The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,117

sprang to his feet.

‘Andy!’ he called out, pushing past another chair to get to him.

Andrew felt his chest swell with emotion at the use of his childhood name and the delight on his father’s face. Then he saw the look falter as his father hesitated about how to greet him.

Quickly Andrew stuck out his hand.

‘Hello, Dad.’ His voice sounded croaky.

Tom clutched his hand in both of his and held on.

‘My boy,’ he said, his eyes glinting with tears. ‘So good to see you again.’

‘You too,’ Andrew responded, a lump in his throat.

They stood like that for a moment, then Ansom was calling them over. ‘Here’s a chota peg for you, young Lomax!’

‘A celebration indeed!’ Fritters said, red-faced and jolly.

Andrew wondered how many drinks they’d already had with Tom.

Jimmy hurried over and directed Sanjeev to pull out a chair for Andrew next to his father and place a whisky and soda on the table in front of him. They sat down. Andrew pulled out his cigarette case and offered it to his father. Tom looked taken aback and then smiled and took one. They both lit up.

For a few minutes it was the residents who kept up the conversation, first asking Andrew about his trip out and then switching to the day’s news and the likelihood of Sir Stafford Cripps’s mission failing.

‘What do you think, Andy?’ his father asked.

Andrew was startled by the sudden question. He toyed with his untouched whisky. ‘I don’t really know much about Indian politics. Not for me to say . . .’

‘Of course it is,’ said Tom. ‘You young are the future of this country.’

‘I’m British,’ said Andrew, meeting his look, ‘and my country is thousands of miles away.’

‘As it is for all of us,’ agreed Fritwell. ‘But we have responsibilities here – to govern India well. When the future of the Empire and our nation is at stake, then we have to crack down hard on the enemies within.’

‘Or you give them self-rule,’ suggested Tom, ‘and all fight on the same side.’

Ansom chuckled. ‘Captain Lomax! Living in the hills has turned you into a radical jungli,’ he teased.

Tom gulped his whisky and gave Andrew an encouraging nod. ‘So, what are they saying about India at home?’

Andrew shrugged. ‘To be frank, not much. But when I left, the Japanese hadn’t begun to invade our territories. India was seen as safe – apart from the North West Frontier – which is why the Borderers are being sent to bolster our presence in the tribal areas. The big fear is if the Axis powers defeat Russia and attack India via Afghanistan and the Frontier.’

‘Same old story,’ said Tom. ‘We’ve always been vulnerable along the Frontier. It used to be fear of Russia and now it’s the Nazis.’

‘We should fear them,’ said Andrew, stubbing out his cigarette and growing animated. ‘The fascists are the biggest threat to world peace there’s ever been. Europe is under the jackboot and it looks like the fascist Japanese forces are trying to do the same all over Asia. That’s why I joined the army because I saw what was happening – from Czechoslovakia to Spain the fascists were destroying democracy.’

There was silence. Tom broke it. ‘Well, you joined for far more honourable reasons than me. I took a commission in the Rifles because my father told me to.’ His eyes shone. ‘You are a young man of principle.’

‘Chip off the old block,’ said Ansom.

‘I’ll drink to that,’ said Fritwell, waving at Sanjeev to refill their glasses.

A voice from the stairs called out, ‘What are you all celebrating down there?’

‘Baroness!’ cried Ansom. ‘Come and join us. It’s the reunion of Lomaxes.’

‘Darlings! How delightful.’

Hester stood on the halfway landing dressed in a dark-blue velvet gown and a feathered headband that Andrew was sure he remembered her wearing when he was a boy. It delighted him that she still dressed up as if she were going to dine with the Viceroy. He leapt up and went to guide her down the steps. The men stood up as Andrew steered her into a seat. Tom kissed her hand in greeting.

‘Ah,’ said Hester with a gracious smile, ‘all my favourite men gathered in one place. How lucky I am.’

‘We’re the lucky ones, Baroness Cussack,’ said Andrew.

‘Darling, you’re as charming as your father. I’m so happy to see you both together again after such a long separation. It’s a big sacrifice for parent and child,’ persisted Hester, ‘having to endure years apart. Isn’t that right, Andrew? You must have