‘Joe is in the military hospital, but Harry was discharged some weeks ago and no one knows where he is now. He told Joe he had business to attend to, and Sir Robert has been making enquiries. We think that Harry might have travelled to Thana.’

‘So it was Harry you hoped might be at the station?’

‘It was a foolish idea, Colonel. I had no reason to believe that he was on that train, and no proof that he ever travelled on that line.’

‘How disappointed you must feel.’

She eyed him warily, wondering if he was laughing at her, but his expression was sympathetic. ‘Yes, I am. Although it was a vain hope.’

‘This man means a great deal to you?’

‘Yes, he does.’ Kate smiled, shaking her head. ‘I didn’t realise how much until I found that he’d disappeared.’

‘Have you any idea where he might have gone?’

‘I’ve been racking my brains, but I can only think that he might be trying to find someone I was very fond of when I lived in Delhi with my parents.’

‘That person must have been very important to you, too.’

‘Yes, at the time he was. I fancied myself in love with a very handsome subedar-major, but I realise now that it was just an infatuation. However, I would like to know that he survived the conflict. He was someone very special.’

‘Might I know his name? Perhaps I can help find him through army records. At the moment we are in a state of flux since the nationalisation of the East India Company Army, of which I was a part, but now we are the Indian Army, I’m proud to say.’

‘He’s called Subedar-Major Ashok Patel.’

‘Leave it with me, Miss Martin. I’ll go through what records we have here. I can’t promise anything, but I might be able to trace him for you. In the meantime I’m sure your friend Harry … what’s his surname?’

‘He is Sir Harry Lyndon, although he sometimes uses the alias Harry Trader.’

‘I’m sure he will turn up when he’s ready, but I will also make enquiries. Maybe I can help you to find both of them.’

Chapter Twenty-One

That evening, sitting in the jasmine-scented courtyard of Audley House, listening to the tinkling of the water in the fountain, and the song of the cicadas, which was almost drowned out by the chatter of monkeys as they settled down for the night in the tall trees nearby, Kate felt very much at home. Annie had retired to bed early, and Sir Robert was in his study, going over a set of documents. He had apologised for leaving Kate on her own, but he had an important court case next morning, and he needed to go through his notes thoroughly before he slept.