Immediately, Magnus leaped to his feet and Stella’s mother, who wasn’t used to such gallant manners, actually blushed. Stella was glad for the distraction of pouring the tea and enquiring whether he took milk or sugar, offering the biscuits.
As the three of them sipped their tea, she explained to her mother that she’d met Mr Drummond in Townsville.
‘How nice,’ her mum said, beaming at them both.
‘Your daughter’s a wonderful nurse, Mrs Murray.’
Her mother nodded enthusiastically. ‘We always knew Stella would make a good nurse. You should have seen her with sick animals when she was little.’ She turned to Stella, her eyes wide with excitement. ‘Remember that time you raised the baby bandicoot using powdered milk in a fountain-pen filler?’
‘Mum, I don’t think Mr Drummond wants to hear –’
‘Indeed I do,’ Magnus interrupted. ‘It sounds like a charming story.’
‘Well, perhaps I should let Stella tell you,’ her mother said next, and she swallowed her tea so fast she was in danger of scalding herself. ‘You two young people can have a nice catch-up chat. But I’m afraid I can’t sit around all day. I have outside chores to see to.’
Stella knew this wasn’t true. The chickens had been fed and the washing was pegged out, but she could hardly argue with her mother. In no time at all, she heard the back door open then shut, and she was alone in the house with Magnus Drummond.
Unmistakable fondness shone in his dark eyes. ‘Stella, I’m sorry I couldn’t warn you I was coming.’
‘I – I understand. It’s not easy when we don’t have a telephone.’
‘Are you living here alone with your parents?’
‘Yes. One of my brothers was killed at Balikpapan and the other is still in Japan.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ Magnus spoke with evident sincerity. ‘I wish I’d known. I would have offered my condolences to your mother.’
‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘Sometimes it’s easier not to talk about the war.’
For the first time since he’d arrived, his face tightened. ‘I won’t argue with that.’
Stella remembered his night-time terrors. Since then, she’d nursed a lot of men who’d been similarly affected. It was more than likely that Magnus would never want to talk about his wartime experiences. The memories were simply too horrendous.
Magnus carefully set his teacup and saucer back on the tray, and then he sat a little straighter.
‘Stella,’ he said, ‘I know this is awkward. I would have liked time to court you properly, to show you Ruthven Downs.’
‘Ruthven Downs sounds Scottish. I guess Drummond is a Scottish name?’
Stella knew she was asking these questions partly to distract Magnus from the subject of courtship, but she couldn’t deny that she was also interested in his property. It sounded very fine.
‘That’s right,’ Magnus was saying. ‘My father came out from Scotland as a young lad. He was quite a pioneer.’ Now he rose to his feet and came towards Stella. She was still sitting and he seemed to tower above her.
‘Stella, you must know why I’ve come.’
Her chest tightened and she had difficulty breathing.
Magnus bent forward, reached down for her hand, which she was sure must be icy cold, but he didn’t seem to mind. Clasping her hand firmly, he drew her towards him with surprising gentleness. She felt slightly mesmerised as she rose from her chair.
His dark eyes glowed with a fierce new light. ‘You’re a wonderful woman,’ he said. ‘You’re beautiful, and you’re clever and kind. I can’t think of any woman I regard more highly.’
Magnus swallowed. It was the only sign that hinted he might be nervous. Meanwhile, Stella felt strangely numb all over.
‘I’m hoping that you might do me the huge honour of becoming my wife,’ he said.
‘Oh . . .’ Her mind went blank.
How dreadful to be tongue-tied at such an important moment. The poor man. Stella tried again. ‘I’m the one who must feel honoured, Mr Drum– I mean, Magnus.’ She tried to look into his face, but she couldn’t quite meet his hopeful gaze. ‘But you are right. This proposal is very sudden. And – and quite unexpected. I really do feel that I need time to – to –’
To wait till I hear from Tom.
A picture of Tom’s face swam before Stella. She saw his sparkling eyes and his lovely, face-crinkling smile. She remembered the wonderful night at Raffles, the way her heart had seemed to know, right from the very start, that Tom was The One. And, of course, she was remembering his kiss beneath the poinciana tree on Orchard Road. She could still recall the exact sweet and perfect pressure of his lips on hers. Then his kiss goodbye at the hospital.
Magnus held her hand a moment longer before releasing it. ‘Of course, I should have known you’re too sensible to rush into anything impetuous. I’m happy to give you time to consider this, Stella. Not too long, mind you.’ He added this last comment with a charming smile.
Stella nodded. There were moments when she felt she really could like this man. He was faultless, really.
‘Perhaps you’d also like to make the trip north at some point, to see where I live?’ he said.
She gave another nod. ‘Perhaps – yes, thank you.’
‘I have your address now, so we can keep in touch. I’m assuming you don’t mind if I write to you?’
‘No. No, of course not. I’d like that.’ Although it was a letter from a certain Englishman that she wished for with all her heart. Thank heavens Magnus wasn’t a mind-reader.
As he turned towards the door, Stella felt bad that he assumed he must leave so soon after coming such a long way over the rough beef roads.
‘You’ll stay for lunch, won’t you?’ she asked, wishing she had more to offer than cold corned beef and tinned beans.
Magnus hesitated, clearly considering this invitation, but then, with a hard-to-read glance around the shabby lounge room, he shook his head. ‘Thank you. That’s very kind, but I’d better head off. I’d like to get back to Charters Towers by this evening.’
Stella accepted this. Under the circumstances, she supposed that even if the food had been sumptuous, their lunchtime conversation would have been strained. She walked with him to the rusty front gate. Fortunately, the dogs didn’t bark this time, and Magnus kissed her gently on the cheek.
‘Thanks for coming all this way, Magnus.’
He smiled. ‘It’s been my pleasure.’
He really was the perfect gentleman. She felt she had to give him some hope. She said, ‘I’ll look forward to your letter.’
Was that relief she saw in his eyes?
‘I’ll certainly write, and we can work out the best time for you to visit Ruthven Downs. I know you’ll love it.’
She nodded and managed a faint smile. Reaching up, she returned his kiss, her lips brushing his jaw. She saw a stirring flash in his eyes and then he climbed into the truck. He started up the motor and they waved. She was relieved that he seemed happy as he drove off.
‘Stella, what’s happened? Why is Mr Drummond leaving?’
Stella hadn’t reached the front door before her mother came storming around the side of the house.
‘He wants to reach Charters Towers by tonight.’
Her mother’s jaw dropped and she stood with her hands on hips, her bosom heaving, as if she’d been running. She was squinting in the bright sunlight, but Stella could still see the dismay in her eyes. ‘Surely you didn’t send him away?’
‘No, of course I didn’t. I invited him to join us for lunch, but he didn’t have time to stay.’
‘Oh, for Pete’s sake, Stella, what do you think this is? Bush week? A man like Mr Drummond doesn’t come all this way just to pass the time of day.’
When Stella didn’t answer, her mum’s eyes narrowed. ‘Did he pop the question?’
‘Now you’re jumping to conclusions.’
‘Logical conclusions. He did ask, didn’t he?’
Stell
a sighed. ‘Yes, but don’t get your hopes up.’
She turned and went into the house. It was too hot to stand in the sun arguing. She continued through to the kitchen and made a business of checking the stew pot simmering on the stove. Her mother came up swiftly behind her.
‘Stella, don’t tell me you turned him down?’
‘No – not exactly. But I couldn’t say yes when I hardly know him.’
‘But you could have –’
‘I’ve only really known him as a patient, Mum. Apart from meeting on the hospital ward, we’ve been out once. I can’t marry a man I hardly know.’
‘Sometimes, one night is all it takes.’
Now it was Stella’s turn to be surprised. ‘Was that how it was for you and Dad?’
Her mother smiled shyly. ‘I knew the first night I met him that I wanted to marry him.’
And, of course, Stella was thinking again of Tom.
‘Mr Drummond’s obviously had enough time to make up his mind, Stella.’
‘Well, he was a patient with time on his hands. I was busy with a whole ward of men to care for.’
‘But you must think he’s handsome?’
‘Yes, I’ll admit he is quite good-looking, but there needs to be more – doesn’t there?’
Her mother didn’t answer at first. She stood in the kitchen, disappointment written all over her face. Then she sank heavily into a chair at the kitchen table and gave a weary shake of her head. ‘I don’t want to rush you, love. But believe me, you’re not going to meet a man like Mr Drummond out here.’
‘Mum,’ Stella said more gently. ‘I can’t really stay here forever.’ She had planned to stay till Stephen was safely home again. ‘I’ll need to get a job.’
Her mother shrugged. ‘You’ll find it’s not like it was before the war. So many young men, good men, have been killed.’ Her mouth trembled and tears shone in her eyes. ‘I hope you’re not making a mistake, love. Anyone can see that Mr Drummond’s a very fine style of a man. I was so looking forward to giving your father some good news when he got home.’
The comment found its mark. Stella sighed. Her mother had suffered so much recently and she would have loved to bring a little joy into her life.
‘We’re going to write to each other,’ she said. ‘And Magnus is planning to invite me to see his property at Ruthven Downs.’
‘Oh.’ This news perked her mother up. ‘Well, that’s something to look forward to, isn’t it?’
Stella nodded. She would have liked to confide in her mum, to tell her about Tom Kearney, but she was sure it wouldn’t be wise. Not yet, when she still had no news of him.
It was in the steaming week before Christmas, when the dry, dusty plains shimmered with heat haze and the entire landscape sweltered and thirsted for rain, that a letter finally came from England.
Stella collected the mail from the letterbox, which was made from an oil drum nailed to a post, and brought it inside. There was a letter from Magnus as well, the third letter he’d written in as many weeks, and about half a dozen Christmas cards.
But it was the English stamp and postmark that made her heart leap. Hastily, she slipped the envelope into the pocket of her apron. She wanted to make sure that she had complete privacy when she read this all-important message.
Leaving the rest of the mail on the kitchen table, she took the precious letter from England outside to the toilet in the backyard. Locking the door from inside by sliding the bolt across, she sat on the closed wooden seat, keeping the unpleasant smell confined to the deep pit under the seat, and took the envelope out of her pocket with shaking hands.
The sender’s name on the back was Mrs R J Kearney.
Not Tom.
Stella drew a deep breath, trying not to panic just because his mother had written. It didn’t mean bad news. Tom was still alive. Stella was sure of it. He had to be. But she was sick with nerves as she slid her fingernail under the flap and tore the envelope open.
It was stiflingly hot in the confined space and the tiny window offered only just enough light.
Be well, Tom. Please, please, be safe and well.
She drew out the thin, neatly folded pages and held them unopened in her lap as she closed her eyes and tried to pray. But it was no use. She was too anxious and her mind wouldn’t stick to the task, so instead, she quickly opened the letter and read.
Richmond, UK
November 1945
Dear Miss Murray,
Thank you for your letter enquiring about our son Tom. He is safely home again, after spending three years in Changi Prison. According to our family doctor, Tom was lucky to have survived the wounds he received in the final battle before his capture. Since then he has become malnourished and has suffered from beriberi and dengue fever. His condition was only made worse by the brutal treatment from the Japanese guards.
As a nurse, I’m sure you will understand that after everything my son has been through, he is still in a bad state physically and mentally. Being reminded of his wartime experiences will not assist in his recovery, which will take many months yet.
For this reason, my husband and I have decided that we will not pass on your letters to Tom. It’s for the best. We do not believe that putting Tom in touch with an Australian nurse who shared some of the horrors of Singapore can be of any use to him now.
You’re so very far away in Australia and the poor boy has only just arrived home. He needs the peace and quiet of England now and the company of his old friends.
As you are someone with his best interests at heart, I’m sure you will understand, and you will not to write to us, or to Tom, again.
Tom needs to put the terrible war experience and all its unpleasant memories behind him and to get on with his life in this blessed time of peace. Eventually he will take up with friends who can remind him of his happy life here before the war.
I extend to you and your family my very best wishes for a happy, holy and peaceful Christmas and I wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year.
Kindest regards,
Eileen Kearney
24
Seth waited till Charlie was asleep before he rang Alice.
‘Hey,’ he said, when she answered. ‘How’s it going?’
‘Seth, hi.’ The mellowness in her voice and the warmth of those two short words made him smile, bringing instant hot and happy memories of their latest night together.
‘I had a phone call from your mother this morning,’ Alice said.
‘Yes, she told me she’d called you.’ He felt compelled to add, ‘I did warn you.’
‘Yes, I’m glad you did. I suppose Jackie also told you I accepted? I’m coming to the big party?’
‘Yeah, I’m really pleased. It should be a good night.’
‘I’m sure it’ll be fabulous.’
Seth drew a quick breath. He’d heard the subtlest change in Alice’s voice, and he braced himself for a ‘but’.
‘But I must admit I am a bit worried,’ she said next.
‘You’re not having second thoughts?’
‘Well – yes, kind of.’
Just in time, Seth bit back an urge to swear. Instead, he waited, giving her a chance to explain.
‘I’m just a little worried that we might be sending the wrong message to your family,’ she said. ‘You know, that we’re serious. This party is such a significant family event.’
Seth was standing on the deck, looking out into the dark bush, but now he sighed, let his head drop back as he stared up at the night sky littered with stars. So far, he’d played along with Alice’s request to keep their relationship casual, but after just a few times together, he knew he was more than ready to get serious about this girl.
He’d had enough girlfriends over the years to know that everything about being with Alice was different. She was perfect for him. He was crazy about her.
‘I’m sorry,’ he heard her say. ‘I know it’s not fair to tell you this now, after I’ve already accepted your mothe
r’s invitation. I must be driving you mad.’
‘Kinda,’ he admitted.
But perhaps he should have known that ambivalent Alice would have doubts and second thoughts. Hadn’t this been the pattern of their relationship so far? Alice was gorgeous, in almost every way his dream woman, but she had more complex layers than Maria Versace’s lasagne.
‘The thing is,’ she said. ‘I do have my reasons. I – I’d like to explain.’
Seth forced himself to ask, ‘Do these reasons involve Charlie?’
A small silence. Seth gripped his phone harder.
‘Yes,’ Alice said at last. ‘It’s complicated. It’s to do with how my parents died and –’
‘Hold it, Alice.’
‘Excuse me?’
Seth felt bad about interrupting her just when she was about to open up, but this sounded like heavy shit, too important to leave to a phone conversation. ‘I’ll come over to your place.’
‘Are you sure? Isn’t Charlie already asleep?’
‘Yeah, but he should be okay to move.’ Seth had never disturbed Charlie at night before, but he was sure he needed to be with Alice while she talked about this. Last thing he wanted was to just let this girl slip away because he wasn’t paying attention.
If there was any chance she was trying to back away from him, he needed to be there on the spot, watching her facial expressions and body language, reading her mood.
‘Charlie will drop back to sleep while I’m driving to your place,’ he said. ‘I can be there inside the hour.’
‘All right.’
It was hard to gauge Alice’s response to this. Seth could only hope she would be happy with his sudden intrusion.
Charlie grizzled as Seth lifted him from the cot, along with his favourite stuffed rabbit, but the boy lay sleepily in Seth’s arms as he carried him to the car. The business of buckling him into his seat upset him, of course, but as Seth had hoped, the hum of the motor and the rhythm of wheels spinning over bitumen soon lulled him back to sleep.
Burralea was in darkness when he arrived, with only a few house lights glowing through lounge room curtains. When he drew up outside Alice’s shop, everything seemed to be dark, but then she came to the front door carrying a torch.
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