“One thing-Hamilton has no other Anglo friends, just those three officers?”
“Yes, miss. They all came from Calcutta some months ago, and have kept to themselves.”
Which would explain why she’d learned nothing of Hamilton through the Bombay social grapevine. She nodded to Chandra. “Very well. Let me know what you learn.”
September 15, 1822
The Governor’s Residence, Bombay
“He’s left?” Emily stared at Chandra. “When? And how?”
“This morning, miss. He took the sloop to Aden.”
“He and his servants?”
“So I heard tell, miss-they were already gone when I got there.”
Mind racing, she asked, “The other three-have they gone, too?”
“I have only had the chance to check on the colonel, miss. Apparently he left on the company ship this morning. Everyone was surprised. No one knew they were leaving so soon.”
The company ship was a mammoth East Indiaman which went via the Cape to Southampton. She was due to board a sister ship in a few days.
“See what you can learn about the other two-the other major and the captain.” If all four had precipitously departed Bombay…
Chandra bowed and left.
Emily felt a headache coming on.
Gareth Hamilton-he who might be her “one”-had left Bombay via the diplomatic route. Why?
Regardless of his motives, his sudden departure left her with a very big unanswered question-and an even bigger decision to make. Was he her “one,” or not? She needed more time with him to tell. If she wanted to get that time, following him might-just-be possible. If she acted now.