The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,13

paid? She’s got bags of money,’ Andrew persisted.

‘I’m needed here, Andy,’ said Stella.

Andy looked hopefully at his stepmother.

Esmie floundered. ‘Maybe another year, when you’re older.’

‘But I’ll never have another summer off school like this one,’ Andrew pointed out, adding quickly, ‘I could do lessons on the boat and with Mother.’

Tom gave a huff of disbelief. ‘Your mother’s shown no interest in your schooling up to now – she’s the last person who’ll make you buckle down to studying.’

Stella knew at once it was the wrong thing to say; Andrew’s eyes lit up with delight.

‘Please can I go?’

‘Why the sudden interest in Scotland?’ Tom asked.

Andrew glanced at Stella and she wondered if he was thinking of their conversation on the marg. He shrugged. ‘I suppose because Mother’s never asked me before – and you’ve always said it’s too far away. Though it can’t be that far, because other boys from school have been to Britain on furlough with their parents. Donaldson said it’s hardly more than two weeks’ journey if you get off the boat in Marseille and take the train.’

Tom ran a hand through his greying hair. ‘Esmie and I will have to discuss it.’ He turned and signalled to Bijal. ‘We’ll have tea now, thank you.’

‘So you’re not saying no, Dad?’ Andrew persisted.

‘We’ll talk about it later.’ Tom stuffed the telegram in his trouser pocket.

Over the next few days, Andrew badgered his father about going to Scotland. Stella knew that part of the boy’s sudden enthusiasm must be his desire to get away from the upset he had caused his parents and leave behind the shame of expulsion from school. In Scotland, no boys would taunt him with gossip about his father or Esmie. She also wondered if he was flattered by Lydia’s unexpected invitation – the mother who had always shown scant interest in him – and secretly craved attention from her.

Tom, though, resisted his pleas. ‘Your mother’s telegram was sent in anger over you leaving Nicholson’s – it was a spur-of-the-moment suggestion which she obviously hasn’t thought through.’

Then two airmail letters came from Lydia: one for Tom and one for Andrew. The chaprassy delivered them as they were having breakfast on the veranda. Andrew tore his open in excitement.

He was triumphant. ‘Listen to this! Mother really does want me to visit. “It’s high time I got to see you. Are you as tall as your father yet? We’ll have such fun this summer. We can play tennis and go sailing and I’m sure we can drum up some other boys if you get bored with the grown-ups.”’

‘And is she going to send a magic carpet to fetch you?’ Tom said with a grunt of disbelief.

Andrew’s eyes shone as he read aloud. ‘“I’ve booked you onto the SS Rajputana – it leaves Bombay on the 12th June. I’ve paid for two tickets so your ayah can come with you. You can return at the end of August when your grandmother and I go on holiday to Capri.” Ayah?’ Andrew laughed. ‘Doesn’t she know I haven’t had an ayah since I was a small boy?’

Tom looked shocked. Esmie gave him a worried look.

‘What does your letter say, Dad?’

‘I’ll read it later,’ Tom said, leaving it on the table unopened as he finished his half-eaten toast.

‘But you will let me go, won’t you? Mother’s bought tickets—’

‘We’ll discuss it later,’ his father said, slurping down tea and standing up. ‘I’ve got a lot to see to today.’

Stella was picking flowers at the far end of the garden when she overheard Tom’s raised voice coming from his studio.

‘. . . the gall of it! Lecturing me on neglecting our son when she’s not shown the slightest bit of interest in him since he was born. Now I’m getting blamed for Andy’s wild behaviour.’

‘It’s not your fault, darling.’ Esmie’s voice was placating.

Stella hesitated. She wanted to move away but if they heard her, they would know she had been listening. She held her breath, wondering if she could creep away without being noticed.

Tom let out an anguished sigh. ‘But perhaps it is? All that talk of me being an unfit soldier – the court-martial – all they say about me is true.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous – of course it’s not true. You don’t have one cowardly bone in your body. Tom, what you did was brave beyond words.’

‘That’s not how half the regiment saw it.’

‘They were wrong. You have nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, isn’t it time you were straight with Andy