The Midnight Rose
Page 54
Indira was desperate for me to accompany her back to her palace and take up my old role as her companion, travelling back and forth with her to Europe, but I declined her offer.
For you see, my Moh, I had been given a last gift by your father before he died. Only the heavens can explain how the tiny speck of life implanted inside me on the last night we spent together managed to weather the storms of my imprisonment, grief and subsequent illness, but survive it did. When I arrived back in Cooch Behar, it was confirmed by my old friend Zeena, the wise woman, that I was four months pregnant.
This time, there was no terror, only peace. Even though my heart broke over your loss, whether orchestrated by mere physical absence or death, I felt that at least there was a flowering of new life from the ashes of tragedy.
Indira returned to her own palace, husband and child soon after our arrival, but I stayed in Cooch Behar. A strange, sleepy calm descended upon me as I grew fatter, like a brood mare in a field full of new-mown hay.
Your sister, Muna, was born on the fifth of June, 1923, with Zeena in attendance. And my new baby proved to be as relaxed and peaceful as her entry into this world had been. I wondered sometimes, as I nursed her in my arms in the small hours and looked down upon her, whether she had inherited my gift. But it transpired as she grew up that she had not. However, I know that, somewhere along the line, one of her children, or her children’s children, will inherit it. And that I’ll recognise it immediately when the time comes.
When Muna was five years old, I felt I must at last begin to form my own life, follow my dreams and move away from the protective shield of the palace.
Due mostly to my old matron at The Royal Hospital forwarding my nursing records from the time of the First World War, and a glowing reference from her, I was offered a placement at a local hospital and I began the official training necessary to become a nurse. Of course, my dream was always to become a doctor, but in 1928 in India, this was very rare for a woman.
But I made the most of my situation, and as India began to change, so did my opportunities. I became vociferous in my support of Gandhi, especially on the subject of women’s rights. My dear son, it might be true to say that I began to gather myself rather a reputation.
As I write this, we are ten years into independence from the British. The country still struggles to find its true identity, to believe it is capable of making decisions for itself after so many years of them being forced upon us. But I do believe we will get there. I’m currently, with the backing of Indira and her mother, setting up the first women’s hospital of its kind in India. With the help of royal connections, we are consulting with some eminent obstetricians from all over the world.
One in particular, a doctor from England, has been most helpful to me. Dr Noah Adams works in St Thomas’ Hospital on the women’s wards themselves, and has therefore been of vital practical help, as I struggle to put the nuts and bolts of patient care into place. I hope that, one day, when our hospital is completed, he will have time to visit me here.
My dearest Moh, I have come to the end of my story. If you are alive, as I’ve always believed you are, I wish you happiness, peace and contentment. And I can only pray that, if not in our lifetime, we will meet again when we pass over.
My child, always know that you were truly loved.
Your devoted mother,
Anahita x
Acknowledgements
I’d like to thank my publishers around the world, especially Peter Borland at Atria Books, who inspired me to have the confidence to take on such a daunting challenge as The Midnight Rose. I hope I’ve met it. A special thank you to Catherine Richards at Pan Macmillan, who so patiently collated the manuscript, Jeremy Trevathan, Almuth Andreae and Georg Reuchlein, Judith Curr, Jorid Mathiassen and Knut Gorvell, Fernando and Milla Baracchini, Annalisa Lottini and Donatella Minuto. Without their friendship, encouragement and support, my books wouldn’t be reaching their audience.
There are many people who helped me with my research, including Raj Chahal, Dr Preema Vig, Rachel Jaspar at Coram, Line Prasad, Pallavi Narayan, Mark at ‘All Experts’, Radhika Artlotto, Greg and his staff at the Dhara Dhevi Hotel, Chiang Mai, for giving me not only the peace I needed to write Anahita’s story, but also a short course in Ayurvedic medicine.
My wonderful PA, Olivia Riley (who says family can’t work together successfully?), my fantastic friends and cheerleaders: Jacquelyn Heslop, Susan Boyd and Rita Kalagate, my mother, Janet, and my sister, Georgia. And of course, my husband Stephen and my children: Harry, Isabella, Leonora and Kit. All of whom make the hard work worthwhile.
And lastly, all the wonderful new friends and readers I’ve made as I’ve travelled around the world, whose enthusiasm and support inspire me to keep writing.
Bibliography
The Midnight Rose is a work of fiction set against a historical background. The sources I’ve used to research the time period and detail on my characters’ lives are listed below:
Lionel D. Barnett, Hindu Gods and Heroes: Studies in the History of the Religion of India (Crest Publishing, 1995)
Deepak Chopra, The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies (Piatkus Books, 1999)
Gayatri Devi, A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur (Rupa Publications, 1995)
E. M. Forster, A Passage to India (Penguin Publishing, 1995)
Rudyard Kipling, Rewards and Fairies (Folio Society, 1999)
Lucy Moore, Maharanis: The Lives and Times of Three Generations of Indian Princesses (Penguin, 2004)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Heat and Dust (Abacus, 2011)
Trevor Royle, Last Days of the Raj (Michael Joseph Ltd, 1989)
Paul Scott, The Raj Quartet (Arrow; New Edn, 1996)
Amy Stewart, Wicked Plants (Algonquin Books, 2010)
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‘A fast-paced, suspenseful story flitting between the present day and World War II . . . Riley expertly weaves Emilie’s story into a dual narrative . . . A real old-fashioned romance which manages to have a compelling narrative as well as something of a history lesson in the Special Operations Executive. Brilliant escapism’
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‘Two superb storylines for the price of one here. In 1998 Emilie de la Martinières inherits her grand South of France childhood home. She begins to uncover the past and finds a tiny room hidden in the wine cellar. Why has it been sealed for 50 years? As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also the part set in 1944. Constance Carruthers is sent to Paris as a spy, but loses her contact and falls in with an aristocratic family involved with the Resistance. Seriously, what could be more divine? Just sink in and wallow’
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Praise for The Girl on the Cliff
‘[Lucinda Riley] manipulates the strands of her plot with skill’
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write a captivating novel . . . it’s layered, it’s intricate, it’s just brilliant . . . a truly brilliant read’
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‘[A] haunting and engrossing new novel . . . Superb characterization, atmospheric locations and a well-paced narrative keep the pages turning and the imagination in thrall . . . Perceptive, warm and exquisitely wrought, The Girl on the Cliff is another triumph for a talented author’
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The Midnight Rose
Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland and wrote her first novel at twenty-four. Hothouse Flower was a Richard and Judy Book Club choice and became a number one international bestseller. Since then, her novels have gone on to sell over three million copies worldwide and her books are translated into twenty-six languages. She lives in Norfolk and the south of France with her husband and four children.
Also by Lucinda Riley
Hothouse Flower
The Girl on the Cliff
The Light Behind the Window
First published 2013 by Macmillan
This electronic edition published 2014 by Pan Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
Pan Macmillan, 20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
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www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-4472-6162-9
Copyright © Lucinda Riley 2013
The right of Lucinda Riley to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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