Kate sat down at the table, but the buttered eggs were cold and the toast also. She pushed her plate away. ‘At the risk of offending Mrs Ogilvy I’m afraid I can’t eat anything. Last night I made up my mind that I had to be patient and wait for Harry to return, but I’ve changed my mind.’ Kate rang the bell. ‘I’ll apologise. She’s gone out of her way to make us feel welcome.’

‘You won’t do anything rash, will you, Kate?’ Annie said urgently. ‘Please reconsider.’

Kate smiled. ‘Don’t worry about me, Annie. I know what I must do.’ She looked up as the door opened and her hand flew to cover her lips. She jumped to her feet. ‘Mira!’

The maid put her hands together and bowed her head. ‘Namaskar, Memsahib Kate.’

Kate responded in kind before wrapping her arms around the maid in hug. ‘I’m so pleased to see you, Mira. I didn’t know you were still here.’

Mira smiled through her tears. ‘Sahib Audley employed me. I was visiting my family when you arrived. I only returned this morning, and I found you were here. It’s a miracle.’

‘You know each other?’ Annie asked in a dazed voice.

‘Mira was my maid in Delhi. We escaped together and came here. Mira, this lady is my good friend Memsahib Annie Blythe. We’ve come to Bombay to see her brother, who is in hospital and, if the doctors allow it, we’ll take him home to England.’

Annie smiled and nodded, but Mira was studying Kate’s face with an anxious expression.

‘You’re not staying, memsahib?’

‘Not for much longer, but I’m so happy to see you again, Mira.’

Mira backed away. ‘You rang for a servant, memsahib?’

‘You are my friend, Mira,’ Kate said hastily. ‘But you may apologise to Mrs Ogilvy for me. I couldn’t finish my food, but it was delicious. We have to go to the hospital now, but you will be here when we return, won’t you?’

‘I will, memsahib.’

‘Then we will speak again. You must tell me everything that has happened to you since I left for England.’

‘I will, but I must not anger Mrs Ogilvy. I have work to do.’

‘Of course. I understand.’ Kate reached out to tap Annie gently on the shoulder. ‘We’d better go now or we might not be in time to speak to Joe’s doctor.’

‘The good news, Joe,’ Kate said cheerfully, ‘is that the doctors say that you are well enough to be discharged and you might benefit from the sea voyage home.’

Joe’s expression brightened. ‘Really? You can’t imagine how tired I am of lying in this bed. I know they get me up and make me walk around the hospital, but I long for some fresh air and good food.’