Free Where Earth Meets Sky by Annie Murray

time a child is expected,’ she told Sam.
    This came as a blow to Sam. It was an important thing in life to him. He even wondered if the doctor had really said that and almost asked his mother if it was true, but shyness prevented him.
    ‘You make it sound like something dirty,’ he said resentfully. ‘An animal thing.’ She talked as if he was disgusting, like a hog. ‘It’s just the way men are and I don’t see why I should have to be ashamed of it!’
    ‘It won’t be long,’ Helen tried to soothe him. ‘You’ll just have to be a good boy, Sam – just until the babby arrives.’
    And then, after Christmas, Sam was called into the offices at Daimler.
    ‘We want you to go with a delivery,’ he was told. ‘One of the new models, to be shipped to Bombay and up to a place called Ambala. Big army station. All being well, you should be back end of March or so.’
    God, he was excited! Seeing a bit of the world on the job! And the fact that the delivery out here came up while Helen was carrying the child seemed good timing. She could have some peace and he wouldn’t be tempted by the feel of her close to him in the bed. She could rest, safe and cosy in the English winter, while he went off adventuring and slept under the Indian stars.

 
Chapter Eleven
    Ambala, India, 1907
     
    His first morning in Ambala, Sam woke to a tremendous racket of crows from the trees round the house. For a second, he thought the room was full of fog, then realized everything was shrouded in white because of the mozzie net round the bed. He’d got used to being on the ship and it was a shock finding himself in this new place, especially as he’d woken from a dream about Helen and expected to find her in the bed beside him. It was one of those times when he wanted her badly.
    There was plenty to take his mind off it, though. So far as Charles Fairford was concerned, today was to be devoted to the Daimler, and he was looking forward to showing the Captain all he knew. And that wife of his would be well out of the way, Sam hoped, doing whatever it was such women did in India.
    As soon as he set foot out of bed there came a knock on the door. It was only six in the morning, but when he opened up, there was a native chap standing out there with a tray of tea. My goodness, Sam thought, that’s service for you. The man came in, very deferentially, and put the tray down. Beside the teapot was a plate on which were arranged several biscuits and two bananas.
    ‘Sahib would like me to pour the tea?’
    ‘Oh – yes, please! Er – is Captain Fairford up already?’
    ‘Captain Sahib has gone for his morning ride.’
    ‘Ah. I see. Thank you.’
    Before his morning ablutions he sat to drink his tea in the cane chair by the window. It was rather misty out, all soft greens and greys. There were Indian voices coming from somewhere and he could just see a chap, thin as a railing like most natives, working with a rake in front of the trees. The sound of his coughing carried across the dew-soaked lawn.
    Once he’d downed this rather meagre breakfast and dressed it was still early and all the action seemed to be going on outside, so he decided to slip out for a look around. It was then that he saw Lily Waters properly for the first time, though he didn’t know her Christian name then.
    He was strolling through the cool morning air smelling the mixed scents of a country that was not his own, along the drive to the gate, thinking to walk a little along the road. He had gone very little distance when he heard the sound of hooves behind him and, turning, saw the two women riding towards him. They made a lovely sight. Susan Fairford was in front, her pale hair just visible under her topi , riding elegantly side-saddle, the boy tucked in front of her with a rapturous expression on his face. And riding behind was the woman whom they called Miss Waters. Unlike her mistress she was not riding side-saddle, but astride the bay horse, clad in a modest, feminine