said questioningly.
“He merely said he had reason to believe that there was trouble in a part of the country only a short distance from here and that he would investigate it and bring me a report before he left for Calcutta to meet his daughter.”
There was silence and then Lord Kenington said,
“Can you send people to look for him?”
“They are already out looking to the best of their ability, but, as Warde did not give them full particulars of what he was attempting to discover, they have so far not been successful.
“I am sure Miss Warde will be very brave, as one expects from her father’s daughter and will try to behave amongst my guests as if nothing is wrong. It would be a great mistake for any of them, however charming they may be, to suspect that we are facing any kind of trouble.”
“Yes, of course, I understand that,” Lord Kenington replied. “And I am sure that Aisha does too.”
“I can only pray that Papa will be found as soon as possible,” Aisha added a little shyly.
She spoke very quietly and Lord Kenington thought that no one could behave with more self-control.
He was used to women when anything went wrong, crying and sobbing and making a to-do about everything and then the nearest man felt obliged to comfort them.
Aisha had released Lord Kenington’s hand and was now sitting with her hands in her lap and only because he now knew her so well was he aware she was trembling.
“What I want you to do,” the Viceroy said, “is to enjoy yourself if it is at all possible and, if not, pretend you are having a good time.”
“I will – try,” Aisha stammered.
He smiled at her.
“I thought you would. It is essential, when things happen like this, that the trouble, whatever it may be, is not discussed by people who don’t understand what they are saying, especially in front of the servants.”
He paused before he added,
“I am sure, as your father’s daughter, you are aware of that danger.”
“Of course I am and I promise you, my Lord, I will be very careful. I just want my father returned to me as soon as possible.”
“It is what we are all hoping,” Lord Lytton said. “As you well know, your father is greatly admired for the splendid work he has done here. I will let you into a secret when I tell you he is on the Honours List for next year, when he tells me he is retiring. I am sure, when he returns to England, he will make his name in the House of Lords.”
“I am, of course,” Aisha said quietly, “delighted to hear that all he has done for England has been appreciated. But I hope now that you will make every effort to find him, my Lord.”
“I promise you we are doing so. There is always a chance in this part of the world that he may have slipped and hurt himself so that he is unable to walk or he may have gone further away from here than he intended and is taking longer to come back than he expected.”
Aisha realised that he was only trying to cheer her up by being as encouraging as possible.
When she saw the look that the Viceroy gave Lord Kenington, she realised that both men were worried.
“I would like now,” Lord Kenington said, “if your Lordship will permit, to take Miss Warde round the garden to admire the flowers. Having been shut up in that train all night, we need the air. Then later, if you agree, I would like to see you alone.”
“Yes, of course, Charles, and I think you are quite right to take Miss Warde into the garden. It will be hotter after luncheon, when I am certain you will need a siesta.”
“You are very kind and understanding, Robert.” Lord Kenington rose to his feet as he was speaking and Aisha rose to hers.
They walked out through a side door and onto the lawns.
They could feel a faint wind coming from the hills and they were certainly very beautiful in the distance.
They walked in silence until they found a wooden seat in front of a pool. It was sheltered overhead by the boughs and leaves of an olive
“He merely said he had reason to believe that there was trouble in a part of the country only a short distance from here and that he would investigate it and bring me a report before he left for Calcutta to meet his daughter.”
There was silence and then Lord Kenington said,
“Can you send people to look for him?”
“They are already out looking to the best of their ability, but, as Warde did not give them full particulars of what he was attempting to discover, they have so far not been successful.
“I am sure Miss Warde will be very brave, as one expects from her father’s daughter and will try to behave amongst my guests as if nothing is wrong. It would be a great mistake for any of them, however charming they may be, to suspect that we are facing any kind of trouble.”
“Yes, of course, I understand that,” Lord Kenington replied. “And I am sure that Aisha does too.”
“I can only pray that Papa will be found as soon as possible,” Aisha added a little shyly.
She spoke very quietly and Lord Kenington thought that no one could behave with more self-control.
He was used to women when anything went wrong, crying and sobbing and making a to-do about everything and then the nearest man felt obliged to comfort them.
Aisha had released Lord Kenington’s hand and was now sitting with her hands in her lap and only because he now knew her so well was he aware she was trembling.
“What I want you to do,” the Viceroy said, “is to enjoy yourself if it is at all possible and, if not, pretend you are having a good time.”
“I will – try,” Aisha stammered.
He smiled at her.
“I thought you would. It is essential, when things happen like this, that the trouble, whatever it may be, is not discussed by people who don’t understand what they are saying, especially in front of the servants.”
He paused before he added,
“I am sure, as your father’s daughter, you are aware of that danger.”
“Of course I am and I promise you, my Lord, I will be very careful. I just want my father returned to me as soon as possible.”
“It is what we are all hoping,” Lord Lytton said. “As you well know, your father is greatly admired for the splendid work he has done here. I will let you into a secret when I tell you he is on the Honours List for next year, when he tells me he is retiring. I am sure, when he returns to England, he will make his name in the House of Lords.”
“I am, of course,” Aisha said quietly, “delighted to hear that all he has done for England has been appreciated. But I hope now that you will make every effort to find him, my Lord.”
“I promise you we are doing so. There is always a chance in this part of the world that he may have slipped and hurt himself so that he is unable to walk or he may have gone further away from here than he intended and is taking longer to come back than he expected.”
Aisha realised that he was only trying to cheer her up by being as encouraging as possible.
When she saw the look that the Viceroy gave Lord Kenington, she realised that both men were worried.
“I would like now,” Lord Kenington said, “if your Lordship will permit, to take Miss Warde round the garden to admire the flowers. Having been shut up in that train all night, we need the air. Then later, if you agree, I would like to see you alone.”
“Yes, of course, Charles, and I think you are quite right to take Miss Warde into the garden. It will be hotter after luncheon, when I am certain you will need a siesta.”
“You are very kind and understanding, Robert.” Lord Kenington rose to his feet as he was speaking and Aisha rose to hers.
They walked out through a side door and onto the lawns.
They could feel a faint wind coming from the hills and they were certainly very beautiful in the distance.
They walked in silence until they found a wooden seat in front of a pool. It was sheltered overhead by the boughs and leaves of an olive
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