At first, Hervey had forbidden Georgiana to come, but she said she couldn’t be expected to know India if she weren’t allowed to see its darkest side, by which she meant both the iniquity to which ‘the heathen in his blindness’ could sink, and the disagreeable obligations of those whose mission was the country’s deliverance. But he’d conceded only on condition that she turn away from the moment itself. He’d seen enough men sent to their Maker thus to know what lasting impression it made. (And, indeed, Georgiana had been surprised that he’d thought she mightn’t.)

‘’Ang ev’ry fookin’ bastard one of ’em!’ came a voice from the ranks.

Annie lowered her eyes. It was occasionally the language of the stable yard and kitchens of the Berkeley Arms, but not that of Georgiana’s world. The dragoons always minded their language very well in her hearing, but they weren’t to know that the commanding officer’s daughter was posted within earshot.

Armstrong came unexpectedly to her support. ‘Par-a-ade …’

The voice silenced even the crowd again. And not the boldest, most impudent dragoon would risk a whisper now that the serjeant-major had ‘spoken’.

‘Atte-e-en-shun!’

The noble Major Sleeman may have talked of imperious duty, but for the Sixth it was more than imperious; it was regimental. Armstrong marched from the centre to the left flank of the open side of the hollow square, halted in front of the waiting major, saluted and pronounced the parade present and correct.

Major Garratt returned the salute and marched to the centre. ‘Fall in, the officers!’

The captains and subalterns drew swords, marched along the open side, and halted.

‘Officers, take post!’

They struck off left, right and centre to halt five paces to the front of their troop, turned inwards and remained at attention.

Hervey now rode onto parade.

‘General salute, pres-e-e-ent, arms!’

The dragoons stood stock-still while the officers lowered swords. Hervey returned the salute with a hand to the peak of his shako, and then Garratt returned them to the ‘shoulder’.

‘Light Dragoons, stand a-a-at – ease! Stand easy.’ It was the privilege of the commanding officer alone to use the cautionary ‘Light Dragoons’, but no one on parade thought that Hervey had wholly relinquished command.

It was cruel to delay – the men about to be hanged could now see the actual instruments of their execution – but delay was cruel necessity.

‘Light Dragoons, those about to die have been tried by lawful authority for the murder of many innocent men, women and children. They did so without remorse and most savagely, and for nothing but material gain – in some cases from people with little enough. They will shortly pay the price for that, and in so doing they will not be able to murder any more. They have been brought to justice by your actions these past months. You may be proud of what you have done for the good people of this country. But there is more. These men most cruelly murdered Moonshee Bunda Ali, and all of his family, including a child new born. The moonshee served the regiment loyally. His face was not white, and he did not wear the uniform of a dragoon, but he was one of us.’