Page 96 of The Sapphire Child
‘I suppose it was worth the wait.’ Felicity had given a throaty laugh and instigated another bout of love-making.
Andrew saw Felicity each day of his final week at home. They went for cold autumnal walks and talked about inconsequential things, both knowing that the end purpose was to find somewheresheltered to make love. Their final time alone, he took her to Tibby’s summerhouse overlooking his favourite cove with the boathouse.
‘I’d like to have taken you there.’ Andrew pointed down at the fenced-off beach. ‘It’s a favourite spot. When this war is over, we’ll make passionate love in the boathouse.’
Felicity wrinkled her nose. ‘Doesn’t look very inviting or comfortable to me.’
‘I’ll make it comfortable,’ Andrew promised, staring down at the sandy bay and the wheeling sea birds glinting white in the low wintry sun. He had first fallen for this place as a youth – that summer with Stella when she had supervised his games with Noel. Poor Noel, who was incarcerated in a fortress somewhere in Germany. And Stella, who might already be married to Hugh.
‘So you’re planning on returning after the war?’ asked Felicity. ‘If we win it.’
‘Whenwe win it,’ Andrew answered. ‘And yes, of course I’m coming back.’
‘Your mother doubts you will,’ she said.
‘Has she been talking about me to you?’
‘Of course we talk about you. That’s practically all your mother can talk about. She’s convinced you’ll be seduced back into life in India by your dad and his scheming wife who usurped her.’
‘She shouldn’t have bothered you with all that. And it’s not true. I didn’t choose to go to India – I’m being sent because I can speak Urdu. I’d much rather be fighting the fascists in Europe than chasing around after rebellious tribesmen in the North West Frontier, which is what I’m likely to end up doing.’
Felicity slipped her arms around his waist. ‘I’m glad to hear that I win over India. Come on, I’m getting cold. Let’s try out this summerhouse.’
Afterwards, Andrew felt a wave of contentment lying with Felicity in his arms. He found her desire for him flattering andenjoyed her outspoken chatter. Felicity was pretty, his mother approved of her and he could imagine a future in Ebbsmouth in which they were together.
She was lying with her hand on his chest. He took hold of it and kissed it.
‘Flis-Tish,’ he said. ‘Will you marry me?’
She leaned up and looked at him enquiringly. ‘Marry you? Are you getting the jitters about going away? You don’t have to ask me just because we’re lovers.’
He reddened. ‘I’m not getting the jitters, as you call them. I’ve come to really care about you and think we’d be happy together. Don’t you?’
She eyed him. ‘I’m pretty potty about you, that’s true. But I’m not sure you feel the same way. Don’t just ask out of politeness because you’re about to go away.’
Andrew smothered his discomfort that what she said might be true. Yet, he could see a happy life with her beckoning to him beyond the uncertainty and horrors of this war. He clung to it.
‘It’s nothing to do with politeness,’ he insisted. ‘I want to marry you and be with you.’
She smiled and reached up to kiss his cheek. ‘Then I accept.’
‘You do?’
‘Yes!’
‘That’s wonderful!’ He kissed her on the lips.
She drew back a fraction. ‘On the understanding that we both feel the same way when you come home.’
Not for the first time it struck Andrew that Felicity was far more insightful than he was.
‘Not very romantic of you,’ Andrew said wryly. ‘But I’d never hold you to an engagement if you change your mind.’
‘It wasn’t me I was thinking of,’ she said. ‘Now we’ve got the formalities over, how about a final consummation of our agreement?’ Grinning, she began kissing him again.
Early the next morning, on the day of his departure, Andrew went to say goodbye to his grandmother. In a moment of lucidity, she sat up in bed and said, ‘I know it will be difficult for you going back to India but don’t be too hard on your father. He did all he could to try and make your mother happy – but you and I know what a challenge that can be at times.’
‘I don’t really blame Dad for what happened,’ Andrew admitted. ‘I know it was more Esmie’s fault.’
