Excerpt

His eyes locked on hers, the child rested his head on the Maharajah's shoulder.

It was too late to save him. Rescue, difficult enough in the temple, was now impossible. She could not reach across the space between her balcony and the Maharajah's and snatch the baby from the old man's grasp. She kept her eyes on the shimmering waters of the tank, knowing the child had not taken his eyes from hers.

The child's fate was none of her concern. How many times had she been warned against entangling herself in the affairs of the natives? This time she would heed the advice she had been given. After all, even if the Maharajah were selfishly keeping the baby from his family, he was clearly fond of the poor thing. Surely he would see to it that someone kissed the baby tonight,that someone kept him warm in the cold night air. She wrapped her own shawl tightly about her. That expectant little face, she feared, would haunt her for the rest of her days.

With one last waterfall of light, the fireworks ended. As the crowd began to shuffle down the staircase, Mariana lost sight of the Maharajah. She turned to descend the steps, relieved to be free of the baby's stare, but a high, despairing wail rose from the direction of the city gate, and she knew instinctively that it came from him. She followed the Eden ladies helplessly down the stairs as the child's cry lifted over the noise of the crowd and filled her ears.

She quickened her steps. There was her palanquin, waiting on the ground, her bearers, anonymous in their shawls, crouching beside it.

As Mariana prepared to swing her legs into the curtained box, a small bearded man dashed towards her though the crowd, his head turning as if he were searching for someone, a child in his arms. The servant's laboring breath was visible in the cold air, his neatly wrapped turban lay askew on his head. The baby rode his servant like a king on his way into battle, his fists pounding the man's shoulder, urging him on.

Child, servant and young woman saw each other at the same time.
Mariana's mouth fell open. The running man turned and came straight for her, his lips moving as if her were talking to himself, but before he reached Mariana's side, the baby in his arms lunged dangerously towards her. Without thinking, she reached up to prevent the child from falling to the ground, then gathered him onto her lap and looked up, ready to scold the servant for his presumption. But where the little man had stood, there was only empty space.