Page 147 of The Secrets of the Tea Garden

CHAPTER 29

Libby enjoyed the evening out far more than she had anticipated. Firpo’s was only half-full with diners and dancers – there was still a jittery atmosphere despite Flowers’s nonchalance – but Libby found George’s bonhomie just the tonic she needed.

‘We’ve missed you at our socials, lass,’ he said with a wink.

Later, when they took to the dance floor, he said, ‘Flowers tells me you’ve been a right little Florence Nightingale with your dad. Glad to hear he’s on the mend and back home with the family. You following on shortly?’

‘Yes,’ said Libby. ‘Later in August most likely – depending what flights I can get.’

‘Better book early,’ said George. ‘There’ll be a stampede to leave once the handover comes.’

‘Will you be part of it?’ Libby asked.

‘Not likely.’ He grinned. ‘I’m having too much fun here. And the job’s good.’

‘So no regrets about leaving England?’ Libby pressed him.

‘Not one,’ he insisted. ‘There’s nothing to go back for, is there? Joan’s getting wed again and Bonnie’s getting a new dad, so everybody’s happy.’

‘And you, George? What would make you happy?’

‘Having the next dance with you, bonny lass,’ he quipped.

Libby laughed. But it didn’t escape her notice how much George’s attention was taken up with keeping an eye on whom Flowers was dancing with. Libby didn’t mind. She had long ceased to have any romantic interest in George and she knew that Flowers was more than capable of keeping an amorous George at arm’s length – if that’s what she wanted.

George prevaricated about a possible trip to Belgooree. He had plans to celebrate on the fifteenth in Calcutta.

‘There’s a dinner-dance at the Palm Court in the Grand Hotel,’ he’d enthused, ‘and there’ll be fireworks. Don’t want to miss the biggest night out in Calcutta since before the War.’

It was left that he might combine a work trip with a visit to his Aunt Clarrie later in the month, before Libby left Belgooree.

On her last day in Calcutta, Libby retrieved her case from New House where Ranjan, Colonel Swinson’s bearer, had been keeping it safe. While Flowers was at work, Libby went for a final walk around the Maidan in the late afternoon, as the worst of the heat dissipated. Using an umbrella lent by the Dunlops to shelter her from the hazy glare of the afternoon sun, she wandered through Eden Gardens and past the solid fortifications of Fort William. Soon exhausted by walking in the humid air, she hailed a rickshaw to take her up Chowringhee Street, thinking to take tea in an air-conditioned tearoom.

On the spur of the moment, she directed the driver to take her to Nahoum’s in Hogg’s Market, where she bought some fudgy sweetmeats. She would go and eat them on the steps of the Duff Church as a way of saying farewell to Calcutta and her affair with Ghulam. Tomorrow she would be on her way to Belgooree to spend her final days in India.

But on reaching the church and seeing the shaded spot where she had first fallen in love with Ghulam, she couldn’t bear to stay there. Dismissing the rickshaw driver, Libby found herself walking in the direction of Hamilton Road. Fifteen minutes later she was standing outside Amelia Buildings. It seemed incredible that only two days ago a man had been butchered here in this ordinary street.

Shivering with the horror of it, she hesitated and then went inside. She had no idea if anyone would be at the flat. Thechowkidarnodded for her to go up. She would leave the fudge with Sitara for Ghulam, who probably wouldn’t be back from work until nightfall.

Libby got a shock when Ghulam answered the door himself. He was barefoot and wearing the old cotton kurta and pyjama trousers that he had lent her to wear. He looked just as surprised to see her. They gaped at each other and then spoke at the same time.

‘I didn’t expect—’

‘I was just going to leave this—’

They stopped. He regarded her warily. He wasn’t going to invite her in. Libby stepped away.

‘I leave tomorrow,’ she said. ‘I went to Nahoum’s and bought fudge.’ She held out the package of sweets. ‘I wanted to say goodbye, that’s all.’

His look softened. ‘Wait.’ He stretched out a hand to stop her going. ‘I can’t eat this all by myself.’

‘I’m sure you can,’ she answered wryly.

He gave a twitch of a smile. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, ‘Let’s go up on the roof and share it.’

Without giving her the chance to decline, Ghulam closed the door behind him and steered her towards the steps that led up to the roof. There was a balustrade around the rooftop that was just the right height to lean on and view the streets below. One corner of the roof was shaded by an awning of bamboo leaves and another was strewn with someone’s drying washing, but the place was deserted.

Already the sun was beginning to slide towards the horizon, the early evening light turning golden. Libby hadn’t realised how late it was. Ghulam opened the packet and offered it to her first. She took one and started chewing, even though her stomach was knotting at their proximity. Ghulam popped two in his mouth at the same time and gave a sigh of satisfaction.