“Fiddlesticks! None of the India men would bother to pay respects to a mere female, particularly over here in England. What does he want from you?” Lady Sylvia looked as stubborn as one of her hairy little terriers.

Gabby gave in. “I suspect that he will ask me the whereabouts of Tukoji Holkar’s heir. Holkar is one of the chiefs in the Marathas region.”

“Marathas? Marathas? Where in God’s name is that?” But she didn’t give Gabby time to answer. “What you’re saying is that some sort of heathen prince has gone missing,” Lady Sylvia said. “An Indian prince.”

Gabby nodded. “The boy’s name is Kasi Rao.”

“Why on earth would Hastings suspect that you might know his whereabouts?”

“Kasi was raised as my brother,” Gabby said. “He is my father’s nephew by his first marriage. And he grew up in our household. Since he is now almost eleven, and given that his father is ill, he would probably assume the throne of the Holkars, except—”

“Except that he’s disappeared,” Lady Sylvia finished. “And your father had something to do with it, no doubt. God knows, from what I remember of your father, he’s eccentric enough to be kidnapping princes right and left.”

“I know nothing about it,” Gabby said, praying for an even tone to her voice.

Lady Sylvia snorted. “Save yer rhetoric for the colonel.” She lapsed into silence and raised her hand when Gabby started to speak. “Just a minute, gel. It’s foolish for us to talk to this colonel alone. He’s likely to bully you. We should wait until Dewland returns and let him deal with it.”

“But if I refused to say anything, the colonel would have to give up and leave.”

“Absurd!” Lady Sylvia snapped. “We can’t just walk in there, two unaccompanied females. He’ll try to intimidate you into telling the truth. Not that any male could do better than a female when it comes to deception. Just ask my husband, Lionel, about that. Of course, given that he’s dead, you can’t ask him, God rest his soul.”

Gabby couldn’t think what in the world she could say in response, so she remained silent.

“We’d better act caper-witted,” Lady Sylvia announced. “I’ll have the dogs brought in; they’ll help. I’ll play a dithering old maid.” She wheeled around and barked, “You, Codswallop!”

Codswallop visibly jumped. “Yes, my lady?”

“Have my dogs brought in, and then you may escort us to the library.”

Codswallop opened his mouth—and thought better of it. “I’ll summon the animals immediately.”

Lady Sylvia snorted as he left. “There’s something a little shifty about that fellow. He didn’t like the idea of fetching my little sweeties. Probably worrying about the library rug.