The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,69
him at home. When he asked to pay for a studio photograph of her, she was even more certain of his motives.
But there didn’t seem any harm in it and Stella kept remembering that her father had been prepared to welcome Monty into the family. It would be unkind to send him away with a brusque rejection and rob him of his pipe dream.
The cold season arrived with dusty winds bringing hail and rain. The town filled up again with regiments and families who had spent the hot months in the hills. The rumoured Nazi attack on their western neighbours didn’t materialise, and to Stella it seemed as if life in the cantonment was continuing as normal. She saw the usual games of tennis being played at the Gymkhana Club and officers exercising their horses along the Mall. Jimmy advertised that the hotel would do special rates for children’s birthday parties and bridge club teas.
Her brother threw a farewell drinks party for Monty, and Stella was persuaded to go on to the dance at the Chota Club with Monty and their friends. It was the first time she had been to one since her father had died, and although she still had little appetite for dancing, she put on a cheerful face. Monty left, giving her a kiss on her lips and asking her to write to him when she could. She felt a guilty relief at his going and hoped that his desire to get engaged would diminish with time and distance.
Yvonne, now a month away from giving birth, was being made to rest by a fussing Myrtle. Stella was more than happy to take over her duties and was growing as excited as the others about the imminent arrival of a baby in the family. She could see how it gave her mother something to look forward to. Myrtle was stoical and put on a brave face to the outside world, but only Stella knew how much her mother was grieving. Often, she woke in the night to hear her ma weeping. It made her heartsore to remember how throughout her life she had been comforted by the muffled sound of her parents’ chatter and laughter beyond the bedroom wall.
Once, on hearing her mother crying, Stella had knocked on her door.
‘Can I come in, Ma?’
Her mother had stifled her sobbing. ‘N-no, don’t. I’m all right.’
‘Can I fetch you anything? A hot drink?’
‘G-go back to bed, Stella. I’m sorry if I woke you.’
As Christmas approached, Stella knew her mother would be dreading it as much as she was. All the festive rituals at the hotel were so bound up with Charlie’s exuberant personality that it was impossible to think of them without him.
They debated whether to hold the traditional Christmas Eve party and Jimmy decided that they should.
‘Our friends at the hotel will be feeling Pa’s absence too,’ he said. ‘We owe it to them to put on a show that Pa would have been proud of. What better way to honour him?’
Stella helped her brother prepare their father’s signature whisky punch and decorate the foyer and dining room with colourful streamers and lanterns. As the sun set and the guests gathered, Stella spun around at the sound of familiar voices in the hotel entrance.
‘Mr and Mrs Lomax!’ she gasped, rushing forward.
Esmie enveloped her in a hug and explained, ‘We wanted to be with you all this Christmas.’
Tears sprung to Stella’s eyes. ‘Thank you! Ma and Jimmy will be so pleased.’
Tom put an affectionate hand on her head. ‘What better way to cheer ourselves up than to see your smiling face, dear girl?’
‘We’ve made Pa’s special punch,’ Stella said.
‘I was hoping you would,’ Tom said. He looked thin and drawn, but his handsome blue eyes shone with warmth.
Soon spotted by Hester and her friends, he was beckoned into their midst.
Later, as Stella sat with the Lomaxes in the chilly courtyard outside the bungalow, she was able to ask about Andrew.
Tom pulled hard on a cigarette and said, ‘As far as we can make out, he’s been doing further training in the Highlands. Kicking his heels, as he calls it. He’d rather be on active service.’
‘But that news is a couple of months out of date,’ said Esmie. ‘Tom hasn’t heard from him since October. It might mean he’s already in France.’
Stella squeezed her hand. ‘I’m sure you would have heard if that was the case. Tibby would have let you know.’
‘You’re right; she would.’ Esmie looked reassured.