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- - Miss Sahib Evelyn, are you ready?
In a panic, Evelyn straightened, removed her leg from the chair, put the mirror on the table.
- - Your mother is waiting for you.
- - Yes, Miana, come in please. You will help me get dressed.
An overweight nanny, waddling around like a duck from side to side, entered the room. In her hands she held a new dress Evelyn, made of orange lace. Miana helped the girl to comb her long hair, the two of them divided them into two gold-casting wings, wove heavy braids that were laid on her head in the form of a crown. Then the nanny pulled the whalebone corset over Evelyn - - it made the girl's waist surprisingly narrow. After that, Miana brought Evelyn up her petticoat with starched cryolina and deftly put it over her head. Three more minutes and Evelyn already had a ball lace dress. While Miana, clumsily moving with thick fingers, fastened the pearl buttons on the pupil's back one by one, Evelyn decided to return to the questions she had asked in the morning.
- - Miana, please tell me - - why were you hoarsely punished today?
- - When will you stop being so annoying, Miss Sahib? With your curiosity, you can easily ask for trouble.
- - But I am not asking anything special. I'm just curious.
- - Yes, I really and I do not know what's the matter. After all, this sipai is from the north, and here many of those places are notorious.
- - So what, what from the north? What is he wrong with?
- - I said I do not know. Probably refused to execute any order ... Rather, you should have come.
Evelyn sighed. In the garrison, Miana was famous for being aware of all daily affairs. Whatever happened in the family of an English officer or in the life of a sepoi soldier, it became known to her the same day. And in general, Miana liked being invited to a cup of tea to gossip. But sometimes, for unknown reasons, Miana became impregnable, it was impossible to extract a word from her. Evelyn realized that now is just such a case and nothing can be done about it ...
* * *
The hall in which everything was ready for dancing shone with a multitude of lights. A military band was located on the stage, today it was represented by musicians of the cavalry regiment - this was noticeable in the scarlet uniforms embroidered with gold lace. The handsome conductor waved his wand and the sounds of the first waltz flowed. Women's dresses, mostly written out from England, vied with each other in an effort to keep up with Paris fashion. Scotch plaid skirts that looked funny over hairy legs came across among the brilliant officer uniforms ...
On the chairs arranged along the walls sat mothers who did not take their eyes off their daughters waltzing with young officers. The married officers did not dance, together with the senior commanders they gathered in the back of the hall opposite to the orchestra. Dark-skinned servants tacked between them, deftly holding a tray with wine glasses on an outstretched hand. However, it seemed that those who were outside the hall received the most pleasure from the ball. Outside, each window was crowded with women wrapped in saris; many had children in their arms. They watched, fascinated, by the incomprehensible behavior of white people circling in pairs, their wide eyes wondering how they could publicly indulge in such an intimate ritual.
With her head thrown back, Evelyn danced with a lieutenant who had just arrived in India.She liked the waltz, and she willingly surrendered herself to the rhythm of the music and the strong hands of her partner. Intoxicating ecstasy made the body airy, weightless, did not want to think about anything, but close your eyes and whirl, whirl ...
Suddenly Evelyn heard her father’s voice. Yes it was him. Now she and her cavalier were near a group of officers, in the center of which stood Colonel Bellingham and Major Granville.
- - What are we going to do with hopping? Did he get great today? “Granville asked.”
- - with Abulscher? Actually, he's a nice guy. Only, like all these people, is too masterful. May be obstinate and not execute the order. But to expel him is not worth it. He's a real wizard of horses. They listen to him like no one else. It would be best to put him as a groom in a house to one of the senior officers. Maybe to you, Granville?
- - No, thanks, I have a good groom. But I know that your Evelyn often rides around the neighborhood. And one. And it is not safe! What if you take Abulscher for Evelyn? He would become, as they used to say, her groom.
- - Um, this is probably a good idea. Tomorrow in the morning I will talk about this with Farig. It is said that in the north, among Muslims, it is customary to treat women with special reverence. In any case, they protect their own wives so that they keep them locked up.
And both laughed.
Evelyn's heart sank, then quickened. From the stage swept the last chords of the next dance. Evelyn nodded to the lieutenant, apologized, and hastily headed towards the ladies' toilet. But she did not enter there, but rushed to the exit. The gatekeeper opened the door for her and Evelyn went out into the garden.
Getting from the brightly lit room into the darkness, she stopped. The night came full of the cicadas crackling and the croaking of tree frogs. And somewhere far away came the howl of a hungry hyena. Gradually, Evelyn's eyes settled, and she walked to the stables, darkened behind the fence. Having gone half way, she slowed her pace. "What am I doing? Where am I going? To him? What for? What shall I tell him? ” But there were no answers, before his eyes stood a bronze body, which twitched to itself, shuddering before each blow of the scourge a back, streams of blood flowing down it ...
Behind the girl, heavy footsteps were heard. Looking around in dismay, she recognized Nasim, her father's servant. He recognized her too.
- - Miss Sahib Evelyn, what are you doing here?
- - I ... I want to see ... Abulshera.
- - Abulshera ?!
- - Yes, him. He will now deal with my horses, and I would like to talk to him about this.
“Why do you bother yourself, miss sahib?” I will give him all your orders. And make sure everything is done.
- - No, I ... I need myself. Be kind, call Abulscher here.
- - As you like, Miss Sahib.
Delaying a surprised look on Evelyn, Nasim retired. She began to wait. Time dragged on for a long time. Now, in Evelyn, two opposing desires were fighting: to run away from here and see a man who was attracting to himself like a magnet. Dancing is still ongoing, of course. There, among the lights and flowers, so cozy ... And most importantly - - safely. Evelyn had already taken a step, but an unknown force held her down. “God, how stupid it is. What am I afraid of? He is only a servant. What a fool I am! We need to pull myself together ... Lord, let it come out ... "
- - Miss Sahib ...
The voice was low, but in Evelyn’s ears the spoken word sounded like a shot.
- - You ... you ...
The right words did not go to Evelyn's mind. The face of the thali was bewildering.
- - You called me?
Only now Evelyn looked at him. She was surprised that near Abulscher was even higher than it seemed from a distance. Thalec was dressed in a long white shirt, wearing a dress that reached his knees. There was no turban on the head, black hair was cut short. Despite the darkness, Evelyn looked at his eyes - ... Read more →