Chapter Ten.
As Tara's belly grew, the land was peaceful. The only active riders were the couriers that raced off with letters and conveyances from the Rani to Governor Rose.
And still, no force was sent to reinforce her lands nor fill the fort once again with loyal sepoy battalions. Indeed now, with such a lack of interest, many voices were turned to discuss true independence from the English, but Lakshmi Bai would need no words nor give her ear to such calls.
In the throne room, with Tara sitting upon cushions, to gentle her condition, the Rani dismissed any talk of independence and resolved to keep her son's title intact with an English promise of support.
"I have been sent word that a force will be arriving in due course. It has been months of peace now, and I am sure that when the English do arrive, it will be in friendship,"
On the dusty spring roads, now dry from the rains, the whole might of the English garrisons had massed and taken the weary march under the command of the Governor himself and with all his cannon, horses and supplies. The whole undertaking had taken months to organise and put into action, now less than weeks from the border of Jhansi, Rose and his officers say around the camo fire pondering their action upon crossing into Jhansi territory.
"It is my intention to demand their immediate surrender and then if that is not forthcoming, we will take the fort and the place by assault!" Rose announced, flushed by the amount and strength of the brandy he had brought with him, " I expect they will surrender, once they have seen the strength of the force that we have to put against them!" Rose made the last comment down his third large glass of French brandy and called for his Indian manservant to bring the decanter and recharge his glass. Carstairs, the most junior officer, well-liked by his brother officers but detested by Rose remained quiet. His comments, although usually adroit were often ridiculed and ignored by the overblown pomposity of the Governor. He waited until the officers broke up and either went to their beds or stayed drinking with the Governor. Captains Weatherby and Morris took to their own fire and sat sorrowfully.
Weatherby, a seven-year veteran of India and Morris a mere four-year posting knew what Rose had meant by 'assault', "That means he will pelt the wall with shot, like the days of my father! He will then order us to climb a breach and get bloody slaughtered as they did in the days of Napoleon!" He prodded his meagre fire with a piece of wood, stirring it to life. Weatherby sighed,
"It'll be you first Carstairs old boy, the Governor hates you more than he hates us," Weatherby looked across at him and saw Carstairs looking at the night sky.
"It's not simply storming the breach, I have been finding out about this Lakshmi Bai and the battles she's had to face. Her forces have defeated two attempts to have her lands taken by others and I don't think Rose has thought this one through. By the time, we reach her borders, we will be spotted and she'll have a week to gather her forces. I have a horrible notion, that we will be on the end of a stiff fight and even if we take Jhansi, this won't be over quickly.
By the time, Tara had entered the last stage of her pregnancy, her round bump was clearly visible and both she and Deewan were proud of her size. They had continued to make love, sealing their promise to each other and when the news came that English forces had been seen approaching Jhansi lands, Deewan had sent more reliable eyes to have the sighting confirmed and make provision for her departure to a safer place,
"I will not leave our home," Tara protested. She protested but her maids were packing for a long journey,
"Tara, my love. The English come and if the reports are true, they do come to reinforce the Rani but they are set for war and siege. The Rani has been betrayed and I must have you safe. Our little tiger, you carry in your belly must live and carry on with his mother's love and his father's name. Once it is safe, I will come and fetch you myself," He held her tenderly and stroked her full belly,
"Where am I going?" She asked meekly. Deewan smiled warmly and kissed her forehead, a favourite tenderness that always made her feel better,
"Kalpi, the town is near enough for you to travel. Her excellence has arranged an escort of cavalry for you and I know that there is a garrison of men that support our independence. Dosh Khan will accompany you and then return, he will leave three trusted men and you will have your maids and the wise women to ensure you are safe." Deewan smiled, his confidence was well-founded. Kalpi was far to the east, and should the English attempt a siege, then Tatya Tope and his 20,000 men would be on the roads quickly and their second base would be Kali after Gwalior, where he was currently reported to be.
"You will send for me soon if the English prove friendly?" Tara asked and looked into his eyes for a hope that was dashed.
"I fear the English are here for war and I will not risk you in a street-by-street running battle. Even the Rani will have to abandon her palace and seek safety in the Star Fort if I miss my guess."
Lakshmi Bai sat upon her throne with her son by her side. They had been spending much of the days together and The Rani had ordered Gobinder to train the young boy in sword and musket, already a competent horseman. She had ordered a sword to be forged to fit the boy's stature and a carbine had been shortened for his hands to hold and fire accurately. In the evenings, after she had seen him to bed, she would join Gobinder in her tower, sometimes they talked but mostly they made love. Their time seemed to be dwindling, evaporating like the morning mists. The approach of the vast forces brought a terrible sense of betrayal and she clung to his strong body and cherished the feel of his stiffness inside her.
"Gobinder, It seems our time of peace is over. We must decide now whether we surrender to them and give up my rights, my home and my son's inheritance or fight!" She asked dreamily, her body a sheen of fine perspiration after their passionate love-making.
"Fight, My Rani. Fight for your right to your lands. Fight for the young Damodar Rao and finally fight for your people, "Gobinder held her, his skin slippery with his own sweat. He could smell her body and their sex but he could not let her go.
"Then my love, I will fight. I will not declare it to the English force. I will keep my noble reserve and await their warlike actions but you may make a speech to my forces!" Lakshmi sighed and pulled him close.
The next weeks brought the full might of the English army to the full view of the defenders. In the English camp, the European officers gambled on who would win their next commissions in battle, gambled on whom could drain the mess canteen of heavy red wine and frolicked with camp followers, including whores. To them, the war was an opportunity for wealth, notoriety, and sort. Governor Rose took a more serious approach. He had much to organise, buried in his large campaign tent under paper, lists and the engine of war, supplies. At night, he would indulge in his brandy and sometimes, when the junior officers were giddy enough, he would watch their antics. One of his current favourites, the young dashing Captain Harry Grey and his younger brother; Captain Charles Grey, was always happy to drink his superior's brandy and indulge his particular eccentricity for watching women being used.
The native girls would never return to Grey's tent, despite being paid in golden guineas as more than one man was unusual for them and often took much to tolerate for one than one night, but Greys had an insatiable perversion, and their eager audience would pay for his entertainment.
Tonight, as the camp slumbered, secure by properly organised, and alert piquets and experienced cavalry patrols were covering the outlying areas of the camp. The army was well-ordered and so the Greys could send for a whore from the camp brothel and have them escorted by obedient man-servant to the large campaign tent in complete discretion and safe from banditry or Jhansi attack. The Greys, already standing in loose clothing chatted quietly, and their superior sat in the shadows waiting for the show to begin. As the burly bearded man-servant, Kabir, walked the pretty girl into the tent, both the Grey smiled gratefully and nodded with appreciation as she entered,
"You have done well, Kabir; if you would stand sentry for us, we would be eternally grateful. The manservant nodded, now assured of gold and perhaps if the little whore was not too damaged, he might have some entertainment; but on second thought he doubted she would be willing to accommodate him if the Greys used her like the others.
The girl, a slender native with large eyes highlighted with dark kohl make-up and dressed in the customary red and gold saree of her profession was not inexperienced but had not expected two white officers, and glancing around the room, a third tucked in the shadows. She possessed a winning smile and a medium pair of smooth breasts; in fact, she was perfect in every detail in the eyes of the Grey brothers,
"How may I please you, Sahib?" She asked Harry, seemingly the more authoritative of the two officers, Her eyes lowered submissively, as so many men enjoyed. Harry walked over to her smiled welcomingly and escorted her to the long couch, that they had placed there earlier in the evening, and then took a moment to admire her,
"My dear, my brother and I are new to your beautiful land and we wish to delve deeply into its treasures, we would ask you to dance for us," Harry, armed with a charming, lilting tone and warm manner put the girl at ease. Unbeknownst to her was the depth of their desires but she would experience the darkest of them.
