Author Spotlight: Dick Parsons

As the clouds of World War II gathered, Gertrude, a product of an extramarital liaison, travels to join her father in India and to find her mother. She meets Richard, a naval lieutenant joining his destroyer in Singapore, and they fall in love. While he is at sea, she finds her mother’s grave and, nettled by the strict etiquette of the Raj, leaves for Ceylon and has a whirlwind week with Richard in Colombo. Devastated by news that Richard’s ship has been sunk, she rides her pony and is thrown. She is found by Yuvraj, the Sikh estate driver wearing his turban, as did her Richard at the fancy dress ball on the liner. She is badly concussed and thinks he is Richard and submits willingly to him. A tawny son is born and packed off with Yuvraj, the father. Seeking vengeance for Richard’s loss, she joins the Women’s Army Corps, becomes involved with the war in Burma, and is captured. She meets a remorseful Yuvraj, now fighting for the Japanese against the British. He helps her escape, but while she becomes a heroine, he is executed as a traitor. How does she deal with the loss of the three males in her life?