Page 47 of The Sapphire Child
‘I want to see him.’ Stella was adamant. ‘When am I allowed to?’
Tibby put a hand on her arm. ‘It seems you’re persona non grata at Templeton Hall so I’ll invite him round here, I promise. Lydia can’t deny me that; I’m his aunt, after all.’
Stella was stunned. She couldn’t believe that Andrew didn’t want to return to India and his parents. Lydia was behind this. Stella was full of anger at the thought of the damage Andrew’s mother had done.
Three days before Stella was due to begin her journey back to India, Lydia and Andrew came over to The Anchorage for afternoon tea to say goodbye. Stella rushed to hug him but he stuck out his hand instead, glancing at his mother as he did so.
Stella reddened and shook his hand.
It was raining, so Tibby showed them into the library where a fire had been hastily lit. The conversation was stilted – Lydia hardly acknowledging Stella – and Tibby tried to keep it going by asking Andrew about Durham. He was soon chatting about playing cricket with Noel and several other boys who lived near the Langleys.
‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ said Lydia with a triumphant look. ‘It’s a dream come true for me to know that Andrew will be nearby and can spend his holidays here in Ebbsmouth. His grandmamma is thrilled too.’
Andrew said quickly, ‘But I can also spend some of the summer holidays back in India, can’t I, Mamma? You said so.’
Lydia gave an indulgent smile. ‘If that’s what you want, darling.’
‘Yes, it is.’ He looked at Stella. ‘Mamma says there are flights with Imperial Airways now that can cut down the travel to a few days, not weeks. Think of that! I could spend the summer at Gulmarg and maybe Noel could come too.’
Stella wondered how many other promises Lydia had made to ensure that Andrew would choose to stay with her. But perhaps he didn’t need to be bribed. She longed to get him on his own so she could be sure that this was what he really wanted.
Soon, Lydia was thanking Tibby for the tea and saying that they should be leaving.
Stella addressed Andrew. ‘Before you go, I’ve got something I want to give you. It’s upstairs but it won’t take a minute.’
Andrew looked at his mother and Stella was surprised when she gave him a reluctant nod. ‘Just a minute then,’ she said sternly.
Outside the library, Stella took his hand and pulled him up the stairs. She took him into her bedroom and said, ‘Sit down, close your eyes and hold out your hands.’
While he perched on her bed, she fetched a pair of book ends and placed them in his open palms.
‘Now open your eyes,’ she ordered. ‘Walter made them and I painted them. Not very well – it’s supposed to be Dal Lake on this one and The Raj-in-the-Hills on the other.’ She watched him turn them over. ‘Anyway, I wanted you to have something from me – you can put your school books between them.’
He sat staring at them, his face flushed. ‘Thank you.’ His voice was husky. ‘They’re...really nice.’
She sat down beside him and put an arm around his shoulders. He bowed his head and she could see him swallowing hard. ‘Don’t be upset.’
‘I’ll miss you, Stella,’ he croaked.
She kissed his head. ‘I’ll miss you too – very much. Andy,’ she said gently. ‘Is this what you really want – to stay with your mother and go to school in Durham?’
After a pause, he nodded. ‘I like it in Ebbsmouth. I feel proud of being a Lomax here – of knowing where I come from. I didn’t expect that. And I like Durham and being with Noel and the otherboys – I think I’ll be happy at Dunelm School. I know it’s not India, but...’
‘And you’re happy about living with your mother and grandmother?’ Stella asked.
He glanced away. ‘I’ll be living in Durham most of the time.’
‘I’m sorry, Andy. I feel so guilty about leaving you here with your mother.’
‘I know you don’t like Mamma but she’s been a lot nicer to me since we’ve been away in Durham. She really wants me to stay – I think she needs me...’
‘You shouldn’t be staying just because she’s making you feel somehow obliged to – that’s not fair on you, and it’s wrong of her.’
He shifted away. ‘At least she tells me the truth and doesn’t pretend to be someone she’s not.’
Stella retorted. ‘Like pretending to still be in love with your father?’
Andrew was defensive. ‘Maybe she is still in love, but Esmie did her best to come between her and father.’
