Beyond Simla - Nineteen

[ismenin]

Hello! And A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all! Hugses.xxxx

Ithought I'd post this now, as I feel like a read of one of my Christmas books, lying down on my sofa, with a jelly baby or two. Why not?

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and New Year, and enjoyed it all as much as we did. To this end I offer you Pt 19 as a New Year gift.




Thank you, ladysunrope for your excellent beta skills. Hugses.


Part - 19


Some men would have begged for mercy, others may have replied with a torrent of words, railing against the king who had such power over life and death.

Duleep Singh merely shrugged. "Everyone must die, Highness. It is the fate of all men."

Dom took a deep breath. "This is true; but in your case I choose the time, and the manner of your death, and long before you draw your last breath, you will be begging me to kill you. I am not inclined to be merciful."

Duleep moved away from the bars, for Dom had the aspect of a tiger about to spring on its prey. "Is he dead, then, Lord Elijah?"

Dom showed his teeth. "No, he lives. But it makes no difference whether he lives or dies, not to you. You will die, anyway, you and your fellow conspirators."

Duleep smiled. "Ah! There I foresee you may experience a slight difficulty, Highness. You do not know who my fellow conspirators are. And I am no mind to tell you. They may yet be able accomplish our purpose, after all."

"Your purpose?" Dom asked, grasping one of the bars, his knuckles white with strain. "The destruction of the state of Ranjipore? That you will never do."

"There is always a price, and some men would sell their own mothers to a brothel - for a price. I shall tell you nothing. Do what you will, you will learn nothing from me."

Dom struck the bars with the flat of his hand. "Will Portman be more forthcoming, do you think? He seems to fear the instruments of torture."

Duleep grinned. "He will probably reveal everything he knows, the weakling. The problem is, Highness, he knows nothing of our plans. His were quite separate from ours, although the end result was to be practically the same."

Dom glared at the smug man, locked safe within his iron cage. "You will remain here, until Lord Elijah is a little better, or he..." He stopped, appalled at the alternative. "Then I will have you removed to the palace. We shall see what transpires. As I have said, I am not minded to be merciful."

He said no more - it was pointless - but asked the sergeant in charge of the cells to bring forward any of the renegades who had scratches on their bodies.

Dom could bear no more of Duleep's smirking face. He said he would see the men in the next room.

There were three of them, but a long scratch along one man's face was clearly a knife mark, superficial though it was. The other two, however, were both scratched about the neck and face - particularly about the eyes. It was clear to him that Elijah had tried to gouge them out. Dom felt proud that his lover had tried to fight - had not given in to these thugs without a struggle.

Billy came in just as Dom was rising from his seat, and, seeing Dom and the scratched men, he bowed in acknowledgement. "Ah, Highness. I see you have found two of his lordship's assailants. What have they to say for themselves?"

Dom was shaking so much with the desire to attack the men who had so brutally beaten Elijah, that he sat down again, and gripped the arms of the wooden chair as tightly as he could. He was a king, and could not give in to baser instincts. He struggled to remember it.

"Commander, I would be grateful if you would question these...these creatures. I do not trust myself not to throttle them..."

A few short sentences from Billy containing the words 'hot irons', and 'skinning knives', had the same effect on the two men as they had had upon General Portman. They quickly told all they knew, and Billy sentenced them to forty lashes each, to be administered before the court-martial, which he was to head.

The two went out into the fresh air, and breathed deeply. "Well," Billy commented, dryly, "we didna learn much from them, except that they were 'only following orders' from Duleep Singh, and Portman. Faugh!" he spat into the dusty ground beneath his feet. "That, as an excuse for torturing a fellow creature, is one of the feeblest I have ever heard."

Dom tried to regain his composure before returning to Elijah's bedside. "I agree, Commander Boyd, that as an excuse, it is feeble. But sometimes such methods are necessary, especially for a king attempting to protect his people, and hold his kingdom together against aggressors who will stop at nothing to overthrow it. And I cannot believe, having heard your interrogations, that you have not indulged in such practises yourself."


There was a short silence between them, then Billy spoke. "Aye, my lord; that is true. Will you let me stand by your side when it comes time for you to deal with Duleep Singh? I am very fond of his lordship, you see - I always have been, since he was a lad at Oxford."

Dom looked up to see that Billy's eyes were suspiciously bright. He nodded. "I would be honoured to have you by my side. Let us go in, and see how he does, shall we?"

Elijah was awake when they entered his room, and taking a dose of some pungent liquid from Ian, who waited patiently at his side whilst he drank.

"That was vile! I beg you, no more!" Elijah said, through swollen lips. His voice was weak, but composed, and he smiled at Dom and Billy as they came to his bedside.

Dom took his hand. "How do you feel?" he asked in a quiet voice, sitting beside the bed.

Elijah was not minded to lie. "I am weak, of course, and, oh, Dom, I hurt..." his voice cracked on the last word, and Ian and Billy quietly left the room.

Dom kissed his brow. "I know. I will not leave you again. I shall stay to comfort you, as you did me, in the Pathan tent. I will ever remember your kindness towards me, whilst we were there."

Elijah closed his eyes, and sighed, "thank you!" The 'vile concoction' had clearly been a soporific, for soon he was asleep again, and shortly afterwards, Ian put his head around the door frame, checking on his patient.

"He is restless when he is awake and you are not by, Dom," Ian said very softly, coming closer, "He knows, of course, your duties as a king, but still he yearns for you. His eyes never leave the doorway when you are not here..."

Dom shook his head, not wishing to hear more. He thought how he had felt, in that Pathan tent, not knowing who were his enemies and who his friends, and what a comfort Elijah's presence had been, lying at his side through the long, dark nights. That some of his enemies had been revealed to him did not lessen the thought that there were still others yet to be discovered.

"Until he is stronger, Dada-ji, I shall not leave him." Dom cast his eyes over Elijah's slumbering form. "It will be no penance to remain at his side for a few days. If any wish to see me, they may meet with me on the landing, where, if he wakes, Elijah may hear my voice, and know that I am near. That is my will."

Ian bowed. "It shall be as you say, Highness," he said, his voice prim, and then smiled sweetly. "I will leave you, now. I shall return in a few hours, when he wakes. Shall I send up breakfast?"

Dom smiled back. "If you please, my dear Dada-ji," he said, all the king quite vanished from his tone. "And a book, too, if you can find one in this benighted place."

*

"Has the mem left?" Dom asked softly of the steward who brought up the breakfast tray. Naadir pushed a small table towards Dom as he answered in the same tone. "Yes, Highness. Almost as dawn was breaking. She asked me to give you her grateful thanks."

Another servant entered the room. Dom noticed how quietly everyone trod about the house. He could hear nothing from downstairs, even with the door open. At this time of day, the house should be bustling with life. Then he noticed that neither man wore shoes. Thank you, Dada-ji! he thought, as Elijah moaned slightly, tried to turn in his sleep, and failed to do so. He was weak, indeed. Dom tried not to observe how weak.

The second servant waited until Elijah had settled before coming forward. "The Doctor Sahib sent these, Highness," the man whispered, placing the four books he carried in a pile beside Dom's chair.

Dom, lavishly buttering toast, picked one up, read the title, snorted softly, and replaced it on the pile. "Thank the Doctor Sahib for me," he said, waving the men away. Then he applied himself to his breakfast.

***

Dom sat by Elijah's bedside for a week before Ian was satisfied that his patient was finally on the mend. He had read every book in the house, including The Turf Remembrancer, Robinson Crusoe, and Mrs Beeton's cookbook.

He was just beginning Pride and Prejudice, shortly before midnight, one night, driven to it by boredom, when Elijah turned in bed completely unaided, and announced that he would like some tea.

Dom was so heartened by this turn of events that he got very drunk on the general's whisky, and sang to his beloved, who looked at Dom happily, his eyes soft with love, until the king fell asleep on the floor beside the bed.

Not having been drunk since university days, Dom's head was splitting by the morning, but he did not mind, for Elijah was eating toast, and dipping it into a boiled egg which he pronounced 'delicious'.

Ian had sent to the palace for medicines, commenting that the garrison's supplies were 'woefully inadequate', and Gafur returned with the messenger and the potions. His excuse for disobeying Dom's orders to stay at the palace, he revealed, was that he was certain His Highness needed fresh clothing, and now that all was well at the palace, especially with the guards Dom had sent for tramping about the place, he felt no anxiety about leaving.

Dom grinned at his servant, pleased to have a familiar and trusted face nearby. "And how does Portman do, Gafur?" he asked as Elijah listened intently to the conversation from the softness of the bed.

"Oh, him!" Gafur sniffed. "I've been down to see him once or twice. Prince Vigran's men are guarding him, though why I cannot say. It's like guarding a kitten. The man is all bluster and no substance."

Dom grinned. "What did he say to you, if anything?"

Gafur sniffed again. "He wanted gin, Highness. Needless to say, he did not get any. The Captain of the Guard is Mahmoud Khan. He is very fond of you, as you must know. He remembers the happy days spent hunting wild boar when you were boys."

Dom glanced at Elijah, wanting to share an amusing story with him about those far-off days, but Elijah’s eyes were closed, and he appeared to be sleeping, so he waved Gafur away, and settled down with his book.

He was surprised, when a few minutes later, Elijah said, in a voice that sounded far from sleepy, "do you think Ian will allow me to get up, today, Dom? I would very much like to sit in a chair, instead of lying here. Would you ask him for me?"

Half an hour later, Elijah was sitting in a comfortable chair in one of the salons, his feet on a stool, with a soft woollen blanket covering his knees.

"Ah! This is more like it!" he said, rubbing his hands together. Dom smiled, happily. It was very much more like it, indeed!

***

Four days later, Elijah asked to see Duleep Singh.

Dom rubbed his chin in consternation. "I am sorry, Lij, but I have sent him off, under Basmin's escort, to be confined at the palace." He lifted his honest grey eyes to Elijah's. "I could not trust myself not to kill him, had he remained."

Elijah kissed him. They were alone, after breakfast, and Dom was helping Elijah to dress. "Did you send the two thugs who beat me there, too?"

Dom attached the braces to the buttons on Elijah's trousers. "No, Lij. They come under Billy's aegis, and await court-martial here."

Elijah shook his head. He had yet to speak to his valet about his role in recent events, but had not, until that moment, felt equal to the task. Dom was helping Elijah because Billy was meeting with the two colonels sent by the War Office from Simla, to assist in judging the men accused of imprisoning Elijah.

"When will Ian allow me to go to the palace, Dom? Surely you are as anxious as I am to return there?" Elijah picked up the walking stick that Gafur had found in some unused cupboard. He handled it awkwardly for a few moments, thinking back.

Gafur had said that as the Mem Portman had left, Elijah Lord-sahib was entitled, by default, to anything in the house which made his life easier, and both Dom and Billy had agreed.

Elijah had taken the stick with a smile. "Thank you for being so solicitous of my well-being, Gafur. It is much appreciated."

Gafur had bowed. "Think nothing of it, lordship. It is my pleasure."


Dom glanced at Elijah, by now sitting comfortably in his chair in the green salon, the stick within easy reach. "Have you asked Dada-ji? I am certain he will tell you when he thinks it right."

Elijah's smile was rueful. "I dare not," he volunteered. "Your grandfather told me, in no uncertain terms, not to ask..."

Billy entered the room with more haste than ceremony, with not even a knock to announce his presence. "We are in the suds, now, my lord, and no mistake!" he blurted, looking harassed.

"Why, whatever is it, Bill? What has happened?" Elijah asked, still smiling. However the smile was wiped off his face by Billy's next words. "Lord Cecil, my lord. God help us!"

Elijah swallowed twice before he could speak. "Where...?"

"He is at the guest house, sir, changing his clothes. When I told him His Highness was here, with you, he said he could not present himself before royalty 'in all his dirt', as he put it. But I shouldn't think he'll be long."

Dom looked puzzled. "Who is 'Lord Cecil' that he engenders such dismay in you both?"

Elijah stared at his lover, his eyes filled with distress. "My brother - my elder brother. Oh, God!"

"Go to bed, my lord! Pretend to be asleep, unconscious - dead!" Billy offered, desperately. Dom was becoming amused. This Cecil was, after all, only a man. Why were his companions both so agitated by the mere thought of his presence?

Fortified by a judicious and generous glass of brandy, Elijah awaited the inevitable. His face bore such a woe-begone expression that Dom forbore comment, and waited patiently with him, for what Elijah clearly thought of as his doom to descend upon him.

When Dom asked if there was anything he could do for Elijah, that worthy answered in a voice laden with apprehension, "play the king. It is the only thing that might answer."

Dom was just about to ask why he had said that, when the door opened and Naadir announced ceremoniously, "Lord Cecil de Montfort Wood, Your Highness," and Dom knew instantly why.

Lord Cecil was not a tall man, being much the same height as his brother, but he appeared shorter because he carried far more weight than the slim Elijah. He wore an immaculate grey morning suit which would have been the correct attire to wear before a prince in London. His hair was lighter in colour than his brother's, his face was good-looking, but somewhat marred by a heavy jaw. His expression was...solemn.

He bowed low to Dom, sitting, king-like as requested, in the chair next to Elijah's. "Your Highness!" Lord Cecil breathed, bowing ponderously over Dom's proffered hand. "Brother!" he continued, without even looking in Elijah's direction.

When Elijah did not rise from his chair to greet his elder brother, as etiquette demanded, a frown appeared on Lord Cecil's already serious face.

"You will, of course, excuse Elijah from rising," Dom instructed, his tone cool to the point of frigidity. "The doctor has strictly forbidden him to do so."

Elijah cast a vexed glance at Dom, but his lover appeared not to notice his annoyance at having his weakness mentioned.

"Indeed, he is carried everywhere. I, myself, bore him downstairs to this room," Dom mendaciously declared. "Please be seated, my lord." Dom waved Lord Cecil to a chair.

"It is very gracious of Your Highness to receive me without an appointment. I was not expecting to find you here." Lord Cecil looked down his nose at Dom, as if he was observing a distasteful sight.

"Where would you like me to be, my lord? I will be honoured to accommodate your wishes, if you tell me where, in my own kingdom, I should be, rather than here, at the side of my dear friend." Dom was smiling, though his voice had icicles dripping from it. Elijah's heart warmed at the sound.

"You misunderstand me, Highness," Lord Cecil commented, not the slightest bit ruffled by Dom's obvious displeasure. "I merely thought that you would have more important things to do with your time than sit beside a sickly man."

Dom thought Lord Cecil made Elijah's condition sound as trivial as a child bothered by a slight cold. He glanced swiftly at Elijah, seeing the anxiety plainly in his eyes. "You are mistaken, my lord. There is nothing to me that is more important than Lord Elijah's health, for had it not been for him, I would have been dead many weeks ago."

He let Lord Cecil digest this for a few moments, then asked, "would you care for some tea, my lord - and cucumber sandwiches?"

***

Dom decided, within half an hour, that he disliked Lord Cecil more than any man he knew. He was pompous, arrogant, and condescending all in one small, plump package. Dom did not know anyone else who had ever managed to make him feel like a grubby schoolboy in short trousers, detected in misbehaviour. Not his uncle, or any of his cousins, or even his grandfather had ever made him feel so inadequate as did his lordship, not even when he had been a grubby schoolboy in short trousers. Lord Cecil accomplished it without even trying.

Dom could see Elijah wilting miserably under his brother's stern eye. He had grown paler, if it was possible, than he had been when Dom had helped him downstairs, earlier, and his hands were visibly trembling.

Lord Cecil, totally oblivious of the feelings he was engendering, carried on talking. Her Majesty wished for Elijah to return home. She had been concerned at hearing of the attack - the first attack - upon her cousin, and decided he would be better by her side. Not his parents, - they were not mentioned at all - nor Lord Cecil, but the queen, Dom thought. It was not a request, but a command. Lord Cecil had handed over the queen's letter, which Elijah read with dismay before handing it to Dom. It was plain to see that Lord Cecil disapproved of Dom being given the queen's letter, for it was writ large upon his frowning face.

At that moment, Ian came in, and after bowing and shaking hands with his lordship, took one look at his grandson's pleading face, and another at Elijah's pale one, and swept the sick man into his arms, and carried him, protesting, out of the room. When Lord Cecil would have followed him, Ian was polite, but abrupt in his refusal. Lord Elijah needed to rest.

Dom breathed an inward sigh of relief, and after a few minutes, excused himself by reason of 'urgent business', and left Lord Cecil to the sole ownership of the salon.

Lord Cecil was far too well-bred to ask by what means the king had received the message informing him of the 'urgent business' he needed to address, but said nothing. He sat back in his chair, ordered more tea, and adapted himself, as he always did, to his circumstances.

Dom hurried up to Elijah's room, where he found Billy undressing him. His face was as black as thunder, as he worriedly surveyed his master. "If I was in the position to do so, my lord king," Billy volunteered, slipping a nightshirt over Elijah's head, "I'd kick his sainted lordship up the arse, and pack him off home, as soon as may be." Look at him! his eyes blazed, and Dom saw what the man meant.

Elijah had deflated; the spirit seemed to have gone out of him. All the liveliness, good humour and courage that had so enslaved Dom had vanished in little more than half an hour.

As soon as Elijah climbed into bed, he turned on his side, and closed his eyes. Billy cocked his head towards the landing, and Dom followed him from the room.

"Damn and bugger it, Highness!" Billy swore, as Dom closed the door behind them. "Never does His Sainted Lordship meet with my lord but that he manages to put him in the wrong. So it always has been. Lord Cecil, you see, is very much like their lordship's father, the earl."

Dom leaned against the door-frame, arms folded across his chest. "You mean he is a narrow-minded, condescending, arrogant, unfeeling dolt?"

Billy thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "More of a narrow-minded, condescending, arrogant, unfeeling bastard, I'd say, my lord. Definitely more of a bastard. Dolt is much too kind a word for him, for his bastardy has nothing to do with his birth, and everything to do with his character."

Dom could not help but smile, though his heart was heavy. "Will he go back to England with his brother, Bill?"

Billy sighed. "Oh, aye, my lord - you can depend on it. As soon as Dr Ian declares his lordship fit enough to travel, bloody Cecil will drag him off to Blighty. And he'll go with him, as duty bound, willing or not."

Dom's heart sank even further. Elijah would leave him, and, he thought desperately...and I have only just discovered how much...how truly and utterly I love the dear man!

Comments

[lisabellex.livejournal.com]

Ugh, that Duleep Singh is a most despicable man. Udom did very well to contain himself, when faced with the man's refusal to divulge any information.

And oh, while we're on the subject of unpleasant men, that Lord Cecil needs to be brought down a peg or two. :)

Poor Elijah, making progress then suffering a setback owing to his brother's presence. Keep them apart, I say, and don't let Lord Cecil take Elijah back to Blighty! :)

Great chapter.

xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I'm certain Cecil will get his just reward. :D I'm so happy you liked it, my love. Big huggles xxxx

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry that Lord Cecil has arrived and made Elijah feel so poorly. I was heartened to read that Elijah was doing so much better, and then this.

I do so hope something can be worked out to let Elijah stay. The Queen probably thinks she is doing a good thing, but it's the wrong thing in this case.

Thank you for the post so early today! Thanks to you both.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Elijah has a very quick mind, and he's finally made it up. I'd defy anyone to try to alter it, now! ;D xxx

[laeliacatt.livejournal.com]

And I thought Duleep Singh was insufferable. Lord Cecil takes the cake! Oh, why did the Queen demand that Elijah come home to England? What will our boys do now? I was going to cheer that Elijah was doing so well and getting stronger but Cecil and the Queen's command change everything. *frets*

Wonderful chapter, my dear!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Cecil is a fool. I really dislike him, but I feel sorry for him, in a way. We'll see how it all turns out, eh? ;D xxx

[http://users.livejournal.com/tweedle_/]

Duleep deserves everything coming to him! Evil man! *growls*

I LOVE Elijah’s and Billy’s reaction to Lord Cecil’s appearance but not the affect it had on poor Elijah’s health. He’d been doing so well up until then!

I do hope Her Magesty’s mind can be changed. Elijah needs to be with Dom! Wonderful chapter! XXOO :D

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Thank you. DomLijah rules, ok? Even in Indiah! And Duleep will be punished, oh, yes! :D xxxx

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

Great to see you back here in 2010! Glad you enjoyed your Christmas and New Year as did we, although it's very hard now that everyone has returned home - Chris is on his way back after taking James to Stoke and I must admit I really, really miss Jim-Lad... Saying goodbye to Jacqui was bad enough on Tuesday, but today was difficult :-(

Anyway, must look forward to the next time he can visit, whenever that might be...

Thanks for another very interesting and well-written chapter. That Duleep Singh! How Dom kept his hands off him I'll never know!

Glad that Elijah is improving, or he was until *Lord Cecil* arrived with his unpleasant presence and the Queen's command that Elijah must return to England, leaving behind his beloved Dom :-(

They *must* be together or Elijah will suffer a setback from which he may never recover, I fear 0_0 But our dear Issi will find a way, I'm sure!

Thanks to you and Ladysunrope and all the best for the New Year :-)
*huggles*
XXXX

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

The DomLijah must never be parted - my story - my rules. Giggles. Glad you liked it, sweetie! :D xxxx

[verangel.livejournal.com]

Duleep is absolutely horrible. How can they get info from him? He has no fear and is the worst kind of terrorist. It is scary to wonder who is behind all this. They have to be so wicked and evil. Elijah, breaks my heart when he admits so weakly that he hurts. He can't even turn over. Poor thing. Then, you throw in the horrid Lord Cedric!! I don't understand why Elijah cowers to him. It is so unlike him and therefore, even more upsetting to me and poor Dom. No way can he let Cedric take Elijah away. I don't understand why Elijah wont fight going. It is so strange.
Dogonnit..now I have to wait another week!!! *whimpers* hugs you close...this was great and I wanted to write more but my damn "S" key is flipping off. xoxooxxo v

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Duleep is not a nice man - but that's what makes a good villain. And Cecil is an idiot. I hope your S is working, again, cos part 20 is up! Huggles ;D xxxx

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

How sad that Cecil could show up and undo most of the progress Elijah has made since meeting Dom and falling in love with him. I hope Something can be done to change the queen's mind and to knock Cecil off his high horse. As for Duleep, what a bastard.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Duleep is not a nice bloke, no he isn't. But retribution is at hand. Thank goodness! I'm glad this is my story, cos I desperately need it to go my way. :D xxx

[sumisu78.livejournal.com]

Frohes neues Jahr, dear Issi!
And thank you for this new chapter. I thought nobody could be meaner than Duleep or Portman. Then along comes Elijah's own brother. *shudder*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda to you, too! :D

So glad you enjoyed it. 20 is posted if you want a read! ;D xxx