Page 109 of The Sapphire Child
‘I can’t wait to see them too,’ said Andrew. He asked quickly, ‘But first, how is the rest of the Dubois family? I must congratulate you on becoming a father. From the wedding photograph that Stella sent to my Auntie Tibby, you have a beautiful wife too.’
Jimmy smiled and nodded.
‘And how is your sister? I had the briefest of conversations last month and was surprised to find she’d gone to Gulmarg early this season.’ He hoped his voice sounded neutral despite his drumming heart.
‘Ha, my sister! It’s so long since she’s been here that we’ve forgotten what she looks like!’
Andrew noticed that he immediately felt a slight easing of the tension he’d been feeling. ‘Oh?’ he said, keeping an even tone.
‘Yes,’ said Jimmy, ‘she’s been in Gulmarg since last summer.’
‘Right through the cold season?’ Andrew asked. ‘Why?’
Jimmy’s round face turned pink. ‘Well, helping your parents of course...’
Andrew was baffled. ‘But there’s nothing to do there once the snow comes.’ He grew alarmed at the sight of Jimmy’s wary look.
‘Surely you’ve heard?’
‘Heard what? Dad’s all right, isn’t he?’
Jimmy nodded vigorously. ‘Never better. And I’m glad to say that MrLomax is on his way here to greet you. I took the liberty of alerting him to your impending arrival.’
‘My father’s coming here?’ Andrew gasped.
‘Yes, sir. You will soon be reunited. MrLomax will be here by this evening.’ Jimmy was beaming again. ‘He can explain everything.’
‘Explain what? You’re being very mysterious, Jimmy. Is he coming on his own?’ For a brief moment he hoped Stella would be returning too.
‘Yes, yes, alone.’
Just then, there was a shout from along the corridor. ‘Subaltern Lomax! Is that you? By golly, you’ve grown.’
Andrew turned in amusement to see who was greeting him with the old-fashioned army title for second lieutenant and saw two familiar figures coming towards him.
‘MrAnsom! MrFritwell!’ Andrew greeted them. He wanted to throw his arms around them in delight that they were both still living there, but shook them eagerly by the hand instead.
Jimmy waved them towards the dining room. ‘Master Andrew is going to join you for breakfast.’
‘Best scrambled eggs outside of Britain,’ said Ansom. ‘Even though Chef’s never mastered the art of crisping the bacon.’
‘We want to hear all about your exploits,’ said Fritwell. ‘Heard you were at Dunkirk. Terrible business.’
Andrew gave distracted answers to their volley of questions. He was still reeling from the news that his father was on his way. To be truthful, a part of him yearned to be reunited with his dad, yet he was nervous too. Even after all this time, it was hard to clear his mind of his mother’s bitter words about her former husband.
The dining room appeared to have changed little: the walls darkly panelled and the tables laid with crisp white linen and glinting cutlery. Each had a centrepiece of a spray of fresh flowers. He thought fondly of how Stella had always delighted in doing that job; perhaps Yvonne had taken it on.
Andrew worked his way through a large plateful of bacon, eggs and tomatoes, followed by fried puffs with syrup, toast and apricot jam, washed down with several cups of strong tea. Baroness Cusack joined them, with squeals of surprise at seeing Andrew, and as he ate he attempted to satisfy Hester’s curiosity about his life in Ebbsmouth, his mother, his aunt, his school days in Durham and his love life.
‘Do you have a photograph of your beloved?’ she asked in her forthright way.
When Andrew produced a photo of Felicity from his pocket, Hester peered at it through the pince-nez that hung from a thin chain around her neck. She handed it back with an assessing look.
‘Well?’ Andrew asked. ‘Does she pass muster?’
‘Very pretty,’ said Hester. ‘She looks quite determined.’
Andrew said in amusement, ‘She is.’
