101. A Call of Love by Barbara Cartland Page B

ship?” Lord Kenington enquired.
    “Of course I did and I received a reply from him, saying that he would meet me on arrival. But here I am and there is no sign of him.”
    They stood to one side so as not to be pushed about by the crowd disembarking from the lower decks.
    There were a large number of Indians among them and the colourful saris of the women looked very pretty in the sunshine.
    Finally, when it seemed as if the ship must be now completely empty, Lord Kenington proposed,
    “Well, as your father has not turned up, I suggest that you come with me to Government House, where I am going anyway and we will find out if they have any news of him.”
    He knew by the expression in Aisha’s eyes that she was worried that he might be in danger.
    Then he said quickly,
    “Don’t get upset. He may have been held up in a dozen different ways and you should know that the time of day in India varies from person to person, in fact an Indian is invariably too late or too early.”
    “That does not sound at all like my father – ” Their luggage, however, was piled onto a carriage and Lord Kenington, who had not asked to be met, told the coachman to drive directly to Government House.
    When they arrived and Lord Kenington said who he was, they were taken at once to the Officer in command of the troops in Calcutta who was a General.
    He greeted Lord Kenington with delight.
    “We knew that you were coming out, my Lord,” he said. “But unfortunately I was not told which ship you would be on.”
    “Actually I was not certain myself until the very last moment, but I knew it would be easier to come here first to you and find out how soon I can see the Viceroy.”
    “That means going up to Simla, as you probably expected, my Lord,” the General declared.
    “Well, at least I am here and now may I introduce Miss Aisha Warde, who was expecting her father, Major Warde, to be meeting her on the quay.”
    The General stiffened.
    “Is Major Warde your father?” he asked Aisha.
    “He is and he promised to meet me here. I had a telegram from him saying that he would be on the quay at Calcutta as soon as the P & O Liner reached Port.”
    They were in the General’s private room and there were two desks and a man was seated at one of them.
    The General walked across and spoke to him in a low voice so that Aisha did not hear what was said.
    The man immediately went from the room, closing the door behind him and the General indicated a sofa and comfortable armchairs on one side of the room.
    “I have ordered you something cool to drink,” he said, “which you will certainly need in this climate. I have also asked my assistant to find out the latest news of Major Warde.”
    Aisha gave a cry.
    “You mean he is out on a mission?” she asked.
    “I really don’t know what he is doing,” the General replied. “But they expected him back at the Regiment several days ago.”
    Aisha did not speak, but Lord Kenington knew just what she was feeling.
    He put out his hand and took hers.
    “It may be only a slow train or a lazy mule that has delayed your father,” he said. “So don’t panic before we know exactly what has happened.”
    “I will try not to,” she answered nervously.
    Her fingers trembled in his and he did not release her hand.
    A servant brought the cool drinks and, while they were sipping them, the General left the room.
    “What can have happened to Papa?” Aisha asked when they were alone.
    “Now you must not get upset,” Lord Kenington replied. “You know as well as I do that things are very different in India. There are a hundred ways he could be delayed and not one of them what you might expect.”
    “Of course I expect it to be something frightening. You know, as well as I do, that Papa takes risks that no ordinary man does.”
    “As he is brave, you have to be brave too. I am quite certain that it is nothing really concerning.”
    Even as he spoke he knew that any man who played The Great Game held his