Baluchistan once she was back in India.
Unexpectedly, Tibby got a note from Lydia, summoning her round to Templeton Hall.
‘Am I to come too?’ Stella asked. ‘Is Andrew back home with her?’
Tibby said, ‘I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s best if I go alone and see how the land lies.’
Stella spent an anxious two hours waiting for Tibby to return. Desperate to keep busy, she went to help Willie and Mac in the garden picking runner beans and the last of the raspberries.
When she heard Tibby’s ancient car rattling down the track, Stella rushed to meet her. Tibby climbed out and adjusted her purple hat in a nervous gesture.
‘Is Andrew home?’ asked Stella.
‘Yes. I saw him. He seemed in fine fettle.’
‘Oh, good, I’m so glad,’ Stella said in relief. ‘Am I to be allowed back to Templeton Hall before we leave?’
Tibby took Stella gently by the elbow. ‘Let’s sit on the steps for a minute while I explain.’
‘Explain what?’ Stella’s heart began to pound.
Tibby said nothing until they were both perched on the third step leading up to the castle doorway.
‘A lot seems to have happened in the past couple of weeks in Durham,’ Tibby said. ‘I suppose Noel Langley might have something to do with it – the boys appear to be the firmest of friends.’
‘Meaning?’ Stella prompted, anxiety curdling inside.
‘Well, Andrew has chosen to stay here and go to school in Durham.’
Stella gaped at her in shock. ‘You mean, his mother has chosen?’
Tibby gave her a pitying look. ‘Not just Lydia – it seems it’s Andrew’s decision too. He’s taken the entrance exam for Dunelm School and has been accepted. He seems quite thrilled at the idea.’
‘I don’t believe it,’ Stella cried. ‘He must come back to India. Mr Lomax won’t allow him to stay here.’
Tibby’s face fell. ‘I do feel badly for Tommy – I know how devoted he is to Andrew – but that’s something he will have to sort out with Lydia. Maybe it’s time she was allowed to have Andrew for a bit – before he’s grown up. It certainly seems to be Andrew’s choice.’
‘I want to see him.’ Stella was adamant. ‘When am I allowed to?’
Tibby put a hand on her arm. ‘It seems you’re persona non grata at Templeton Hall so I’ll invite him round here, I promise. Lydia can’t deny me that; I’m his aunt, after all.’
Stella was stunned. She couldn’t believe that Andrew didn’t want to return to India and his parents. Lydia was behind this. Stella was full of anger at the thought of the damage Andrew’s mother had done.
Three days before Stella was due to begin her journey back to India, Lydia and Andrew came over to The Anchorage for afternoon tea to say goodbye. Stella rushed to hug him but he stuck out his hand instead, glancing at his mother as he did so.
Stella reddened and shook his hand.
It was raining, so Tibby showed them into the library where a fire had been hastily lit. The conversation was stilted – Lydia hardly acknowledging Stella – and Tibby tried to keep it going by asking Andrew about Durham. He was soon chatting about playing cricket with Noel and several other boys who lived near the Langleys.
‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ said Lydia with a triumphant look. ‘It’s a dream come true for me to know that Andrew will be nearby and can spend his holidays here in Ebbsmouth. His grandmamma is thrilled too.’
Andrew said quickly, ‘But I can also spend some of the summer holidays back in India, can’t I, Mamma? You said so.’
Lydia gave an indulgent smile. ‘If that’s what you want, darling.’
‘Yes, it is.’ He looked at Stella. ‘Mamma says there are flights with Imperial Airways now that can cut down the travel to a few days, not weeks. Think of that! I could spend the summer at Gulmarg and maybe Noel could come too.’
Stella wondered how many other promises Lydia had made to ensure that Andrew would choose to stay with her. But perhaps he didn’t need to be bribed. She longed to get him on his own so she could be sure that this was what he really wanted.
Soon, Lydia was thanking Tibby for the tea and saying that they should be leaving.
Stella addressed Andrew. ‘Before you go, I’ve got something I want to give you. It’s upstairs but it won’t take a minute.’
Andrew looked at his mother and Stella was surprised when she gave him a reluctant nod. ‘Just a minute then,’ she said sternly.
Outside the library,