The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,42

again . . . here in Ebbsmouth.’

Andrew drew back. He looked confused and a little scared. ‘But Dad’s got Meemee now. His life’s in India.’

She clawed at his arm. ‘It doesn’t have to be – he could still choose us.’

‘I don’t understand . . . Dad loves Meemee.’

Lydia shook her head. ‘He doesn’t! He can’t do. If he did, he wouldn’t still be married to me!’

Andrew leaned back. ‘How can he be? He’s married to Meemee.’

‘No, my darling, he’s not. I can see what a shock that is to you but Esmie is nothing more than a mistress to him. I’m still his wife. They’ve both been living a lie.’

‘No!’ Andrew shook his head as if he could throw off the words he didn’t want to hear.

Stella could take no more. She didn’t care what Lydia said to her, she would not see Andrew subjected to any more of his mother’s vitriol.

‘You’re right, Andy. Your father does love Esmie – and she him – so much so that they’ve both been forced into a pretend marriage for appearances’ sake. But only because your mother won’t give your father a divorce – out of spite; she can’t bear to see them happy—’

Lydia lurched at Stella and slapped her hard on the cheek. ‘Shut up you chee-chee bitch and go to your room!’

‘Mamma!’ Andrew sprang between them, balling his fists. ‘Don’t!’ he shouted.

Lydia’s expression crumpled at once. ‘I can’t believe you’d defend this treacherous girl instead of your own mother,’ she sobbed. ‘Can’t you see how they’ve all been keeping secrets from you?’

Andrew’s look faltered. ‘Stella? You knew they weren’t properly married?’

‘Only since coming to Ebbsmouth.’ She tried to explain. ‘Tibby . . .’

‘Auntie Tibby knows? Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘I hoped it would never come out,’ Stella said with a despairing look.

Lydia reached for Andrew. ‘She can’t be trusted – none of them can; only me. I’m the only one who truly cares about you.’

He shook her off. ‘Why wouldn’t you divorce Dad?’ he accused.

Lydia’s head drooped. She crumpled onto the sofa. ‘Because I still love him!’

Stella stared at her in disgust. How could she profess love for a man she had just said such cruel and wicked things about? She was beneath contempt.

For a moment, Andrew looked undecided too. His hand hovered over her shoulder. Then abruptly, he turned and strode from the room. Stella followed him out.

He was too fast for her, taking the stairs two at a time. She chased after him. ‘Andrew, wait!’

He thundered up the corridor. As he reached his bedroom, he turned on her.

‘You knew and you never told me,’ he said, his look stormy.

Stella stopped short. ‘I’m sorry, Andrew. But your mother should never have said those horrible things about your father and Esmie – she’s had too much to drink.’

‘Don’t blame Mamma! At least she’s told me the truth.’

‘Only part of it. She’s the one to blame for denying your father a divorce and forcing him and Esmie into an impossible situation. What else could they have done?’

Andrew’s eyes glistened. ‘They could have been honest with me – and so could you. I put Gotley in the san’ with a broken cheekbone because of their lies.’

Stella swallowed. ‘I’m so sorry – I know it’s been a terrible shock – but when we get back to India, they’ll be able to explain—’

‘Stop it,’ he hissed. ‘I don’t want to hear any more. Just go, Stella!’

He threw open the door to his bedroom, rushed inside and slammed it shut behind him.

Stella stood there shaking. She put out a hand to knock – she wanted to comfort him – but hesitated. Nothing she said would make any difference while he was so distressed. She would try and make amends in the morning – and perhaps Lydia might wake up feeling a little contrite for having created such upset.

She leaned her head against the door in despair. Guilt overwhelmed her that she had added to Andrew’s misery by not being frank with him about what Tibby had told her. Didn’t he have a right to know? They were all covering up the truth to save him being hurt and humiliated, believing he was too young to cope with the situation. Yet all Andrew wanted was for them to be honest with him. She of all people should have known that.

Chapter 16

Stella got no sleep that night. The terrible row played in her head over and over. Lydia’s spiteful words had been relentless. In a few short minutes