Chapter One ~ 1893
Vincent Mawde thought with a sigh of relief that he had at last found a place where he could stop for the night.
He dismounted and took his horse under a tree.
The animal was too tired to have gone any further. Nevertheless he hobbled his legs so that he should not escape before morning.
Then he looked for a sandy place where he could sleep without, as he had endured last night, feeling a number of sharp stones under his blanket.
He had a tent, if that was the right word for it.
It covered him while he slept and protected him from being bitten by the mosquitoes and other insects to be found in that part of India.
He was tired, desperately tired.
Yet he looked forward to eating first the meagre fare he had brought with him and having a drink.
This he did and then, taking the two bottles of Indian beer that were left, he walked to the other side of the trees and set them down in a small stream, which would keep them cool until the morning.
When he returned, the sun was sinking down towards the horizon.
It would not be long before it was dark. But there would be the moon and stars to alleviate the darkness.
He erected his tent and put inside it a thick blanket for him to sleep on.
He certainly would need nothing over him.
He had already pulled off most of the light clothes he was wearing which were those of a low caste Indian traveller.
He was in disguise and it was seldom when he travelled that he was himself.
At least now he was on his way back to civilisation.
By the Mercy of God, having completed the mission that he had been sent on, he was still alive.
He was just about to crawl into his tent when he heard the sound of a horse’s hoofs approaching him.
He was instantly alert, afraid that it might be yet another enemy.
He had already escaped from quite a number.
Then, as the man drew nearer, he could see the uniform coat that he was wearing.
Vincent gave a shout of delight. Holding up his hand in welcome, he stood waiting until the young Officer reached him and dismounted.
“Vincent! Is it really you?” the newcomer asked. “I had almost given up hope of finding you.”
“I certainly had no idea of seeing you here, Nicolas,” Vincent Mawde replied. “But why are you searching for me?”
“I have such a lot to tell you,” Nicolas Giles said. “Where can I leave my horse?”
“Where I have put mine,” Vincent replied, “under the trees.”
Without saying any more, Nicolas Giles led his horse towards the trees.
Vincent Mawde looked after him with a puzzled expression on his face.
What possible reason could there be for his fellow Officer to have come in search of him in what he thought of as the ‘back of beyond’?
In less than a week he would have been back in his Barracks.
It seemed extraordinary.
However, after being alone for so long, it was extremely good to see a friendly face.
Fewer than five minutes passed before Nicolas came striding back from the trees, pulling off his uniform coat as he did so.
Vincent had pitched his tent below some rocks that had once been the ruin of a Hindu Temple.
They afforded him both protection from the sun and somewhere to rest his back.
He was sitting now with his feet stuck out in front of him.
His face, like his body, was darkened and it would have been difficult even for his nearest relatives to recognise him as a fair-skinned Englishman.
Nicolas joined him and, throwing his coat down on the ground, said,
“I cannot tell you how glad I am to have found you. All I can say about this country is that it is too big and too hot!”
Vincent laughed.
“I agree with you. At the same time I would not be anywhere else.”
“I am afraid that is where you will still have to be,” Nicolas replied.
Vincent looked at him in surprise.
“What do you mean?”
“I was told by the Viceroy to come and find you.”
“The Viceroy?” Vincent repeated. “What the hell does he want now?”
Nicolas held out a newspaper.
“First of all, Vincent, he sent you this.”
Vincent took the newspaper from him and saw that it was open at theCourt Circular pages.
“It’s bad news, I am afraid,” Nicolas added.
Vincent glanced down the page and saw that one entry had been underlined.
He read,
“DEATH OF THE FOURTH MARQUIS OF MAWDELYN
We deeply regret to report the sudden death of the Marquis of Mawdelyn, the Lord Lieut
