‘It must be a worry for you, Kate. I mean, you’re obviously very fond of your uncle, and judging by what the newspapers say, things are bad out there at the moment.’

‘Yes, I love my uncle. He was always very kind to me. He never married and I suppose I’m the nearest thing he has to a daughter.’

‘I’m sure the army will protect him. The uprising will be put down soon.’

‘That’s not what the papers say. I knew so many people in Delhi. I can’t bear to think what might have happened to them.’

Perry put his head on one side, studying her with a thoughtful frown. ‘Do you want my honest opinion, Kate?’

‘I don’t know,’ she said warily. ‘It sounds as if it will be something I might dislike.’

‘You ought to know me better than that. What I think is that you are stuck in this mausoleum of a house, day in and day out, and it’s no life for a lively minded female like yourself.’

She nodded. ‘Well, I won’t disagree with that. What do you suggest I do about it?’

‘For a start you could come with me now. I’m taking on a case of a man who is accused of stealing items from the docks where he works as a carter. He lives in East Smithfield, and that’s where I’m going. I think the case might interest you.’

‘I’ll get my bonnet and shawl,’ Kate said eagerly. The opportunity to get out of the house and do something different from the boring daily routine was too good to miss.

‘Why are you going to so much trouble for this person?’ Kate asked as the hansom cab threaded its way through the heavy traffic. ‘Surely a man of your standing doesn’t normally call at clients’ houses? Unless, of course, they are very wealthy.’

‘You are very cynical for one so young.’

‘You’re forgetting that I grew up in a household where my father was quite ruthless when it came to making money. Even as a child I could see that he was in competition with his elder brother. Uncle Edgar inherited the family fortune and Papa had to make his own way in the world.’

‘Which he has done very successfully.’

‘Yes, I suppose so, but you haven’t answered my question. What is so special about this new client of yours?’

‘Ted Harris is my cousin.’

Kate stared at him in disbelief. ‘Your cousin? But you said he lives in East Smithfield and he’s just a carter.’

‘My mother’s family were all carters or porters working on the docks. My father was a barrister from a good family. It was a love match between my parents and they married despite opposition on both sides.’

‘And it worked out well?’