Harry put his head on one side, giving her a searching look. ‘Is it that you desire my company, Kate? Or are you still hankering after that Indian soldier?’

‘I need to know if Ashok has survived. Is that so terrible? If it’s at all possible will you make enquiries for me?’

‘I’ll do what I can, but I can’t promise anything.’

Chapter Seventeen

At midnight Kate waited on the terrace with a valise packed with Harry’s clothes. It was a cold, clear night and the moon hung like a golden guinea in a translucent dark blue sky, pierced with pinpricks of starlight. After a while she heard a rustle of leaves in the shrubbery and Harry emerged.

‘Thank you, Kate. I won’t forget this,’ he said as he took the case from her hand. ‘I’ve decided to go now and not leave it until daybreak.’

‘But how will you travel?’

‘I left my horse in the paddock and the tack in Morrison’s cottage. I can’t promise anything, Kate, but I’ll make enquiries about Subedar-Major Patel. I know he means a lot to you.’

‘Thank you, Harry.’

He took both her hands in his and for once his expression was serious without a hint of a smile. ‘There’s always a touch of sadness in your beautiful eyes. If I could banish that for ever I’d be a happy man.’

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Kate said hastily.

‘You left your heart in Delhi – I know that. I can’t take you with me, but if I can find Ashok Patel I will.’

‘You’d do that for me?’

The smile returned to his ocean-blue eyes. ‘I’d do a great deal more, but I know I have to lay his ghost to rest first.’ He took her in his arms and kissed her.

She found herself kissing him with equal passion.

‘I will return, Kate.’ He turned on his heel and within seconds was lost in the darkness of the shrubbery.