Page 141 of The Sapphire Child
They stood leaning on one of the ornate railings watching as the town went into shadow and the sun caught them in its final rays, illuminating their faces. Any moment now, they would be in darkness and the air would turn delightfully chilly.
‘Stella?’
Startled by the voice, she turned sideways but couldn’t see the man clearly. He was an indistinct outline in the sunset. She shaded her eyes. He came towards her. Her heart knocked against her chest.
‘Stella, itisyou!’
She gasped. ‘Andrew? W-what are you doing here?’
He grinned down at her. ‘I was going to ask you the same question.’
She wanted to throw her arms around him but felt inhibited by the major’s presence. ‘This is Major Maclagan. I’m with him on timber business.’ She tried to keep her voice from trembling. ‘Major, this is my friend Andrew Lomax.’
‘Ah, the brave young officer from the Borderers! Miss Dubois has told me all about you.’
As the men shook hands, Andrew looked a little quizzically at Stella. ‘I don’t know what Stella’s been telling you, but she’s prone to exaggeration,’ he quipped.
The major laughed. ‘Tell me,’ he said, ‘what brings you here?’
‘A week of leave,’ Andrew explained. ‘A friend of mine is recovering from malaria here and wanted some company. And I couldn’t resist a trip to the mountains.’
‘Isn’t it so like Murree?’ Stella exclaimed. She was breathless at standing so close to him.
Andrew’s eyes shone.
‘And where is your friend?’ Maclagan asked.
‘He’s back at the boarding house,’ said Andrew. ‘He’s almost fully recovered – I left him playing chess with a Welsh gunner.’
‘Perhaps I could treat you both to dinner tomorrow night? We’re paying guests at StMary’s Lodge and the food is plain but plentiful.’
‘That would be very kind,’ said Andrew. ‘I accept on behalf of us both.’
Stella was thrilled. It was like an unexpected gift. They had so much catching up to do since they’d both left Rawalpindi.
The sun set and lights came on along the Mall.
‘I think we should head back to the lodge,’ said Maclagan. ‘I want to be up early to go to the deodar plantation.’
Stella hoped Andrew might walk with them but it appeared his boarding house was in the other direction, so in frustration, she said goodbye and watched him walk away.
Although Stella enjoyed the next day tramping beneath the towering deodar trees helping the major take measurements, she couldn’t wait for the evening and seeing Andrew again. She took care to style her hair and put on some lipstick, and then decided at the last minute to rub her lips clean. She felt ashamed of trying to make herself attractive to a man who was already engaged.
The two officers arrived promptly at six and were served sherry in the airy hallway before being ushered into the communal dining room. Andrew’s friend, John Grant, was an amiable man with well-groomed reddish hair and moustache, though his skin was still sallow from his bout of fever.
They all shared a long table with the other lodgers. Stella, who was sitting between the major and John Grant, had little opportunity to talk to Andrew, who sat on the major’s other side and was monopolised by the matronly wife of an army doctor. Stella chatted to Grant about Scotland. He was from an army family and he talked with affection about his parents and an older sister called Jeanie whom he obviously missed.
‘But the army’s like family too,’ John said with a smile. ‘It’s amazing how quickly you grow close to men you rely on to keep you alive. Lomax is like a brother to me now.’
Afterwards they were served tea in the sitting room.
‘I hear you enjoy a game of chess, Lieutenant Grant?’ said the major.
‘The game of kings,’ replied John with a ready nod.
They retired to a corner table and set up the chess pieces, continuing their conversation about deodar trees and mountain flora.
‘Let’s leave them to it,’ said Andrew. ‘Would you like to go onto the veranda and catch the sunset?’
