Lucknow, April 1858
"We have trouble, sir." Sergeant Greaves came to attention and saluted.
"What sort of trouble, sergeant?" Jack asked.
"We have two men missing, sir."
Jack sighed. Sergeant O"Neill would have sorted such a thing out himself without recourse to an officer. "Let me guess – Thorpe and Coleman." Two old soldiers with a liking for drink and women, Thorpe and Coleman were nothing but trouble when the 113th was in cantonments and worth their weight in gold when the bayonets were out.
"No, sir," Greaves said. "Riley and Logan."
"That"s unusual," Jack responded. "Have you asked Mrs. Riley where her husband might be?" Charlotte Riley was a sensible woman who usually kept her husband out of trouble.
"No, sir."
"Come on then, sergeant."
Charlotte Riley was washing clothes i
