Page 93 of The Sapphire Child
Andrew answered, ‘The Raj, Grandmamma.’
‘That’s it! Such a friendly family running it – Anglo-Indian – charming man, Charlie-something. Made us so welcome.’
‘He was useless at business,’ Lydia said dismissively. ‘It was Tom and I who ran the place. The Duboises were little more than hangers-on. No wonder Tom couldn’t make any money out of it.’
‘The Duboises are fine people.’ Andrew leapt to their defence. ‘Poor old Charlie died two years ago, Grandmamma.’
‘Did he?’ said Minnie. ‘How sad.’
‘I told her that,’ Lydia muttered under her breath.
‘And their daughter,’ Minnie continued. ‘She was a delightful girl – Sylvia...?’
‘Stella,’ Andrew answered.
Minnie’s expression brightened. ‘Yes, I remember her well. Didn’t she come and stay here once?’
Lydia huffed. ‘Yes, she did. We put her up all summer but she did her best to turn Andrew against us – always taking Esmie’s side and painting me out to be the wicked witch.’
Andrew didn’t like to hear his mother malign Stella, so he cut in. ‘Stella’s engaged to be married.’
Lydia gaped at him. ‘Are you still in touch with her?’
‘Tibby told me.’ He tried to sound unconcerned, but could feel the warmth creep into his jaw.
‘Who to? Some half-half railwayman, no doubt?’
‘Mamma!’ Andrew protested. ‘Don’t be unkind. And no, he’s not an Anglo-Indian.’
‘Well, who then?’ Lydia’s interest was piqued.
‘Hugh Keating – the Irishman she met on the ship in ’33.’ Andrew had a twinge of satisfaction telling her. ‘She ended up with Hugh despite your attempts to keep them apart.’
‘What do you mean?’ Lydia was indignant.
‘That letter from Hugh that you never gave her back,’ he reminded her.
Lydia gave a dismissive wave of the hand. ‘I don’t remember any letter. And anyway, why should I care? I’m happy for Stella that she’s found a husband at last. At her age she must have thought she was on the shelf. But she’s not my concern. You are, darling. I’m trying to be brave about you going away. Dickie will simply have to come up from London and console me. And I’m worried that once you get back to India, you’ll forget us and not want to return.’
‘That’s not true,’ said Andrew, putting down the flower basket and going to sit beside her. He put an arm about her shoulders. ‘Of course I’m going to come back.’
‘How can I be sure?’ Lydia demanded. ‘I know the sway your father can have over people.’
‘Not over me,’ Andrew said.
‘I wish you had something pressing to come back for – like being in love with a girl,’ Lydia persisted. ‘What about Felicity? Why did you stop seeing her?’
‘You used to complain that I spent too much of my leave with Flis-Tish,’ Andrew teased.
‘No, I didn’t. I liked her. She had spirit and her family are very well-to-do.’
‘She ditched me for an older man,’ Andrew said ruefully. ‘A farmer in the Home Guard.’
‘The Home Guard?’ Lydia cried. ‘She’s far too young for one of them. I bet he’s toothless.’
Andrew chuckled. ‘I don’t think so. I thought you would have heard from MrsDouglas. Aren’t you still friends?’
‘I don’t go anywhere these days – my life is spent looking after your grandmother. But I’ll make some enquiries – see how serious Felicity is about this toothless farmer. You liked her, didn’t you?’
