The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,66
beyond Gulmarg and hadn’t been to the city now for over two years.
‘Thank you, Mr Lomax,’ she said, full of gratitude.
Charlie’s funeral was held on the 23rd of August at St Joseph’s Church on a sweltering, thundery day. The pews were packed with family, friends, colleagues and hotel staff who had all come to pay their respects. Stella had been in a state of numbness for days, trying to be strong for her mother, but on the funeral day it was Myrtle who remained dry-eyed and dignified while Stella sobbed throughout the mass.
Yvonne, who was noticeably pregnant, cried too. She clutched onto Jimmy and wailed that their baby would never see either of its grandfathers.
Jimmy seemed to have taken on the role of his father, thanking people for coming and inviting them back to the hotel for the wake. Tom had said that he would pay for everything and laid on plenty of whisky alongside the sandwiches and tea.
The baroness, who had travelled down from Srinagar for the funeral, seemed to know what to do in such circumstances. She slipped brandy into Stella’s tea and said, ‘Darling, knock it back and go and talk to your young man. Charlie would have hated all these long faces, so put a smile on for your pa.’
Stella glanced over to see Monty, hands in pockets, looking morose. She didn’t really want to talk to him but he looked so sad that she did as Hester ordered.
‘Thanks for coming,’ she said, touching his arm briefly.
‘I thought the world of your pa,’ he said, his brown eyes shining with emotion.
‘And he was fond of you, Monty.’ Stella gave a wan smile. ‘He used to say, “That boy is full of promise – one day he’ll box for India!”’
Monty gave a soft laugh. ‘I’m not even the best in C Company.’
‘Have you been away on camp with the Auxiliary Force?’ she asked, realising that she hardly knew what he’d been doing while she’d been in Gulmarg.
Monty nodded. ‘Some of the men think . . .’ He broke off. ‘Sorry, now’s not the time to talk of such things.’
‘What things?’ Stella scrutinised him. ‘What do the men think?’
‘There’s been a lot of talk of us going to war,’ he said quietly. ‘Britain being dragged into war in Europe.’
Stella’s insides clenched. ‘The Lomaxes are worried about that too – especially with Andrew being in the army.’
Monty nodded. ‘This pact between the Nazis and the Soviets makes it more inevitable.’
‘But it won’t affect us in India, will it?’
Monty shrugged. ‘We’ll have to be prepared – support the mother country in any way we can.’
‘You’re right, of course,’ Stella agreed. ‘But let’s hope it can all be avoided.’
‘Stella,’ he said, his look unsure. ‘When you feel up to it, I’d like to take you out for a drive.’
‘I don’t know when I’ll feel like doing that—’
‘There’s something I need to speak to you about.’
Stella tensed. She couldn’t face a proposal from Monty so soon after her father’s death. She could only manage the grief by taking each day at a time. He would have to wait.
‘Not yet,’ she said. ‘I need time.’
‘Of course.’ He stepped away. ‘Let me know when you want to see me.’
The days that followed had a strange unreality about them. Stella coped with her loss by keeping as busy as possible around the hotel, but it seemed that in her absence over the hot season, Yvonne had largely taken over her role. Her sister-in-law helped Myrtle with drawing up menus, instructing the cook and ordering foodstuffs. Stella’s mother was also teaching Yvonne bookkeeping.
‘She’s so quick to learn things,’ Myrtle told Stella one evening as they sat alone in the bungalow. ‘And it’s more important than ever that she knows the business. Charlie always wanted Jimmy to take over one day – we just never thought it would be this soon . . .’ Her mother broke off, overcome with sadness.
Stella was quick to give her a hug. ‘Oh, Ma, it’s so hard to believe Pa’s gone! I miss him so much.’
Myrtle kissed the top of her head. ‘You were always such a daddy’s girl. I think it’s harder for you than Jimmy. He’s got Yvonne – and the baby to look forward to.’ She touched Stella’s cheek. ‘I wish I could see you settled too.’
‘I am settled,’ said Stella. ‘I’m happy at the hotel and I want to be with you, Ma. It’s the only life I’ve ever wanted.’