Worsley sensed his unease. ‘I am with Blake and his tiger,’ he said, intending to deflect the thought.

‘How so?’

‘I have these past days been in the forests of the night.’

They laughed. ‘That indeed is droll.’

Then the scouts were active suddenly.

Horsemen …

Hervey halted and took out his telescope. ‘Yours, I believe, Christopher.’

Worsley had his own ’scope to his eye. ‘Cornet Kynaston, indeed.’

He came at a hand-gallop, two dragoons close on his heels.

A minute more, and … ‘General!’

Hervey returned the salute. ‘Report, Mr Kynaston.’ (He supposed he’d be doing so too in due course to his uncle.)

‘Mr Grace’s compliments, General. Pindarees, one thousand perhaps, are proceeding south towards the palace and to its east. There are two thousand more encamped a league west of the palace, but at the time of observing, shortly after dawn, they showed no sign of leaving. Mr Grace maintains his observation of these, as does Mr Price the thousand.’

‘No sign of artillery?’

‘None, General.’

‘Nor scouting patrols?’

‘None.’

He turned to Worsley. ‘Very well; you’ll wish to return to your troop. A close eye, if you please, on the Pindaree camp, and action if they stir.’ He’d no need to be any more explicit. Worsley would do what he had to.

‘General.’

‘Carry on … And, Mr Kynaston: good work.’

‘General.’

They took their leave and kicked into a gallop for the forest edge, Worsley thinking only on how quickly he could gather up his scattered command. As for interference by the enemy, it was good to be mounted on corn-fed horses (even on short rations of late), for if there were need, they’d be able to out-gallop a grass-fed Pindaree’s.

‘Major Garratt, if you please,’ said Hervey briskly.

A galloper sped off to fetch him.

Major Parry closed to his side again.

‘Three thousand, General?’

‘No matter. It’s as we thought,’ adding that with the Nizams, they’d not be so very greatly outnumbered – and they’d certainly have the advantage in discipline. ‘But only a thousand on the move: d’ye suppose they reckon us an easy prize?’

‘Or might the rest be, as you say, waiting to see the way of the wind?’

‘Quite. But we’ll see what we’ll see.’

Parry could only admire his composure, and hope indeed that the wind was favourable.

Garratt galloped up. ‘General?’

‘We may soon see cavalry a mile or so distant. I can only surmise their purpose is to prevent our reaching the palace. We shall deal with them in customary fashion. I shall bring up one of the Nizam’s – Gordon’s – on your left, and the other as support, and the brigade will advance in two lines. You will command the first line and I the support. In the charge, your right troop will direct. Guns will remain with the Somersets until the rally. Judge your moment to charge, but give the enemy no time. They perhaps intend a good display for the palace, and if we catch them right it will go doubly to our advantage.’