by Dilly Court
‘Of course,’ Kate said, managing to keep a straight face. ‘Barbara Skidmore’s father was really a ringmaster in a circus and when he was unable to perform his daughter took his place. I can just imagine Barbara with a top hat and a whip. I expect that’s how she makes people sit down and listen to her boring husband’s sermons.’
Annie clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle a burst of laughter. ‘You are dreadful, Kate. I think you’re worse than me.’
‘It’s getting late.’ Kate stretched and yawned. ‘But we have yet to mention our heroic captain.’
‘I think he’s quite young,’ Annie said thoughtfully. ‘I imagine that he’s quite good looking.’
‘Oh, yes.’ Kate curled up on her bunk and allowed her imagination to take over …
Captain Francis Langhorne, a handsome man in his thirties, was hiding a deep secret: one of his legs had been shot off by a cannonball and he cleverly concealed a peg leg beneath his uniform. The rest of his infirmities were kept hidden from the world, and his deep secrets were revealed by Kate and exaggerated by Annie until they were helpless with laughter and quite exhausted.
Sometimes, during dinner or even when walking on deck, Kate would have to control the urge to chuckle when she came face to face with one of their victims, but the silly stories helped to pass the dull evening hours and were not to be taken seriously. However, Captain Langhorne did walk with a slight limp and Miss Euphemia did have the haunted look of a star-crossed lover. The rest of the journey was quite dull by comparison, and mostly there was nothing to see but miles of ocean. The ship called in at various ports in order to take on fresh water and supplies, but the passengers were not encouraged to disembark, and Kate had no particular wish to prolong their journey. Despite the growing understanding and friendship she shared with Annie, Kate could not help worrying about Harry. At least Joseph’s condition had been reported as stable, but if Harry was suffering from a bout of malaria or the dreaded cholera or typhoid, they might arrive too late. The thought of losing him now was something she pushed to the back of her mind. He had survived gang warfare, imprisonment and the hazardous sea voyage only to be struck down by some dire misfortune that had left him helpless.
The last couple of weeks of their journey seemed endless, but eventually they entered the harbour at Bombay and Kate stood on deck, breathing in the familiar scents and smells of India.
Kate’s first thought was to take a tonga to the home of her late uncle’s lawyer, who had helped her family when they fled from Delhi during the uprising. A group of porters offered their services and, having tipped one handsomely, Kate and Annie waited outside the dock gates for the horse-drawn carriage to take them to Audley House in an exclusive residential district. Sir Robert Audley was not at home, but his housekeeper was too well trained to show her surprise, and she welcomed the travellers as if they were honoured guests.
‘Of course I remember you, Miss Martin,’ Mrs Ogilvy said calmly. ‘It was a terrible time but things are slowly getting back to normal.’
Kate eyed her curiously. ‘You were brave to stay on, considering the circumstances, Mrs Ogilvy. Weren’t you tempted to go home?’
Mrs Ogilvy smiled. ‘This is my home, Miss Martin. I was born in Poona and I met and married my husband there.’
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.’
‘Won’t you come into the parlour. I’ll send a servant with lemonade and perhaps you’d like something to eat?’
‘A cool drink would be lovely,’ Kate said with feeling.
Her stays were digging into her flesh and she could feel perspiration trickling down her back in the most inelegant manner. However, Mrs Ogilvy, in her tight-waisted grey poplin gown, looked as cool as the proverbial cucumber.
‘When will Sir Robert be back, Mrs Ogilvy? I need to ask him a favour.’
‘Not until this evening.’ Mrs Ogilvy met Kate’s anxious look with a serene smile. ‘You will be staying with us, of course? I’m sure Sir Robert will be delighted to have your company.’
‘That’s very kind. I’m here on a mission and I might need his help.’
‘He was a close friend of your late uncle, Miss Martin. I know he will welcome you with open arms. I’ll have two rooms made ready for you.’
Annie laid her hand on Kate’s arm. ‘I need to sit down. Could you guide me to a chair?’
‘I’m so sorry, Annie. I’m neglecting you.’ Kate led her to a sofa. ‘Are you all right?’
‘It’s the heat,’ Mrs Ogilvy said briskly. ‘I’ll send for the punkah wallah, and I’ll bring your drinks.’ She left the room, closing the door gently.
‘Are you sure you’re all right, Annie?’ Kate asked urgently. ‘Would you like to lie down?’
‘No, really, I’m feeling better already. It was so hot and everything smells so strange.’
‘Of course it does. This is India and I love it here. The three years we spent in Delhi were the happiest I’ve ever known.’
Annie laid her hand on Kate’s arm. ‘Do you think you will see Ashok again?’
‘I didn’t come here with that in mind. He might not have survived the uprising, and even if he did, I expect he will have forgotten me.’
‘But you still remember him.’
‘He was my first love, but it was never likely to come to anything. I realise that now. We came from different worlds.’
‘I’m sorry, Kate.’
Kate patted Annie’s hand. ‘Thank you, but at the moment you are more important. Are you sure you feel all right? You haven’t got a fever or anything?’
Annie smiled. ‘I don’t think I’m coming down with a dreadful tropical disease. I was just a little overwhelmed.’
A slight movement above them made Kate look up to see a large fan swaying rhythmically to and fro, creating a gentle waft of air. ‘Do you feel that, Annie? The punkah is a large fan and there’ll be a boy sitting on the floor outside, pulling the cord.’
‘Poor boy,’ Annie said with feeling. ‘Is that what he does all day?’
‘I suppose so. I took it all for granted when I lived in Delhi. I doubt if I gave another thought to the servants, or even the poverty that existed outside the doors of the residence. All I thought about was enjoying myself and what I would wear to the next grand occasion. I’ve changed so many of my ideas since I returned to London and started the soup kitchen.’
The door opened before Annie had time to answer and Mrs Ogilvy entered carrying a tray laden with a cut-glass jug of lemonade and two glasses, as well as a plate of dainty cakes, which she set down upon a brass-topped table.
‘Your rooms will be ready in about half an hour, Miss Martin. Luncheon will be served in the dining room at midday.’
‘You’re very kind, Mrs Ogilvy,’ Kate said earnestly. ‘But please don’t go to any extra trouble on our account.’
‘It’s a pleasure. We hardly entertain these days. The uprising might be over but there are deep scars that will take a long time to heal, and nothing will ever be quite the same again.’
Mrs Ogilvy left the room with a swish of taffeta petticoats, leaving a trail of a fragrant lavender cologne in her wake.
Kate filled the glasses with lemonade and handed one to Annie. ‘Drink it slowly,’ she said gently. ‘You’ll find you need to take in much more fluid in this hot climate. I used to envy the Indian ladies in their saris, but we have to keep up appearances in our tight-fitting garments.’
‘It is extremely hot,’ Annie said with a sigh. ‘I suppose one must get used to it eventually.’
‘Most of the ladies I knew spent the afternoons lying down in a darkened room. It’s best to keep out of the sun in the middle of the day, but it does get a little cooler in the evening.’
Annie sipped her drink. ‘I’m glad to hear it. I don’t think I’d survive long if I had to live in this climate.’
‘I would have been happy to spend the rest of my days here until I lived in Warren House. Now I find myself longing for those musty wainsc
oted walls and the cool greenery of the gardens. Life is strange, isn’t it, Annie?’
After luncheon Mrs Ogilvy showed Kate and Annie to their rooms. Kate was delighted to find that she had the same room that she had occupied while they waited for a passage to England. Having settled Annie comfortably in the adjacent room, Kate knew that she would not rest until she had seen Harry. She returned to the parlour and rang the bell to summon a servant.
Mrs Ogilvy entered the room, her brow creased into a worried frown. ‘Is everything all right, Miss Martin? I thought you would enjoy a rest.’
‘I need to go to the military hospital,’ Kate said urgently. ‘The reason we’re here is because Annie’s brother was badly wounded in the uprising, and a good friend travelled to India to bring Joseph home.’ Kate took the letter from her reticule and handed it to Mrs Ogilvy. ‘This explains everything.’
Mrs Ogilvy produced a pince-nez from her pinafore pocket and scanned the neatly written lines. She looked up, handing the paper back to Kate with a sympathetic smile. ‘I’ll send for the carriage.’
The journey to the military hospital on the outskirts of the city took much longer than it might have done had the roads not been so congested. Kate sat back in the landau, shaded by a large parasol, and her anxiety was calmed a little by her pleasure at being back in the country she had grown to love. The heat was intense and red dust swirled around the carriage as it disturbed the road surface, weaving in and out between donkeys struggling with overfilled panniers, lumbering elephants, carts laden with farm produce and a jostling crowd of people going about their daily business. The scent of spices mingled with the odour of dung from the skinny cows that were free to wander at will. Beautiful barefoot children ran after the carriage, holding out their hands and smiling up at Kate, who was tempted to throw them a few coins, but she knew from experience that it was unwise. Such an action would only cause a crowd to gather and the children might be in danger of being trampled in the rush to snatch the money from the dust.
It was quieter on the outskirts of the city and it was relief when the coachman drew the carriage to a halt outside the main entrance to the hospital. A young boy ran forward to open the carriage door and Kate alighted, feeling suddenly nervous of what she might discover. She tipped the boy and made her way into the building. The cloying smell of carbolic assailed her nostrils as she approached the reception desk where a turbaned gentleman listened politely to her questions.
‘A moment, memsahib.’ He leafed through the pages of a leather-bound book, running a gnarled finger down the entries. ‘Private Blythe is on Ward Ten, but Sahib Lyndon was discharged some time ago.’
Kate stared at him in dismay. ‘Do you know where Sahib Lyndon went?’
‘Not my business, memsahib. I’m very sorry, I can’t help you.’
Chapter Twenty
Kate stood in the doorway of Ward Ten, glazing down the regimented rows of iron beds. A nurse came hurrying towards her. ‘It isn’t visiting time yet, miss.’
‘I’ve come all the way from England to see Private Blythe,’ Kate said with a catch in her voice. ‘I only arrived in Bombay this morning after many weeks at sea. Please can I just have a moment with him?’
The young woman glanced over her shoulder. ‘Sister is at tiffin but she’ll be back soon. You may have five minutes but please don’t disturb the other patients.’ She led the way to the far end of the ward where a young man lay in his neatly made bed.
‘Private Blythe, you have a visitor.’ The nurse backed away to answer a faint call for help at the other end of the ward.
‘Joseph, you don’t know me, but I’m a friend of Annie’s.’
He gazed up at her with a blank expression on his pale features. ‘I don’t understand. Annie is in London.’
Kate could feel the eyes of the man in the next bed were on her and she felt a surge of pity for the patients who were so far from home. She moved a little close to Joseph, lowering her voice. ‘Annie is here in Bombay. We’ve come to take you home.’
‘Home?’
‘To England, Joseph. We only disembarked this morning and I left Annie at the house where we’re staying because she was exhausted. She’s been so worried about you.’
‘But I can’t leave,’ Joseph said dazedly. ‘I’m still under orders, even though I am a helpless cripple. I had to have my leg amputated when gangrene set in.’
‘I’m so sorry to hear that.’ Kate laid her hand on his as it rested on the starched white coverlet. She could feel the bones through his parchment-thin skin, and was reminded of a baby bird she had once tried to rescue after it had fallen from its nest. ‘I’m sure we can go through the proper channels and get you repatriated. We’re staying with a lawyer and I know he’ll help us.’
Joseph nodded dully. ‘If you say so, miss. I don’t even know your name.’
‘I’m sorry, I should have introduced myself – I’m Kate Martin. I came because of your letter and I wanted to see Harry Lyndon, but I’m told he’s been discharged.’
‘Harry was shot and badly wounded. The uprising might be over but there are still pockets of resistance, so I’m told. Harry nearly died but he’s tough and he survived the operation and the bout of malaria he suffered.’
Kate breathed a sigh of relief, dashing tears from her eyes. She was shocked by her own response to the news. ‘He must have been well enough to leave the hospital. Do you know where he went?’
Joseph curled his fingers around her hand. ‘He said he had some unfinished business. I don’t know any more than that.’
‘That’s odd,’ Kate said thoughtfully. ‘As far as I know he’d never been to India before.’
‘Look out,’ Joseph muttered, releasing her hand.
Kate glanced over her shoulder. She could see the nurse advancing on them and she realised that the five minutes had flown by. ‘I’m going to be thrown out, Joseph, but I’ll return tomorrow with Annie. That’s a promise.’
Sir Robert arrived home just in time for dinner. His surprise on being greeted by Kate and Annie was obvious, but he recovered quickly and his welcome was warm and sincere. He embraced Kate and sat down with them for a sherry before the meal. He listened patiently while Kate explained their presence in Bombay.
‘Well,’ he said when Kate came to the end of her narrative, ‘I must say I admire you young ladies for your courage and fortitude. Your brother should be very touched and proud of you, Annie. He’s a lucky fellow to have such a brave and devoted sister. As for Harry Trader, or Sir Harry Lyndon, whichever name he happens to be using, I am reserving judgement, Kate. Although it seems to me that you are quite fond of him.’
‘Yes, Sir Robert, I am,’ Kate said frankly. ‘I was devastated when they told me at the hospital that he had left, and apparently with no forwarding address. Joseph seems to think that Harry had something important to do, but that seems odd. As far as I know, Harry had never been to India before.’
‘I’m sorry, Kate.’ Annie reached out to touch Kate’s hand as they sat side by side on the sofa. ‘You’ve done so much for me and for Joseph. I only want you to be happy.’
‘Dinner is served, Sir Robert.’ Mrs Ogilvy appeared in the doorway, looking approvingly from one to the other. ‘I would like to say how good it is to see Miss Kate here, sir. We’ve been a quiet household for too long. I keep telling Sir Robert that he should entertain more.’
‘Agatha takes me in hand regularly.’ Sir Robert raised his glass to his housekeeper. ‘But I don’t know what I’d do without her.’
‘Your dinner will be spoiled if you don’t come now, sir,’ Mrs Ogilvy said sternly. ‘Sandeep announced the meal a good fifteen minutes ago. It’s always left to me to make sure things run smoothly.’
Sir Robert downed the last of his drink and rose to his feet. ‘I consider myself reproved, Agatha. We’re coming right away.’
Kate had to hide a smile at the sight of such a prominent man being browbeaten by his housekeeper. ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Ogilvy. It’s m
y fault. I was telling Sir Robert everything that has happened to my family since we left India. I’m sure the meal will be wonderful, as always.’
Mrs Ogilvy tossed her head and marched out of the room.
‘Oh dear,’ Annie said anxiously. ‘Have we upset her? She’s been so kind.’
Sir Robert took Annie by the hand and raised her to her feet. ‘She’ll get over it, my dear. Agatha Ogilvy loves putting me in the wrong – it’s her sole purpose in life, or so she thinks. We can talk more over dinner, and my carriage will be at your disposal tomorrow to take you to the hospital. I’ll make enquiries with regard to your brother’s repatriation on medical grounds.’
‘I’d be so grateful if you would, Sir Robert,’ Annie said eagerly. ‘Surely the East India Company Army won’t want to keep him on in his condition?’
‘Their army has been nationalised by the British Army, so they have no say in what happens to Joseph, but we’ll need to get everything done properly, and that will be my pleasure, so don’t worry about a thing, Annie. Let’s go to the dining room and enjoy a convivial meal. I rarely have the pleasure of the company of such lovely ladies.’
Next day they arrived at the hospital during the appointed hours, although as Kate had realised the day before, there were few enough visitors. She was aware of envious glances from the other patients as she and Annie walked to the end of the ward. Joseph was propped up on pillows and his pleasure on seeing his sister was obvious. Tears ran down his cheeks as he hugged her, and Annie sobbed unrestrainedly. Kate pulled up a chair and sat down, waiting for them to compose themselves, and eventually it was Annie who drew away first.
‘You’re so thin, Joe.’ Annie’s voice broke on a fresh sob.
‘And you never have a hanky,’ Joseph added, chuckling. ‘Don’t you dare wipe your eyes on the bed sheet or Sister Hayward will have a fit.’
