Page 64 of The Sapphire Child
‘But it won’t affect us in India, will it?’
Monty shrugged. ‘We’ll have to be prepared – support the mother country in any way we can.’
‘You’re right, of course,’ Stella agreed. ‘But let’s hope it can all be avoided.’
‘Stella,’ he said, his look unsure. ‘When you feel up to it, I’d like to take you out for a drive.’
‘I don’t know when I’ll feel like doing that—’
‘There’s something I need to speak to you about.’
Stella tensed. She couldn’t face a proposal from Monty so soon after her father’s death. She could only manage the grief by taking each day at a time. He would have to wait.
‘Not yet,’ she said. ‘I need time.’
‘Of course.’ He stepped away. ‘Let me know when you want to see me.’
The days that followed had a strange unreality about them. Stella coped with her loss by keeping as busy as possible around the hotel, but it seemed that in her absence over the hot season, Yvonne had largely taken over her role. Her sister-in-law helped Myrtle with drawing up menus, instructing the cook and ordering foodstuffs. Stella’s mother was also teaching Yvonne bookkeeping.
‘She’s so quick to learn things,’ Myrtle told Stella one evening as they sat alone in the bungalow. ‘And it’s more important than ever that she knows the business. Charlie always wanted Jimmy to take over one day – we just never thought it would be this soon...’ Her mother broke off, overcome with sadness.
Stella was quick to give her a hug. ‘Oh, Ma, it’s so hard to believe Pa’s gone! I miss him so much.’
Myrtle kissed the top of her head. ‘You were always such a daddy’s girl. I think it’s harder for you than Jimmy. He’s got Yvonne – and the baby to look forward to.’ She touched Stella’s cheek. ‘I wish I could see you settled too.’
‘I am settled,’ said Stella. ‘I’m happy at the hotel and I want to be with you, Ma. It’s the only life I’ve ever wanted.’
Myrtle sighed. ‘What about Monty? He’s been very patient waiting for you to make up your mind.’
Stella’s insides twisted. ‘I like Monty – I suppose I’m fond of him. But I’m not in love with him.’
Her mother looked disappointed. ‘Stella, I should tell you something. Monty came to see your father the week before he died – to ask his permission to marry you.’
Stella was winded by the news. ‘What did Pa say?’
‘He said he’d be very happy to give his permission – joyous was the word he used – but that the decision had to be yours.’
Stella’s eyes stung with tears. She could hear her father giving his blessing in his enthusiastic way. She felt wretched. Not only was her avoidance of marriage frustrating for Monty but it must have been worrying her father too, otherwise he would not have been so keen on giving his permission. He had never pressed her on the issue but secretly must have been hoping she would accept marriage to Monty.
Myrtle put a hand over Stella’s. ‘If you don’t want to marry Monty then you must put him out of his misery and tell him. It’s not fair to give him hope where there is none.’
Stella nodded in agreement.
Two days after this conversation, on the first day of September, news came through that forced domestic issues from Stella’s mind. Jimmy dashed into the bungalow as Stella and her mother were getting ready for bed.
‘I’ve just been listening to the wireless,’ he said, his face aghast. ‘The news from home is that the Germans have begun to invade Poland. Our government is sticking to their promise to help Poland – and so are the French.’
Stella asked anxiously, ‘What does that mean? What will happen?’
Jimmy said, ‘I don’t know, but they’re calling up our army and naval reserves.’
On the Sunday, they learnt the worst, when Chamberlain announced that an ultimatum given to Hitler that morning had been ignored and that Britain was at war with Germany. Late that night, the Duboises and the residents sat around the radio in the lobby under the cooling whir of the electric fans and tuned in to a broadcast by King George to his Commonwealth subjects.
The king spoke in his precise, sombre voice.‘For the second time in the lives of most of us, we are at war.’
For the first time it began to dawn on Stella that this might not be some distant conflict between a handful of nations in Europe; all their lives were under threat. The king was exhorting his people – both at home and across the seas – to face the dark days ahead together and be ready for whatever service or sacrifice was demanded of them.
‘With God’s help we shall prevail.’
