Page 77 of The Sapphire Child
‘Maybe not independence,’ said Andrew, ‘but they could have asked for something lesser, like home rule. It just seems petty to resign all their positions on the provincial governments.’
‘You are looking at it through the eyes of a Scotsman,’ Dawan said dismissively. ‘You have forgotten how to look with Indian eyes.’
Andrew was wounded by the remark but could hardly deny it. His time in India seemed like a remote dream – vivid but no longer part of his life.
‘Who’s got Indian eyes?’ Unexpectedly, Felicity bounded into the room, pulling off her hat and patting at her neat fair hair.
‘Not me, apparently,’ said Andrew, leaping to his feet. ‘This is a nice surprise.’ He kissed her cold pink cheek.
‘I think you have gorgeous eyes,’ said Felicity, kissing him on the lips.
‘And have I ever told you how alluring you look in uniform?’
Felicity laughed. ‘Yes, often.’ She turned to Dawan. ‘Hello, MrLal. I hope you don’t mind me barging in on your cosy chat. But I haven’t seen Andrew for weeks.’
‘Of course not, Miss Douglas.’ Dawan gave a gracious nod.
‘So did Mamma tell you I was here?’ Andrew asked.
‘No, I bumped into Tibby distributing cauliflowers to the old folk up the lane. She told me where to find you. I’m not sure your mother would have.’ Felicity laughed.
Dawan made for the door. ‘Let me leave you lovebirds alone. Tell Tibby I’ll be in the studio.’
As soon as he was gone, Felicity pushed Andrew back onto the sofa, sat on his lap and began kissing him.
‘I’ve missed you so much,’ she said, as they caught their breath.
‘Me too,’ said Andrew. ‘Do you want to go for a walk while it’s not raining?’
‘No, I hate walking.’ She traced a finger across his jaw. ‘I can think of other exercise I’d rather be doing with you.’
Andrew laughed. ‘Miss Douglas, I’m shocked.’
‘That’s the trouble with you, Andrew,’ she said. ‘You’re far too honourable. I get propositioned weekly by chaps in the Home Guard. Trust me to fall for Scotland’s most morally upright second lieutenant.’
‘What chaps in the Home Guard?’ he asked.
‘Oh, do I detect a twinge of jealousy?’ She smirked.
‘I hope they’re over sixty and missing most of their teeth,’ he teased.
‘How rude!’ She gave him a playful pat on the cheek. ‘Don’t you think I can attract other young men?’
‘I don’t doubt it,’ said Andrew. ‘But I hope you resist their advances. Otherwise I’ll have to start challenging my rivals to a dual.’
‘Then give me a good reason to remain constant to you, Andrew Lomax.’
‘Meaning?’
‘Show that you love me – and only me,’ she said. ‘Enough that you want to marry me.’
Andrew tensed. ‘I thought we’d agreed to take things steadily? It’s all too uncertain – we could be fighting off an invasion any day.’
She gripped his chin. ‘Exactly! That’s why we should just do what we’re both dying to do and say to hell with the consequences. This time tomorrow, we might both be blown to kingdom come by a Nazi bomb. I don’t want to die a virgin!’
Andrew began to laugh.
Abruptly, she smacked his cheek and climbed off his knee. ‘Don’t laugh at me! I’m not some silly girl who you can trifle with. I’m nearly nineteen and I know my own mind.’
