Kate leaned her head against the cold window glass; recalling the good times only intensified the agony of their parting. It was Ash who had risked everything to help them get away that terrible night, but he had insisted that it was his duty as a soldier to return to his unit. The tenderness of their last embrace still burned upon Kate’s lips, and the salt tears that trickled down her cheeks now had the bitterness of gall. The long sea voyage had kept her in total ignorance of the progress of the rebellion and there was no way of knowing whether Ash was alive or dead. Kate was alone in her misery, for there was no one in whom she could confide. She knew she would get no sympathy from either of her parents.

The hackney carriage trundled onwards, rumbling over cobblestones, each turn of the wheel and every hoof beat taking Kate further away from the ship, which was her last connection with India and the man she loved. She shot a surreptitious glance at her parents, but her father was glaring into space and tapping his malacca cane impatiently on the floor of the cab, and her mother was lying back with her eyes closed. Kate dashed her tears away on the back of her hand and struggled to compose herself. Her heartbreak was hers to bear on her own, and she would have to find an alternative way of living her life. Marriage for her was out of the question. She could not imagine any man taking Ashok’s place in her heart, but there must be something she could do that would give her a new purpose.

The carriage was slowing down and as she wiped the steamed-up glass she realised that they were pulling up outside her old home in Finsbury Square. Lights blazed from the windows on all floors and the front door opened to reveal a uniformed footman.

‘Papa, we’re home at last,’ Kate said with a heartfelt sigh. ‘Mama, wake up. We’ve arrived.’

Fellowes opened the cab door and Sir Bartholomew alighted first. He marched up the front steps, leaving Kate to help her mother from the carriage, while Fellowes paid the cabby. Henry, the footman who had served the family for many years, moved swiftly to assist them.

‘You’ll have to excuse the state of the house, my lady,’ he said earnestly. ‘We only got the letter informing us of your imminent arrival this morning. Mrs Marsh and the servants are in a real state.’

‘Oh dear.’ Arabella’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Well, never mind, Henry. All I want is my nice comfortable bed, a warm fire and a hot drink.’

‘I’m sure we can arrange that, Mama,’ Kate said softly. She tucked her mother’s limp hand through the crook of her arm. ‘We can manage, if you would help Fellowes with the luggage, please, Henry?’

‘Of course, Miss Katherine.’