The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,87

arrived on a warm afternoon, looking fit and suntanned. Stella felt the familiar butterfly sensation in her stomach at the sight of his handsome, smiling face. She ran down the path to meet him and flung her arms around him, not caring what the hotel guests on the veranda thought. She was euphoric at seeing him.

He took her hand and they mounted the hotel steps together while his luggage was brought up behind on a mule. Hugh raised his walking stick in greeting to the Lomaxes, who came onto the veranda to meet him.

Stella proudly introduced him. ‘This is my friend Hugh Keating.’

Tom shook him vigorously by the hand. ‘Pleased to meet you at last, Mr Keating. Stella has talked about you non-stop.’

‘As I do about her to my friends,’ Hugh said cheerfully. ‘I know from Stella that you and Mrs Lomax are like family to her. I’m so honoured to meet you, sir.’

‘Less of the sir,’ Tom answered.

Esmie welcomed him warmly too. ‘You must treat this like home while you’re here, Mr Keating. You lead a busy life, by all accounts, so you deserve some relaxation.’

‘I’ve got lots planned for us to do,’ Stella said happily. ‘I know you like golf and swimming. And we can take short walks – I’m longing to show you the high marg.’

Hugh laughed. ‘Not so much relaxation then.’

‘Whatever you want, of course,’ said Stella quickly.

He smiled at her. ‘Just being with you is all I need.’

‘You Irish and your charm,’ Esmie said in amusement. ‘Come in, Mr Keating, and have some refreshment.’

Chapter 30

As long as Stella was around in the evening to play the piano for the guests, Esmie told her she was free to spend her time with Hugh.

‘Better take Karo to chaperone you,’ said Tom protectively.

The days of Hugh’s leave went by too quickly for Stella. He shied away from activities with other people, so they didn’t go to watch tennis or swim as she’d planned.

‘I just want to be with you,’ said Hugh. ‘This time together is precious.’

At the end of the first day, he also persuaded Esmie that it wasn’t necessary for her Pathan sewing woman to follow them about.

‘We’d like to go out riding and poor Karo can’t keep up,’ he said. ‘Stella is a mature young woman and hardly needs chaperoning – and I hope you can trust me, Mrs Lomax?’

Esmie quickly acquiesced. For the next few days, Felix packed them a picnic and they went for rides up through the woods and across the marg. Despite Hugh’s knee injury he was still a skilled horseman and Stella thought it a pity he’d given up his civil service job in Baluchistan because of it.

After a morning’s gentle riding, they would spread out a blanket in the shade of the trees and eat the picnic. Replete, they would lie and doze to the sound of bees buzzing among the wild flowers. Before they left, they would kiss and cuddle, Hugh becoming more amorous as the week progressed.

Stella resisted his attempts to make love, though each day she was finding it harder to do so. She wondered at the wisdom of spending so much time alone with him away from the hotel, but she craved his company and was falling more deeply in love than ever. He made her laugh and she could talk to him about anything and everything. Above all he made her feel special and cherished.

She let him pet her but she wouldn’t allow anything further. ‘I won’t do it until I’m married. It’s the way I’ve been brought up.’

‘I respect you for that,’ said Hugh. ‘But I can’t deny how much I desire you.’

She hoped it might prompt him to propose, but he didn’t broach the subject.

On the second to last day, Hugh seemed preoccupied and ate little of the picnic.

‘What’s wrong?’ Stella asked. ‘Aren’t you feeling well?’

He took her hand in his, his expression hard to read. ‘I’ve been putting off telling you this – I haven’t wanted to spoil our week together.’

Her heart lurched. ‘Tell me what?’

He looked full of regret. ‘The reason I was able to snatch a week’s leave is that I’m being sent to Singapore.’

Her insides plummeted. ‘Singapore? But why?’

‘They’re reinforcing the garrison there,’ said Hugh, ‘and I’m to help with supplies.’

Stella clutched his hand. ‘Oh, Hugh, it’s so far away – and it sounds dangerous.’

He gave a brave smile. ‘I’m sure it won’t be. But I don’t know when I’ll be able to get back to India. It could