Unmarriageable(102)

‘You force me to see myself too,’ Alys said. ‘When I think of the things I said about you and your loyalty, I’m so mortified. You’re the most loyal person I know. You’re always courteous to Sherry – the way you called out Hammy for belittling her accent. You gave me a book that meant so much to you, and then you genuinely wanted to hear my views on it. You were so hospitable to my aunt and uncle. Juju’s music teacher called you humble. All these things may have been enough for me to revise my opinion of you, but the way you dealt with your sister’s predicament, the way you expressed sorrow for her situation without blaming or castigating her for it, the way you acknowledged your mother’s sexuality without judging her harshly, as too many other sons would have, I came to admire you even more.’

Darsee pulled Alys close as they walked deeper into the fruit grove.

‘The things I said,’ he said, ‘about your family. Right or wrong, I shouldn’t have said them, or at least not like that. And how ashamed I’ve been over suggesting you not meet them as much as you might want.’

‘You should be ashamed,’ Alys said, smiling sweetly, ‘but I accept your apology.’

‘So very kind of you,’ Darsee said playfully.

‘You didn’t give me any signal at Jena and Bungles’s engagement that you still had feelings for me.’

‘You didn’t give me any signal,’ Darsee said. ‘The last I talked to you in Lahore in Nona’s living room, you brought up Laila from Sunlight and how she was in love with a poor man. I imagined you were trying to tell me that you loved some poor man. Clearly I am not poor.’

‘Clearly you are not poor.’ Alys laughed. ‘A nice bonus for me. I’m joking.’

‘I have something for you,’ Darsee said. ‘It was my mother’s.’

Darsee slipped a small sapphire ring onto Alys’s finger. It was perfect. It was full of heart.

‘I love you,’ Darsee said shyly. ‘I’m madly in like with you.’

‘I love you and I’m madly in like with you too,’ Alys said, equally shy. ‘When did you know you liked me?’

‘From the very first look, and even more when you spoke.’

Alys laughed. ‘I overheard you telling Bungles I was unattractive and not smart.’

Darsee gave a guilty smile. ‘I was merely trying to get him to leave me alone and stop setting me up with anyone. I had no intentions of falling in love, and I resisted you as long as I could.’

‘Your Beena Aunty will be in hysterics,’ Alys said.

‘She’s the reason I’m here,’ Darsee said. ‘She called me. She said she’d had words with you but, rude girl that you are, you refused to refuse marrying me if I asked you. I took that as my sign, and here I am.’

Alys did not suppress her smile. ‘But why would she think we’re engaged?’

Darsee reddened. ‘I may have inadvertently praised you one too many times.’

‘I see. Well, how very delighted Beena Aunty will be when she discovers she’s played Cupid in our love story.’

‘She’ll be thrilled.’ Darsee grinned.

‘My Aunty Nona too,’ Alys said, ‘has, unbeknownst to her, played a role in our love story, as has Juju. If Aunty Nona didn’t make cakes and Juju hadn’t ordered a cake, I would never have turned up at your house – although, had I known it was for your house, I would never have even sat in the car, let alone delivered it.’

‘I know,’ Darsee said. ‘I’m so glad you didn’t know it was my house and that you came, because, clearly, ignorance made all the difference. Although, in any case, I would have sought you out.’

‘It should have occurred to me that since your aunt’s house is Versailles of Pakistan, then yours could very well be Buckingham Palace. What was your other aunt’s house named, the White House?’

‘Bingo.’ Darsee blushed. He took hold of Alys’s hands and he kissed them. ‘You win a lifetime’s supply of anything you want.’

‘I have everything,’ Alys said. She loved her hands in Darsee’s grip. She thought back to the all-too-brief moment when their fingers had connected, and now she finally allowed herself to fall into the full luxury of a touch she’d dreamt about but had thought impossible. ‘I don’t think my life could be any more perfect than it is at this moment.’





CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX





‘Dracula proposed and you accepted?’ Mr Binat said. ‘But you detest him.’

‘Over time, I’ve come to like Dracula very much.’

‘Alysba, my princess.’ Mr Binat peered at her. ‘I don’t have to say this to you, but I will. If you are feeling forced to accept this offer because of his assets, which I agree are hard to ignore, please do not. You of all my daughters will not thrive on money and prestige alone.’

‘Will you feel better if I tell you I respect him?’

‘Respect Dracula!’

‘We must stop calling him Dracula.’ Alys laughed. ‘I have discovered that he has the humility to admit to a mistake and the ability to change.’

‘Humility! That man?’

‘Yes,’ Alys said. ‘That man.’