Page 97 of The Sapphire Child
‘Esmie?’ Minnie sounded surprised. ‘Esmie was a lovely girl. She married that missionary doctor – what was his name? Harold something.’
‘Guthrie,’ Andrew prompted. ‘DrGuthrie.’
‘So very sad when he died.’ Minnie shook her head. ‘His mother never really recovered. Poor Agnes.’
‘But then Esmie muscled Mamma out of the way and went after Dad.’ Andrew felt familiar indignation on his mother’s behalf.
Minnie looked confused. ‘No, no, that’s not right...’
‘What do you mean, Grandmamma?’
She looked at him as if he could provide the answer. She gave up with a shrug. ‘I can’t remember what it was I wanted to say. I’m sorry.’
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. ‘Don’t be. It doesn’t matter. Just remember that I love you and want you to be here when I get back from India.’
‘Sweet boy,’ Minnie said, with a fond smile. As he stood up to go, she added, ‘You will try and make her happy, won’t you?’
‘Who, Grandmamma? Do you mean Felicity?’
‘No, Lydia, of course.’
Andrew stepped back. His grandmother was mistaking him for his father again. He was about to tell her that he wasn’t Tom, when he stopped. It only confused and upset her to be told she was mistaken. He felt a pang of sadness that her mental faculties were diminishing and yet she bore it with good humour. Perhaps she liked dwelling in a past that was inhabited by his grandfather Jumbo and filled with memories of happier times.
‘I will look after her, I promise,’ said Andrew with a smile of reassurance.
At the door he turned and saluted. The last sight he had of his grandmother was of her raising a frail hand in farewell and blowing him a kiss.
Tibby arrived to take him and Lydia to the station, as his mother didn’t like to drive in the dark. He was reassured to know that Tibby would be there to keep his mother company after he went. He’d told Felicity not to come and see him off, and she’d agreed.
‘I hate goodbyes,’ she’d said. ‘Everyone just gets upset. It doesn’t mean I won’t be thinking of you every minute. I’ll let your mother hog the last moments with you or she might resent me forever.’
‘Well, you’re in Mamma’s good books for agreeing to marry me,’ Andrew had said. ‘You know you’ll be welcome at Templeton Hall anytime.’
‘I’ll keep an eye on your mother, don’t worry,’ Felicity had said, guessing as usual what he’d meant.
At the station, a raw wind was picking up dead leaves and hurling them onto the railway tracks. The train was late. Shadowedgroups lined the platform, waiting; they stamped their feet to keep warm.
Tibby fished something from her pocket. ‘I nearly forgot. This is from Dawan. It’s a talisman to keep you safe – Ganesh the elephant god.’ She pressed it into his hand.
Andrew stared at the small intricately carved ivory head strung on a thin strip of leather. ‘The one he wears around his neck?’
‘Yes,’ said Tibby.
‘But it belonged to his father, didn’t it? He shouldn’t be giving it to me,’ Andrew protested.
‘He said you’re the nearest to a son he’ll ever have,’ Tibby said with a loving smile. ‘So he wanted you to have it.’
Andrew’s throat constricted. ‘Please thank him,’ he said huskily, greatly touched by the gesture.
Lydia peered at the necklace. ‘How gruesome – and not at all Christian. I don’t think your grandmother would approve.’
Andrew exchanged wry looks with Tibby and stowed it in his coat pocket. ‘Don’t wait in the cold,’ he said. ‘The train might be ages.’
‘Don’t be silly. I want to see you safely on board.’ Lydia was adamant.
Just then, he heard the distant sound of a steam engine approaching. This was it.
Tibby stepped forward quickly and hugged him tightly, just as she had when he’d first arrived in Scotland over eight years ago. She still smelt of mothballs and cigarette smoke; she never changed. He gripped her, his eyes smarting.
