‘Oh, but I knew she would, for I’d thought she must be intrigued to know how events had been with you since last you were here. You did, after all, help save her father.’

He smiled. She couldn’t know all that had happened – and hoped fervently she never would; but there was truth in what she said. ‘And so you were intent on seeing behind the mask, so to speak?’

‘No, Papa, I wasn’t intent, merely ready. The Ranee’s eyes are large and I think they must therefore reveal more of her soul. And, in truth, I felt there was much warmth.’

It would have been difficult, of course, not to warm to one of Georgiana’s age and ingenuous charm, but even so … ‘I’m gratified to hear that. Did she ask anything of moment?’

Georgiana thought for a stride or two. ‘She asked for how long we’d been travelling, which I suppose is not of much moment, but she did then ask how long we stayed at Guntoor and Sthambadree.’

‘You spoke in English the while?’

‘Yes.’

‘No Hindoostanee?’

‘No, nor when I spoke with the rissaldar. I thought it best.’

He smiled again. ‘I think you were quite right.’

She smiled too.

‘What did you observe of this, Annie?’

‘Oh, Colonel, I’m not sure I could observe anything rightly.’

He knew that with Annie there was no false modesty, and also that her judgement was sound, unlikely therefore to be coloured by her dusty reception. ‘What, then, did you observe, rightly or wrongly?’

She smiled, for so had he. ‘Well, I observed a woman of the greatest beauty; and that, so I have read, can be a fatal gift. And I did observe her warm eyes as she spoke to Miss Hervey …’

‘I sense that you’re withholding a “but”, Annie.’

‘Only, Colonel, because evidently our observations are of some moment to you, and I don’t wish to judge wrongly.’

‘I’m excessively obliged, Annie; but I assure you that it’s for me to judge. You should have no concern on that account. But I can’t judge without information.’

Annie nodded. ‘Well, Colonel, I couldn’t but look at her frequently, as we dined and afterwards – and it was easy to do so unobserved, for her eyes were not on me, for I am a mere servant after all – and I believe I observed someone who was … apprehensive. Not merely regarding her visitors; but that is very difficult to judge, is it not?’

‘Indeed? That is a most telling observation.’ And, were it so, one that he himself might – ought – to have made, except that, sitting next to Suneyla, he could scarcely have subjected her eyes to searching examination. ‘Fairbrother, what think you?’

His friend smiled absently. ‘I think that Miss Gildea has expressed it admirably. The fatal gift of beauty.’

Hervey sighed. Even if it were true – the beauty certainly was, but there was no knowing its lethality – it was hardly helpful. But then, that was Fairbrother’s great worth: he didn’t set out to be helpful, ever; only frank.