The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,5
nothing to explain to you or anyone else,’ Tom said. ‘Least of all to a puffed-up man like Major Gotley who drips poison into the ears of his impressionable son.’ His look softened as he glanced at Andrew. ‘This whole episode has been blown out of all proportion. It’s a spat between boys. George should not have provoked Andrew, but neither should my son have resorted to violence to settle their quarrel. You should have got to the bottom of it sooner and not allowed yourself to be swayed by the major’s threats.’
‘Now look here, Lomax,’ Bishop blustered. ‘I find your tone most offensive. We’ve only Andrew’s word on this – he could be making it up and trying to get poor Gotley into trouble.’
‘Why are you so quick to believe George?’ Tom demanded. ‘Is it because he’s the son of a major and not a mere box-wallah like me?’
Bishop went puce. ‘Of course not.’
‘Well, my son’s word is good enough for me,’ Tom said hotly. ‘As far as I’m concerned, the matter has been dealt with. Andrew has explained the provocation and taken his punishment.’
Andrew watched the sweat break out on Bishop’s head. ‘It most certainly has not been dealt with,’ he said, his voice rising. ‘I have a boy in the san’ with a broken cheekbone and a father demanding the police be called. Nicholson School is in danger of being brought into disrepute by the actions of Lomax Junior. Despite what George might or might not have said, your son must apologise for his savage attack.’
Andrew saw sudden fury flash in his father’s eyes. ‘I would have thought that ten strokes of the cane was payment enough for the punch that Andrew threw.’
‘Not in my book,’ snapped Bishop. He turned and glared at Andrew. ‘One last time: are you prepared to say sorry to young Gotley?’
Andrew stared back, unblinkingly. ‘I’m sorry I broke his cheekbone – but I’m not sorry I hit him, sir. And if he said those lies again, I’d hit him again.’
Bishop wagged a finger in his face. ‘Then I have no choice but to send you home, boy!’ He turned to Tom. ‘Lomax is suspended for the rest of term. I should expel him on the spot but I’m a reasonable man and hope that a period of reflection at home and some discipline from his parents will lead him to see the error of his ways. If he sends a written apology, I shall allow him back next term.’
Andrew looked between the adults, wondering if this was good news or not. He would get a whole summer to roam around Gulmarg free from lessons – yet he would miss out on all the cricket matches, sports day and the summer camp at Ghora Gali.
He saw Esmie put a restraining hand on his father’s arm, to no avail.
‘That won’t be happening,’ Tom said in a clipped tone. ‘I don’t wish my son to be sent to a school where the headmaster finds it more convenient to believe the word of a bully rather than the bullied. Andrew will not be returning next term. No doubt that will be a relief to you, Mr Bishop.’
With that, he took Esmie by the elbow and placed a hand on Andrew’s back, steering them both out of the door.
Andrew’s pulse drummed. He was dizzy with the speed and turn of events. He tried to catch Esmie’s eye, but she was looking worriedly at his father. He had seldom seen his dad so furious, his jaw set and his dark eyebrows gathered in a frown. Andrew felt a surge of euphoria; his father had stood up for him in front of sweaty Bishop.
He couldn’t wait for word to get back to the spiteful George of heroic Tom Lomax who wouldn’t let his son be intimidated by Major Gotley or humiliated by badger-breath Bishop. He was leaving Nicholson’s. He felt defiant and vindicated – and he hadn’t had to utter the other foul words that George had said that he knew would have wounded his father far more than being called a coward.
While his father made a phone call to Rawalpindi to alert the Duboises of their staying overnight, Esmie helped Andrew pack. He felt suddenly awkward with his stepmother and threw his clothes hastily into his trunk. Half an hour later, all three were driving out of the school gates in their lumbering van with its fading lettering proclaiming ‘The Raj Hotels: Rawalpindi and Gulmarg’ on the side.