‘That’s wonderful,’ Kate said, taking off her straw bonnet and flinging it onto the bed in her room. ‘Thank you for sitting with him, Annie. I know you’d rather be at the hospital with Joe, but there’s good news there, too. I saw the doctor who’s been treating your brother and she said that Joe is strong enough to leave hospital. He’ll always have to walk with crutches, but you knew that anyway.’

‘Yes, of course, and Sir Robert came to see me earlier with Joe’s discharge papers. We can all travel home together.’

Kate sat down on the window seat overlooking the courtyard. ‘It’s been lovely staying here, but we mustn’t impose on Sir Robert any longer than necessary. I’ll ask Sandeep to drive me to the shipping office this afternoon to purchase our return tickets. That will give us something to plan for.’

‘It must have been so hard for you seeing Ashok in his wedding finery. Do you regret not speaking to him?’

Kate shook her head. ‘No. It wouldn’t have been right. He’s making a life for himself and I’ve no right to upset him or his bride. I’ve said goodbye to him in my heart, and as far as I’m concerned it’s over.’

‘Mira seems quite taken with Bikram,’ Annie said, chuckling. ‘I think there might be a budding romance between them.’

‘Harry said I was a matchmaker; now you’re doing it.’

‘I think we all want to see people happy,’ Annie said dreamily. ‘I really miss Perry, and I hope he misses me.’

‘I’m sure he does, and in four months or so you’ll be able to tell him how you feel.’

‘Yes, I will. I just hope you’re not making a mistake by leaving India without talking to Ashok.’

‘What good would that do now, Annie? He’s a married man and I love Harry. There, I’ve said it, and I think Harry loves me. The past is over and done with.’ Kate stood up and went to the dressing table to tidy her hair. ‘I’m going to give Harry the good news that we’ll be leaving very soon. We should be home in time for Christmas.’

Two days later Kate alighted from the tonga outside Audley House. She left Mira to pay the tonga wallah, and was about to walk up the path to the front door when she heard someone call her name. She froze on the spot, turning her head slowly at the sound of the familiar and once-loved voice. Ashok was standing on the pavement with Bikram at his side.

‘Go inside, memsahib. I will deal with this,’ Mira said urgently.

Kate laid her hand on Mira’s arm. ‘No, it’s all right. You can spend a little time with Bikram. I will speak to Ash.’