The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,65

impatient to get back to officer training and his new comrades.

Chapter 22

The Raj-in-the-Hills Hotel, August 1939

Stella was picking flowers for the hotel dining room when she became aware of Tom and Esmie crossing the lawn towards her. It was a gloriously sunny morning and most of the guests were out for the day, riding, golfing or walking. Shading her eyes, she could tell at once from Tom’s face that something terrible had happened.

‘Stella.’ His handsome, lined face was creased in pity.

‘What’s happened?’ Stella stood up.

‘We’ve had a letter from Pindi. Your mother . . .’

Stella’s heart lurched. ‘Something’s happened to Ma?’

He shook his head. ‘No, no, she’s fine. Well, not fine, but . . .’

Esmie said quickly, ‘It’s your father – he’s had a heart attack. I’m so sorry, lassie. He’s . . . He passed away two days ago.’

Stella stood stunned. She couldn’t take in what they were saying. Tom was mumbling something about his good friend Charlie and then tears were spilling down his cheeks. Esmie reached out and took Stella in her arms, pressing her head into her shoulder and stroking her hair as if she were the one crying. But she wasn’t – couldn’t. She was too shocked. A life without her pa was inconceivable.

Stella pulled away. ‘But he’s not even ill. He never gets ill in the hot season, only in the cold. He can’t be dead. It’s a mistake.’

Esmie spoke calmly. ‘It’s not a mistake. Your mother wrote to us so we could tell you in person rather than you read it in a letter. The doctor thinks Charlie’s heart was weakened by the pneumonia he had last winter.’ Gently, she took Stella by the arm. ‘Come inside, lassie, and sit down. You’re in shock.’

Stella allowed Esmie to shepherd her onto the veranda. A servant was sweeping the floor but with a nod from Esmie, he left them alone. Esmie sat Stella down on the wicker sofa next to her. Tom stood looking out at the view, trying to bring his emotions under control.

Esmie spoke in a low, soft voice. ‘We’ll make arrangements for you to return to Pindi as soon as you can. One of us can take you, if you like? Or you can wait a day or two. Your mother says that Jimmy is arranging the funeral and Yvonne is helping with the hotel, so you’re not to worry about rushing back before then. But I imagine you’ll want to be with your mother . . .’

‘Funeral?’ Stella repeated.

‘It’s likely to be next week,’ said Esmie. ‘They want to give time for Charlie’s brother to come from Ceylon if he wants.’

Stella recalled the last thing her father had said to her before she’d set off for Kashmir in May. He’d kissed her on the top of her head and pinched her cheek as he’d done since she was a child.

‘Take care, Sweet Pea! Transport my many felicitations to the dear Lomaxes. And tell the baroness, if she can’t be good, be careful!’

Stella buried her face in her hands and tried to breathe. It was as if a lead weight were pressing on her chest. She let a sob escape and then the tears came. As she wept uncontrollably, Esmie held her tight and rocked her in her arms.

‘Cry all you want,’ she soothed.

Stella didn’t know it was possible to feel such pain. Her father was her rock.

She tried to stem her tears. The Lomaxes too must be deeply saddened by the news. It may have been her mother who had the business head and had kept the hotel from going bankrupt in the early days, but it was her father’s cheerful gregarious presence that had given the Raj a reputation for hospitality and homeliness.

Stella took a deep breath and sat back. Tom was standing in front of her holding out a large handkerchief.

‘Thanks.’ She blew into it.

Tom laid a hand on her head. She felt the warmth of it flow into her.

‘Charlie was one of the greatest friends I ever had,’ he said quietly. ‘I’ll miss him more than I can say, Stella. You were lucky to have such a loving father.’ Tom gave a wistful smile. ‘I never knew a man more besotted with his daughter than Charlie.’

Stella smiled through her tears. ‘I know I was lucky.’

Tom’s chin trembled. ‘Esmie and I will come with you to Pindi to say farewell to our dear friend.’

Stella knew what an effort that would be for Tom, as he didn’t like to venture