‘Thank you.’
‘Not at all. And you needn’t worry, Cecily, when we are married I’ll be out of your hair most of the time. The blasted cattle demand my constant attention.’
‘Don’t you have a manager?’
‘I do indeed, and the Maasai to help me, but it takes all of us to do the job properly. In truth, I rather like being nomadic. There’s been nothing much to come home for, up until now. Anyway,’ Bill said as Aleeki and the staff cleared away the supper dishes. ‘Why don’t we look at these plans so we can get started on the house?’
An hour later, when they had made some alterations to the layout, Cecily adding extra bedrooms as she one day imagined her family coming out to join them, she followed Bill towards his pick-up. Nygasi, the Maasai man, was sitting patiently waiting for him. Bill gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek and said goodnight.
‘I’ll be away on the plains for the next ten days, but please, feel free to add to the house plans and organise the wedding as you wish,’ he said as he climbed into his pick-up. ‘Goodbye, Cecily.’
‘Bye, Bill.’
As Cecily walked back to the house, she decided she was liking Bill more and more. Even if he was uncomfortably honest, his complete lack of pretension was endearing. Upstairs, she undressed, musing that she only had three weeks left before she would be sharing a bed with her new husband . . . or at least, she presumed that would be what he wanted. To her surprise, the thought excited her rather than horrified her.
Stop it, Cecily, she berated herself firmly as she slipped into bed. You have to keep remembering this is a marriage of convenience, and love isn’t involved.
Even so, she went to sleep feeling calmer and happier than she had for many, many weeks.
Cecily was to become Mrs William Forsythe on April 17th at midday. As promised, Kiki had arranged for the pastor from the church in Nairobi to officiate. In fact, her godmother had truly outdone herself with all the wedding preparations: chairs covered in white silk had been placed on the lawn and a canopy adorned with white roses had been erected at the edge of the lake, under which Cecily and Bill would stand to take their vows.
She stood at the window of her room, looking down at the lawn where Kiki was greeting the arriving guests – a lot of whom Cecily had never met. She spied Bill sitting on what she now thought of as ‘her’ bench at the water’s edge, with Joss Erroll, who was acting as his best man.
‘Are you feeling nervous?’ asked Katherine as she pinned Cecily’s veil into place and then handed her the bridal bouquet of blush-pink roses. ‘It’s perfectly natural. I could barely eat the week before I married Bobby.’
‘I guess I am,’ Cecily gulped. ‘It’s all happened so quickly.’
‘When it’s meant to be, time doesn’t matter,’ Katherine said kindly. ‘You look a picture! Come and see.’ She guided Cecily to the full-length mirror.
A dressmaker had been called in to make her a pretty gown in an empire-line style, so the folds of creamy satin fell from beneath her breasts and hid any sign of a bump. The sun had lightened her hair to a soft blonde and Katherine had fixed roses to one side, just above her ear. She’d applied a little make-up, but even without it, Cecily thought that her skin had never looked better. It glowed and her eyes sparkled.
‘Now, let’s get you married,’ said Katherine.
Throughout her life, Cecily had entertained many fantasies of what her wedding day would be like. Never did she imagine that it would be without her family in the humid heat of Kenya, in the company of a pod of hippos.
Bobby was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. In place of her father, Bobby had agreed to give her away.
‘You look beautiful,’ he said as he offered the crook of his arm. Cecily tucked her own into his, then heard the band start up the wedding march.
‘Ready?’
‘Ready,’ she smiled. With a deep breath in, she and Bobby stepped out onto the terrace and made their way onto the lawn and through the congregation.
Bill stood under the canopy; his only objection to the proceedings was that he hadn’t wanted to wear morning dress, but had settled on black tie for himself and the guests. Cecily thought he looked very handsome indeed; his normally unruly sandy hair had been combed down, he was clean-shaven and his blue eyes reflected the sky against his deeply tanned skin. Despite the more dashing Joss standing beside him, she found she could not take her eyes from her husband-to-be.
Bobby passed her hand to Bill, who towered above her, and as the pastor began to speak, all Cecily could focus on was Bill’s eyes. She heard the sounds of the birds calling to each other across the lake as if they too were celebrating with her.
‘I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride,’ the pastor announced, to a resounding whoop from Alice, sitting in the front row beside Kiki – who’d obviously been at the champagne before the ceremony – and a round of applause from the rest of the guests.
Bill did so.
‘Hello, Mrs Forsythe,’ he whispered in her ear.
‘Hello,’ she said shyly as she looked up at him, and they walked through the guests standing either side of them.
Even though Cecily had been dreading the wedding breakfast, she was relieved at the fact that her morning sickness seemed to have eased and she could at least enjoy the wonderful spread that Kiki had provided. Katherine, who, as maid of honour, was sitting next to her at one of the circular tables laid out on the terrace, gave her a hug.
‘I’m so happy for you, Cecily. You look utterly radiant and so does your husband,’ she whispered, indicating Bill sitting on the other side of her.
And Cecily realised that she did feel radiant; despite the subterfuge on which the marriage was originally based, she was enjoying the day. A few minutes later, Joss stood up and made a humorous best man’s speech, referencing the way in which Cecily had appeared from nowhere and stolen the heart of ‘Happy Valley’s eternal bachelor’.
‘Really, Cecily my dear,’ Joss drawled, ‘you have me to thank for your wedded bliss – since it was I who originally convinced Bill to come to Kenya. So I do hope you’ll be showing your gratitude to me in years to come.’ He winked at her, and she heard Idina giggle at his joke.
His tone then became more heartfelt as he read out telegrams from her family in New York. Cecily found her eyes full of tears, but knew that at least she had done the right thing today and saved them from further shame.
She had no time to feel homesick, though, because the band struck up playing ‘Begin the Beguine’ and Bill swept her onto the wooden dance floor set up on the lawns down by the lake. She was surprised at how skilfully he led her, and as dusk approached, she did indeed feel as though she’d won the hand of a very eligible bachelor.
It was midnight when Katherine arrived by her side as she was dancing with Lord John Carberry, another handsome man around the same age as Bill, whose wandering hands she was struggling to keep under control.
‘Time to change and set off for the Norfolk Hotel, my dear,’ Katherine said, almost wrenching her out of the man’s arms. Upstairs, Katherine helped her out of her wedding gown and into her going away suit, fashioned out of pistachio-coloured silk, and with a matching pillbox hat.
‘There we are, all set to go,’ said Katherine.
‘Holy moly, I’m nervous about tonight. I mean, I’m just not sure what Bill will . . . expect.’
‘Don’t be, darling. If nothing else, Bill is a gentleman. And he’ll treat you accordingly, I promise.’
‘Are you sure it’s okay for us to live with you while the new house is being built?’ Cecily asked as she stood up from the dressing table and turned to her friend.
‘Darling, of course it is. What are guest rooms for after all? Both you and Bill are welcome there, even though it’s hardly Mundui House. And you’ll be surprised how quickly your own house gets finished. Hopefully in time for the baby.’
‘Yes. And remember—’
‘I promise you, Cecily, I
won’t say a word.’
‘Do you think anyone else knows?’
‘If they do, they’re keeping very quiet about it. I’ve not heard a whisper of gossip so far.’
‘Thank goodness. Right then.’ Cecily pulled the jacket – the bottom button of which was straining a little across her ever-extending belly – back into place. ‘Off I go.’
‘Off you go, Mrs Forsythe.’
Downstairs, the guests had gathered around the front door. As Cecily emerged with Bill next to her, they clapped and cheered.
‘Throw your bouquet, Mrs Forsythe,’ shouted Alice. ‘I need a new husband, don’t I, Joss?’ She smiled up at him.
Cecily did so, but it was Joss who caught it.
‘Spoilsport,’ said Alice, sulking as the rest of the crowd gave nervous chuckles. Joss’s wife, Molly, was apparently very near death.
‘Come on then, my dear, off we go,’ said Bill.
Bill’s pick-up had been decorated by Joss and his cronies. Nygasi sat regally on the back of it, surrounded by balloons. Trailing tin cans had been attached to the rear fender.
‘He’s not coming with you into the bedroom at the Norfolk Hotel, is he, Bill?’ shouted someone from the crowd.
‘Very funny,’ Bill replied, as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
‘Congratulations, my darling,’ said Kiki, coming forward and embracing her goddaughter. ‘Your mother would have been so proud of you today. Welcome to Happy Valley, sweetie, you’re truly one of us now.’
As Cecily climbed up next to Bill, she felt a sudden splash land on top of her head, then another on her suit.
‘Good grief! The rains have arrived!’ shouted someone else from the crowd.
‘Inside, everyone!’ called yet another voice.
As the crowd retreated and the rain began to pelt down, Cecily sat there feeling as though she was in a warm bath as Bill and Nygasi worked swiftly to attach the canvas hood to the pick-up.
Nygasi muttered something to Bill as he started the engine.
‘What did he say?’ Cecily asked him.
‘He said that the rain coming on our wedding day is auspicious.’
‘In a good or a bad way?’ Cecily enquired.
‘Oh, good, definitely good,’ Bill smiled at her as they drove off.
Cecily dozed on the journey to Nairobi, exhausted not only from the day but from the preparations leading up to it. Before she knew it, Bill was gently shaking her awake. ‘We’re here, my dear. Have you the energy to go inside or shall we all just sleep in the pick-up?’
‘I’m fine, thank you, Bill.’
The hotel lobby was deserted as it was past two in the morning and a night porter showed them up to their room. As the door closed behind them, Cecily looked at the bed and then at Bill, and thought it seemed awfully small to accommodate the both of them.
‘God, that entire carnival has exhausted me more than a day out shooting game in the Bush,’ Bill said as he stripped off his jacket and shirt, followed by his pants.
Cecily sat down on the other side of the bed with her back to him and primly removed her hat and then her jacket.
A hand was placed on her shoulder.
‘Listen, if this is too uncomfortable for you, I can always sleep in the pick-up.’
‘Oh no, I’m fine.’
Cecily stood up to open her case and find her nightgown. She heard the creak of the bed behind her as Bill climbed beneath the sheets.
‘I won’t look, I promise,’ he said, turning away.
Blushing profusely, Cecily removed her dress, slip and brassiere and hurriedly pulled the long muslin nightgown over her head.
‘Good Lord! You look like something out of a Jane Austen novel,’ he said as she slipped into bed next to him. The bed was so small she could feel the heat from his body next to her.
‘Look here, Cecily,’ he said as he turned her head towards him. ‘Given your current . . . condition, I don’t feel it’s appropriate to do what one would normally do on one’s wedding night. So, I’ll simply say goodnight, Mrs Forsythe, and sleep well.’
Bill kissed her on the forehead, then rolled over onto his side away from her. Within a few seconds, she heard him snoring gently. She lay there, listening to the rain beat on the roof of the hotel and the panes of the window.
And only wished that she could do what people normally did . . .
Cecily stirred the next morning as a hand was placed on her shoulder. She blinked and in a sudden flash, the events of the previous day came back to her. She looked up at Bill, and could see the pink glow of dawn creeping through a gap in the curtains behind him.
‘Good morning,’ he said in a low voice. ‘I ordered room service. Have some breakfast.’
Cecily sat up as Bill placed a tray gently on her lap.
‘I know you like your coffee black,’ he said, indicating the steaming cup, which was accompanied by triangles of toast and small pots of jam. ‘Eat up and then get dressed. Then we’ll head out.’
‘Out?’ she asked, picking up the coffee. ‘Where are we going?’
‘It’s a surprise,’ he said, then went into the bathroom. Cecily heard the faucet running, and took a bite of her toast, feeling as hungry as she ever had.
Once she was dressed, Bill, now attired in his habitual khaki, led her out of the hotel and into the pick-up, where Nygasi was stationed at the back. She wondered where he had slept, and thought that she might as well become accustomed to his presence, as it was so rare to see Bill without him.
Bill opened the door and helped her up, then climbed in beside her and started the engine. He gave no hint of where they were going, but Cecily was content to enjoy the morning breeze on her face as they drove through bustling Nairobi, happy that the rains of last night had not yet returned and the sun was once more radiant in the sky. An hour later they arrived at the edge of an airfield and Cecily looked at him quizzically.
‘As there won’t be a honeymoon, especially now the rains have come and the cattle will be on the move, I thought that you deserved a wedding present. And I wondered what could I give you – I’ve been a bachelor for so long, all I know of is Kenya and its nature. So, come along, I have something to show you. And I do hope you aren’t afraid of heights,’ he added.
He helped her out of the pick-up and led her towards a small biplane which was sitting on the runway, with a man in overalls standing next to it.
‘All right there, Bill?’ said the man cheerfully as they reached him. ‘And this is your young wife, is it? Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs Forsythe.’
‘It’s nice to meet you too,’ she responded automatically.
‘She’s all fuelled up and she’s been serviced,’ the man said. ‘That’s the plane, not you, Mrs Forsythe,’ he joked.
‘Put these on, please.’ Bill handed her a thick leather flying jacket and a pair of goggles, which he helped her with, then stepped up onto the lower wing of the aircraft and held out a hand to Cecily. ‘Come on then,’ he said.
She took his hand and he helped her up onto the wing, then into one of two scooped-out cockpits, where he strapped her in. He then climbed into the rear cockpit himself, so he was sitting just behind her.
‘You know how to fly this thing?’ she asked.
‘It would be your bad luck if I didn’t,’ he said wryly. ‘Now, don’t worry, there’s an ejector seat in case something goes wrong.’
‘Are you serious?’ She twisted round in her seat to look at him and he gave her a smile.
‘Cecily, you’re perfectly safe. Just trust me and enjoy the views.’
With that, the plane’s engine roared into life, and the propeller started to whirr. Bill guided the plane down the runway and a minute later they were up in the air, Cecily’s stomach turning somersaults.
As they climbed higher and she became used to the sensation, Cecily stared down beneath her in fascination. She could make out the tops of the grey buildings and the streets of Nairobi, cars and people crawling al
ong them like ants, but after a few minutes, all she could see was undulating countryside, gentle greens and flashes of orange earth and the occasional sparkle of a lazy river.
After a half-hour’s flight, Bill tapped her shoulder and pointed to a spot below them and Cecily gasped. There was Mundui House, like a perfect little doll’s house on the edge of the shimmering lake.
Then Bill swung the plane north, and Cecily recognised the train tracks that ran through Gilgil, and saw the dark expanse of the Aberdare Mountains to their right. A glimmer of pink and blue appeared in the distance and Cecily squinted through her goggles to try and see what it was.
‘Lake Nakuru,’ Bill shouted to her, barely audible over the noise of the engine.
Cecily gasped as he swooped the plane downwards and the pink cloud she had seen crystallised in front of her eyes: thousands upon thousands of densely packed flamingos stood peacefully together in the water. As the plane flew overhead, they began to open their wings in a ripple effect, their bright coats reflected in the blue water so they appeared like a single gigantic organism, moving as one.
When Bill finally headed south again, Cecily looked down at Kenya spread out below her, marvelling at the new perspective her husband had so thoughtfully given her. This was now her home, and right now, she could not imagine being anywhere more beautiful.
When they landed, Bill helped her out of the plane and Cecily felt her legs wobble beneath her. She stripped off her goggles, shook back her windswept hair and looked up at him, hardly knowing how to put into words the beauty of what she had seen.
‘Thank you,’ she managed. ‘I will never, ever forget this moment and what I just saw.’
‘Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll take you up again after the rains. Now,’ he said curtly, as he handed her into the pick-up, ‘I’m afraid it’s back to business.’
As they drove away from Nairobi, towards the Aberdare Mountains and their temporary marital home with Bobby and Katherine (Bill had point-blank refused to stay under Kiki’s roof until their own home was built), Cecily couldn’t help but cast a glance at him. Whatever their marriage was based on, he not only made her feel safe and protected, but his self-containment fascinated her. He – and the life she would now begin to live – may not have been what she would have naturally chosen, but as they entered Katherine and Bobby’s farmland and bumped through the surrounding red plains which would soon be filled with the cattle coming back down from the hills, she felt she wanted to do everything to embrace it. She’d do her best to be a good wife to the man who had not only saved her life, but also her reputation.
The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters) Page 41