Page 150 of The Secrets of the Tea Garden

CHAPTER 30

Belgooree, August

Sitting out on the veranda after dinner on her first night in the hills, Libby caught up with Clarrie’s and Sophie’s news.

Libby had been surprised and delighted to find her childhood friend Manzur was now living on the Belgooree estate. Clarrie, hearing from Libby about his ambition to be a teacher, had swiftly offered him a position as a schoolmaster in the plantation school.

‘I know that the schooling here has always been rudimentary,’ Clarrie admitted, ‘and that it’s high time the education for the pickers’ children was improved.’

‘I’m sure Manzur will be just the man for the job,’ Libby enthused.

‘Oh, he’s already making a difference,’ said Clarrie. ‘The children love him and he’s so full of energy. I really can’t thank you enough for tipping me off about him wanting to leave the Oxford.’

‘I’m glad it’s working out,’ said Libby. ‘Though Dad will probably tell me off for interfering.’

‘Not a bit of it,’ Clarrie had replied. ‘Your father is pleased that Manzur is doing a job he loves.’

‘So you’ve heard from Dad since he’s been back in Newcastle?’ Libby exclaimed.

‘Yes, an airmail came a couple of days ago.’

Libby flushed. She was longing to hear how the reunion between her parents was going. ‘I haven’t heard a thing – except to say he arrived safely. I know he’s not the world’s greatest letter writer.’

‘I’m sure he’ll have written to you too. Perhaps it’s just missed you in Calcutta. James wouldn’t have known that you were staying at Flowers’s flat, would he?’

‘No,’ Libby conceded. ‘So how is he? What does he say? Is he getting on all right with Mother?’

‘Yes, I’m sure he is. They’ve been looking at houses together,’ said Clarrie.

‘To buy?’

‘To rent to start with,’ said Clarrie. ‘They can’t agree on town or country, so they’re going to do both for a short while. James is keen to rent a house on the Willowburn Estate up the Tyne Valley.’

‘He’ll want somewhere he can keep horses and dogs,’ said Sophie.

‘Why does the Willowburn Estate sound familiar?’ asked Libby.

‘According to Adela,’ said Clarrie, ‘it’s where Joan Brewis and her daughter Bonnie have gone to live.’

‘That’s right!’ Libby remembered. ‘Joan’s new husband runs the stables there. George told me. That sounds just the sort of place Dad would be happy.’

Libby caught a look pass between Clarrie and Sophie.

‘What?’ she asked.

‘Apparently he still has to persuade Tilly,’ said Sophie.

‘That’s why renting is such a good idea,’ said Clarrie with an optimistic smile. ‘Give them both a chance to see if it’s a suitable family home.’

‘Well, Tilly should just be happy she’s got her husband back and can start afresh on married life,’ said Sophie. ‘I can’t wait to be with Rafi again.’

‘Is that likely to be soon?’ asked Libby.

Sophie smiled. ‘I’m hoping so. He’s more or less certain he’s going to be offered a job in the Rawalpindi Forest Office. Rafi’s old friend Boz is staying on in the new Pakistan too – they trained together in Edinburgh – and Boz has already been guaranteed a post in ’Pindi. It would be grand if they could both be foresters together again.’

‘I’m so pleased,’ said Libby, quelling a familiar pang of longing for Ghulam. Rafi was a different man; he had always put his love for Sophie first rather than his ideals. At heart he was a romantic. And Libby had always admired Sophie for being brave enough to break ranks with the British and marry her beloved Rafi. She felt a stab of envy that the pair of them had had years of happiness together, whereas her bittersweet affair with Ghulam had been so short-lived. ‘Does Rafi say what the situation is like in the Punjab?’

Sophie shook her head. ‘He doesn’t mention the bad things that we hear about in the newspapers. I don’t think he wants to worry me. But he won’t let me travel there yet – not until he’s got the job in the bag and has found somewhere for us to live.’