Page 63 of The Sapphire Child
‘It’s likely to be next week,’ said Esmie. ‘They want to give time for Charlie’s brother to come from Ceylon if he wants.’
Stella recalled the last thing her father had said to her before she’d set off for Kashmir in May. He’d kissed her on the top of her head and pinched her cheek as he’d done since she was a child.
‘Take care, Sweet Pea! Transport my many felicitations to the dear Lomaxes. And tell the baroness, if she can’t be good, be careful!’
Stella buried her face in her hands and tried to breathe. It was as if a lead weight were pressing on her chest. She let a sob escape and then the tears came. As she wept uncontrollably, Esmie held her tight and rocked her in her arms.
‘Cry all you want,’ she soothed.
Stella didn’t know it was possible to feel such pain. Her father was her rock.
She tried to stem her tears. The Lomaxes too must be deeply saddened by the news. It may have been her mother who had the business head and had kept the hotel from going bankrupt in the early days, but it was her father’s cheerful gregarious presence that had given the Raj a reputation for hospitality and homeliness.
Stella took a deep breath and sat back. Tom was standing in front of her holding out a large handkerchief.
‘Thanks.’ She blew into it.
Tom laid a hand on her head. She felt the warmth of it flow into her.
‘Charlie was one of the greatest friends I ever had,’ he said quietly. ‘I’ll miss him more than I can say, Stella. You were lucky to have such a loving father.’ Tom gave a wistful smile. ‘I never knew a man more besotted with his daughter than Charlie.’
Stella smiled through her tears. ‘I know I was lucky.’
Tom’s chin trembled. ‘Esmie and I will come with you to Pindi to say farewell to our dear friend.’
Stella knew what an effort that would be for Tom, as he didn’t like to venture beyond Gulmarg and hadn’t been to the city now for over two years.
‘Thank you, MrLomax,’ she said, full of gratitude.
Charlie’s funeral was held on the 23rd of August at StJoseph’s Church on a sweltering, thundery day. The pews were packed with family, friends, colleagues and hotel staff who had all come to pay their respects. Stella had been in a state of numbness for days, trying to be strong for her mother, but on the funeral day it was Myrtle who remained dry-eyed and dignified while Stella sobbed throughout the mass.
Yvonne, who was noticeably pregnant, cried too. She clutched onto Jimmy and wailed that their baby would never see either of its grandfathers.
Jimmy seemed to have taken on the role of his father, thanking people for coming and inviting them back to the hotel for the wake. Tom had said that he would pay for everything and laid on plenty of whisky alongside the sandwiches and tea.
The baroness, who had travelled down from Srinagar for the funeral, seemed to know what to do in such circumstances. She slipped brandy into Stella’s tea and said, ‘Darling, knock it back and go and talk to your young man. Charlie would have hated all these long faces, so put a smile on for your pa.’
Stella glanced over to see Monty, hands in pockets, looking morose. She didn’t really want to talk to him but he looked so sad that she did as Hester ordered.
‘Thanks for coming,’ she said, touching his arm briefly.
‘I thought the world of your pa,’ he said, his brown eyes shining with emotion.
‘And he was fond of you, Monty.’ Stella gave a wan smile. ‘He used to say,“That boy is full of promise – one day he’ll box for India!”’
Monty gave a soft laugh. ‘I’m not even the best in C Company.’
‘Have you been away on camp with the Auxiliary Force?’ she asked, realising that she hardly knew what he’d been doing while she’d been in Gulmarg.
Monty nodded. ‘Some of the men think...’ He broke off. ‘Sorry, now’s not the time to talk of such things.’
‘What things?’ Stella scrutinised him. ‘What do the men think?’
‘There’s been a lot of talk of us going to war,’ he said quietly. ‘Britain being dragged into war in Europe.’
Stella’s insides clenched. ‘The Lomaxes are worried about that too – especially with Andrew being in the army.’
Monty nodded. ‘This pact between the Nazis and the Soviets makes it more inevitable.’
