Page 7 of The Sapphire Child
‘But Biscoe’s might be just the place for you,’ Esmie said with a pat on his arm.
Andrew stiffened at her touch. George’s loathsome words wormed their way back into his thoughts.
As they descended to the plain, Andrew grew sleepy and his head began to nod.
‘Put your head on my lap,’ Esmie offered.
Andrew forced himself to stay awake. ‘I’m fine, thank you.’
He turned away from her puzzled look and stared rigidly ahead.
Chapter 3
The Raj Hotel, Rawalpindi, 1933
By the time the Lomaxes arrived at the hotel – having stopped to eat on the way – it was late and they went hurriedly to bed, assuring the Duboises that everything was fine. Stella was struck by how much Andrew had grown, and he gave her a bashful smile as he made for the stairs.
‘Look. I’m much taller than you now!’ He patted the top of her head the way she used to do to him. His voice was deeper, too.
‘Stop that.’ Stella batted his hand away and laughed. ‘I bet I can still beat you at backgammon.’
‘Bet you can’t.’
Esmie interrupted. ‘Plenty time for challenges tomorrow. Bed now, Andy.’
He didn’t seem to know what to do with his gangling limbs and clumsily knocked into a table, scattering a pile of newspapers. Stella bent to help him pick them up and he ruffled her hair again.
Stella laughed and pushed him off. ‘I’d forgotten how annoying you can be.’
Andrew smiled and thrust his untidy pile of newspapers back on the table. ‘’Night, Stella,’ he said, leaping up the stairs two at a time.
Early the next morning, Stella found Tom smoking in the courtyard and talking to her father. Frisky was snuffling around Tom’s feet.
‘Ah, Stella!’ Tom looked pleased to see her. ‘I’ve just been telling your father our reason for being in Murree. I’m sorry if we caused concern. There’s nothing to worry about. It’s just we’re not happy with the school and have decided to take Andy away from it.’
‘Oh dear,’ said Stella. ‘I’m sorry to hear that. I thought Andy was happy—’
‘Not for us to comment, Sweet Pea,’ her father interrupted.
Tom drew hard on his cigarette and continued. ‘Anyway, there was no point paying to stay in Murree when we were so near Pindi – and we thought we could take you back with us, Stella – save you the cost of the journey next week.’
Stella brightened. ‘Oh, yes please!’ Then she looked quickly at her father. ‘If that’s all right with you, Pa?’
Charlie smiled. ‘Of course it is. Whatever is most convenient and beneficial for Mrand MrsLomax will gladden my heart too.’
Tom nodded, his smile tight. ‘Thank you, Charlie.’
Stella bent to pet Frisky. ‘Aren’t we lucky, old boy? We’ll be in Kashmir earlier than expected and your friend Andy will be there too.’
Tom ground out his cigarette. ‘I’d appreciate it if you kept the news about Andy leaving Nicholson’s to yourselves for the moment. We don’t want him being the subject of gossip around Pindi.’
Stella gave him a look of surprise. ‘Of course, we won’t say a word, MrLomax.’
By the time Stella had Winifred Shankley ready for breakfast, Andrew had been sent off with Jimmy on some errand. Apart from a quick hello the previous evening, she’d had no chance to speak to him and she suspected the Lomaxes were trying to keep their son out of the way of the inquisitive residents.
While Tom took the van to the garage to have the tyres pumped and the oil changed, Esmie asked Stella to accompany her to Saddar Bazaar to choose curtain material for The Raj-in-the-Hills. Esmie seemed a little subdued, so Stella did most of the talking as they walked in the shade of Esmie’s parasol and hunted the stalls of the busy bazaar. Stella picked out a bolt of bright yellow with a pattern of blue birds and Esmie arranged to have it delivered to the hotel.
Esmie seemed in no hurry to get back to the hotel and steered Stella out of the bazaar and towards the Mall and its shady trees. Stella marvelled at how girlish Esmie still looked even though she must be approaching forty. She moved with a quick gracefulness and looked so elegant even in the plain practical dresses she preferred to wear. But Stella could see she was preoccupied, her delicate face strained.
