The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,119

Belle or would he chide him for not returning to India sooner? He had no idea how to begin speaking to this man he hadn’t seen for almost nine years.

‘How is your mother?’ Tom asked.

Andrew flinched at the unexpected question. He dragged on his cigarette before answering. ‘The last time I saw her she was trying to be brave about me going away but not very good at hiding how upset she was.’

Tom gave a ghost of a smile. ‘I can imagine that.’

‘She spends most of her time looking after Grandmamma – she’s very forgetful these days.’

‘Ah, Minnie.’ Tom nodded. ‘I always liked her.’

Andrew hesitated and then said, ‘I think Mamma is lonely at Ebbsmouth. She liked it when I was home from school and had friends to stay.’

‘I thought she had Dickie with her these days?’ Tom said, his tone tightening.

‘Uncle Dickie’s working in London for the government so doesn’t get north much.’

Tom ground out his cigarette. ‘And Tibby?’

Andrew was relieved that his father wasn’t going to harp on about Dickie. His mother had told him how ridiculously jealous Tom had been.

He smiled. ‘Auntie Tibby is wonderful. I miss her a lot. She somehow manages to keep that old pile of stones from falling down, as well as giving a home to a bunch of eccentric artists. She’s developed a passion for gardening and avant-garde art – and for years she’s had an Indian lover, Dawan Lal.’

‘Goodness! She’s having an affair with Dawan?’ Tom laughed. ‘I bet that has the county matrons gossiping.’

‘They’re very discreet,’ said Andrew. ‘And Auntie Tibby couldn’t care less what anyone says about her.’

‘That’s true,’ Tom agreed. ‘I’m glad to hear she hasn’t changed. Dear Tibby.’

Andrew immediately lit a fresh cigarette from his old one and offered one to his father. They continued to smoke.

Tom said quietly, ‘I can’t tell you how much Esmie and I have missed you, Andy. She sends her love and hopes you will come up to Gulmarg when you next get leave to see us. She was very disappointed not to come this time but it wasn’t possible . . .’

Andrew murmured, ‘No, not with a baby to look after.’

Tom put a hand on his shoulder. ‘I’m so sorry you had to hear about Belle from Myrtle and not me.’

‘I’m pleased for you both that you have a daughter,’ Andrew answered tensely. ‘Honestly I am. But it makes little difference to me.’

Tom looked saddened. ‘You might change your mind when you meet the wee lassie.’

Abruptly, Andrew felt a deep resentment rising up inside. ‘I hope you don’t expect me to start playing happy families after all these years?’ he said. ‘Because my family is Mamma and Grandmamma and Auntie Tibby in Ebbsmouth. And my fiancée is there too. That home is more real to me than here or up in Gulmarg. I want you to understand that.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Tom said, looking pained. ‘We never wanted you to leave India in the first place. It’s been very hard for me and Esmie to endure this long separation—’

Andrew threw away his cigarette. ‘You were hardly rushing to Scotland to get me back, were you? I know the bargain you made with Mamma – that she could keep me as long as you were free to marry Esmie.’

‘It wasn’t as simple as that,’ said Tom, grinding out his own cigarette.

Andrew felt a sudden rage. ‘Why did you lie to me about being married to Esmie? I had to find out the truth from a bully at school. I punched another boy in the face defending Esmie’s honour – and yours. Do you know how guilty I felt when I found out Gotley hadn’t been lying? But at least leaving India meant I got to meet my mother properly. And do you know what? She wasn’t the unlovable ice-queen you’d made her out to be.’

His father looked stunned, but Andrew couldn’t stop now he’d started. Years of resentment that he thought he’d overcome came pouring out.

‘She still loves you, you know? Though heaven knows why after the way you neglected her and caused her such pain.’

‘I caused her pain?’ Tom asked, seemingly bewildered.

‘Yes, going off with Esmie and taking me too. You both robbed me of my real mother.’

Suddenly his father looked furious. He lurched at Andrew, his breath sour with whisky. ‘Don’t you dare accuse Esmie! She’s completely innocent. She’s never had a bad word to say about your mother, though God knows, she’s had reason to. She’s been loyal