‘Champagne, madam?’ asked a passing waiter.
‘Do you have water?’ Cecily wasn’t taking any chances; she wasn’t going to throw up in the bushes amongst the crème de la crème of local society.
‘Cecily, darling!’ Katherine waved at her as a flashbulb popped in front of her. ‘Just a couple more photographs and I’ll be over to introduce you to everyone.’
‘No problem!’ she shouted back, content to cast her eyes round the crowd while she waited. There was Alice, attired in a long, beaded sapphire gown that skimmed her too-slim figure. And Idina (who she’d last seen running naked into the lake at Mundui House) fully clothed in a purple shot-silk dress and matching turban. Standing between the women was a tall debonair man with blond hair and blue eyes. From a distance, he reminded her – or at least his colouring did – of Jack. For an older man, he was extremely handsome, and the two women seemed to be hanging off his every word.
‘Darling Cecily! Thank you so much for coming.’ Katherine had arrived by her side, dragging Bobby with her.
‘You look beautiful, Katherine.’
‘She does, doesn’t she?’ Bobby put an arm round his new wife’s shoulder and kissed her on the top of her head.
Katherine held out her left hand and indicated her wedding finger. ‘Look, Cecily, it’s really happened. After all those years of loving him from afar, my dream came true.’
‘I’m so happy for both of you,’ Cecily said, meaning it. If this wasn’t a genuine love match, then she didn’t know what was. ‘How was the ceremony yesterday?’
‘About as different as it could be from this,’ Katherine said. ‘I wore a cotton dress and all Daddy’s Kikuyus came in their ceremonial clothes – you’ve never seen such extravagant jewellery! It was quite perfect, actually, and at the end of the service, they sang their traditional wedding song for us.’
‘Which I enjoyed far more than “Amazing Grace”,’ Bobby interrupted with a smile.
‘Is your father here?’
‘No, he said it was too far to travel, and as you know, this kind of event isn’t his cup of tea. Now, come with me and I shall introduce you to the rest of the Valley whom you haven’t yet met,’ Katherine smiled.
By the time she had shaken at least twenty hands, Cecily had lost track of everyone’s names. There had been Lord this and the Earl of that, and women with names like Bubbles and Flossy and Tattie.
‘And of course, you know darling Alice, who has staggered out of her sick bed to be here today,’ said Katherine, leading her into another circle. ‘You remember Cecily, don’t you, Alice?’
‘Of course I do. You look beautiful, Cecily. Doesn’t she, Joss?’
Cecily watched Alice gaze up adoringly at the handsome blond man she’d noticed earlier. His hawk-like eyes focused first on her face, then swept up and down her body as though assessing her worth.
‘Indeed,’ he said in a rich English tone. ‘And who might you be?’
‘Kiki Preston’s goddaughter, of course!’ Idina spoke from the other side of Joss. ‘I’m amazed the jungle drums haven’t already informed you of the exact statistics of the newest – and youngest – arrival to our ranks,’ Idina drawled. ‘Cecily, darling, meet Josslyn Hay, Earl of Erroll – my ex-husband.’
So this is the man Katherine has told me about . . . Cecily thought as Joss took her hand and put it to his lips to kiss it.
‘Delighted, Cecily. So, you’re staying at Mundui House?’
‘I am, yes,’ Cecily managed to splutter. Because, despite their difference in age, he really was a ‘dreamboat’, as Priscilla would say.
‘It’s a dreadful shame that I’m no longer living at the Djinn Palace by the lake or I could have invited you – and your godmother, of course – to come for lunch or dinner. Sadly, my wife Molly is very ill and we must be near the hospital.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that,’ Cecily said, unable despite herself to drag her eyes away from his gaze.
‘Will you be staying long in Kenya?’ he asked her.
‘Well, I—’
‘Come along, Cecily, you have plenty more friends of mine to meet and I can’t let Joss monopolise you all evening.’ Katherine firmly took her arm and more or less frogmarched her away. Cecily could not help but cast a glance backwards for one last look and found his eyes were still upon her.
‘Honestly, Cecily, I was counting on you to be impervious to Joss’s charms. Look at you, a perfect wreck!’ Katherine rolled her eyes. ‘I just don’t know what it is that he does to women, but they all go weak at the knees when they’re around him. He’s a tad too old for you anyway.’ Katherine reached for a glass of water that the waiter had found for Cecily. ‘Drink this and recover your senses. He’s thirty-seven, for goodness’ sake!’
‘The same age as your Bobby!’ Cecily found her voice. ‘Anyway, I see what everyone means about him. He is devastatingly handsome and so very charming.’
‘Darling,’ Alice cut into their conversation. ‘May I steal you away for a moment? The kitchen needs to know how long a pause you’d like between courses.’
‘Sorry, Cecily, back in a tick. Just behave yourself while I’m gone,’ Katherine called, as she followed Alice through the crowd.
Cecily sipped her water and, feeling the heat of the sun beating down on the top of her silk hat, stepped into the shade of a large bush covered in glorious pink flowers.
‘Wonderful, aren’t they?’ came a voice from the depths of the bushes. ‘They’re hibiscus, you know. I often think if I had time to plant a garden, I’d have them growing everywhere.’
Bill appeared by her side, looking very unlike himself in formal dress.
‘Sorry to creep up on you – I was just quietly relieving myself, if I’m honest.’
‘Oh, I see,’ said Cecily, feeling a blush spread up her cheeks and wondering if he actively enjoyed shocking her.
‘If I may say so, you scrub up rather well.’ Bill indicated her gown.
‘So do you,’ she retorted.
‘Got over the shock of missing being a lion’s breakfast by a hair’s breadth?’
‘I have, yes. And thank you again for saving me.’
‘My pleasure, madam.’
There was a pause in conversation as both of them stared at the crowd.
‘They rather remind me of the flamingos on Lake Nakuru, gathering together to gossip then migrating off again, back to their eyries in the hills, sated with booze and food,’ said Bill. ‘Not my scene as you might have guessed, but I am rather fond of Katherine and Bobby, so I felt I should break the habit of a lifetime, stifle my contempt and come along. At least for an hour or so.’
‘You haven’t brought Nygasi along with you today?’
‘As a matter of fact, I have. He’s guarding the pick-up, ready to make a quick exit.’
‘You didn’t invite him in then?’
‘Would that I could, Miss Huntley-Morgan, would that I could. There’s a strict no-blacks policy here for members. Which is faintly ridiculous, don’t you think? Given the fact that they work here, and that there are a hundred thousand times as many of them in this country as there are of us. Colonialism, eh? From where does it get its arrogance, I wonder?’
‘Your British Queen Victoria might have had something to do with it.’
‘Indeed, she might.’ Bill looked down at her. ‘Didn’t take you for a history buff, I must say.’
‘I majored in the subject at Vassar,’ said Cecily, and for the first time mentally thanked her father for suggesting it would be a far more useful subject to study than Economics.
‘Did you indeed? Well now, isn’t that a thing?’ Bill reached out a hand to grasp a glass of champagne from a waiter. ‘What do you intend to do with your education, might I ask?’
‘Nothing much,’ Cecily shrugged. ‘What can women “do” with their knowledge?’
‘You yourself have just pointed out that all this – the British Empire – was created by a woman,’ he countered.
>
‘Sadly, I am not an empress. And I don’t wish to be one either.’
‘Well, let me tell you, there are many “empresses” standing in front of you – in their own minds anyway. And some emperors too. But it’s easy to be a big fish in a small pond, as long as there are tiddlers – that’s small fish to you, my dear – swimming around them, prepared to take second place. Look over there, for example.’ Bill pointed at Joss Erroll, with Idina and Alice on either side of him. ‘They’ve all had to learn to share, if you know what I mean.’
‘Yes, I think I do.’
‘Now then, I mustn’t keep you on the grandest social occasion of the year. Although I doubt there’ll be many more to come. I’ve just heard that Germany has invaded Prague. We’re on the brink of another world war. If I were you, I’d scuttle off home to America before it’s too late.’
‘Oh my goodness!’ Cecily looked up at Bill in horror. ‘When did you hear that?’
‘Joss Erroll is a friend of mine and in fact, it was he who convinced me to come over here and settle in Africa. He told me in confidence earlier. He’s the Deputy Director of the Central Manpower Committee and is responsible for planning the distribution of military and civilian personnel. I’m sworn to secrecy, of course – he doesn’t want a word of it getting out to the happy couple on their special day, but . . . I’m afraid all bets are off. Chamberlain’s “peace for our time” declaration has just been well and truly trounced. So, having shown my face here, I’m going to take my leave and return to my farm to work out how many heads of cattle the British army are likely to requisition for the forthcoming war effort, because I’m more certain than not that war is on its way. Goodnight, Cecily.’
Bill gave her a small bow, then left the way he had arrived – through the hibiscus hedge.
At dinner an hour later, Cecily found she could hardly eat a thing. She had been placed at a table next to a man called Percy, who managed the Shell Oil Company in East Africa. On her other side was Sir Joseph Somebody, who had apparently been the Governor-General of Kenya up until a couple of years ago. It was obvious that word had somehow spread about what Bill had told her in secrecy, for after a few minutes of polite formalities, the two men talked in hushed voices over Cecily’s head. At least Joss Erroll sat opposite her, so she had something pleasant to look at while she was ignored, but he seemed entranced by his neighbour, Phyllis, who had been introduced as the wife of Percy, the Shell Oil man. Not normally prone to being rude about the looks of other women, Cecily couldn’t help but wonder why the heavenly Joss found this woman so fascinating. His hands constantly wandered over parts of her body, yet she was really quite plain and dumpy.
‘How are you settling in, my dear?’
A younger woman – or younger at least than most of the guests – turned to her as the band struck up and half their table left for the dance floor.
‘Oh, I’m doing well, thank you,’ Cecily lied.
‘I’m Ethnie Boyle, and I’m married to William; you may have heard of him – he’s the local doctor.’
‘Oh yes, of course. He has been looking after Alice, hasn’t he?’
‘Trying to, yes, but as I’m sure you know, she’s rather difficult to look after. May I?’ Ethnie indicated the seat vacated by the Shell Oil man.
‘Why of course.’
‘Katherine told me to look out for you tonight. It can be jolly tough facing this crowd, especially when one is alone.’
‘Yes, I’m doing my best to remember who everyone is, but . . .’
‘It can be awfully confusing, especially as so many of us have intermarried,’ she chuckled. ‘How is your godmother? I saw her here a few days ago and she looked full of her usual high spirits. She’s had such a rotten time of it, one way and another.’
‘She has, yes.’
Maybe it was the cloying heat of the night, or the small glass of champagne Cecily had drunk to toast the happy couple, not to mention the terrible news about Czechoslovakia, but she was feeling extremely unwell. As her head spun, she grasped for her purse to extract a fan.
‘Are you quite well, my dear?’
‘Yes, it’s just so darned hot and . . .’
‘Let’s get you inside, shall we? William,’ Ethnie called across the table to her husband, ‘this is Kiki’s goddaughter Cecily, and the heat is rather getting to her. Give me a hand, will you, darling?’
To Cecily’s humiliation, husband and wife helped her up from her chair and supported her as they walked into the relative cool of the lounge. A ceiling fan was blowing a cool breeze above her as they sat her in a leather armchair and Dr Boyle fetched her a glass of water.
They probably think I’ve taken too much liquor, Cecily thought in embarrassment as Ethnie fanned her and Dr Boyle fed her sips of water.
‘Feeling a little better, dear?’ he asked.
‘A little, yes. I’m so sorry for the trouble.’
‘Don’t be silly, it’s perfectly understandable. Now, are you staying here for the night or should we call you a driver to take you home?’
‘I’m staying here.’
‘Your pulse has calmed down a little now,’ Dr Boyle said as he removed his fingers from her wrist. ‘And I’m sure a good night’s sleep will sort you out, if that is possible with this racket.’ He smiled as the band struck up with “Ain’t She Sweet”. ‘I’ll leave my wife to take you to your room, and I’ll drop in on you tomorrow morning.’
‘Oh, I’m sure there’s no need,’ she said as Ethnie appeared beside her with her room key. She helped Cecily to standing and they walked slowly out of the dining room, the bursts of music and laughter gradually subsiding as they moved further away down the corridor.
‘Have you had other instances of dizziness recently?’ Ethnie asked.
Cecily was feeling too sick and miserable to lie.
‘A few, yes, but I’m sure it’s just the heat.’
‘Well, my husband will be back in the morning, just to double-check. Better to be safe than sorry, isn’t it? Now, goodnight, Cecily dear,’ she said as they stopped in front of her bedroom door and Ethnie opened it.
‘Goodnight, and thank you so very much for your kindness.’
Sitting down on her bed and drawing down the zip at the side of her dress, Cecily sighed in relief, feeling she could finally breathe for the first time that evening. Once she had slipped into her nightdress, she lay down under the sheet and closed her eyes. Even though the band played on well into the night, Cecily didn’t stir.
She was woken by a knock at the door. With a great deal of effort, she pulled herself into consciousness.
‘Who’s there?’
‘It’s Dr Boyle. May I come in?’
Before Cecily had even answered, the door was opened and there was Dr Boyle with his medical bag.
‘Good morning, Cecily. Feeling any better?’
‘I sure slept well, thank you.’
‘Jolly good. Best cure of all, sleep. Now then, I thought I’d just pop in and take a look at you before I leave.’
‘Honestly, Doctor, I’m fine, and—’
‘I saw Captain Tarquin Price a few minutes ago – after yesterday’s news about Hitler, there’s a pow-wow going on in the Gentlemen’s Bar. He asked whether I’d seen you at last night’s shindig and I told him I had and that you’d felt unwell. Captain Price said that this ailment has been going on for quite some time. So, let’s have a look at you, shall we?’
With a sigh of embarrassment, Cecily submitted herself to being poked and prodded and answered endless questions. Dr Boyle took his stethoscope out of his ears and looked down at her.
‘My dear, are you married?’
‘Why, no, I was engaged up until Christmas, but it was broken off.’
‘Before Christmas, you say?’
‘Yes.’
‘And when did you have your last monthly?’
‘Why, I . . .’ Cecily felt herself blushing. Never once in her life had she talked about those to a man. ‘I’
m not sure.’
‘Try to think back.’
Cecily, who had never been “regular” anyway, did so.
‘I believe it would have been just before I left to travel here.’
‘And how long ago was that?’
‘It was the last week of January. So my . . . monthly was about two weeks before.’
‘And, here we find ourselves on the sixteenth of March. Cecily dear’ – Dr Boyle reached for her hand – ‘given your symptoms and having had a good feel of your tummy, I would normally be fairly certain that you are expecting.’
‘Expecting what?’ Cecily stared up at him.
‘A baby.’ Dr Boyle gave her a wry smile. ‘However, given the fact that your engagement to your young man was broken off before Christmas, I am now confused. I will put this as delicately as I can . . . is there a possibility that you could be pregnant?’
‘Oh my . . .’ Cecily put her hands to her face as shock resonated through her body and she wondered if one could faint clean away while lying down.
‘My dear, it is none of my business to ask you about the whys and wherefores, but I would stake my career on the fact that you are a couple of months pregnant. I can see this news has obviously come as a huge shock to you.’
‘Yes,’ Cecily whispered, her hands still over her face, too horrified and ashamed to meet the doctor’s eyes.
‘The good news is that you are most definitely not ill. Captain Price was concerned you may have malaria.’
‘Malaria would have been preferable, Doctor,’ Cecily muttered. ‘I beg you,’ she said, finally taking her hands from her face and looking up at him, ‘please, do you swear never to tell a soul about this?’
‘Patient–doctor confidentiality is guaranteed, my dear. However, I do think it is important you tell someone about your . . . current state of health.’
The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters) Page 37