This is a story that involves sex between males. If such a story is offensive, or illegal for you to read where you live, then do not continue, go and surf elsewhere.
This is a work of fiction and in no way draws on the lives of any specific person or persons. If there is any similarity to any real persons or events it is entirely coincidental.
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My thanks to John who has read this through and made a number of corrections and suggestions. Any remaining errors , grammatical, spelling or historical or whatever are entirely my fault.
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Part 12
There was a stir around the room as everyone realised that, for what they had been waiting so patiently, had now happened. Lex bowed to Soumitra, who was now the Regent. He walked across to Sushmita, and for a moment held her hand. Tears poured from their eyes, and neither could speak.
Lex then turned to Ashokah. The ten year old boy was standing beside his mother, trying manfully to be brave, not to cry, and appear as the Rajah of Landerabad. Lex went down on one knee and bowed his head, "Rajadhiraz." He knew that it was his personal acknowledgement of sympathy for the lad, and also a serious political statement. The British, the now dominant power in India, in the person of its Resident, were saying that Ashokah was the true and lawful successor to his father as Rajah.
Lex rose to his feet, took three steps backward, bowed and walked slowly from the room. All eyes had been on him. The closeness of Lex's friendship with Kainshka had been acknowledged and accepted for a long time. Some knew the extent of the relationship, but did not care because it had made their Rajah a happy and fulfilled man. There were a few, a very few, who were unhappy about what had occurred between the two men. There was no criticism at all, only fulsome praise, for the way Lex had conducted himself during the last few weeks.
As he stepped into the Char Bagh, the formal but beautiful garden to the Palace, a great gong sounded from the roof. Years before Kainshka had told him that when a Rajah dies a great gong sounded from the roof to inform the City below. It would sound about every minute until the funeral pyre was lit.
Lex walked down through the various courtyards of the Royal Palace. There was a subdued stir and fever of excitement as people heard and realised the implications of the booming gong.
When Lex emerged through the final gateway into the town two figures slipped from the shadows and walked beside him. He knew immediately who they were. He did not need to look at them to make sure. Lightly they held his arms and escorted him back to the Residence.
Many of the staff of the Residence were still up and at their posts, for this was no ordinary day. They had all become used to Sahl and Mohi being with Lex. They took him up the stairs to his sleeping room. Inside the booming gong was much fainter.
Sahl went over to a cupboard and removed a small bottle. He poured from it a few drops and added some water, and gave it to Lex. "Drink it, Sahib Lex."
"What is it?"
"It will help you sleep."
"I don't want to sleep."
"Your body and your mind need sleep. The next few days will demand much of you. It will send you to sleep for four or five hours. No more. Drink!"
Lex took it, and drank it. He started removing his clothes and was assisted by his two faithful servants. Just in his lightest underpants, he slipped into the bed, and was soon asleep. Sahl crouched down on his haunches, with his back against the wall, and kept watch.
Five hours later Lex opened his eyes. There was a lightening of the darkness around the blinds, and the cocks were beginning to crow. He stirred and saw Mohi crouching with his back to the wall.
Mohi rose and brought some water across to Lex. "If you are like me, you will be thirsty after that sleeping potion."
His words made Lex realise just how thirsty he was. He drank deeply, and Mohi fetched him some more.
"The servants have brought up water for you to wash. I will go and get you some food."
Lex washed and dressed' dreading the day ahead. He knew that it was the funeral custom in Landerabad for the corpse to be cremated on a specially built pyre. This was to be lit by the closest relative; in this case it would be by the young Ashokah. It did not require much imagination to know how he would have felt if he had had to light the pyre beneath his father. It had been bad enough seeing his father's coffin placed in the family tomb at Whitgest. He offered up a prayer for young Ashokah, but then he was not sure to whom he was praying. Was it to the Christian God he had worshipped Sunday by Sunday back home, or was it one of the Hindu gods of this part of India? He wondered if it really mattered.
Mohi returned with some food. Lex forced himself to eat, and then prepared himself for the Palace. Lex knew that he would be included amongst the official party of immediate family, the Council and friends, who would be close to the pyre.
Lex was escorted by a small detatchment of sepoys as he walked among the crowds who were making their way toward the cremation site. This was just outside the Palace, on a saddle in the ridge between the Palace and the higher mountains behind. It was a flat area, and in the middle of it was a stone platform. Some years before Kainshka had pointed it out to him.
Lex went into the Palace, where a procession began to form up. First there would be an escort of the old Rajah's personal guard. All of them were well known to Lex. Next would come the body carried on a special stretcher by some of Kainshka's closest servants. This was followed by Ashokah with his brothers close behind. The members of the Council followed, with Lex immediately behind them.
Slowly they processed out of a small door in the Palace wall, onto the open area. The booming gong sounded very loud. The rising slope of the mountainside beyond was full of people. The immediate area around the stone platform was empty of people. On the platform was the funeral pyre. This had been carefully constructed, with quantities of oil poured over it so that it would burn easily. Incense had been placed in it.
The body was placed on the pyre and a Hindu priest stepped forward and offered up a simple prayer. An attendant with a lighted torch in his hand stepped forward and handed it to Ashokah. The young lad stepped forward and thrust the lighted torch into the prepared place in the pyre. The gong gave its final sound. Ashokah took several paces back before turning to stand just in front of his brothers. Lex saw his lips quiver, and a tear glistening on his cheek. For a moment little seemed to happen, and then there were flames which quickly spread. Lex knew that soon there would be nothing left of his beloved Kainshka.
It was at that moment Lex began to think of the Indian custom of suttee. It was fortunately not the expected practice in Landerabad, but in some other States it was the custom for the widow of the deceased to throw herself on to the flaming pyre. For a fleeting moment the thought that he could understand that, and would like to do it now, passed through his mind.
It was a custom that the British were beginning to seek to stop. Lex thought it must have begun with a widow in a voluntary act of loving devotion, and then came to be expected, and finally as in some States was now an act of compulsory obedience.
There was very little smoke, and the fire burnt fiercely. All was consumed. In a very short while there was nothing left but ashes and a wisp of two of smoke. They went back into the Palace. Lex paid his respects to Ashokah and said his father would have been very proud of him. Much to his surprise the young lad threw has arms round Lex and hugged him, his tears dampening Lex's clothes. As soon as he was able, Lex made his way back to the Residence. There was a report to be written for the powers that be in Calcutta.
He found it very difficult to concentrate. He wrote a sentence or two and then his mind wandered, and his grief overtook him. His servants were unobtrusively attentive.
When evening came Sahl came into Lex. "Sahib, the nights are worst at times like this. I shall be with you tonight."
"Sahl, you don't have to."
"I shall give you something to make you sleep. But someone should be there, in case you wake. The hours of darkness are very long when a man's heart is full of sorrow."
"You're a good man, Sahl. Maybe you're right, and I do need looking after, and to be cared for."
"I shall be waiting for you in your sleeping room. However early or late you wish to seek sleep."
Lex went and tried to write a bit of his report. It was too painful. He went outside and watched the moon rise. There was a still beauty all around. In his heart he was grateful he did not need to face the night alone, even though the sleeping draught would almost certainly give him as much sleep as it had the night before.
When Lex woke the following morning he saw Mohi crouched down on his haunches with his back against the wall. He shook his head. "I thought it was Sahl keeping watch last night."
"He did the first watch, I did second."
"Thanks anyway to you both."
Lex rose went naked into the next room to relieve himself. He was conscious of Mohi's appraising eyes.
The next night Sahl gave Lex his sleeping potion. "I am giving you a little less. You must not become dependant on it. It's strong stuff."
Lex slept well.
The following night Mohi was on the first watch, and it was a good hour before he fell asleep. He found talking to Mohi a help. He asked about the man's childhood, and what had made him become a muleteer. He was no longer that but in the direct employment of Lex as a stableman. Mohi, who was always the bold one, asked Lex questions about his boyhood, and life in England.
So the pattern went on for four or five nights. When Lex said that he did not need a night watchman, they insisted that he needed to have someone to talk to if necessary. Sometimes the talking went on for a couple of hours. Sometimes Lex woke in the middle of the night, and they talked for a while until sleep overtook Lex.
It was some ten days or more after Kainshka's death that Mohi was keeping watch over Lex. They had been difficult days for Lex. There were times when his grief seemed insurmountable. There were times when he was angry, particularly at God, or the gods, for taking Kainshka away. There were times when he expected Kainshka to appear, he could not believe he would never see him again. He saw Sushmita several times, and they were able to share their feelings. Lex met Ashokah and Soumitra, the regent, several times on official business. Ashokah was trying to take his part as Rajah seriously, knowing that he had much to learn; but there was another side of him that wanted to be out playing, especially playing cricket with his brothers and friends.
On the night in question Lex had gone quickly to sleep for the first time. He woke at some dark hour, and found that he needed to relieve himself, which was unusual for him. Mohi was crouched by the bed in his usual posture. It was a cold night, and a cold wind seemed to blow through the shutters,
"You look cold."
Mohi pulled his clothes tighter around himself.
"You are cold. Get into bed, there is plenty of room for two."
"But Sahib, I'm only a ....."
"Do what you're told. There is room for the two of us."
Mohi looked at Lex and then at his dhoti.
"Yes, and take that off too. I have seen a naked Indian more than once."
With some embarrassment Mohi dropped his dhoti and got into the bed. It was a large bed and there was more than ample room for the two of them. Lex lay as close to the edge of his side of the bed as he could, keeping his back towards Mohi. The Indian took up the minimum of his side of the bed, with his back towards Lex.
Mohi took a little longer than Lex in getting to sleep. He was surprised at the new situation and wondered what Sahl would have to say about it. Sahl did creep into the room an hour or so later, and when he saw the two men lying on the edges of the bed with a great expanse between them but with both fast asleep, he smiled and crept from the room.
Mohi woke first in the morning. He first thought that the warm body pressing against him was the familiar one of Sahl. He was next conscious of the strangeness of his surroundings, but soon realised where he was, and that it was Sahib Lex who was softly snoring in his ear. He also felt a hard prick lightly touching his left buttock. He lay there wondering what to do.
Then Lex stirred and snuggled closer to Mohi. He muttered, "Kainy," and put an arm across.
The prick pressing against him grew harder. Mohi was now trapped, he could not risk moving without waking Lex. He had a quiet smile as his predicament. As always he could see the funny side.
Slowly Lex came to consciousness. For a fleeting moment he did think that it was Kainshka with him, but the moment he opened his eyes he realised and remembered that was not so, and that he was lying alongside Mohi. To make matters worse, his arm was holding Mohi close, and a very hard morning prick was pressed against his Indian servant.
Mohi noted the change in Lex's breathing. "Sahib Lex, are you awake?" he whispered softly.
Lex went to pull his arm away so that he could move away. But Mohi grabbed his arm, and moved Lex's hand down so it touched his own hard prick. At the same time he pushed his buttocks back making Lex aware that Mohi knew about the hard on. "I'm like you, Sahib Lex."
Lex allowed his hand to feel Mohi's prick.
"Would you like me to attend to your needs, Sahib Lex?"
Lex closed his eyes, and thought, `Now, what am I letting myself in for?' "Do you think you should?" and then "Yes, please."
Mohi turned over, and gently pushed Lex on to his back. His hand felt down for Lex's prick. His rough hand grasped it gently. He began to do what he had done so many times to Sahl and also to himself.
Lex let out a great sigh, and then his whole body stiffened. "Ahhhh." Great jets of seed shot from his prick all over his stomach and Mohi's hand.
"How long has it been, Sahib?"
"Ten days or more."
"That is too long."
They lay there silently for several minutes.
"But you have needs too!" Lex reached over and took hold of Mohi.
"No Sahib, you don't have to. I'm your servant."
"I think for a long while you've been more than a servant. And after what you've just done for me, you certainly are. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander."
It took Lex a little longer before Mohi was threshing around on the bed as his seed shot all over the place.
"Is mine goose sauce or gander sauce, Sahib?"
Lex laughed. It was a real laugh, the first laugh since Kainshka's death. "Mohi, my dear friend, you're impossible."
They lay for a while side by side as the spunk dried on them.
"Mohi, what will Sahl say?" asked Lex with a strong note of anxiety in his voice.
"He will be happy, as long as you are happy, Sahib."
"I only hope you're right."
"I'll tell him when we are alone together."
"Does Sahib Lex wish to go for a ride this morning?"
A look of pain came into Lex's eyes, and for a moment Mohi thought he had asked the wrong thing. Often early morning rides had been with Kainshka, and Lex had not gone out since early on in Kainshka's illness. He thought. "Yes, I think that would be a good thing to do."
"I will get your horse ready, Sahib." Mohi rose from the bed and stood boldly and unashamedly naked in the full view of Lex.
"Thanks Mohi. You've got a beautiful body. I hope Sahl appreciates it."
"Yes, he does." Mohi put on his dhoti, and walked to the door. He turned and gave Lex a flirtatious grin. "And now it's yours as well." He quickly disappeared.
Lex lay back and shook his head. Life was never dull were Mohi was concerned.
That evening when Lex went up to his bedroom Sahl was waiting outside the door.
"You on duty tonight, Sahl?"
"Not duty, Sahib Lex. We want to be a help."
"You have certainly been that." He led the way into the room. He turned to face Sahl. "Has Mohi said any thing to you?"
"About last night?"
"Yes."
"Are you happy about what happened between Mohi and myself up here?"
"Yes, very, Sahib. We would do anything for you, Sahib. Anything, including what happened. Mohi didn't think it a duty, it was for him a pleasure, and he hopes it was for you too."
"It was. But what about you, how to do you feel about it. Mohi is your very special companion. You only do it together, do you not?"
"Yes. We keep to each other."
"Until last night."
"But that was different."
"In what way?"
"You're special, Sahib. I don't know how to put this Sahib Lex, without it sounding wrong. We don't think of you as our Sahib, though we call you that. You are more, ....I hope you will not be angry, Sahib. We'd do anything, including, perhaps especially because you are ....more a friend."
Lex bowed his head for a moment. He looked up at Sahl and smiled.
Sahl's face lit up with relief.
"I'm honoured, Sahl, that you think of me in that way. Yes, you are certainly more than a servant. Yes, you are friends."
"We are friends."
"As a rather special friend, will you sleep alongside me tonight?"
"Yes, Sahib," said Sahl and it sounded rather more enthusiastic than he really intended.
"Let's prepare for sleep then."
Lex disappeared to wash himself. Sahl had washed thoroughly before coming across to the Residency, as he had been hoping for what had happened.
Lex came back into the room, to find Sahl standing around not knowing what to do. "If it had been Mohi he would have been stark naked on the bed waiting for me."
"Mohi is always a little forward, Sahib."
Lex laughed. "And you can say that again." Lex undressed the remainder of his clothes, and Sahl undid his dhoti and stood naked, but slightly embarrassed in front of Lex. When Lex got on the bed Sahl copied and they lay with nearly two feet between them, looking at each other.
"May I tell you something, Sahl? When you were caught with Mohi all those years ago, I began to wonder and imagine what the two of you did. In the long months between then and the start of my real friendship with Kainshka I often wondered if the two of you would be willing to make it a threesome. But there was Alan Smith around in those days. I thought for me to have anything going between us would make life here at the Residency very complicated and difficult. So I didn't do anything. But here we are! You are in bed with me."
"Sahib Lex. Because you were so interested in us, and good to us, we thought you might well be like us. Then we saw what was happening with you and the Rajah, we were pleased. We were bad, Sahib Lex, we too wondered what it would be like to do things with an Englishman, especially with the Resident himself. We wonder how big your land was. We wondered what you would like to do. I think we were like naughty schoolboys."
Lex laughed. "Mohi is still like a naughty schoolboy at times."
"I tell him off sometimes, Sahib, especially when he says some of the things to you."
"Don't correct him too much. I like him, just as he is. You are a well balanced couple. You are a good influence on him." There was a pause. "So my friend, what do you want to do to me tonight?"
"It is not for me to say, Sahib."
Lex laughed. "And why not?" He reached over and held Sahl's prick in his hand. "I can always say no if you ask for something I don't want to give."
"Sahib." He paused. "Sahib, I would like to put what you are holding, deep into you."
As Sahl spoke Lex felt the member in his hand begin to swell and harden. In its flaccid state it was not impressive, but as he held it, it grew. There was nothing memorable about its length, but its breadth was something else. Lex knew that it was the thickest prick he had ever encountered, and would probably hurt a lot. "So what's holding you back, Sahl?" He gave the prick a squeeze. That triggered it for Sahl.
Sahl roughly pushed Lex over on to his back, and placed himself on all four above him. He forcibly placed Lex's arms above his head, and held him by the wrists. "At long last I've got the Sahib where I want him!" He kissed Lex, forcing his tongue into Lex's mouth, and then he growled as he nibbled at Lex's ears and neck. He lowered his body so that his prick was touching Lex's, then he moved so they lightly rubbed together.
Lex was not used to such love making from Kainshka, but he decided he enjoyed it. He responded by kissing Sahl, and getting his legs round Sahl's legs. Lex got free, and the two of them rolled over, wrestling together.
Even though he was shorter than Lex Sahl was the stronger man. Eventually with many growls and some laughs he got Lex on to his front. He had turned round so his legs were hold down Lex's arms, and he was rubbing his prick on the back of Lex's head. He plunged his face in between Lex's buttocks, rubbing his rather unshaven chin and cheeks into the delicate skin of Lex's arse. Then he started kissing and licking.
"Stay there, Sahib, while I prepare us both."
He got off the bed, and feeling in his discarded clothes removed a small jar. He poured some liquid into Lex's crack and with his finger began to get to work. He was not gentle as Kainshka had always been. Lex wondered what he was letting himself in for. Sahl prepared his own prick and got into position.
Lex felt the head of Sahl's prick on the most delicate point of entry. He wanted it within him, but was fearful.
Sahl was thrust his way in with one long single movement. It was not a sudden jerk, but once started he did not stop until he could go no further. Lex very nearly cried out, for it hurt, - it hurt a great deal. This was far thicker than Kainshka, or any other prick that had been within him.
Sahl helped by keeping the lower part of his body still, but with his mouth, lips and tongue he played with Lex's ears and neck. "I haven't had such a tight gand since the first few times with Mohi."
"I suppose you've opened him up over the years."
"Yes, but he's still a great fuck, as you'll no doubt soon find out. I've no grumbles on that score."
Slowly the tearing pain in Lex's backside began to decrease. In place of the pain came a warm pleasure at being filled. He began to relax. Then he wanted more. He moved his arse very slightly.
"The Sahib is wanting movement?"
"Yes, Sahl, gently to begin with."
Sahl was good. Whether just from the years with Mohi, or with others before, Sahl knew how to give pleasure to Lex. They were both too eager, and their coupling too much of a novelty for either of them to hold out long. Lex was the first too shoot his seed down onto the shayya; that set Sahl off and his prick was soon spurting his seed deep into Lex.
"There is something else I want to do," said Sahl after they had recovered.
"And what's that?"
"I want to get a good close look at your working parts. I've never had a chance with an Englishman."
"Be my guest." Lex rolled over onto his back, opened his legs. "I think you'll find I'm much the same as you down there."
Sahl inspected, not just with his eyes, but also with his mouth. He found some of Lex's seed and licked it. "That tastes good, I shall be wanting more of that. Yes, you are the same. Only the colour of your skin is different."
"I shall put off the full inspection of this," said Lex, holding Sahl's prick, until tomorrow.
Soon they were asleep. Sometime in the middle of the night Lex woke to feel caught between two bodies. He thought it held some interesting prospects.
Lex was woken by Sahl. "What are you doing here, Mohi?"
"I felt lonely."
"You poor thing. I think you were jealous."
"Well, what did the two of you get up to last night?"
"You really want to know?" asked Lex. "He put that great thick monster that lies between his legs up my arse as far as he could go, and I enjoyed every bit of it."
"So you got there first, Sahl?"
The reply Mohi got was a grin.
"Is this some competition, who could fuck me first."
"But I held your cock first, and saw your seed."
There were two or three things strongly on Lex's mind at this time. He was continuing to grieve for Kainshka. But he also spent time thinking over his developing relationship with Sahl and Mohi. It was very much on his mind to wonder what Kainshka would think of it. He remembered that he had expected Lex to find another man or men after he had died; but it had all started with the two so quickly.
He knew that Kainshka was, and always would be, the great love of his life. So how did his new relationships stand beside that? It was Mohi who helped him with his thinking.
Lex had been out for his early morning ride, and Mohi was in the stables waiting to unsaddle and rub down Lex's horse. It had been a good brisk ride, and Lex's mind had been remembering some of the early morning rides with Kainshka. He dismounted, and it all became too much for him. Before he could hand the reins over to Mohi the tears began to flow. He did not want Mohi to see him weeping, so he buried his head in the horse's flank.
But Mohi did see, and understood. He put his hand on Lex's shoulder. "Kainshka?" he whispered.
"Yes. I miss him so much. I thought a lot about him this morning. But there is you and Sahl. You're both so good to me. You mean a lot to me. I feel I am being ungrateful to you two, by being like this over Kainshka."
"Kainshka was the great love of your life, Sahib Lex. Sahl and I can never come near to that."
"But Mohi, you and Sahl mean a lot to me. I enjoy being with you both."
"And not just when we are on the shayya?" added Mohi with a grin.
Lex nodded.
"It is still early days for you after the Rajah. There will always be a part of you mourning for him, and that is good. It shows how much he meant to you. But Sahl and I can never be like that to you. We don't want to be. We love you, Sahib Lex, we want to help you in every way possible for us."
"Thank you, Mohi, you're a good friend." He reached over and ruffled Mohi's hair.
"Before the Rajah, Sahib Lex, you went with other men, did you not?"
"Yes."
"Did any of them mean anything to you?"
Lex thought for a moment. "Yes, back in England, there was Ralph, a stable boy, he was the first one I went with. I liked him a great deal, I still send messages to him through my brother, and he sends messages back. He cannot read or so we cannot write directly to each other. He is married now with a growing number of children."
"Does he still go with men?"
"I think so. He sent a message back to me that he is still the same as ever, and I think that is what he meant by those words."
"Were there any others?"
"Yes, there was my half brother Billy Blackstone."
"Half brother?"
Lex explained the situation to Mohi, who was fascinated by it. "You loved this Billy Blackstone?"
"Yes, I did I feel guilty because we were caught together. My older brother Edward sent him away out of the village. I have often wondered what happened to him."
"If you have wondered that you must have liked him a lot. Were there any Indians before the Rajah?"
"Yes. A servant of mine called Abhijit. We enjoyed each other."
"What happened to him?"
"His father died, and he had to go back to work on his father's land and look after his mother."
"You liked him?"
"A great deal."
"So Sahib Lex, how do these men, Ralph, Billy Blackstone, and the Indian Abhijit stand alongside the Rajah?"
"They're important in my story. I loved them, and would love them still if I ever saw them again. It is all like those hills over there. The highest one is like Kainshka, the slightly lower ones are Ralph, Billy and Abhijit. But they led up to the highest point."
"Perhaps Sahl and I are like those hill tops. Not on the way up to the highest, but on the way down from the highest."
Lex looked at him. "You're not just a pretty face, Mohi."
"Me! a pretty face? I am an ugly old Indian."
"With your lovely brown eyes you will never be ugly, and there are other parts of you that are beautiful."
"Such as?"
"Your lund which I like to suck, your und which I like to hold, and lick, and your gand which I am going to put my lund into tonight, and fill you with my love juice."
Mohi grinned with pleasurable anticipation, then seriously he added. "Sahib Lex, you are not just our Sahib to obey. We enjoy being with you, we want to make and keep you happy. Can I say it, you are our friend for ever."
Regardless of anyone who light see, Lex pulled Mohi close to him and gave him a long hug. "You are special to me too. I will show you again just how special tonight."
They parted; but little did they realise that Mohi's last words were soon to be put to a severe test.
Lex was also concerned about his future. As the new regime, with Ashokah as the new Rajah, and Soumitra as Regent, settled down, Lex increasingly felt his work in Landerabad was done, and he was `yesterday's man'. The way the change had been brought about, without any political disturbance, and without any family blood bath, met with the approval of Company authority in Calcutta. Lex's contribution to the events was recognised.
The whole of the State of Landerabad was full of memories of Kainshka. The roads they had ridden along, the places where they had hunted, the buildings in which they had eaten and often slept, were all full of memories. He hoped these memories would decrease with the passage of time but they gave no hint of doing so.
Lex began to think he should make a move. He knew it would be a painful wrench to leave the place where he had been for so long, and which had so many memories, even though so many of those were poignant. But where could he go. He thought over in his mind the possibility of returning to England. Edward, who had sent him into exile, `never to return' was now dead. He could raise the matter with Thomas when he next wrote. Or he could slip into England, and with his wealth as a returning Nabob purchase an estate well away from Hertfordshire. But England was a small country, the number of gentry was comparatively small. Family connections and friendships criss-crossed the land. Thomas would be very upset if he returned without letting him know. He thought of going to live in France, but that was soon dismissed as the political situation was very unstable. Another possibility he considered was to go and settle in the newly independent American colonies. One attraction was it was a new country, and they did speak the same language. He could go elsewhere in India. He did not think he would take another post with the Company. He was not financially dependant on that. No doubt Mohi and Sahl would go with him where ever he went in India. He could not expect them to cross the oceans with him. So he turned over the pros and cons of each possibility in his mind.
It was the middle of a day late in February 1796 that Lex was preparing to have a siesta. The weather was getting warmer. He was about to retire to the coolest room in the Residence when a servant came in and informed him that a package from Calcutta had just arrived.
Lex was expecting this. These packages with orders, information about the wider world, and very occasionally some personal correspondence arrived every two or three weeks, unless there was an emergency. Something made him go back to his office, so that he could look over what had arrived. The routine stuff could wait until later, there was always the possibility of a letter from Thomas. These were now arriving every one or two months.
There was the usual routine stuff; but there was a letter from England. It was not from Thomas. It was in hand he did not recognise.
He slit it open and read. `My dear Brother-in-Law, Alec, No doubt you are surprised to receive a letter from me, and it is, indeed, with sad news that I write. Three weeks ago, Thomas, my dear husband and your brother, passed on to the fullness of eternal life. The Lord's taking of him was fairly sudden. He had put on much weight over the last few years, and was far removed from the slim young man you would remember. He had a seizure, that left him unable to move or speak. He regained some movement in his limbs, but never spoke again. He was for four days unconscious. He died in my arms at 10.30pm on the evening of the third of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and ninety five. I know that you will grieve at this sad news. I believe that you loved your younger brother, and I know that he loved you. I wish also to make a request to you. I am asking you to return to England. I know that Edward sent you hence, but that is a long while ago, and I do not believe your past activities will be much remembered now. You will return a knight, and a man of wealth, I gather. Our society forgives and forgets all where rank and riches are involved. But my main reason for this request is Charles. He is now seventeen years of age. You may, or may not have guessed, but he is your son. A mother knows these things.'
Lex put down the letter. This was something he had never for a moment considered. It was several minutes before he resumed reading.
`Dear Thomas and I tried for further children all the years of our marriage, but the Lord never gave us one. Dear Thomas never knew or guessed, and loved the boy greatly. Not only is Charles like you in appearance, he has many of the little ways that I remember to be true of you. When writing he strokes the soft part of the quill against his upper lip. When he reads, his right hand often plays with his hair.'
Lex snatched his hand away from his hair, and looked at it. He realised that when reading and concentrating he had always done that.
`He needs a man to be with him, and guide him through his final years on the road to manhood. He needs the wisdom and guidance that only an older man can provide. As I believe Thomas has told you, he is rather a wild and headstrong young man. I am afraid that he may squander his inheritance, especially if he falls into bad company. My own days are numbered. I have a swelling in my left breast, and it grows and becomes more painful. Our local doctor, and the doctors in London, say that within a year I shall be joining my beloved Thomas. So dear Alec, even if you start your journey on the receipt of this letter, I shall be in the Whitgest churchyard before your return. Please return for the sake of our son. Charles does not know you are his father, and I shall not tell him. Your ever loving sister-in-law, Georgina.'
Lex sat in silence, devastated by the news the letter contained. His remaining brother was dead, and that was news enough. But he had a son! It had never occurred to him that the frantic coupling with Georgina, so unexpected, so surprising, so quick, all those years ago, had produced a child. His child. He thought over all that Thomas had told him about the boy. Georgina was right Thomas never for a moment suspected that the child was not his. He did not need to think over what he was to do. He would never forgive himself if he did not move heaven and earth to be with his son, especially as Georgina said that he needed the stabilising help of an older and wiser man. He would return to England as soon as possible.
That night Lex, Sahl and Mohi were preparing for sleep. The two Indians detected that something serious was on Lex's mind. He did not undress as he usually did, but sat on the shayya. They joined him, their eyes on him.
"I have something very serious to tell the two of you. Today I received a letter from England. From it I learnt that I have a son. This was a complete surprise to me."
"You told us you had just once been with a woman," said Sahl in surprise.
"Yes, just once. On my last evening at my old home when the sun was setting, I was outside enjoying the countryside for the last time. Georgina, the girl who was to become my brother's wife in two weeks time joined me on the terrace. We talked, and ... and we ended up making love. I never saw her again. Early the following morning I rode off for London, and for India. I have heard from my brother Thomas over the years. He told me of the birth of his son, Charles. I never for a moment thought the lad was mine. Today I received this letter from Georgina, telling me that my brother Thomas is dead, and that Charles is our son. He is a rather wild and headstrong lad, and needs guidance. Georgina has a painful lump on her breast, and the doctors say she has not many months to live. She asks me to return to England.
Sahl and Mohi looked at each other with consternation.
"I would never forgive myself if I did not do all I could for the son of my flesh. He is now in his late teens, and he is young, he has to run the estate, there is no adult member of the family to help and guide him. I long to see him. I must help him."
"Must you go?" asked Mohi.
"Yes. I'm afraid I must." Lex looked sadly at both of them, he was now realising just how much the two of them meant to him.
"When do you hope to leave?" asked Sahl.
"I must write to Calcutta and say that I want to cease being their Resident here. I must get my things in order, and get back to England as quickly as I can."
The look of sorrow on the Indians' faces deepened. There was silence. The two looked at each other. Lex watched them both, there was no sign of communication between them.
Mohi spoke softly. "Sahib Lex, can we come with you?"
Sahl face lit up slightly, and he nodded in agreement.
Lex looked from one to the other. "You want to come with me?"
"Yes," they both said.
"Do you realise what you are asking. England is a cold country. In the winter there is often snow."
"Snow?" asked Mohi.
"Yes, it is white flaky stuff, frozen rain."
"We sometimes have frozen rain, little balls of ice, up in the hills. They soon become water."
"Snow is soft, and cold. It flutters down from the clouds, sometimes for hours at a time. It forms great drifts. It is very, very cold. It often lies on the ground for many days, sometimes weeks, before the sun is strong and warm enough to turn it into water. Then there are weeks of cold rain. The summers are like your cold season, and do not last long. You would not like it."
They looked at each other. "If you can live there we could." said Sahl.
"Then English ways are not Indian ways. You would have to learn to do things the English way. Eat like the English, do things like Englishmen."
"You could teach us, Sahib Lex," said Sahl.
"Then there is the language. It is difficult for you to learn."
"But you can teach us that too," said Mohi. "So let us start now." he reached over, undid Lex's clothes and took hold of his prick. "What is the English for lund."
Lex laughed. "Sometimes a lund is called a prick, sometimes a horn or a pizzle, and sometimes by sailors a yard."
"Pwick." said Mohi.
"No, prick," said Lex.
Mohi concentrated hard. "Prick."
"That's right."
"Prick," said Mohi again. Prick, prick. You see I can learn important words in English."
Lex laughed. "Are you sure you want to come with me to England? Don't you need to think more about it?"
"No, Sahib Lex," said Sahl. "We are coming with you. We have no family here in India now. We have each other, and now we have you. You are part of us. We are coming with you." Then a look of doubt crossed his face. "Sahib Lex, are there horses in England?"
"Yes, many horses. In England you will each have your own horse."
Mohi's eyes lit up. "Can we start for England tomorrow?"
Again Lex laughed, but this time he made a grab for Mohi, and started tickling him. Now Mohi was very ticklish. Soon the two of them were squirming around all over the shayya. Sahl was laughing at what was going on. In the process clothes where unloosened and thrust aside. With shrieks of laughter Mohi and Lex continued to wrestle on the bed. Lex was onto top of Mohi, but Mohi managed to wriggle his way from beneath Lex. With his feet on Lex's shoulders he pushed so that Lex was forced off the shayya. Lex grabbed Mohi's ankles and pulled him to the edge of the shayya, and thrusting his face into Mohi's crotch began to lick, and then to suck, on the hard lund that was there in front of him. Lex was now kneeling on the floor with his buttocks fully exposed. He felt Sahl come and prepare him.
"Sahib Lex, what is a gand in English?"
Lex broke off from sucking. "Arse hole."
"Arsole."
"No. Arse hole."
"I am going to put my prick into your arse hole, Sahib Lex."
"Good. Get on with it then. All this chat, when there are important things to do."
"Yes, Sahib, and my prick is getting cold and limp while you teach Sahl English."
Half an hour, satiated with their love making, they lay together in a tangle of limbs on the shayya.
"After that, we certainly cannot let you return to England without us," said Sahl.
"Yes," added Mohi. "You are our man, and we are your men, for ever."
"Thanks. It will not be easy. You will not be going to England as my servants. You are coming to England as my companions, my special Indian friends."
"Why can't we just be your stablemen?"
"Because you would be servants and I would be master. It would be difficult to behave as friends in England. It would be difficult for us to do the things we like doing together. In England two men together is against the law. Some have died, more have gone to prison, and many put in the pillory, because of that I have to teach you how to behave like English gentlemen, and also teach you English. You have learnt two words."
"Prick," said Mohi.
"Arse hole," added Sahl.
"And we are on a shayya, or a bed in English."
"Bed," they both replied, and repeated several times before falling to sleep.
The next day Lex wrote Lord Cornwallis, the Governor General, resigning his post as Resident. He said he wished to return to England as quickly as possible for urgent family reasons. He knew it would be at least a month before he heard anything.
He also wrote to his sister-in -law Georgina. My dearest Georgina. I have never wished a message of mine from India to have a more speedy passage to England. I do not know where to start. First let me give you my love, and earnest wishes for you in the difficult and painful days through which you are living. I hope that I might be back in England before the doctors' prognostications come true. I had absolutely no idea whatever that Charles was my son. No doubt, this may surprise you, but of most things to do with women, and particularly of childbearing, I am an ignorant male. As I have never married, never talked about such things with a woman, or indeed with a man, except about the sexual coupling, I am in almost total ignorance. There have been many times when I have remembered that evening in the gazebo. It has been the one and only time I have coupled with a person of the fair sex. I have remembered it with much affection for you. By that act you showed me a self giving love and affection, that I so needed in those painful last days in England. Now you tell me that we made a child that evening, and that Charles is my son. I loved him much as my nephew, and have often longed to see him. Now I know that he is my son, my heart is further naturally and greatly warmed towards him. I shall return as quickly as I can. I will not be able to leave India for at least another two months, and it may well be sometime longer. My previous letter to Thomas told him of the changes in the situation in Landerabad. Since writing I have become convinced that my work here is done. I was pondering where to go. Your letter has opened the way for me to return home. As you say, money and rank cover a multitude of sins in hypocritical English society. I hope I shall not arrive too late to see and talk with you. I long to see again the Hall, the village, to meet old acquaintances, and especially to come face to face with Charles. Your ever loving brother-in-law, Alec.
As Lex finished writing it occurred to him that he could not send it to the Hall, because if it arrived after Georgina's death, it would be opened, probably by Charles himself, and the truth would be out. He thought over what he should do. For a short while he thought of tearing the letter up. Then he had an idea. By a great exercise of memory he recollected the Georgina's maiden name, Ward, for that was the name of the family solicitor. By an even greater feat of memory he remember the London Street where they lived. He thought it likely that Edward, and certainly Thomas, had kept to the same firm, even if ownership had changed.
He sealed the letter to Georgina and placed it with a covering letter addressed to Ward - lawyers, Limeburner Lane, London. Dear Sir, The enclosed letter is for Georgina Penbarton, the widow of the Revd Thomas Penbarton of Whitgest Hall, in the County of Hertfordshire. If she is deceased by the time of the arrival of this letter, I would be grateful it you would retain it, unopened, until my arrival back in England, which may be in more than a year's time. I shall then collect it from you. If you are no longer the family lawyer I would be grateful if you would ascertain who is, and pass it on to them. I will reimburse you any expenditure on my return. Lex signed the letter, Alexander Penbarton', and then underneath as his signature was not particularly legible he wrote, Sir Alexander Penbarton. Resident for the British East India Company to the State of Landerabad, India.'
Rank and position can come in useful!
The same day Lex began to teach Sahl and Mohi English. He would speak to them in English, then in Bengali, and then the same in English again. He pointed to various objects, giving them their name. Each evening he tried to give them an hour's English lesson. Mohi proved the quicker learner, possibly because he was a good mimic. Lex suggested that they tried to speak to each other in English. Several times he overheard their amusing attempts.
He also took them to the tailors, and ordered some new Indian clothes for them. They would begin their transformation when they returned to Calcutta. They would no longer be in charge of a Resident's stables; but companions and friends of the an ex-Resident. Lex realised that they would have to lie low in Calcutta, as there was a possibility that they would be recognised. There would be the voyage of six or more months, after they had left caste ridden Indian, before they reached class ridden England. The voyage would be the intensive preparation to make them acceptable in Hertfordshire society. They did not have to be perfect, because they were obviously Indian, certain faults and failures would be forgiven, but they had to be acceptable. The trouble would arise if there was another Nabob in the society among whom the Penbartons moved.
Lex started preparing to leave Landerabad. He told Soumitra, the Regent, that he would be leaving. He also told Sushmitra, who was very sorry to hear the news.
He began going through his personal belongings. Sorting out what he wanted to take back to England, and what could be discarded. One evening he came across a small jar. He looked at it not recognising it. He opened it, and immediately the smell filled the room. "Kainshka!" he murmured. It was the jar of specially made ointment that he and Kainshka used to lubricate their love making.
It was as though the presence of the Rajah was there in the room. "Is it all right, me with Sahl and Mohi?" whispered Lex.
There was no answering voice, but on that still evening there was movement of air, and the diaphanous curtain billowed for a brief moment into the room. Lex smiled, and took it as a token of approval. He fastened the top tightly onto the jar, and placed it among the items to go with him to England.
The reply from Calcutta came in the fifth week. It told Lex to return to Calcutta as soon as convenient. His advice was needed about the appointment of his successor.
Lex needed a week for final preparations, and to say his farewells. He was asked to attend a formal meeting of the Council. Ashokah presided with Soumitra at his side. Lex was formally thanked for all he had done to safeguard the independence of Landerabad. He was given a gift of gold plate, and some jewellery. The formal proceedings over, there was a celebration. There were dancers and singers, and masses of food.
At the end of the evening Lex spoke. "I shall take with me so many rich memories of Landerabad; they will last for the rest of my life. I am leaving so many friends. Many thanks for this reception. My only sadness is that my very best friend, Kainshka, Rajah of Landerabad, could not be with us."
"I think perhaps he was. He certainly would have enjoyed it," said Sushmita in a fairly loud whisper.
The following morning Lex left. There was a great deal of luggage, and he had an escort of 25 sepoys. Sahl and Mohi were in the company. Many knew that they were going to England with Lex, but none knew that he was planning to transform them from Indian stable hands into the acceptable Companions of an English Nabob.
When they arrived in Calcutta Lex rented some accommodation for the few weeks he expected to be there. Sahl and Mohi began their transformation. They put on the new and different clothes that had been made for them by the tailor back in Landerabad. They immediately looked very different. Mohi, as was to be expected, immediately began acting the part, and behaved as though he was used to wearing such clothing. Sahl was different, he felt uncomfortable, at least to begin with.
Much of Lex's time was taken up settling his affairs in India. He met with Lord Cornwallis, a very different man from the ebullient Warren Hastings. They discussed the situation in Landerabad, and the sort of man who should succeed him.
It was in those few days in Calcutta that Lex met members of the two groups of English people that were to transform the relationship between the English and the Indians. He met several of the memsahibs - the wives of the British in India. They frowned on men folk have too close a relationship with any Indian women. The Indians were to be servants, not concubines or mistresses, and certainly not wives. The other group that was beginning to arrive in India were the missionaries. They came with good intentions, to bring Good News, give education and medical skills to the Indians. But when you see a people in need it is all to easy to see yourself as superior when you are able to answer that need. The memsahibs and the missionaries in their different ways were to help form the years of the British Raj, that was to dominate British-Indian relations until 1947.
Jeffrey at jeffyrks@hotmail.com