When Bengal lancers Major Iain Hadleigh first encounters beautiful young Brucena Nairn it is on a moving train as he forces her back into the carriage to protect her from the rioting on the platform. Far from being grateful, Brucena is outraged - having no idea she is contravening Major Hadleigh's own orders that no Europeans may travel to the forbidden area of Saugor.She is on her way to join her cousin Captain Sleeman and his wife, intending without their knowledge to work as nanny to their child - thereby escaping a fault-finding father who hates her for her beauty.But Brucena soon finds far more to fear under India's searing sun. First the unwanted attentions of the somewhat sinister Lord Rawthorne and, worse still, the devotees of Thuggee - highway murderers who strangled their victims from behind with a yellow silk scarf -It is only when, rescuing her in the darkness from the clutches of would-be murderers, Iain's lips fall on hers that Brucena realises that she's been in love with him all along!