‘It is the one you used to see in secret when we were in Delhi,’ Mira said in a whisper.

Kate nodded, unable to speak in case she choked on a sob. She had, of course, known in her heart that their love was doomed from the beginning, but she thought she had conquered the feelings she had for Ashok. However, seeing him looking so handsome and magnificent in his wedding finery brought back memories both sweet and agonising. Somehow she felt betrayed, even though the small voice of reason in her head told her that such a feeling was irrational. If she called his name he might turn to look at her and she would know in an instant if he still had feelings for her – but somehow she managed to curb the impulse. Ash had made a new life for himself, as had she. There was no going back.

‘Memsahib, are you all right?’

Mira’s voice penetrated the fog in Kate’s brain and she dragged herself back to the present. ‘Yes. I just wasn’t expecting to see this.’

‘Perhaps we should leave?’ Mira said urgently as a small crowd of well-wishers appeared from seemingly nowhere.

‘I mustn’t forget why we came here today.’ Kate dashed tears from her cheeks with a flick of her fingers. ‘I still need to speak to someone in the wedding party. I’m sure that Harry must have been here, and I need to find out when that was. He’s been missing for over three weeks, Mira. Anything could have happened to him.’

‘Perhaps we should keep our distance.’

‘Yes, that’s what we must do.’ Kate took a deep breath. The shock of seeing Ash again was overcome by a sudden urge to see the woman who had captured his heart. ‘Come on, Mira. We’ll follow the wedding party.’

‘Is that wise, memsahib?’ Mira asked anxiously. ‘Some things are best forgotten.’

‘You mean well, Mira, but I know what I’m doing.’ Kate pulled the dupatta down over her forehead and stepped out onto the road, following the joyous procession at a safe distance.

As she had expected, the bridegroom’s procession moved on until they came to the bride’s home, which seemed to be the finest house in the neighbourhood. It looked as though Ash was marrying money, and somehow that hurt more than the fact that he had another woman in his life. Kate could only hope that he had fallen in love with the beautiful rich girl who waited for him patiently beneath a flower-bedecked canopy, and when the bride looked up and saw her future husband there was no mistaking the adoration on her face. Kate realised at that moment she had lost Ashok for ever.