by Tony Parsons
Fiona drove back to Nelanji with a light heart and the germ of an idea in her head. Helen Donovan had told her that Mrs Heatley was at Kanimbla that day and so Fiona decided to pay Glenda a visit. Having no mother to share her happiness about the engagement ring, she felt that Mrs Heatley would appreciate seeing it.
It didn’t take that perceptive woman more than a few seconds to understand the reason for Fiona’s visit.
‘Congratulations, Fiona. You don’t have to tell me. I can see it on your face,’ Mrs Heatley said warmly.
Over a cup of tea and a scone, Fiona told Mrs Heatley about the letter that had come with Ian’s ring.
Mrs Heatley nodded. ‘That’s just like Mr Ian to be so thoughtful. Few men probably appreciate the thrill a girl gets to receive a ring that signifies love and commitment. Mr Ian probably thinks a proxy ring is better than no ring.’
‘It’s a lovely ring. And yes, it would be nice for Ian and me to choose a ring together, but I’m not sure I’d find one better than this. Ian loved his mother and her ring was given with love, and I’m very happy with it,’ Fiona said.
‘I would be too,’ Mrs Heatley agreed.
‘How are you finding Kanimbla with Ian gone, Mrs Heatley?’ Fiona asked.
‘I miss him a lot. After I lost my husband and then my son, my life didn’t seem the same. I wouldn’t say I had a high opinion of Jack Richardson, but looking after Kanimbla at least kept me busy. And then Mr Ian arrived and it was almost like my Miles had been returned to me. If you don’t mind me saying, the three of us – that’s you, Judy Blake and me – were good for Ian. It must have been hard for him having a grandfather who’d been a general and then having to go to a big boarding school for boys.’ It was obvious that she loved talking about Ian Richardson.
‘I’m glad you said that, Mrs H. It means you understand why I have to go to Ian. My future is with him. I’ve got lots of misgivings about leaving Dad. I’ve tried to be a companion to him since I came home from school because I could see how much he was missing Mum. Dad takes very little interest in the television or radio apart from the news and weather and stock reports. I’ve worked in Mum’s garden with him and played chess with him and I know he’s going to miss all of that,’ Fiona said.
‘I didn’t know that your father was keen on chess,’ Mrs Heatley said.
‘Oh, yes. He and Mum were regular combatants. I took over after I came home from school, but I’m not in her class,’ Fiona said.
‘I haven’t played for years, but I used to love chess,’ Mrs Heatley said with a sigh.
‘I’m sure Dad would enjoy a game with you,’ said Fiona.
‘Really?’
‘Oh yes,’ said Fiona. ‘Actually, Mrs H, I have a much bolder suggestion to put to you. How would you feel about looking after Dad? You could still keep coming to Kanimbla but maybe go to Nelanjii three or four days a week. Dad isn’t a fussy eater. If you could keep an eye on him and perhaps play some chess, he wouldn’t be so lonely. It’d be such a relief if I knew you were going there,’ Fiona said.
‘Well now, I’d have to think about that, Fiona. Have you mentioned any of this to your father?’ Mrs Heatley asked.
‘No, I haven’t, but it’s been at the back of my mind ever since Ian left. Receiving this engagement ring has made me realise I have to go to him. We’ve wasted enough time, and I don’t want to waste any more,’ Fiona said.
‘Then the first thing you should do is talk to your father to see what he thinks of the idea. If he’s agreeable you could both come back here to discuss it further,’ Mrs Heatley said.
‘So you wouldn’t be against it?’ Fiona asked.
‘Not if your father is agreeable, but he may not like the idea of another women at Nelanji. Your father and mother were very close, Fiona.’
‘Dad wants the best for me and he knows I’m reluctant to leave him on his own. But …’
‘Men like Ian Richardson don’t grow on trees,’ Mrs Heatley said with a smile.
‘That’s exactly what Dad told me,’ Fiona said with an answering smile. ‘But I love him, Mrs Heatley. I’ve loved Ian from the very beginning. But his head has been so full of science, and doing something for Murrawee and putting Kanimbla on a different track that he wasn’t able to, well …’
‘See where you could fit into his life?’ Mrs Heatley suggested.
‘That’s exactly right, Mrs Heatley. It wasn’t until he was about to leave that he realised he really loved me. He thought science would be enough for him and that he could get along without me. And then, as Ian explained, reality hit him,’ Fiona said.
‘I’m delighted, Fiona,’ said an obviously pleased Mrs Heatley.
A fortnight later Fiona waved goodbye to her father in the international lounge in Brisbane, and boarded the plane. She knew he had a long drive back to Nelanji, but Mrs Heatley would be waiting there when he arrived and would look after him. Mrs Heatley was very good at looking after people.
Ahead of her was Britain and Ian. She realised that some of what lay ahead wouldn’t be easy, but with Ian, she felt she could face just about anything.
Dear Dad,
Lyndhurst is really lovely. The house is much bigger than Kanimbla and it has a beautiful old garden and orchard. The front fields run down to the River Ouse. The soil is amazing, pure black, and it’s supposed to be the richest in Britain. You’ll be pleased to know that I’m living in a self-contained flat in the back part of Lyndhurst. It’s very comfortable. It was where Sir Nicholas’s batman lived and where Rhona Blake lived before she cleared off to Edinburgh.
Cambridge and the university are only about half an hour’s drive from Lyndhurst. It’s a very selective university, probably the most selective of all, and only about twenty-five per cent of all applicants are successful, and of these only about ten per cent are from outside the UK. I’ve missed my chance to attend Cambridge this year so I’ll have to make some enquiries about beginning a science course externally.
Ian took me for a canoe trip on the River Cam, which was really lovely. The sun came out for about ten minutes so it gave me some idea of what being on the river in summer would be like. Ian said we had to go before the very cold weather set in. We came back and had afternoon tea in a quaint little tea shop before driving back to Lyndhurst. What bliss to be with him again!
I hope everything is going okay at Nelanji. I’m sure Mrs Heatley has everything well and truly under control. She’s a gem.
I miss you, Dad, and I miss my dogs and the horses. You’ll have to try and come here in the spring so we can talk about the wedding.
Ian has a long summer break from university in June and that seems the obvious time to get married. I can’t wait to see you.
Love
Fiona
Lachie McDonald looked at his daughter’s letter for a long time. Although another man had taken her away, he knew that she would always be part of him. Perhaps, just perhaps, a grandson or a granddaughter, a Richardson, would once again live at Kanimbla. He hoped he would live long enough to see it.