The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,107

good news. When will we see him?’

‘He thinks they’ll be sent up to Taha by next month. I’ve asked him to let us know when he’s likely to be passing through Pindi.’

‘I can’t wait to see him!’ Esmie hugged him.

Stella’s spirits lifted to think that Andrew was back in India. She was eager to see him too and catch up on the years apart. They probably would never recapture the close bond they’d once shared – their lives had diverged so much since she’d left him behind in Ebbsmouth. But if he was still the affectionate Andrew of his boyhood then she was sure they could rekindle their friendship. She was anxious, though, on Esmie’s behalf. She had seen at first hand how intent Lydia had been on turning Andrew against his stepmother and wondered how awkward the reunion would be between them.

At the mention of Pindi, Stella asked nervously, ‘Did you speak to Ma?’

‘Yes.’ Tom looked awkward. ‘I told her that Esmie is expecting – that we hadn’t said anything in case the pregnancy went wrong. I felt a fraud saying it, but that is what you want, isn’t it?’

Stella nodded. ‘What did she say?’

‘She was delighted for us. And she said you were to stay on as long as we needed you.’

Stella’s chest tightened. The deed was done and there was no going back. For the past few days she had forced herself to begin thinking of the baby as belonging to the Lomaxes and not her. She gave Tom a small smile of assent.

Esmie, sensing her unwillingness to dwell on the subject, asked, ‘So what else did you bring from Srinagar?’

Tom had newspapers and post. The papers confirmed the frightening news that they had heard on the wireless: Singapore had fallen to the Japanese forces with the surrender of tens of thousands of troops. Hundreds of civilians had also been taken prisoner. Stella felt leaden at the thought that Hugh might be among them. But there were no further letters from him.

‘I’ve wired Calcutta on your behalf, Stella,’ Tom said, ‘as I knew you’d be worrying about Keating.’

‘Thank you,’ Stella said, trying not to be tearful.

His look turned grim. ‘The Indian Army must be fighting to hold onto Burma too – they’re evacuating Rangoon.’

Stella’s stomach churned. ‘Evacuating them to where? India?’

‘I imagine so,’ said Tom.

‘So India could be next?’ she asked fearfully.

Esmie squeezed her arm. ‘Not necessarily. You mustn’t worry. The war’s still a long way from here.’

Tom said quickly, ‘I didn’t mean to cause alarm. The jungles and mountains between Burma and India are almost impenetrable. And the British will never allow India to be taken.’

Three weeks later, as the March thaw came to the mountains and valleys of Kashmir and the frozen rivers turned to thundering rapids, Stella went into labour. It was late afternoon and she’d been having occasional sharp pains on and off since the morning. Suddenly, she broke off from doing paperwork with Esmie and let out a gasp. She clutched her belly.

Esmie looked at her in alarm. ‘Are you feeling pains?’

Stella nodded.

‘Come on,’ said Esmie, ‘let’s get you to bed.’

Four hours later, as she lay half-prone on her narrow bed in the annex, the labour contractions were coming in relentless waves. Karo wiped her face with a damp scented cloth while Esmie held her hand and encouraged her.

‘Squeeze my hand when the contractions come,’ she said, timing them on her old nurse’s watch.

Stella gritted her teeth as each fresh bout of pain assaulted her.

‘That’s good,’ said Esmie. ‘You don’t have to be so brave – shout if you want – but keep some breath for the pushing.’

Esmie examined her. She exchanged rapid words in Pashto with Karo, who took over holding Stella’s hand.

‘Is everything all right?’ Stella panted.

‘You’re doing very well,’ Esmie assured her with a smile. ‘The baby’s in position. I can see the head – it won’t be long now. Karo says you’re lucky – you’ve been blessed with a short labour.’

Stella had never experienced such pain. It gripped her like a vice. Each time it subsided she dreaded its return. But Esmie talked to her calmly and Karo murmured words that she couldn’t understand, yet were soothing.

‘Don’t fight it,’ Esmie said. ‘Save your energy. Breathe . . . in and out . . . That’s it – keep it steady. And again.’

Beyond the stuffy room, she knew that Tom was waiting anxiously. Half an hour ago, Esmie had gone out and reassured him that all was going well.