The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,142

Andrew now? Didn’t he have a right to know?

She decided to be cautious. ‘We all felt bad about not telling you sooner about the baby. But it was late into the pregnancy before we were sure – before Esmie was sure. Your dad wanted to tell you in person. I’m so sorry you had to hear about Belle from my mother. She’d only just been told and was overexcited. It’s no excuse, but no one planned it that way or wanted to upset you.’

She regarded Andrew warily and saw the struggle in his tight expression. Eventually he let out a long sigh and met her look.

‘It doesn’t matter now. I admit it was a shock to hear about the baby and I suppose I felt a bit pushed out, but I’ve had time to get used to the idea of a sister.’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘Tell me what she’s like.’

Stella felt her eyes prickle with tears. ‘She’s beautiful – with big blue eyes and brown hair – and she’s sunny-natured – always laughing. She loves being sung to and she has the strongest grip. I had to tie my hair up to stop her pulling out handfuls! She wasn’t crawling when I left but she is now. And Esmie thinks there’s a tooth coming through.’

Andrew’s smile broadened. ‘Sounds like you were a wee bit smitten with my new sister.’

Stella swallowed a sob and nodded, turning away to look at the sunrise. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

After a pause, Andrew said reflectively, ‘I met a friend of my parents in Taha – a Reverend Bannerman – a wonderful old man. I recuperated at his house after I’d been ill in July. He told me things that made me rethink how I feel about Dad and Esmie. I heard quite a different side to the story about my mother’s kidnap from Taha. Apparently, I was there too.’

‘Go on,’ Stella encouraged.

‘Mamma was having an affair with Dickie Mason – or so the gossip went. I’m not really concerned about that – she must have had her reasons and I know my father wasn’t the easiest man to live with – but I never knew about Esmie’s part in rescuing Mamma. Did you ever hear anything about it?’

Stella nodded. ‘Yes, I remember the fuss at the time. Even though my mother thought the incident too upsetting and hid the local newspaper from me and Jimmy, the baroness let us read her copy. It said how your mother had been snatched by Pathans and held for ransom and how she’d been rescued by Esmie. “Plucky Scotch nurse saves beautiful young Englishwoman,” it said, or something along those lines. Baroness Cussack will probably still have the cutting.’

Andrew shook his head in disbelief. ‘Imagine the army and the police asking such a thing of Esmie? Sending a lone woman into tribal territory with just a mullah and a couple of local guards. According to Bannerman, my father insisted on going too but could do little to help. It was Esmie who took all the risk . . .’ Andrew stopped and gave her a pained look. ‘I feel terrible for thinking the worst of Esmie and I wish I could see her to say sorry. I’ve been so cruel and childish towards her over the years and she never deserved it.’

Stella was joyful at his admission. ‘She’ll be so happy if you did tell her that. She’s never stopped loving you, Andy. Apart from your father, there’s no one Esmie loves more.’

His mouth twisted. ‘Not even the perfect Belle?’

Stella was silent.

Beyond the cricket pitch, the town was stirring with early traffic; horses trotted by pulling milk carts; an army truck trundled past belching blue smoke into the chilly air.

Stella knew their time was running out. In a short while she should be returning to the hotel to help get Mrs Shankley washed and encourage her to eat some breakfast, even though she had no appetite these days. For the past week Stella hadn’t even been able to coax her out of bed or to get dressed.

‘Do you know where you’re being posted?’ she asked.

He met her look. ‘Most likely down to the Burma border.’

Impulsively, she grabbed his arm. ‘You will take very good care, won’t you, Andy? Don’t go trying to be ridiculously brave.’

He covered her hand with his. ‘Don’t worry – I just give the orders.’

She smiled. ‘I know that’s not true. I’m very proud of you. We all are.’

Andrew’s eyes glinted. ‘Thank