‘I’m returning to London, Ashok. We didn’t have a chance to say goodbye before, but I’m saying it now. You have a beautiful wife and I hope you have a happy marriage. I’ll never forget you, and I’ll always be grateful to your family for taking care of Harry.’

He backed out into the teeming rain. ‘I will always love you, Kate. But you are right: I have my path in life and you have yours.’ He walked away, shoulders hunched, his clothes sodden.

Kate brushed the raindrops from her cheeks, or perhaps they were tears – she did not know which – but she had made her choice. Her future was not in India, much as she loved the country and its people. She clutched her reticule with both hands. It contained the tickets that would take them home. In four months or maybe a little less, depending on the strength of the trade winds, they would arrive in London.

Kate’s last mission was to visit the graveyard where her beloved uncle’s ashes had been interred. It had taken her some time to pluck up the courage to say farewell to the man who had made her a very rich woman, but having seen the quiet surroundings, she knew that he was at peace. She draped a garland of marigolds over the stone that marked his place, and whispered a final goodbye before leaving. Harry was waiting for her in the carriage and Sandeep drove them back to Audley House.

Harry raised her hand to his lips. ‘Your uncle would be proud of you, Kate.’

‘I don’t know why you say that. I’ve done little enough with the money he left me.’

‘Nonsense. You’d already started the soup kitchen and it was only circumstances that forced you to give it up. From what I saw of Warren House you’ve spent your money well, even though it doesn’t belong to you. If that’s not altruistic, I don’t know what is.’

She leaned against his broad shoulder. ‘I want to do more, Harry. When we return to London I want to do more for the poor and needy. I’d like to think that Uncle Edgar would be proud of me.’

‘I don’t think there’s any doubt of that, Kate. My mission will be to put Monks behind bars for the rest of his miserable life.’

Kate laid her hand on his. ‘But first you must get completely better. I hope the long sea voyage will be good for you and for Joe.’