‘Stop it, Kate. You’re putting me in a state. I won’t be able to look him in the eye if you continue to tease me.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Kate said, laughing. ‘I promise I won’t say anything to make you uncomfortable. In fact, I’ll go inside and see if I can find Annie. You can have Giles all to yourself.’ Kate did not wait for her mother to respond. She headed for the double doors that led into the small sitting room where she knew Annie often sat in the afternoon, basking in the sun like a contented kitten.

‘Kate, is that you?’ Annie was suddenly alert as Kate stepped into the room.

‘How did you know it was me?’

‘I can tell by your footsteps. You have a certain way of walking, quite different from that of your mother or Aunt Margaret. Besides which, I heard the carriage arrive and I imagine that Lady Martin will be outside in the garden, waiting for her beau. I can tell the difference between a barouche and a tilbury.’

Kate laughed. ‘I wish I had your ability to see things in my mind’s eye. How clever you are, Annie.’

‘I have to use my ears. It’s amazing how much you can tell just by listening.’ Annie sat back in her chair. ‘For instance, I know how much you miss Harry. I miss him, too.’

‘Yes, you’re right. I wish I knew that he had arrived safely in Bombay.’

‘You never told me why he had decided to go so far. I know all about Monks, of course, but why did Harry set sail for India.’

‘You would have to ask him that yourself,’ Kate said evasively.

‘Well, the answer might be in this letter.’ Annie held up a folded letter, sealed with red wax. ‘Will you read it to me, please? I was hoping you would be the first person to come into the room. It might be from Joe.’

Kate took it from her. ‘Of course.’ She broke the seal carefully and unfolded the letter. For a moment she was speechless. It was from Joseph Blythe, but written by a nurse at the military hospital in Bombay. Kate read it twice before she could find the courage to speak.

‘What does it say?’ Annie demanded. ‘I know it must be something bad or you would read it out loud.’

‘It’s from a nurse in the military hospital in Bombay, Annie. Your brother was badly wounded, which was why Harry set off for India. He was going to bring him home, but now Harry is very sick in hospital. The letter doesn’t go into details but it must have been serious, and they’re both in the same ward. It was Joe who asked the nurse to write this letter and that doesn’t bode well. Harry would never have asked for help had he been in command of his senses.’