Chapter 4 Summary

Lakshmibai's bearing and expression leave no doubt she is royal, but Flashy is drawn only to her breasts. She appreciates the bottle of French perfume, but asks why this requires a face-to-face meeting. Pam has given Flashy no guidance or authorized concessions, and Flashy knows that this intelligent, experienced, direct woman has heard it all before. Still, he asks her to let him serve as her advocate. She wants Palmerston to restore her lost revenue to prove good will and laughs he has sent a handsome soldier to placate and "handle" her. When dismissed for the day, Flashy is satisfied to have achieved more than the Sirkar over years, recognizes that Lakshmibai has been flirting, and contemplates riding the swing with her.

While spending the afternoon among the Sepoy troops gaging their attitudes, Flashy meets Ilderim Khan of Mogala, his blood brother from...