The Viscounts Daughter

The photographer fussed and tried to separate us so that they only took shots of me. I foiled them when he had Ashley, Meera and Charlie out of shot by moving around to sit in the middle. Eventually he gave up and took the photos. Ashley used a regal pose, one she had perfected when she played a Queen. Charlie was...well Charlie. Meera seemed uncomfortable at first until I told her to be the Indian Star that she was. She switched on the smile so effortlessly.

Once the photographer had left Meera and Ashley collapsed with laughter. I told Ashley that it would be difficult for any to determine between the two of us, who the Honourable was in the photo. Meera grinned and told me that I would be elevated to Countess or even Duchess in the publicity blurb and that Mr. Chatterdee would make sure that everyone would know who the titled lady was. Despite the fact that Mr. Chatterdee would use my image in his advertising he still presented me with an account for the meal. I wasn't going to argue and he accepted my Visa card with a smile.

When we left Meera talked to Chanderpal regarding the best place for sarees. He nodded and ushered us back into the car. He gave instructions to the driver in Hindi. The conversation went on for some time and became a little heated. Meera translated. "The driver wants to go to a place of his choosing and Chanderpal is adamant that he takes us to where he believes we will get the best." Eventually the driver was cowed and got the car moving although he communicated his mood by driving very slowly.

The display of sarees was overwhelming. More colours that anyone would believe possible, designs subtle and bold, the selection was huge. Meera took charge and with the assistants instructed us in wearing a saree. The undergarments were simple, a petticoat with a draw string tied extremely tightly around the waist or if you wished around the hips. Then there was the Choli, a simple bodice with arms, buttoned at the back. However the Choli itself could be less and more. It could finish just above the waist of just under the breasts, depending on how much you want to show. It could be sleeved or sleeveless again depending on your taste.

The saree itself was nine yards of cloth. It could be cotton for everyday or for those special occasions silk. It wrapped around the waist or hips and then hand-pleated as many times as you wish. The pleats were tucked into the petticoat to make them secure. Then the remainder of the saree length was draped from the left side and over the right shoulder or the head. We looked at the astounding range of colours and designs, finding it very difficult to choose.

I eventually selected a silk saree length in a deep red with a wide border of orange and green. Whilst we were looking I found another silk saree. It was so fine that it was almost transparent unless folded in to layers. Meera whispered in my ear. "When you wish to seduce your lover, that is the saree to wear. Forget the Choli and the petticoat then let him unwrap his present. You will have him eating out of your hand, or anywhere else you want him to eat." I liked the idea but without the petticoat it would be hard to keep the saree from unravelling by itself.

The salesgirl smiled. "Memsahib, no problem. Give us thirty minutes and we will sew in Velcro. That will hold the saree tight and when you wish will be easy to release." I was sold and ordered both sarees.

Meera had never disguised her admiration for Rich and it didn't upset me. He, in the times before we met again in Devon had made love to many women far more beautiful than me, Ashley for example was absolutely lovely when younger and was still able to enthral men of any age. Yet despite this plethora of beautiful women available to him he had chosen me. I liked Meera and looked forward to seeing her when she came to England.

RICHARD

Ramajit had kept his word and delivered the ring and necklaces the following day. That evening would be perfect for my putting the ring on Andrea's finger as she and Charlie would be flying home shortly after. Gupta had changed the shooting for today and wanted to do the scene in the garden. I could not see the point until he mentioned using Charlie in the scene. I got a little angry with him as he should have spoken to me or Andrea first, however it seems he had spoken to Andrea. In this scene Basil and Deeta are shunned by all and sundry. Charlie was to play the part of one of another officer's daughter.

In essence Charlie's character is the only one who talks to Basil and Deeta. Gupta felt it would make a point, that the young do not naturally have prejudice: That is engendered in them by their parents. Charlie looked very pretty, wearing a frock, the skirt coming down to mid-calf, long white socks and black ballet shoes. Her hair was curled and held in place by an Alice Band. In that time girls were dressed as children until they were sixteen. Charlie performed faultlessly, running over to say hello and complimenting Deeta upon her Saree before being called away by an angry father. I thought the scene a cliché. However Gupta wanted the scene and he was the director. Actually Charlie loved the thought of being in a film and rose to the moment and performed perfectly.

That evening Andrea surprised me with a present. It was a coat known as a Sherwani. Made in soft, cool white cotton buttoned all down the front, Andrea thought it perfect for the warm evenings. "We can lounge together and if you wear nothing underneath it will keep you cool and could get quite interesting." She added with a leer.

"And what will you be wearing, my sweet one?" I enquired.

"Something that comes off easily." Her eyes twinkled.

"Hmm. I like that idea."

"I thought you may. Now go and get into your sherwani and I'll join you soon."

I was lounging on the balcony, the sherwani was comfortable, allowed a rather inspiring cool breeze to reach to places that hitherto were wrapped in cotton. I heard Andrea come in and she called for me to wait just a few more minutes. Suddenly Indian music filtered through to the balcony. I assumed this was my cue and strolled into the sitting room. Andrea was waiting for me and I gasped, as she was wearing the most beautiful saree that I had ever seen. It was a dark rich red, with an intricate pattern bordering. "Do you like it?" She asked and spun around. I gasped as the saree flared opening the folds slightly. It was almost transparent and the lean perfect globes of her derriere could be seen.

My expression was sufficient for her to know that I liked it. "Sit." She commanded and pointed at the sofa. I did as she bade and watched as she sashayed around the room, the fabric flaring and closing, revealing and covering. She danced towards the bedroom door and then retraced her steps letting the drapes loosen. As they did so more and more of her beautiful body was revealed. Andrea did not lose the saree completely, yet finally posed with such a filmy covering that it actually enhanced her beauty. I got up and approached her and her hands came up to start unbuttoning the Sherwani, at the same time lifting her face her lips seeking mine. This was too much for me as I swept her into my arms. She giggled. "I was planning a slow seduction, however this will do just as well."

"Where?" I whispered.

"The balcony. I think I am becoming an exhibitionist."

Later I slipped the ring on Andrea's finger. Her eyes glittered with unshed tears and we embraced. I was kissing her neck, when I told her that her neck was so beautiful that another present I had was superfluous. Of course she wanted to know what it was and I produced the necklace which I fastened on her neck. She went to a mirror and viewed it from all angles, eventually turning and smiling.

"It's lovely, Rich. Thank you my dearest man, my lover and my best friend."

The wrap party was like all wrap parties. Everybody involved in the film were there and laughed and chatted; mingling with anyone, actors and scene-shifters without regard to their importance. Of course there was the moments when outtakes were shown, usually of the actors who fluffed their lines and realizing their mistake stood dumbly whilst the others in the scene started to grin and giggle at the actors' expense. I was on more than one occasion the culprit.

Charlie was innocently chatted up by one of the hands until he understood who she was. He retired from his attempted seduction in embarrassment. Andrea clung to my right arm as much as she could, I eventually understood that with her left hand around my right arm, her engagement ring was prominent, thereby eliciting words of congratulations and envy from some of the females. Harry buttonholed me when Andrea had retired for a moment. "How do you do it, Richard? Ashley, that dusky beauty, Meera, who I reckon will jump into bed in a flash if you asked her, and now your delightful fiancé, Andrea. No man should be as lucky as you." I had to agree, I had known some lovely women, yet the prize was Andrea.

The next day was sad for me as the driver took Andrea and Charlie to the airport. I had to stay a little longer just in case there were problems discovered by the first edit. However I would be flying home very shortly with the lovely Meera whose temporary permit had arrived.

Although I had enjoyed the sojourn in India I was happy to be going home to the U.K before the hot season when the sun would bake everything. It would be spring in England, the perfect time of all and I would have some time with Andrea before my next role.

CHAPTER 8

Three weeks after I got home Andrea and I were married at the registry office in Gloucester. The Viscount was there giving Meera a rather predatory eye. They were our witnesses. It didn't change much for us, merely meaning that when our child was born it would be legitimate. I gave Charlie the necklace I had bought for her, so she could wear it for our wedding. She was speechless as I fastened the clasp for her and tears ran down her cheeks. She turned and clasped me, just sobbing, "Daddy, Daddy." I took out my handkerchief and dried her eyes. Andrea was watching and when I looked at her she was crying too. I was running out of handkerchiefs!

Andrea was adamant that although she had an ultra sound examination she didn't want to know the sex of our child. The Viscount was equally determined to know and the loud angry voices let everyone in the house know it was time to go somewhere else as one or the other, usually both would leave those arguments in a rather incensed mood. Andrea prevailed though.

John Lilman had been in touch and asked if I would come to his home. He had six completed scripts and wanted me and Meera and the rest of the cast to read through, mainly to get a handle on our characters. Ostensibly this was Meera's audition, but having seen her in action, Ashley informed John that she was perfect for the part. Andrea had invited Meera to stay with us so we travelled down to High Wycombe together. Once I had read through the first script I understood that this was a challenging part.

Detective Chief Inspector Grantham was a stickler for the rules. He was an anachronism; he was very politically correct yet hid a colour inhibition under a cold visage thereby I would not be able to use facial expressions to indicate his mood; I would be challenged to show his demeanour with actions instead. Another facet of his difficult character was that he felt that Capital Punishment should be available to the Courts as a last resort for some cases of murder. When a new Detective Sergeant was posted to his team it really challenged him as his new sergeant was first a woman and second of Indian extraction. His problems redoubled when he became attracted to her, despite his racial aversion.

Meera's character, Detective Sergeant Anjala Sharma was most unlike a typical Indian woman. She was feisty, made her own views heard vigorously and took the racist comments in her stride, particularly from suspects who gave her lip; her riposte could be scathing. She had once been admonished for bullying a suspect. Their first meeting was indicative of their differing views. She introduced herself and then went on to call him Guv. Now that is usual in a team of detectives that the Chief Inspector or Superintendent was called Guv (for Governor) or Boss. We ran through the scene and I changed it when she called me Guv. I gave Meera a icy stare and told her that I was addressed as Chief Inspector. That wasn't in the script but John Lilman loved it. "Perfect, Richard. Perfect. Sets the mood right from the start. We'll keep that in."

On the way back to Broughley, Meera asked me if I was one of those actors who lived the part. I laughed and replied. "If I did Basil would have wanted his marital pleasure with Deeta."

"Deeta would be very happy to accommodate Basil in that case." Meera smiled.

I grinned. "Don't worry, I won't be snapping at you all the time. I have never felt the need to live the part, perhaps I am not a good enough actor as a result."

"Ashley thinks you are and she knows what she is talking about." Meera came back. "You wouldn't snap anyway. You are too much the gentleman to do that."

"What do you think of the script?" I asked her.

"It's very good. To be honest it's going to be much more demanding than anything I have done to date. Playing Deeta was the first time I really had to act."

"You did that very well, so I can't imagine that you will have difficulty playing D.S. Shani."

"I shall give it my best shot, is that what you say here?"

"Yes we do." I agreed.

"Ashley has promised to coach me."

"In that case you should have no problems."

Andrea welcomed us back with a multitude of questions. She had read the outline of the script and wanted to know if my character ever got it on with Meera's character. I told her that neither of us knew that as the series would develop, and the scripts for later episodes were not finalised. "Have we got time to go down to the cottage?" Was her next question.

"I thinks that a good idea. It will get you away from your father and these rows you have with him. He will get some peace and so shall we." I rubbed Andrea's belly which was swelling beautifully. "Hello little one. Is it nice and warm in there?"

"Well you should know, after all you did your best to get in there." She grinned. "Well a part of you did."

"I seem to recall that you were as eager as I."

Andrea went back to the first subject. "We can take Meera with us."

"Oh! I wasn't thinking of her coming as well."

Andreas' face evolved into one that their men folk knew well. It was that 'how stupid men can be' expression. "We can't leave her here on her own."

"Fine." I gave in rather than have an argument.

ANDREA

It was so good to return to the cottage. It had nothing but good memories for me. In deference to Meera I did not join Rich in his morning swims, much as I would have liked to strip naked and join him. I persuaded Rich that he should wear some trunks for his swim. "Yes, I suppose I should." He replied. "I wouldn't want to embarrass her."

"I don't think that Meera would be embarrassed in the slightest. It would probably exacerbate her lust for you."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Why don't you open your eyes."

"You're serious!"

"Yes, I am. Rich, before too long I will be too big for making love with you. I will suggest to Meera that she should take my place for a while."

"I don't believe I am hearing you. That is madness."

"No it isn't. It makes sense."

"I see." The tone of those two words was glacial and I became frightened as I had never seen Rich lose his temper and the way he said 'I see' was tight and threatening of a storm.. "Well, tell me dearest, Andrea. Have you asked Meera, or are you planning to just tell her? Come to that, you have just calmly farmed me out as if I were a Bull to serve a cow. What would you do if Meera and I decided that we liked this arrangement and didn't want it to stop?"

"Well she would understand it would be just for the while."

"Sorry, my dear. You don't control people's emotions, not mine nor Meera's. I knew what my future would be, when we were down on that beach. Even though you had to return to your husband I knew that I would never love any other woman as I loved you. That hasn't changed, not for all those years and not now. Now I don't know what Meera would say, but in any case it is superfluous as I will not agree to this idea. So making love may be uncomfortable for a while, what will it be a month? Or perhaps six months? It doesn't matter. The child you carry is mine, ours. We made it with love; I have watched you get bigger with our child with love. I will be there when you give birth and hold you with love. I would not be much of a husband if I cannot wait for you." He got up and stalked out of the room, his back stiff with anger.

I was left crying my eyes out. Once I had stopped weeping, I washed my face, made up and sought Meera for comfort. I found her in her room packing. "Meera. What are you doing?"

"I am sorry, Andrea. I heard you and Richard arguing and I heard my name mentioned. I assume that I am the cause of your argument so I will leave."

I shook my head, my eyes tearing up again. "No, no please Meera. I wasn't about you, it was something stupid that I said. Please don't go. It will upset both of us."

"I don't know, Andrea. I feel that I may come between you."

"That will not happen, I can guarantee. Look! I am getting bigger and soon it will be painful for me to make love with Rich. I suggested that perhaps you could look after him for a while. That's when he exploded. He was so angry that I could even suggest such a thing. So it's not your fault at all. I am the one to blame."

Meera came to me and held me in her arms. "I could have told you that. You know that in India I suggested that he and I could become lovers. He let me down very well, telling me of his love for you and that he wouldn't cheat on you. Don't you remember? "

Tears were running down my face again, I had nearly ruined everything. I nodded. "Yes I do remember. It's just that I thought he would get cranky if I could not make love with him."

"No. Andrea. A man like Richard would never blame you for not being able to make love."

The next morning I awakened to an empty bed. The sheets were still warm where he had laid. I knew where Rich was. I put on my robe and wandered out to the swimming pool. Richard was doing his laps just as always, and just as always he was nude. I was about to get his attention to remind him that he should wear trunks when Meera appeared by my side. "Are my eyes deceiving me, or is Richard swimming naked?"

"Yes." I answered wearily. "He promised that he would wear trunks while you were here. He must have forgot."

"So you just stand here and admire."

"No. I swim as well."

"Naked?"

"Yes."

"Well I will if you will."

"You are joking?"

"Not at all. Come along. I will help you get into the water."

I didn't think that Indians swam much, but Meera went off like a porpoise, carving through the water as if it was her natural environment. I stayed at the end where I felt safe. Rich came towards me at the end of one of his laps and ducked at the last minute and kissed my extended belly. He then fondled my breasts as his head came up for air. He grinned. "Nice fronts."

"Not so much of the fondling, we have a visitor."

"Shit! I forgot about Meera. Where is she?"

"Bearing down on you at the moment. I do think she is a better swimmer than you."

He turned and caught a flash of wet coffee coloured buttocks as Meera did a tumble turn and went off again for another length. "She is good." Then his mouth dropped open. "She's...She's...She hasn't got anything on."

"No. It's not to seduce you, Rich. You said no and Meera also said no, so my mad idea is forgotten. It's just that as we swim in the nude she said that she would as well."