with the enthusiasm she had hoped for – despite Jimmy and Yvonne’s approval. In fact, Stella had argued with her about Hugh the previous night.
‘You hardly know the man and yet you’re throwing yourself at him,’ Myrtle had fretted. ‘We know nothing about his family or what he gets up to in Calcutta. Can you even be sure he’s not married?’
‘Ma, don’t say such a thing! Hugh is a man of honour and I love him.’
Her mother had relented. ‘Stella, I know you do. I’m sorry, but I just don’t want you rushing into anything with someone you met on a ship when you were twenty.’
‘I won’t do anything rash, I promise.’
Now sitting beside Hugh, she realised that he had been well aware of her mother’s wariness towards him.
‘Ma is just being protective of me,’ said Stella. ‘With Pa not being here to take care of things, she worries more.’
‘Then she’s a good mother,’ said Hugh. ‘What is it she’s worried about?’
Stella steeled herself to be frank. ‘Not knowing enough about you. The other boys who’ve courted me – she’s known them and their families for years. She’s afraid you might already be married.’
Hugh looked at her dumbfounded. ‘Is that what you think too?’
‘No, of course not. I know you better than that. But maybe you could reassure her?’
He seized her hand. ‘I feel I’ve been waiting all my life for you, Stella. How can your mother not see how much I’m in love with you?’
Stella hesitated. He hadn’t actually said he wasn’t married. She pressed him. ‘So, there’s no Mrs Keating waiting for you back in Calcutta?’
He looked at her gravely with his mesmerising blue eyes and she held her breath.
‘I swear to you there isn’t.’ He said it with such vehemence that Stella felt ashamed for asking.
‘Kiss me,’ she whispered.
‘Do you believe me?’ Hugh persisted, hurt in his eyes.
‘Yes, of course. I’m sorry for doubting . . .’
He silenced her with a passionate kiss.
Afterwards, he said, ‘I just want to make you happy, Stella.’
‘You do make me happy,’ she insisted. ‘I can’t bear the thought of you going away tomorrow. When will I see you again?’
‘I’ll come back when I can. Will you write to me, Stella, so I know you’re thinking of me?’
She gave him a tearful smile and nodded. Then they kissed one last time.
Chapter 29
The Raj Hotel, spring 1941
Stella’s romance with Hugh blossomed over the next few months. He managed to be sent on regular trips to the Punjab for work. Even if it was in the south of the state, he would snatch a night or two in Rawalpindi to see her. She was especially pleased that he went out of his way to charm her mother and reassure her.
‘I cherish your daughter, Mrs Dubois. I’d do nothing to hurt her, I promise.’
Stella had never been so happy. Her life was fulfilled; she had work, family life and frequent visits from Hugh. She was deeply in love and it made her optimistic about the future, even with the war.
Unexpectedly, Monty got leave in April. Stella wasn’t surprised that he didn’t come to see her, though she was concerned to hear from Jimmy that he was likely to be shipped out soon.
Jimmy told her, ‘Most likely Iraq, he thinks. He’s—’ He hesitated as if changing his mind about saying something.
‘Go on,’ Stella said.
‘He’s heard about you and Hugh.’
Stella blushed. ‘We broke up before Hugh came back into my life.’
Jimmy nodded. ‘Then you won’t mind that he’s already courting someone else too?’
‘No, I’d be pleased if he was,’ she assured him. ‘Do you know who?’
‘Yes, our cousin Lucy.’
‘Lucy? That’s a surprise. But I’m glad for him, and for her,’ said Stella. ‘I think they’ll make a lovely couple.’
Before Monty’s leave was up, Stella heard that he had proposed to Lucy.
By May, Stella was making plans to travel with Hester to Srinagar and go on to Gulmarg as usual. She was more reluctant to leave Pindi than in previous years, knowing that it would be much more difficult for Hugh to visit her in Kashmir, but she had promised the Lomaxes that she would join them.
She had seen them only briefly at Christmas, and messages from Esmie were frank about how concerned she was over Tom’s health. He worried obsessively about the war at home, and the news of heavy bombing over Scottish cities and ports since March was causing his depression to deepen. He was drinking too much still and sleeping badly.
Stella took a leave of