Page 67 of The Secrets of the Tea Garden

‘You haven’t told me what was in your mother’s most recent letter,’ said Sam through a mouthful of cake. ‘Is she well? Is Harry still enjoying school in Shillong?’

‘Mother’s fine as always,’ said Adela, ‘and Harry too. He couldn’t wait to get back to school for the cricket. He’s staying over some weekends now that he’s in the school’s second eleven.’

‘Good for him. He’s got the height and strength of a sixteen-year-old rather than a boy of thirteen. He’ll do well.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Adela, ‘he’s so like Dad.’

Adela felt a sudden lump in her throat. Her father had been dead for nearly nine years but she still felt his loss keenly.

Sam leant towards her and put an arm around her shoulders. ‘I know you miss him.’

Briefly she laid her head on his shoulder. But she didn’t want the day to be overshadowed by sad thoughts; she had promised herself that she would make an effort to get close to Sam again.

‘I’m fine,’ she said, ‘and I’m not worried about Mother. It’s James though ...’ She told Sam about Clarrie’s concern over Libby’s father, how he was resting at Belgooree and hadn’t been to Calcutta to meet Libby as promised.

‘Does Tilly know he’s ill?’ asked Sam.

‘I don’t think she’s taking it seriously,’ said Adela. ‘I tried to mention it the other day but it was a rushed conversation on my way out to work. Tilly just thinks that James likes being at Belgooree and being fussed over by my mother.’

‘What do you think?’

Adela shrugged. ‘He’s not acting normally. James has always lived for his work at the Oxford but he’s showing no interest in it at the moment. And Mother says he has terrible nightmares and shouts in his sleep. Privately she thinks he should retire and leave the Oxford.’

‘Come back to Britain, you mean?’

‘Or take an extended leave,’ said Adela. ‘She doesn’t believe Tilly will ever go back to India, so she’s trying to persuade James to come home and patch things up with Tilly before it’s too late.’

Sam let out a sigh. ‘Where does that leave poor Libby?’

‘Goodness knows,’ said Adela. ‘She’s a resourceful girl and will make the best of wherever she is, but she was so looking forward to seeing her father. It worries me how much she was pinning her hopes on resuming a life in India as if nothing had changed since her childhood there.’

Sam nodded in agreement. ‘Have you heard from Libby recently?’ he asked.

‘No, but I’ve had a letter from Fatima saying that Libby had invited her and Ghulam to her birthday party.’

‘Ghulam too?’ Sam said with surprise. ‘I can’t imagine he went.’

Adela smiled. ‘He did, and Fatima said they both enjoyed it.’

Sam grinned. ‘Well, well, the anti-British radical accepting hospitality in the heart of colonial Calcutta! Whatever next?’

Adela laughed. ‘That’s how persuasive Libby can be.’

Sam helped them to more cake.

‘Talking of the Khans,’ said Adela, ‘what news of your sister and Rafi?’

Sam stiffened and Adela immediately regretted asking.

‘She never complains,’ he answered, ‘but I think Sanj— I think the new rajah is making life difficult for Rafi. Did I tell you that he’s sacked him as his ADC?’

Adela winced at Sam’s avoidance of saying Sanjay’s name. ‘No you didn’t. How unfair! Is Rafi still the forest officer?’

‘Yes,’ said Sam. ‘Sophie is putting a brave face on things – says that Rafi is happier being out of the limelight at court and so is she.’

‘Well, Rafi has always been a forester at heart, hasn’t he?’ said Adela. ‘And Sophie hates all that stuffy court life. Maybe they really are happier.’

‘But for how long?’ Sam said. ‘It’s all so uncertain in India now – even the British in the princely states might be out of their jobs soon.’