I told him of the incident when I had taken the fan. He smiled and said, "I believe she was a little unbalanced."

"Yes, she had a great tragedy. Her lover was murdered and it seemed to her that it was all due to the fan."

"Well, that's a lot of nonsense."

I did not tell him that the Khansamah had presented Lavinia with one. I wondered what he would say if he knew that she had carried on a mild flirtation with the man. Sometimes I thought he did not care what Lavinia did.

"It goes back to the legend of Argus, whose eyes went to the peacock's tail. Some believe that Argus wants revenge and that the spots are eyes which see everything that is going on ... not only what is visible, but what is in the mind. There are quite a number of people in this country who never have peacock feathers in their houses."

"They don't all feel like that, I suppose. Some might think the fans made pleasant gifts. They are really very beautiful."

"It might be that the fact that they are would make them more evil in the eyes of the superstitious."

I tried to forget that the Khansamah had given Lavinia the fan. Heaven knew there were far more important matters to concern me.

I received a letter from Alice. She was very happy. She wrote: "Tom is wonderful and we often marvel at the fortuitous way in which we met. Tom is wondering what is going to happen next. I think he realizes the danger of the situation more than most, for his work takes him all over the country. His work is so exciting and it is marvellous to be able to help him. You will be happy to know that the cargo is settled and being taken care of. I look forward to meeting you some time. Perhaps we shall come back to Delhi. Tom is never sure where his work will take him and things are a little uncertain now. It would be wonderful to have a real talk about everything."

I was so pleased to read her letter. How wonderfully life had turned out for Alice!

Meanwhile, as the uneasy weeks passed, rumour intensified. April had passed and May was with us. Lord Canning made a proclamation assuring the sepoy troops that the cartridges they used were not greased with pork or beef, but it was, I believed, received with scepticism.

Dougal was called away. He went reluctantly.

"I don't like leaving you here alone," he said. "Major Cummings will keep an eye on the house. You must do whatever he tells you."

Lavinia was rather pleased. She was developing a fondness for Major Cummings.

The day Dougal left, Fabian returned.

He asked me to go to his study. When I arrived, I saw how serious he was.

He said, "I can't talk to Lavinia. She has no sense of responsibility. I can't tell you how worrying this is, Drusilla. It seems to me you are the only sensible one here, now that Alice Philwright has gone. A pity. She is a practical young woman."

"What has happened?"

"God knows. There is a terrible feeling of uneasiness throughout the Company and the Army. It was a mistake to depose the King of Delhi—old Bahadur Shah was quite harmless—and an even greater one to try to turn them out of the family mansion. You see, Drusilla, we have won many a battle with the sepoy troops. Now they say to themselves: Who won these battles? It is the soldier who wins the battles ... not those in command. What we could do for the British we could do for ourselves. They are against us, Drusilla ... and they are part of the Army."

"Do you really think they would revolt?"

"Some would. The Sikhs are loyal ... so far. I think they can see what benefits have come through us and they care enough for the country to want us to continue. But this headlong nationalism ... we can't stop it. What worries me is you and Lavinia and the children. I do wish I could get you home."

"I don't think that would be easy, would it?"

"Far from easy ... but just possible. You see, if we got you out of Delhi, where would you go? One doesn't know from one hour to the next where revolt will break out. We might be sending you into disaster ... whereas here in Delhi ... at least we are well represented and we know where we are."

"There must be more important things to worry about than us."

"That is not the case," he said. "I wish to God you had never come. I wish I could stay here. I want to keep my eyes on things ... here. But I can't. Drusilla, you will have to think for yourself and Lavinia."

"Have you talked to Lavinia?"

"I have tried to. It doesn't make much impression. She doesn't really see danger. I don't like leaving you here with the Khansamah. I wish I could get rid of him. I am certain that he was responsible for that outbreak of thuggery. He would regard it as a gesture of defiance ... against us, you see. He is at variance with the laws because we have imposed them. But someone took revenge on him, for the murder of young Asraf was revenge by the family of one of the victims. Now he may suspect that we were involved in the plot to spirit Roshanara away. I want you to be ready to leave at a moment's notice."

"I will be."

"There may not be much warning. I wish I could stay in Delhi, but I have to leave tonight."

"Don't worry about us. I will be prepared."

"The children ..."

"I shall manage that. I shall tell them it is a new game. They will be easy to handle then."

"I'm sure you'll manage. Sometimes I thank God you are here and at others I curse myself for having brought you."

I smiled at him. "Please don't do that," I said. "It has been ... illuminating."

He looked at me steadily for a moment and then suddenly he put his arms round me and held me tightly against him.

Then I felt that everything was worthwhile.

When he had gone I felt a frightening loneliness. There seemed to be a special stillness in the air ... a tension, as if something terrible were lurking, ready to spring out on us and destroy us.

It was early evening. The children were in bed. The ayah's cousin had joined her to help her look after the children. She was a quiet, gentle girl and both Louise and Alan were already fond of her.

I heard a gentle knock at the door. I went to it and there was the ayah.

"Is anything wrong?" I cried in alarm.

She put her fingers to her lips and came into the room.

"I want you to come ... see my brother. He must see you."

"Why does he want to see me?"

"He want to say thank you." She lowered her voice. "For saving Roshanara."

"There is no need for that."

"Yes ... great need."

I knew how easily susceptibilities could be wounded, so I said, "I shall be home tomorrow. Perhaps he would call then."

"He not come. He say you go to him."

"When?"

"Now."

"The children ..."

"They are in good care."

I knew that she had set her little cousin to watch over them.

"Very important," she said and added mysteriously, "for plan."

I was very puzzled and she went on, "Come. Go to gazebo. Wait there."

I was very curious, but I did sense an urgency in her manner, and because I knew that I must be prepared for any extraordinary occurrence I fell in at once with her suggestion.

I looked in at the children. They were sleeping peacefully and the ayah's cousin was seated by Alan's bed.

"I watch," she said.

I went with all speed to the gazebo. The ayah was already there. She opened a box and took out a blue sari, which she asked me to put on. It seemed to become more and more mysterious, but remembering Fabian's warnings and the dangers in which we were living, I complied. She gave me a piece of material rather like a shawl to put round my head.

"We go," she said.

We left the garden, avoiding coming in view of the house, and we were soon hurrying along the streets.

I knew the way well. It was near the bazaar.

We came to a house. I had noticed it before, because it had a magnificent mango tree in front of it. Now it was full of blossom.

"This is my brother's house," said the ayah.

The brother came out to greet us. He bowed twice and took us into the house. He drew aside a beaded curtain and invited us into a room which seemed full of carved wooden furniture.

"Salar very happy," he said. "He want thank for Roshanara ..." He shook his head and there were tears in his eyes. "She safe now ... she well. She happy. Missie Drusilla, she say, she one great lady."

"Oh, it was nothing," I told him. "Naturally we wouldn't have allowed it to happen. It is against the law."

"Salar ... he wish to do service. He wish to say not good in big house. Not good stay."

"Yes," I said, "there is trouble everywhere."

"Not good," he went on, nodding. "Salar want to say big thank."

"Well, you must not think any more of it. We were fond of Roshanara. We could not allow her to do as they wanted her to. Naturally we did what we could."

The ayah said, "My brother does not understand. He say you must leave big house. It not good."

"I know," I said. "We shall go when we can."

"My brother say best go back across sea."

"Tell him we shall when the opportunity comes."

They talked together, Salar shaking his head and the ayah nodding with him.

"He say will help," she told me.

"Will you thank him very, very much and say that I shall not forget his kindness."

"He owe debt. He like not to owe. He like to pay."

"I am sure he does and I do appreciate it. Tell him that if I need his help I will ask."