Codswallop was far more intelligent than Mr. Michael Edwardes, and he had spent his entire life judging degrees of nobility. It was clear to him at a glance that Mr. Sudhakar was the equivalent of a nobleman, over there in India. Something about the way he held his head.

Codswallop bowed in return and then turned to a footman. “John! Take the gentleman’s bag to the East Chamber.”

Sudhakar gently held up his hand. “I prefer to keep it by my side, thank you.”

“Unfortunately the master and mistress are not at home. May I offer you some light refreshment?”

Sudhakar ate a small repast in the dining room and then placidly retired to the East Chamber, telling Codswallop that he would await the viscountess’s bidding in the morning.

“Yes, the very best manners,” Codswallop muttered to himself that evening. It was mind-opening, that’s what. He, Codswallop, tended to put Indians and Irish in the same group—don’t hire ‘em, as his dad would say. But there are always exceptions in life.

QUILL SAID NOTHING to Codswallop’s announcement of their unexpected visitor. He noted that Gabby’s face took on a happy glow and that Mr. Sudhakar had been placed in the best spare chamber. Their guest must be formidable indeed to have impressed Codswallop. He waited until the door to Gabby’s chamber closed behind them.

“So who is Mr. Sudhakar?” he asked, casually stopping Gabby as she reached out to the bellpull to summon Margaret.

“But I told you all about him!” Gabby exclaimed, sitting down before her dressing table. “He is quite my dearest friend in India—the doctor who specializes in poisons, do you remember now? I cannot wait to see him again. It might sound odd”—she cast a slightly ashamed glance at Quill as she started taking down her hair—“but I miss him far more than I miss my father.”

“He sounds like an extremely worthy person,” Quill replied. “But why is Mr. Sudhakar in England?” He waited, his face impassive, eyes on Gabby. Surely her cheeks were looking a bit rosy?

“Oh, well,” Gabby said, “Sudhakar was very helpful to me with the whole scheme to save Kasi Rao. That is, I wrote him and requested that he aid Tulasi Bai in making arrangements for her son to travel to England, and he did, and then—”

“Why is Mr. Sudhakar arriving after your newly appointed Holkar heir?”

“This was the earliest that he could pay us a visit,” Gabby said firmly. “Naturally I asked him to visit us whenever he was able. And you don’t need to say ‘Mr. Sudhakar,’ Quill. Very few Indian people have two names.”