The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,83
sister,’ Myrtle fussed.
Jimmy chuckled. ‘Stella’s quite old enough to deal with this herself. Give me my little treasure for a minute. The baroness is complaining she hasn’t seen him all day.’
Stella didn’t wait. She hurried across the courtyard and down the hotel corridor to the far sitting room. As she entered, she heard his still-familiar laugh.
Hugh was sitting and chatting with Mr Tamang and Mrs Shankley. He rose on sight of her and smiled. He looked older, his wavy hair receding at the temples and his fair face more lined. But his dark-blue eyes shone with merriment and his broad smile made her stomach flip again. He reached for a walking stick and came towards her, limping slightly. Andrew hadn’t told her he was still lame in the leg. Her heart went out to him. Perhaps that was the reason why he’d left Baluchistan.
She crossed the room to meet him.
‘Mr Keating.’ She put out her hand.
‘Hugh, please.’ He took her hand and kissed it. ‘You’re even more beautiful than I remembered. It’s so wonderful to see you, Stella.’
Stella felt ridiculously happy and yet tearful at the same time. ‘You too.’
They gazed at each other for a long moment, grinning.
Breathlessly she asked, ‘Have you been practising your backgammon?’
He gave her a quizzical look. She prompted, ‘When we parted on the boat, you said you would practise so that when we met again you might beat me.’
Hugh laughed. ‘So I did. I can’t say I’m much better, but I’m happy to try.’
Stella was aware of the other guests watching them with interest. She recovered her poise. ‘Please, Hugh, sit down. I’ll join you for a few minutes.’
They sat in armchairs next to each other. Hugh raised his voice so that Mrs Shankley could hear. ‘Stella, I’ve been chatting to two of your fans here. Mrs Shankley couldn’t speak more highly of you.’
‘She’s the dearest girl,’ agreed Winifred.
‘I’m so sorry to hear that your father passed away. You talked about him a lot on the boat.’
Stella nodded, clutching at his hand. Her throat constricted. ‘I wish you’d met him. I think you both would have got on so well together.’
Mr Tamang and Mrs Shankley began reminiscing about Charlie. Stella was touched by the way Hugh encouraged them with questions and patiently repeated himself to the deaf missionary. Yet she longed to speak to him alone.
‘How long are you in Pindi?’ she asked.
‘Four days. I’ll be busy with meetings during the day but I intend keeping my evenings free for backgammon with the Raj champion.’
Stella smiled. ‘Good. I was hoping you’d say that.’
‘After dinner tonight then?’ Hugh suggested.
‘Agreed.’ She stood up. ‘I must go and help with Charles.’
He looked at her enquiringly.
‘My nephew,’ she explained. ‘Jimmy’s son. He’s the most adorable ten-month-old baby in the whole world.’
‘Ah, a baby! I’m glad I’m not competing with a grown man,’ Hugh teased.
Stella laughed. ‘I’ll see you later.’
‘I’ll look forward to it,’ he said, standing politely as she left.
Stella felt joyful. Hugh hadn’t changed; he was still the warm, amusing, attentive man that she had fallen for so easily on the ship. It was as if the years in between had never been. The baroness had been right; time and distance didn’t matter when you loved someone enough. She knew instinctively that Hugh was the man for her.
‘You caused quite a stir at dinner tonight,’ Stella said in amusement, sitting under the portico with Hugh much later that evening. It was chilly and she had a rug tucked around her knees. The residents and her family had gone to bed and only the chowkidar was within hearing distance as he patrolled the front lawn. ‘I’m sorry if the baroness bombarded you with questions, but I’d told her about you before. She’s finding it very romantic that you’ve come looking for me after all this time.’
‘Hester is delightful,’ said Hugh. ‘They all are. I can see why you’re so fond of the regulars. Though I’m not sure I can keep up with Fritters and his chota pegs. Just as well I’m only here a few days.’
The comment made Stella sad. ‘Don’t say that. You’ve only just arrived.’
He took her hand quickly and kissed it. ‘I didn’t mean it like that. I’m the happiest man in India to be sitting here in the dark with the prettiest girl in the world.’
Stella chuckled. ‘Oh, Hugh, I’ve missed you. Tell me what you’ve been doing since we met. I’ve told you my story – not that there was much to tell.’