Page 149 of The Sapphire Child
Hugh looked at her, sheer panic written across his face.
‘Did you know Lamont?’ Moira asked in surprise.
‘As a passing acquaintance,’ Stella said.
‘Well, what a small world,’ said Moira. ‘But that’s India for you.’
‘Yes, isn’t it?’ Stella gave Hugh a meaningful look. She turned to Moira. ‘Well done you, for being the woman to tame the wild bachelor boy at last.’
‘Yes.’ Moira grinned. ‘Probably because I knew him so well. I wasn’t going to fall for that old trick of his for getting out of marriage.’
Stella tensed. ‘And what trick was that?’
‘Ladies—’ Hugh tried to interrupt.
Moira gave a tipsy laugh. ‘Pretending that he’s already married.’
‘Oh?’
Moira leaned towards Stella and in a stage whisper said, ‘But I knew from his sister that that was a little fib. Hugh’s never beenmarried before.’ She sat back. ‘Anyway, Hughie and I are made for each other, aren’t we, darling?’
‘Match made in heaven,’ said Hugh, avoiding Stella’s look.
At that moment, Gerald returned, having secured a couple of drinks. She saw Hugh visibly relax. There were quick introductions and then the band leader announced the countdown to midnight. They stood up and joined in the loud chanting.
‘Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!’
Stella knocked back the whisky that Gerald had bought her and then took his hand. ‘Let’s dance.’
‘Great idea,’ Gerald agreed.
Stella was trembling all over from the shock encounter with Hugh but took deep breaths as they pushed their way through the melee and began to dance. As she did the foxtrot with the sailor, she tried to absorb all that she had heard.
Her head spun with Moira’s words:‘...that old trick of his for getting out of marriage... pretending that he’s already married.’The letter Hugh had written from Singapore promising to return and marry her once he’d divorced his wife in Ireland had been a double deceit: not only had he never intended marrying her but there had never been another wife.
Stella calculated that at the time Belle was born, Hugh must already have been having an affair with Moira in South Africa. He would never have returned to be with her. Jonathan might already have been conceived before Belle had taken her first breath.
How had she ever fallen for such a man? He was undoubtedly charming, but he was also self-centred and callously manipulative. He had played with her affections, and then used and discarded her.
Stella’s shock was turning to seething anger. She was filled with a sudden urge to march up to the Keatings and let rip. She was almost choking with fury.
‘Are you okay?’ Gerald asked. ‘You’re shaking like a leaf.’
‘Do you mind if we go somewhere else?’
He gave her a quizzical look. ‘You don’t want to stay with your friends?’
Stella was frank. ‘No, I can’t stand that man.’
‘Then I don’t mind,’ he said with a reassuring smile.
Stella went quickly back to the table and snatched up her handbag and jacket.
‘You’re not going?’ Moira asked.
‘Yes,’ said Stella.
‘But you can’t! We’ve so much to talk about. You haven’t told me anything about your life. You simply must stay—’
