Riddhima couldn’t help stealing glances at the enigmatic man riding a black stallion. Deepali was talking animatedly, seeming to enjoy being nestled against his broad chest. The sight of them twisted something ugly within her, something she desperately tried to hide from inquisitive eyes. The other girls were riding beside her, respectfully keeping a distance from the prospective couple.
“They look so beautiful together, don’t they?” Priya was saying loudly. “This meeting is just a formality, mark my words. The Rani Maa herself wrote to our parents, requesting Deepali to accompany His Highness today. My sister will be a Princess! Can you believe it, girls?!”
“It’s just an honorary title,” Riddhima mumbled without thinking, her thoughts on Vansh’s hands on the reins. Those hands had been on her wrist, on her shoulders, on her waist. A rosy blush sneaked up her cheeks.
I danced with you because you were the most beguiling woman in the room.
Did he really mean that?
“Riddhima?“
“Riddhima!”
Annoyed voices brought her out of her reverie. Three irate pairs of eyes were staring at her, their mounts trotting on either side like a trained posse.
“What?” she snapped, thoroughly nettled. Bringing Diana to a halt, she waited as the others stopped beside her.
“We asked you a question,” Priya began haughtily, her small eyes glaring at her. “But you had your head in the clouds, as per usual. Tell me, Riddhima. What gives you, a penniless nobody, the right to insult the Prince of Mewargarh and my sister?!”
“I insult-” Riddhima gaped at her, looking from one disdainful face to the other. “When did I insult anybody?”
“You said the royal title is just honorary,” sniffed one of Priya’s lackeys affectedly. “I heard you! Loud and clear. Don’t even try to deny it.”
“I’m not,” she answered mildly, watching Vansh halt his mount in the distance. He looked back at them inquisitively. She gave him a fake cheery smile. There was a limit to which she wanted to extend the façade of affection between them.
Turning towards the women, her smile froze. “I merely stated a fact. Princely titles are honorary in today’s time and age. They hold no significance in a democracy.” She gave a mocking laugh, taking perverse pleasure in needling her erstwhile friends. “I didn’t think anyone would be ninny enough to believe otherwise.”
Priya looked livid. “You dare-“
“Yes, I dare,” she agreed calmly. “If you can’t take it, don’t dish out insults. I thought you better bred than that, Priya.”
As Riddhima proceeded to turn Diana around, Priya caught her horse’s reins sharply. Her dark eyes glittered with malice.
“Unhand my horse.” Her hands clamped over Priya’s, a warning in her voice. She could feel white hot anger pump through her blood.
“I challenge you, you insolent girl!” she spat. “You think you can best your betters? If you have the gumption to mouth off to me, try besting me in a race. Right now. This instant!” Her nasal voice was high pitched in anger. “Let’s see who the better horsewoman is, shall we?” There was something lurking in her eyes that sent a chill through her.
“What is happening here?”
They jumped at the deep booming voice. So, the Prince had decided to intervene after all. Priya let go of Diana’s reins, adjusting herself primly on her own horse. Vansh brought his stallion closer, a forbidding expression on his face. Deepali looked worried as she glanced her sister. “I await an explanation, ladies.”
“Mrs Wadia challenged me to a race, Your Highness,” Riddhima answered coolly. “A challenge I fully intend to accept.” She looked ahead determinedly. “We will head straight from here. The lake’s waters will be the finish line. Whichever horse’s hooves touches-“
“You will do no such thing, Miss Kapoor,” he cut her off sharply. There was an authoritative undercurrent to his words that immediately sparked her ire. “This terrain isn’t made for a race. You will end up breaking your necks! The discussion ends here. I will brook no more foolishness on both your parts.”
“I agree with His Highness,” Deepali declared quietly, staring her sister down. “A race isn’t safe and certainly not becoming for a lady. Priya, what were you even thinking? Why would you propose such a dangerous diversion for Miss Kapoor?”
“I am afraid the decision is mine, Miss Dixit,” Riddhima stated with finality. A monster was riding on her shoulders and she itched to wipe that smug smile off Priya’s face. As Vansh opened his mouth, she gave him a fierce look. “I won’t repeat my statement, Your Highness.”
There was a sharp intake of breath from all the women present. No one had expected her to speak that way to the Prince. Riddhima found she didn’t care anymore about their vapid opinions. Priya’s words earlier had proven what they secretly thought of her anyway.
Penniless nobody. Wallflower. Insolent.
She didn’t know what pinched her more. Those cruel words or the fact that Deepali had tried to deescalate the situation with queenly dignity. Or was it the sight of her sitting cozily in Vansh’s arms like his royal wife? All Riddhima knew was that it stung. A lot. And it only served to make her more rebellious. More reckless.
She met Vansh’s furious gaze with infuriating nonchalance. “Whether anyone agrees or not, I am racing on the count of three.” Her eyes snapped to Priya’s speculative ones. “You are welcome to follow.”
She stiffened at the barb, throwing her a hateful look. “One,” she growled, rising to the challenge and steadying her horse.
“Two,” Riddhima agreed, adjusting Diana, so that both the horses were parallel.
Before it was three, Priya’s horse dashed ahead. She cursed under her breath, urging her mount to sprint. Of course, the girl was going to cheat! Was there any honourable bone left in her body? Reigning in her rising temper, she encouraged Diana into a full run, her eyes narrowed on the small figure racing ahead. There was no way she was going to let that chit win.
She could hear another set of hooves behind her. Without looking back, she knew it was the black stallion. So, Vansh had decided to follow her. Deepali would be quite peeved. She could also picture the monstrous rage on Vansh’s face at her defiance. Well, to hell with both of them! They could judge her all they wanted. She would do as she liked.
Bending low over her horse, she took a diagonal path to cut Priya. Two could play at a cheater’s game. The terrain was rougher, given to sudden turns and narrow paths between dense foliage. It was built for a leisurely ride through lush greenery, instead of a death race. Gushing wind blew her hair away from her face, the winter chill cooling her heated cheeks.
A euphoric smile lit up her visage. She could see the lake in the distance. Just a minute more and she would win. “Come on, sweetheart,” she encouraged the horse. “We are almost there.” Diana’s long strides ate up the ground, rushing straight towards their goal. “Yes, yes. Bloody yes!” She could see Priya catching up on her steed, her thin lips pursed in concentration. It would be a close call.
The tranquil waters of the lake lapped at the wet soil, as if beckoning her closer. Faster. Closer. She was going to win. Riddhima could feel the surge of victory in her body.
Suddenly, a shrill whistle sounded behind her. Diana halted abruptly, mere steps from the lake. The inertia sent her flying over the horse’s head. A blood curling scream ripped from her throat, her heart forgetting to beat for a moment. She flailed in the air wildly, before landing squarely in shallow waters. Her backside touched the mud floor hard, making her gasp and inhale a mouthful of water.
Riddhima spluttered and coughed, her head breaking the surface. She rose to her knees, wiping the water from her eyes. The sight that greeted her did much to assuage her hurt pride.
Vansh looked beside himself with rage, as he pulled up beside a terrified Priya. She couldn’t hear the words, but he was making wild gestures, pulling off his boots quickly to wade in. Deepali looked stricken, her worried gaze meeting Riddhima’s. She was still seated on top of the horse, Vansh having forgotten to assist her down in his fury. Genuine relief flooded her features as Riddhima gave her a thumbs up. She called to Vansh, diverting the Prince from her troublemaking sister.
The three of them stared at her as she stood up gingerly. Nothing seemed broken. The mud was soft beneath her feet. Her butt hurt from the impact, but thankfully the rest of her was largely unharmed. She gestured to Vansh to stay put. There was little sense in both of them getting wet.
She waded out slowly, watching as he examined her from top to bottom, deep concern in his eyes. Petty as it was, Riddhima felt an odd satisfaction in having his undivided attention again. She could read herself very well, having written on umpteen heroines in her romance novels. Her fixation for this man’s attention could only mean that she had a crush on him. A giant one. And that too, on a self-declared rake who had informed her that she was too innocent for him.
Riddhima sighed deeply. Her first crush and that too on a Prince. He was way out of her league, in social stature, title and money. He was likely to end up with an heiress like Deepali, who was tall and beautiful with a thriving family business.
She sighed again. The action drew his inscrutable gaze to her chest. She paused mid step, watching in fascination as heat flared momentarily in those dark eyes. Then he turned away.
Curiously, she glanced down at herself, and then gasped in shock. The wet beige shirt had become nearly sheer, the embroidery on her brassiere visible to all and sundry. She crossed her arms over her chest modestly, trying to hide the pebble like hardness of her nipples. Her teeth clattered in the cold. Oh, the embarrassment! How was she ever going to get home in this attire?
“I won,” Priya crowed, as she waded out reluctantly. “You went tumbling before your horse could touch the lake.”
“You ch-cheated,” Riddhima trembled violently, trying to hide her wet form against her horse. “D-do you h-have no sh-shame?”
“Oh, be quiet. I won and-“
There was a sudden silence. She looked back at Priya. Vansh was giving her a withering look, his coat in his hands. He strode towards Riddhima, holding it out to her awkwardly.
“I think you should…”He trailed off, not quite meeting her eyes. Her heart constricted. Why did he have to act like a gentleman now? It was easier when he was being a boor. At least she knew how to deal with him then. She took the coat quietly, slipping her arms into the huge sleeves self-consciously. It was big enough to engulf all her upper body comfortingly. And it smelled like him.
“You will ride with me.” His voice was low, but all three women turned to gape at him.
“But- but you came with Deepali!” Priya burst out. “You can’t just mean to abandon her here, Your Highness.”
He levelled an icy gaze, making her quail visibly. “You must not test my patience again, Mrs. Wadia. Your reckless action nearly put Miss Kapoor’s life in danger. Her’s was a race horse and trained to stop at a whistle. A fact you leveraged. You are lucky she is unhurt, or else…” He let the warning hang ominously in the air. “Instead I will settle for seeing you walk all the way back to the range. You will not be provided any horse, and no one will assist you. It will be a lesson in restraint, I hope. I will also be having a word with your husband when I see him next week. Have no doubts about that.”
Looking towards Deepali, he softened his tone. “I apologize, Miss Dixit. A groomsman will assist you shortly. I must escort Miss Kapoor back safely. She will catch a chill otherwise.”
“That’s unnecessary-” Riddhima protested.
“I was not asking you!” he snapped, jaw clenched in anger. “You have defied me enough today, Miss Kapoor. Kindly mount your horse before I strap you to it.”
“You-“
“Now!” He made a threatening motion towards her, making her scramble up Diana hurriedly. The cad!
Riddhima stiffened as he climbed up behind her, taking the reins from her. His arms caged her on either side. “I can ride perfectly well on my own, Your Highness.”
“Yes. You demonstrated that already, Miss Kapoor.” His voice was a low hum against her ear. She tried to summon up indignance, but his thigh brushed against the back of hers, and all coherent thoughts flew from her head.
Diana moved into a gentle trot at the soft click of his tongue. “You-you are good with horses,” she praised, desperate to divert her mind with idle chatter. His broad chest felt like steel against her back, the potent heat of his body warming up her cold skin.
“Yes.” His voice was a silken whisper. “And women.”
Riddhima opened her mouth in a silent “Oh”, a blush staining her heated cheeks. This conversation was inappropriate on so many levels. “Wh-when did you learn?” She tried to drive the conversation back to safer territory.
“At the tender age of 15.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “Her name was Anahita.”
“That’s a weird name for a horse.”
He gave a loud snort. It turned into a bellow of laughter, taking her by surprise. Belatedly, the meaning of their exchange registered on her. “My question was about horses!” she uttered defensively, hiding her face in her hands. Damn this conversation!
“Fucking hell, Riddhima,” Vansh rasped, his body shaking with silent laughter. “You are too much!”
“There is nothing funny about having been a promiscuous lad,” she sniffed primly, trying to recover lost dignity. “And I would thank you to not curse in a lady’s presence. This is not how a gentleman behaves.”
For some reason, that sent him into a fresh bout of laughter. It annoyed her immensely. She nudged him hard in the stomach, nodding in satisfaction when he quietened with a loud “Oof”.
“There is more where that came from, Your Highness. You are advised to behave.”
There was short pause, as he seemed to adjust himself more comfortably behind her.
“And if I don’t?” She stilled, her heart fluttering wildly. A husky note had entered the deep baritone. His arms tightened around her shoulders, holding her captive. “How do you intend to discipline me now, Miss Kapoor?”
“What-what are you doing?” She tilted her head, trying to look back at him. Her nose brushed against his jaw accidentally, making her turn away quickly; eyes huge at her folly. “I forgive your crude words. Now let me go.” She spoke quickly, feeling quite breathless.
He chuckled softly, apparently enjoying her discomfiture. “You’re too kind, little one. But I agree my manners were lacking. How do you suppose I should atone for my sins?”
“You may not,” she returned jauntily, trying to ignore the intimacy of his endearment. Why did he call her “little one”? She wasn’t any shorter than most girls in Arthur’s Street. “The list of your sins seems long enough that we may be riding quite a while and I’m afraid, I couldn’t spare the time.”
“Not even for me?”
She frowned at that phrasing. It sounded suspiciously like a parroting of her words at the stable earlier.
Before she could prod further, their short journey came to an end. Diana whickered in happiness seeing the head groomsman. He took her reins, looking up in concern at Vansh. “Your Highness, is all well? The other ladies aren’t with you?”
As the Prince instructed him, Riddhima jumped down gracefully, stretching surreptitiously in relief. Usually, she loved riding, but her sore backside couldn’t take any more jostling today.
“Let me drop you home.”
His voice was warm and inviting like hot chocolate on a winter morning. She could feel his magnetic presence behind her as he stepped closer.
“I can walk.”
“Riddh-“
“My home is barely five minutes away.” She pivoted towards him, feeling ridiculously shy for some reason. “I would enjoy the fresh air. Very very much. Thank you very very much for…all your help…” She was rambling and well aware of it. Riddhima backed away slowly, seized by an odd impulse to run and hide.
He raised an appraising brow, watching the heightened colour of her cheeks. “Why are you behaving like a skittish colt?”
“I am not,” she denied unconvincingly. “It’s just a beautiful day for a walk, don’t you think?”
Before he could reply, Riddhima marched away hurriedly, feeling the Prince’s hawk-like gaze burn a hole in her back. It was only when she rounded a corner that her treacherous heart resumed a steady rhythm.
This crush wasn’t good for her peace of mind.
Not good at all.
* * *