Mrs Ogilvy produced a pince-nez from her pinafore pocket and scanned the neatly written lines. She looked up, handing the paper back to Kate with a sympathetic smile. ‘I’ll send for the carriage.’

The journey to the military hospital on the outskirts of the city took much longer than it might have done had the roads not been so congested. Kate sat back in the landau, shaded by a large parasol, and her anxiety was calmed a little by her pleasure at being back in the country she had grown to love. The heat was intense and red dust swirled around the carriage as it disturbed the road surface, weaving in and out between donkeys struggling with overfilled panniers, lumbering elephants, carts laden with farm produce and a jostling crowd of people going about their daily business. The scent of spices mingled with the odour of dung from the skinny cows that were free to wander at will. Beautiful barefoot children ran after the carriage, holding out their hands and smiling up at Kate, who was tempted to throw them a few coins, but she knew from experience that it was unwise. Such an action would only cause a crowd to gather and the children might be in danger of being trampled in the rush to snatch the money from the dust.

It was quieter on the outskirts of the city and it was relief when the coachman drew the carriage to a halt outside the main entrance to the hospital. A young boy ran forward to open the carriage door and Kate alighted, feeling suddenly nervous of what she might discover. She tipped the boy and made her way into the building. The cloying smell of carbolic assailed her nostrils as she approached the reception desk where a turbaned gentleman listened politely to her questions.

‘A moment, memsahib.’ He leafed through the pages of a leather-bound book, running a gnarled finger down the entries. ‘Private Blythe is on Ward Ten, but Sahib Lyndon was discharged some time ago.’

Kate stared at him in dismay. ‘Do you know where Sahib Lyndon went?’

‘Not my business, memsahib. I’m very sorry, I can’t help you.’

Chapter Twenty

Kate stood in the doorway of Ward Ten, glazing down the regimented rows of iron beds. A nurse came hurrying towards her. ‘It isn’t visiting time yet, miss.’

‘I’ve come all the way from England to see Private Blythe,’ Kate said with a catch in her voice. ‘I only arrived in Bombay this morning after many weeks at sea. Please can I just have a moment with him?’

The young woman glanced over her shoulder. ‘Sister is at tiffin but she’ll be back soon. You may have five minutes but please don’t disturb the other patients.’ She led the way to the far end of the ward where a young man lay in his neatly made bed.