‘I’m not surprised.’ Kate pulled up a stool and sat down again. She was still shaky, and seeing Harry in such a weakened state had shocked her to the core. ‘We must get you back to Audley House, Harry.’

‘How is Joe? I didn’t mean to leave him for such a long time.’

‘He’s doing surprisingly well, although he’s desperate to leave the hospital. I’d have come here sooner, but no one knew where you were, even Joseph. It was only when we discovered that Ashok was born in Thana that we wondered if you’d come here to find him, but I don’t understand why you would do such a thing.’

‘I knew I had to lay the ghost of your first love, Kate. What chance had I got if you still harboured feelings for the fellow? I needed to meet him and see what I was up against.’

‘Instead of which you arrived on our doorstep and passed out,’ Bikram said with a wry smile. ‘My brother still doesn’t know why you came to us, Harry.’

‘I’m sorry I gave you so much trouble, Bikram. I think I would have died had it not been for your mother’s expert knowledge of herbs and medicines. But if I was off my head with fever, how did you find out who I was?’

‘I sat with you during your ravings, sahib. I pieced the story together, but I kept it to myself. My family had a wedding to plan.’

‘Is it today?’ Harry asked dazedly. ‘Do you know about this, Kate?’

‘I arrived here in time to see the wedding party setting off. I admit it was a shock, but then I realised how much things have changed – how much I have changed. It simply was not to be, Harry.’

He reached out to take her hand in his and squeezed her fingers. ‘That’s all I wanted to know.’

‘Joe will be so relieved to learn that you’re safe. Which reminds me,’ Kate said, turning to Bikram, ‘you ought to be with your family. Your brother’s wedding is too important for you to be spending it here with us.’

‘It was necessary to bring you to Harry,’ Bikram said with a wry smile. ‘Now you know how you really feel and you can live your life in peace. My brother will be happy enough with his chosen bride, but I must ask you to leave here before the others return. Only I know about you and Ashok. It is better that way.’

‘I understand.’ Kate raised Harry’s thin hand to her lips. ‘Can you find some sort of transport to take us to the railway station? We’ll catch the next train for Bori Bunder.’

‘Of course.’ Bikram moved to the doorway where Mira had been standing quietly. ‘Will you pack the few things that Harry brought with him, Mira? I’ll show you where they are.’