Married To The Devil

"There you are. "

Uruvi shut the castle doors behind her and noticed Surili sitting on one of the chairs near the fire.

"Raani Ekaashara was looking for you just a few moments ago," the woman said as Uruvi approached.

"Do you know what Aunt Sakshi wanted?" she asked, noticing that the maid had her green kurti on her lap and was apparently fixing a small tear in it. It was the kurti she had been wearing the day before. Uruvi must have caught it on a branch during her climb and caused a small tear.

Surili shook her head. "She didn't say, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the meals for the week. Or maybe she wants to restock supplies because Cook will be back soon."

Uruvi nodded, then paused, conflicted between seeing what the woman wanted and going upstairs. She ultimately decided to replace the pin first.

The brooch had already caused her problems, and with the way her luck had been lately, she was afraid of getting distracted and losing it again.

"If Sakshi comes back looking, tell her I just took something upstairs and will be back immediately to talk with her." Uruvi started to turn away but was stopped by a tsking sound from Surili.

"You have grass stains on your skirt," she pointed out with irritation. "I swear child, I have no idea what's happened with you. You have always been careful with your clothes before this, but now you manage to ruin another one every day since the day you married Raaja Nawab."

Frowning, Uruvi glanced down at her skirt, grimacing when she saw that while she had escaped Angus unharmed, her kurti had not. Sighing, she shook her head with irritation, and muttered, "I will change while I am up there."

"I'll help." Surili was starting to stand up, but Uruvi waved her down.

"I can manage on my own, Surili. Carry on with what you are doing. "

With a nod, the maid sank back in her seat, and Uruvi dashed to the stairs and climbed up. When she entered the room, her first stop was at Nawab's chest.

She sighed and replaced the brooch where she'd found it, then closed the chest and stood to cross to her own, removing her kurti as she went.

Pausing by her chest, Uruvi took a few moments to examine the kurti. It was one of her favourites, and she thought Nawab liked it, too, as out of all her kurtis, this and her forest green one were the ones he had picked to pack when he had brought her from her home. Since the man spoke so little, she had no way of knowing what he liked.

Luckily, the grass stains were not too bad, and at least there were no rips or tears. A good soaking and a little hard scrubbing should remove the stains, she thought with relief, and she rolled the kurti up and set it aside to take below for cleaning.

Uruvi then moved to her chest, opened it, and bent to rummage through its contents for another kurti to wear.

She never heard the bedroom door open and jumped with surprise as arms slid around her from behind.

Uruvi didn't have to look to figure out who it was. She recognized the hands that had unexpectedly covered her breasts, as well as the way Nawab cupped and kneaded them through her petticoat's material.

"I came to ask you something," Nawab rumbled in her ear.

"Oh?" Uruvi sighed, her eyes closing as she leaned back into him. She covered his hands with hers, squeezing encouragingly as he touched her.

"Yes, but you've managed to distract me."

When she opened her eyes, a breathless laugh escaped her lips. "I have done absolutely nothing."