily in after. “It will unfortunately be necessary remove your shackles in order to clean off all your filth. Be assured that Bhuni won’t hesitate to shoot you at the least threat to me or the smallest suggestion that you are trying to escape.”
    One glance at the guard’s grim expression was enough to convince Cecily that Sarita spoke the truth.
    “Unbind,” the Rajah’s favourite intoned, brushing a delicate finger over the coils wrapping Cecily’s wrists. The snake-like machine loosened and dropped into Sarita’s waiting palm. She handed it to Bhuni.
    “A remarkable device,” Cecily ventured, experimenting with a friendly tone. “Her Majesty would be most interested to know how it works.”
    “I’ll wager she would, but there’s little chance of that. ‘Twas invented by my Lord Amir. I very much doubt he’d be willing to share the details with our enemy.”
    Is he brilliant, then, as well as handsome? Cecily wondered. “The Queen does not want to be Rajasthan’s enemy,” she began, “but only its patron, its protector…”
    “Be