Besides, Cecily, you said you were done with love and would never trust a man again, she told herself firmly. So you’ve just got to stop hankering after it once and for all.
At the very least, she knew she could trust Bill to take care of her – he had saved her life after all – and to her surprise, after their first awkward meeting, she had recently begun to enjoy his company.
She wished she could ask him whether he’d want to consummate the marriage, so they could truly become man and wife, but of course, that was out of the question. Cecily squeezed her eyes shut to try and imagine what it would be like to have him kiss her. The thought really wasn’t so bad. He certainly wasn’t unattractive, even if he was fifteen years older than she was.
Or she could go to Switzerland and have the baby, then return to America to resume her life there . . . In truth, Cecily knew it would be impossible to look her parents in the eyes and keep her dreadful secret from them for the rest of her life.
Cecily stood up and walked to the water’s edge.
‘You know what, hippos? I don’t think there is a choice at all.’
That evening, Cecily sat with Kiki on the terrace, Kiki drinking a martini and Cecily a cup of ginger tea.
‘You look a lot better, honey.’
‘I feel it,’ Cecily replied.
‘Good, you’re being a brave girl, and I like bravery. Now, we absolutely must call your mother and let her know you’re not going home. And then make plans to leave for Switzerland as soon as possible. Tarquin says that war is now inevitable; it’s just a question of when it becomes official. But please don’t worry, honey, you’ll be tucked up safe and sound in Switzerland, which really is the most beautiful place.’
‘As a matter of fact, Kiki, it won’t be necessary for me to travel to Switzerland.’
‘Whyever not? We agreed that it’s the only solution.’
‘Yes, but another solution has appeared since we talked yesterday.’
‘Has it? How can that be?’
‘Bill Forsythe has asked me to marry him.’
Cecily couldn’t help but enjoy the look of total incomprehension on her godmother’s face.
‘Why, I . . . Bill Forsythe wants to marry you?’ Kiki repeated, parrot-like.
‘Yes, he does. I’m to give him my answer tomorrow morning.’
‘Well, I’ll be damned!’ Kiki threw back her head and laughed. ‘You dark horse, you. How long has this been going on?’
‘I . . .’
Cecily realised suddenly that she would have to play the game from here on in and hide the true nature of the arrangement. Even if she knew the truth about the pregnancy, at least it was still possible to pretend that she and Bill had feelings for each other. Kiki was very much part of this community and she couldn’t risk her gossiping after a few cocktails.
‘Oh, since I went on the game drive with him a few weeks ago.’
‘Then why didn’t you tell me about this, honey?’
‘Because I thought that Bill wouldn’t want anything more to do with me once I told him about the baby. What man would, knowing their . . . girlfriend was pregnant with another man’s baby?’
‘A very special one, obviously. Bill must love you very much to be prepared to do this. I thought only yesterday how odd it was that he’d driven over to see how you were. Presumably the two of you will tell the world it’s his?’
‘Yes.’
‘And Bill is comfortable with that?’ Kiki eyed her.
‘Yes. I mean, if he wasn’t, I’m sure he would never have asked me to marry him.’
‘No. Well now, I can’t say I’ve ever been his biggest fan, and nor has he been mine. But I take my hat off to him for being so . . . open-minded. I hope you realise what a lucky girl you are, Cecily. You have a knight in shining armour who has come to your rescue.’
‘I know. So you think I should accept his proposal? I said I had to discuss it with you first.’
‘I think that if I was you, I’d be biting his hand off. Seriously, honey, I am thrilled for you! And what’s more, it means I get to keep you here in Kenya. Shall we telephone your mother right now? She’ll be over the moon that you’ve gotten yourself an English husband, and an aristocratic one too. Bill’s mother is an “Hon”, you know.’
‘What’s an “Hon”?’
‘It means she was a Lady before her marriage. Now, shall we call?’
‘If you don’t mind, Kiki, I’d prefer to speak to Bill tomorrow and say yes first.’
‘Of course, and let’s just hope he hasn’t changed his mind by then. Now, this calls for champagne!’
An hour later, when Cecily had managed to extricate herself by feigning exhaustion, she walked upstairs, pausing on the landing to look out of the big picture window at the descending dusk.
‘Hello there, Africa,’ she whispered. ‘Looks like I’m here to stay.’
‘Well, Cecily?’
She and Bill stood by the lake. She was touched that he had made an effort to look smart; in a freshly ironed white shirt and spotless khaki pants, Cecily thought how attractive – and nervous – he looked, standing in front her.
‘Did you give some thought to my proposal?’
‘I did. And . . . the answer is yes. I accept your kind proposal.’
‘Good Lord. Right then,’ he smiled. ‘Perhaps I should kiss you or something? I’m sure we’re being watched by prying eyes from the windows behind us.’
‘Of course,’ Cecily agreed.
Bill leant in and kissed her tentatively on the lips. To her surprise, Cecily did not mind it at all; in fact, she almost wished it had gone on longer when he pulled away.
‘Thank you,’ she said shyly.
‘There’s nothing to thank me for, my dear. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement, and I’m sure it will work out very well indeed.’
‘Hello there!’
They both turned to see Kiki waving at them from the terrace with a bottle of champagne.
‘Are congratulations in order?’
‘I think they are, Kiki, yes.’
Bill rolled his eyes and gave Cecily a grimace.
‘So,’ he said as he offered her his elbow and Cecily tucked her arm into his, ‘the charade begins.’
‘You’re getting . . . what?’
‘Married, Mama,’ Cecily shouted into the receiver. The crackling was worse than ever and they could hardly hear each other. ‘I’m getting married.’
‘Oh my! Did I hear you right? You’re getting married?’ Dorothea repeated.
‘Yes!’ Cecily giggled at the absurdity of the moment. ‘I am.’
‘But who to?’
‘I’ll write you with all the details, but he’s called Bill and he’s English! His family knows Audrey’s very well. I met his brother, who’s a major, at dinner at Woodhead Hall.’ The crackling on the line reached fever pitch. ‘Can you hear me, Mama?’
There was no reply, so with a sigh, Cecily hung up. She decided the best thing to do was to go to Gilgil and send a telegram to her parents with the details. Earlier, over the champagne that Kiki had popped, the three of them had discussed when and where the wedding should be held.
‘Of course, it must be here, surely? And as soon as possible, don’t you think?’ Kiki had insisted.
‘Whatever Cecily would like,’ Bill had said, looking at her askance.
Cecily could hardly believe how very patient he was being with Kiki. She’d felt a sudden wave of tenderness because he was trying to make it easy for her, despite his own misgivings about her godmother.
‘I . . . In truth, I haven’t had time to think about. Whatever you think is best.’
‘To be frank, I don’t think either of us want any kind of grand bash, do we, Cecily?’
‘Not at all, Bill. Something low-key would suit me just fine.’
‘I’m not sure “low-key” is in the Valley’s dictionary,’ Kiki had smiled. ‘We all love to celebrate here, don’t we, Bill?’
‘Som
e of us, yes,’ Bill had replied before standing up. ‘Well, I must get back to my cattle. I’ll leave you girls to work out the details of the nuptials, but it would certainly be best to hold it before the rains arrive.’
‘Wait a moment!’ Kiki had said, staring down at Cecily’s hand. ‘Why, Bill, Cecily has no engagement ring on her finger?’
‘Ah, yes, of course,’ Bill had nodded. ‘I’ve been staying at Muthaiga Club for the past few days and haven’t had a chance to sort that one out, but rest assured I will.’ Bill had kissed Cecily’s hand, nodded to Kiki and left.
She hadn’t seen him for a few days now, as he’d been busy with his cattle. They’d communicated by the crackly telephone, Cecily reporting in verbal shorthand that Kiki had suggested the third Friday in April (which just happened to be the same day as Cecily’s ex-fiancé’s, a coincidence which gave her a healthy modicum of satisfaction). This would allow everyone time to organise whatever it was that one needed to organise for a wedding. Her godmother was eager to hold the reception here at the house, but equally, Cecily was acutely aware of Bill’s feelings towards Kiki.
She walked upstairs to tidy herself up. Bill was due for supper here in an hour. At least Kiki was in Nairobi visiting Tarquin tonight, so she and her husband-to-be could discuss the situation openly. It was sad that her family wouldn’t be with her for the wedding, Cecily thought as she surveyed her wardrobe, wondering which dress would still zip up around her already expanding waist, but at the very least she’d make sure there was a photographer on hand to record the event. Perhaps it was her godmother’s infectious enthusiasm for the wedding, but even Cecily felt a tingle of excitement at the thought of her fiancé arriving for dinner tonight to discuss the plans.
‘My fiancé.’ She laughed out loud at the absurdity of it, but then all romantic notions of the union were swept away as she tried to zip up her favourite blue dress and failed miserably.
You have to remember, Cecily, she told herself, this is just an arrangement. Bill doesn’t love you. And besides, how could he anyway, when you are expecting a baby by someone else?
Eventually, dressed in a cream muslin blouse and a skirt with an elastic waist, Cecily walked downstairs. She went into the library to collect the notes she’d made with Kiki.
‘Sahib is just arrived. Ginger tea, memsahib?’ Aleeki said.
‘I’ll stick to water tonight, thank you,’ she said as she stepped outside onto the terrace.
‘Good evening, Cecily. My apologies if I’m a little late.’
‘No, you’re not at all,’ Cecily smiled as Bill came to join her.
‘And I probably stink of cattle too; there’s been a problem – six of them have got sleeping sickness, so I’ve spent the past three days checking on the rest.’
‘I see.’
‘You almost certainly don’t and probably never will,’ sighed Bill, striding to the table set for two under the veranda, then reaching for the champagne and pouring himself a glass before Aleeki could do it for him. ‘The damned animals rule my life – they’ll be on the move down from the mountains when the rains come, and we want them in good health for the journey. So how has your week been?’
‘Good, thank you. I obviously have a few questions for you,’ replied Cecily as she sat down opposite him.
‘Of course you do.’ Bill took a slug of his champagne. ‘And I have some for you too.’ He placed a cardboard tube on the table then unrolled a sheet of paper from it. ‘These are the original plans for the farmhouse that I intended to build when I first came to Kenya. Up to now they’ve never come to fruition and the tin hut has sufficed. I’d like you to have a look over them and see if there’s anything you want to change. Then I’ll get a team going on the building of it.’
‘Why, I’d be delighted to look at them.’
‘You’ll be there a lot more than I will, so you might as well have a say,’ Bill said, pouring himself another glass of champagne. ‘God, I hate this stuff! Have you any beer, Aleeki?’
‘Yes, sahib.’ As Aleeki scuttled away to get it, Cecily could read the tension on Bill’s face.
‘So,’ he said as Aleeki reappeared with the bottle of beer, ‘have you decided when we’re going to make the announcement?’
‘Well, as soon as we have a date for the wedding, I suppose. Kiki has suggested the third Friday in April.’
‘That sounds about right,’ Bill nodded. ‘Hopefully just before the rains arrive. And what about the ceremony itself?’
‘Kiki wants to hold it here.’
‘Whatever you want, Cecily, is fine by me. All that is your concern; I’ll just turn up wherever and whenever.’
‘The only thing I’d like is a minister to marry us. In the eyes of God and all that,’ Cecily said tentatively. ‘It just won’t feel the same if it’s a civil ceremony. Kiki says she knows a pastor in Nairobi who would conduct the service.’
‘Good, fine. If that’s important to you, then go ahead,’ Bill answered abruptly.
‘So you don’t believe in God?’ Cecily asked him.
‘Not in a traditional god per se, no. Haven’t you noticed how every god is made in the culture’s image? Jesus was an Arab from Israel – swarthy and dark-skinned, yet in every painting we see, his skin is as white as the average Christian’s idea of snow. However, I do believe in a magnificent maker, as I call it. In other words, something that created all we see in front of us.’ Bill swept his arms around. ‘Because it is a miracle that we can live in such beauty, don’t you think?’
‘Magnificent maker.’ Cecily repeated Bill’s words, pleasantly surprised by his uncharacteristic eloquence. ‘I like that.’
‘Well, thank you. Despite being a humble farmer, I do have my moments,’ Bill replied.
‘I . . . I was wondering where you were educated?’
‘I suppose your parents are asking for my credentials?’ He gave her a wry glance as Aleeki arrived with their supper.
‘No, it’s just that there are lots of things I feel I don’t know about you, and I should.’
‘Well, I went to Eton, which, as you may know, is a school where the British aristocracy are beaten into submission and made ready to go and run an empire. A hideous place.’ Bill shuddered. ‘I cried like a baby at night for months on end. Strange as it may seem, it was Joss Erroll who saved me. He was in the same year and house as me. On the surface not at all my type of chap, but for some reason we hit it off and we’ve remained good friends ever since. Sadly Joss was expelled from Eton – you can imagine he never played by the rules. I went to Oxford to study Law, but then I was drafted into the army at the age of eighteen towards the end of the Great War. I was lucky because by then it was all over, bar the shouting. I stayed in the army for a couple of years, having no idea what exactly I wanted to do with my life. Then my fiancée left me, and . . .’ – Bill took a gulp of his beer – ‘I rather lost the plot.’
‘I’m so sorry, Bill.’
‘Please don’t be, Cecily. You’ve suffered from the same malady recently, and in fact, it was a blessing in disguise. I’d given up thoughts of going back to the law by then, so Joss tipped me the wink that the British government was looking for young men to come out to Kenya and establish a community – as well as impose some sort of order on the locals, of course. They were offering land by way of a bribe. I signed up, got my thousand acres and out here I came. That’s not far off twenty years ago now. Can’t believe I’ve been here so long,’ he sighed. ‘So that’s a little more about me, now what about you? Perhaps you should at least tell me who the father is,’ he added, lowering his voice. ‘So I’m prepared in the future. I’m guessing it’s someone from round here?’
‘Oh no, it isn’t.’
‘Your fiancé then?’ He raised his eyebrows as he forked up the goat curry and rice.
‘No, it wasn’t him.’
‘Well, who was it then? If it’s England or America, it’ll mean nothing to me anyway.’
‘Actually, I’m afraid it might.
It was when I was at Woodhead Hall and I met your brother at dinner. Lord and Lady Woodhead have a nephew called Julius . . .’
‘Good Lord.’ Bill looked shocked. ‘That’s closer to home than I thought. My brother wouldn’t have got wind of it, would he?’
‘Oh no, Julius is due to marry someone else. It was only a . . .’ – Cecily gulped, blushing to the roots of her hair – ‘quick fling.’
‘And he broke your heart?’ Bill asked her, his tone softening slightly.
‘Yes, he did. I . . . believed his intentions were pure.’
‘Never trust an Englishman, eh? Well, I can’t promise you much more than a few thousand head of cattle, but I can promise you that I am an honourable man. Well, well, we really are quite the pair, aren’t we?’
‘I suppose we are.’
‘Now then.’ Bill searched in his pocket and brought out a small velvet box. ‘Here’s the ring. Try it on, why don’t you? I’ve had it made, but I fear it may be a little too large.’
Cecily opened the box and found a pretty diamond band with a reddish-pink stone at its centre.
‘Oh, it’s beautiful!’
‘It’s a star ruby. My grandfather brought it back from Burma for my grandmother. And now here it is in Kenya – about to go on your all-American finger. Do you like it? When the light is shining directly on it, you can see a perfect star on the top.’
‘I think it’s . . . magical,’ Cecily said as she placed it underneath the lantern that sat on the table and saw the shape of a shimmering star. ‘Thank you, Bill.’
As Bill made no move to put it on her finger himself, Cecily took it from its velvet nest and placed it on the fourth finger of her left hand.
‘As I thought, slightly too big, but the jeweller in Gilgil can fix that in a trice. So now that we’re officially affianced, I’ll send a telegram to my brother and ask him to put a notice of our engagement in The Times.’
‘What about here?’
‘Oh, the jungle drums will announce it for us,’ said Bill. ‘Although perhaps it would be better for us both if you kept quiet for now about your . . . condition. When it becomes public knowledge, as it inevitably will, I shall of course take full responsibility.’
The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters) Page 40