Monsoon Mists by Christina Courtenay Page A

back on his heels and stared at her. ‘Why yes, that is good indeed, but where did you learn?’ There weren’t that many English people in Surat so he was surprised to find this little thief speaking their language.
    ‘My fader work English family. I listen. I learn.’ She nodded, obviously proud of herself. And rightly so, Jamie thought. She must have a very quick mind.
    He smiled back at her. ‘What is your name?’
    ‘Roshani. And this Kutaro.’ She indicated the mutt, whose mouth opened in a wide grin as if he was pleased to see Jamie. The curly tail wagged as well.
    ‘Er, right.’ Jamie decided it wouldn’t be prudent to stroke the dog, no matter how friendly he looked. He probably came with a whole host of unwanted ‘guests’ in his fur. ‘But why are you here?’
    ‘ Sahib save Roshani life, now give it you, serve always.’
    ‘What?’ Jamie frowned. ‘You’re … offering yourself to me as a servant?’ Roshani nodded, still smiling. ‘But you’re only a child! How old are you? You can’t be more than, what six?’
    ‘I eight. Want serve sahib , all life.’ She added something in her own language and Jamie’s servant translated sotto voce into Hindi.
    ‘She says because you saved her life, it belongs to you now. She will serve you forever, give her life for you if needed. She knows she is small but she’ll grow stronger.’
    Jamie shook his head. ‘No, this is not necessary. I only wanted you to stop thieving.’ He fixed Roshani with his sternest gaze. ‘Stealing from people is bad. You should find a job instead if you must earn money. You have no obligation to me whatsoever.’
    Her face fell and the big, brown eyes filled with unshed tears. Jamie wasn’t sure if she was a phenomenally good actress or if they were genuine, but felt moved all the same.
    ‘You don’t owe me your life,’ he clarified.
    ‘Don’t want steal. Uncle make me. He bad.’
    ‘You live with your uncle?’
    ‘Yes, fader dead. Uncle big thief, outside town. How you say, bandit? Make me little thief. If not …’ She mimed hitting.
    ‘He’ll beat you?’ Jamie guessed. Roshani nodded. ‘And there is nowhere else you can go? No one who can take care of you?’
    ‘No, family all gone.’ Her expression turned hopeful. ‘Sleep outside sahib house? Me and Kutaro. Guard.’
    Jamie almost laughed out loud. The idea of him being guarded by a scrawny eight-year-old and a mutt was ludicrous, but he could see that Roshani was in earnest. He stood up and pushed his fingers through his hair, which was hanging in front of his eyes and adding to his irritation. ‘Oh, hell,’ he muttered, then looked to the servant for support. ‘What am I supposed to do with her? I can’t have an eight-year-old girl living in my household. It wouldn’t be seemly. And I obviously can’t send her back to a life of crime.’
    ‘If she stays in the servant quarters, my wife is there,’ the servant said, somewhat dubiously.
    Jamie weighed his options. He could either have Roshani carry out her threat of sleeping on his doorstep, and probably following him around too with the mangy cur on her heels, or he could compromise by allowing her to stay in the house as a servant. He took a deep breath and decided on the second option.
    ‘Very well, if you’re sure Soraya won’t mind, Kamal? Perhaps you can find the girl some tasks to perform? Something light, like, I don’t know … chopping vegetables? Running errands? But she’s to be thoroughly cleaned first. I’ll not have fleas in my house, do you hear? And find her some new clothes, those can be burned.’ He glanced at her threadbare tunic , which wasn’t fit for anyone. ‘I’ll pay for new ones.’
    ‘Do you understand, Roshani?’ he added, looking at her. ‘You can stay here as my servant, but only because I want to help you. You don’t owe me your life and you can leave at any time.’
    ‘Yes, sahib . Stay here. Kutaro too?’
    Jamie eyed the dog, whose grin seemed