Page 21 of The Girl from the Tea Garden
‘I’m not exactly.’ Rafi gave a wistful smile.
‘They still can’t accept me as Rafi’s wife,’ Sophie said, sighing. ‘Even after ten years. I told Rafi he should go and visit his parents anyway, but he won’t go without me.’
Adela saw them exchange tender looks.
Rafi brightened. ‘But Ghulam speaks to me,’ he said, ‘since the Raja paid for the lawyer who helped get him released from prison. And my youngest sister, Fatima, writes and tells me the family news.’
‘DrFatima,’ Sophie corrected. ‘She qualified earlier this year.’
‘That’s wonderful,’ cried Clarrie.
‘Isn’t it?’ Sophie smiled. ‘She’s working at the Lady Reading Hospital in Simla. I’m trying to persuade Rafi to take a holiday and visit her there– he hasn’t been back since his school days at Bishop Cotton.’
‘It’s finding the time.’ Rafi gave a rueful smile.
‘Oh, you must!’ Tilly encouraged. ‘I’d love to go. There’s so much theatre, and the air is so healthy.’
‘One day,’ chimed in Adela, ‘I’m going to perform there at the Gaiety.’
James said gruffly, ‘From what we hear, young lady, performing on stage has got you expelled from school.’
Adela flushed as silence fell around the table.
‘Not now, James,’ Tilly murmured.
‘Well, I thought we’d come here to give advice on Adela’s schooling,’ he said bluntly.
‘We don’t need advice,’ Wesley said, bristling.
‘And I didn’t get expelled.’ Adela was defiant. ‘I ran away.’
Abruptly Rafi burst into laughter. ‘Well, Wesley, if your daughter and my sister are a taste of things to come, the world is going to be run by women of spirit.’
‘Amen to that,’ Clarrie said, smiling. Wesley laughed, and the awkward atmosphere was broken.
Adela excused herself. She could see five-year-old Mungo,who had eaten earlier with his ayah, was growing irritable and bored. She swiftly took him off to the stables to see Patch. Sophie soon followed. She steered Adela aside, while Mungo helped the syce brush the pony’s tail.
‘You shouldn’t mind what Uncle James says,’ she said gently. ‘He means well, but doesn’t know how to be tactful.’
‘He’s right though,’ said Adela. ‘You have all come here to sort me out. I heard my parents talking about it– no one knows what to do with me, do they?’
‘It doesn’t matter what we think,’ said Sophie. ‘What doyouwant?’
Adela struggled with conflicting thoughts. ‘Part of me just wants to stay here for ever and be with Daddy and Mother, riding every day and never having to worry about grown-up things.’ She twisted her long plait. ‘But part of me is longing to be an adult and go out into the world and find adventure. Most of all I want to be an actress. Do you think that’s ridiculous?’
‘Not at all,’ Sophie said. ‘You have a lovely singing voice and you were wonderful in that school play we came to last year.’
Adela’s stomach twisted with regret that she had thrown all that away. ‘When I’m on stage,’ she said, ‘it’s the most exciting feeling. I feel twice as alive. It doesn’t matter if there are five or fifty in the audience– I just want to make them happy.’
Sophie touched her shoulder. ‘Then you better go somewhere that’s going to give you that feeling. There aren’t many theatres in Belgooree the last time I looked.’
‘No.’ Adela laughed. ‘Just the veranda where I make Ayah Mimi and MD watch me tap dancing. Not that Ayah has any time to do that now because of the baby.’
‘Dear Ayah Mimi,’ Sophie said, her look reflective. ‘Brought out of retirement again for wee Harry.’
‘She never lets him out of her sight,’ said Adela. ‘I think she loves him more than Mother does.’
Sophie turned away abruptly. ‘Come on then, Mungo,’ she called. ‘Uncle Rafi is organising party games.’
