Further to Forguette's post, there are some details about Eyetee Coombs and her husband in the paper, that might help clear things up, perhaps some of it matches what your diaries say, or if not at all they can be ruled out?
From the newspaper 'The Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper' on Sat 20 April 1890.
"Death of an Indian Veteran. - Dr Danfield Thomas held and inquest at the Holburn Town Hall, on Wednesday, on the body of Mr Henry Augustus Coombs, aged 55 years, who died at his residence 73 Lambs' Conduit-Street, W.C. on Saturday morning last. Mrs Eyetee Coombs, the widow, a native of India, identified the body and stated that the deceased and his family arrived in London from India on Wednesday the 9th inst. He was suffering from general debility. On Saturday morning she prepared him his usual cup of tea, and on requesting him to drink it found that he was dead. Mr Henry A Coombs, the eldest son, gave an outline of the deceased's services. At the outbreak of the India mutiny he was in the Civil Service, and then volunteered for military duty, joining Hodsons Horse. He served with distinction under General Havelock at Cawnpore, and was also at Lucknow, being rewarded with a commission. He was present at other engagements and promoted to the rank of Major subsequently. He joined the Bengal police as superintendent and was second in command to Superintendent Howard (now one of the chiefs at Scotland Yard). During the service with the police, who in India combine military duties with those of the Civil service, he was present at a number of engagements in the North-West Provinces, being specially mentioned in the dispatches. After 37 years of active duty, he underwent a medical examination by Dr William Coates, senior officer in the medical staff in Bengal, and was invalided home. Dr. Bremner 26 Druary Lane, stated that the cause of death was the bursting of a blood vessel on the brain. The jury recorded a verdict accordingly. "