Monsoon Mists by Christina Courtenay

wouldn’t take long.
    ‘Ah, there you are, Zar. Took your time as usual,’ William grumbled when she entered the salon. ‘Come, sit over here.’
    She’d almost bumped into him in the doorway. Now he put his hand behind her elbow and steered her towards a low settee, where someone was already seated – Mr Richardson, a pompous man she had already refused twice in the last six months. He didn’t seem to be able to take no for an answer, but then she’d heard rumours that his trading wasn’t going very well and he was becoming desperate for a source of income.
    ‘William, I really don’t think this is a good idea,’ she hissed at him and tried to shrug out of his grip, but he held on and kept propelling her forward. She continued to try to resist, increasing her efforts when she realised that Richardson was the only guest left. William had no right to order her about. He’s not my keeper. But he was stronger.
    ‘Don’t be a ninny. My friend just wishes a word with you.’
    ‘He’s already had several. William, let go, for heaven’s sake! Why are you doing this? Do you owe him money or something? We can pay him off,’ she whispered.
    ‘Not at all. It’s just he told me you were being difficult. Doing him a favour.’
    ‘You’re not doing me one.’
    ‘Yes, I am. It’s time you took another husband.’
    ‘I don’t want one.’
    But William wasn’t listening and she knew he wouldn’t care. He’d love to get rid of her, she was sure, but she’d not make it that easy for him. They had reached Richardson, who stood up and bowed. As his eyes raked over Zar, they glittered with what could have been greed, but was probably pure lust. She suppressed a shiver of revulsion and held her breath as she got closer to him. He stank of sweat. Didn’t he ever bathe? How could William not notice? But then, he wasn’t very fragrant himself.
    ‘Mrs Miller, how charming you look tonight.’ Richardson took her hand and placed his dry, chapped lips on her fingers. Zar snatched it out of his grip and inclined her head just a fraction in return, but didn’t reply.
    ‘I’ll leave you to become better acquainted, shall I?’ William said. He strode off without waiting for a reply and Zar’s protest died on her lips as the door slammed shut behind him.
    How dare he leave me here with this  … this idiot? She resolved to leave immediately.
    ‘I’m sorry, Mr Richardson, but I’m afraid I cannot stay. I must—’
    ‘Not so fast.’ His hand shot out and grasped her arm, yanking her back so hard she was flung onto the settee. ‘You haven’t heard me out yet, Mrs High-and-Mighty.’
    Zar tried to straighten her skirts and made sure her bodice wasn’t showing more flesh than was seemly, then she scowled at him. ‘I have already given you my answer twice, Mr Richardson. I assure you, I haven’t changed my mind.’
    ‘Then I’ll just have to change it for you, won’t I, my beauty.’
    He threw himself down onto the settee, effectively trapping her because he sat partly on her skirts and gripped her upper arms with his hands. Zar looked to see if there were any servants around, but in vain. She was quite alone with this horrid man. She shrank away from Richardson and tried to dislodge his hands, pushing on his chest for him to back off. But he held on and almost snarled, ‘Now, when I propose marriage to a young lady, especially one like you, I expect to be treated with consideration and not given my congé like a naughty schoolboy.’
    ‘What do you mean, “one like me”?’ Zar knew very well what he was saying, but his words infuriated her.
    ‘A half-caste. Let’s not pretend, because that is what you are, isn’t it? So don’t think you’re too good for me, because I can assure you, you’re not.’
    ‘I’m surprised you would even consider marrying so far beneath you then,’ she spat, while continuing to struggle against his grip. ‘Why don’t you look for someone of your own kind? Then you