The Man at Mulera (21 page)

“
That was wrong. You should have stuck it out.
”

“
I know that now, but it
’
s far too late.
”
She gave him a cold smile.
“
You know, this is only the second time since it happened that I
’
ve talked about it
.
”

“
Was it a man you told, the first time?
”

“Yes.”

“
You were in love with him?
”

“
You
’
re so clever, Bwana D.C. He was a business agent in Singapore. He asked me to marry him. I decided I couldn
’
t
accept without telling him the whole truth, and when I did, he left me flat. I shan
’
t be unwise enough
to
fall in love again.
”

“
You may. I
’
m glad you
’
ve told me, anyway.
”

“
Don
’
t flatter yourself that your brotherly interest was responsible. I feel someone here should know what
’
s kept me out of England, and who more suitable than the paternal Bwana D.C.?
”

Martin refused to be ruffled.
“
Who indeed? I
’
ll respect your confidence.
”

“
Don
’
t be so darned upright
...”

She broke off and leaned back again as Lou came out Martin stood up and said he must be going.
“
And do come over, you two,
”
he begged.
“
Paula
’
s hardly at home these days and I
’
m growing crotchety.
”

“
We
’
ll try and fit it in,
”
Lou said.
“
You
’
d be surprised how difficult it is to arrange things now that we
’
re a household of five. Fortunately, Ross has been taking Keith out with him in the afternoons this week.
”

“
Yes, I know. Paula says they have high time and call on someone different every day for tea. Yesterday it was the Bains over near Vima.
”

Lou felt a sudden chill in her throat, but she smiled, and walked down to the car with Martin. He looked back and waved to Elinor, said quietly to Lou,

“
D
ick
’
s sister is a whole lot like Dick, though you may not think it. She needs someone who has confidence in her and that
’
s why she
’
s after Keith. If you let her have him it would probably mean the saving of her.
”

Lou, still quivering from the information he had unwittingly let drop, answered without much enthusiasm
.
“
Elinor
’
s unhappy but she
’
s not at the end of her rope.
”

“
She
’
s pretty near it. While Dick was alive he was a close connection she relied on mentally, even though they never saw each other. But he
’
s gone and there
’
s only Keith. She threw up her job and came here the moment she heard the child was alone in the world.
”

“
That
’
s true. And apparently she kept in touch with Dick
’
s solicitors. But we couldn
’
t give Keith into her care.
”

“
Why not?
”

Lou looked at him unbelievingly.
“
You honestly think it would be right to do so?
”

But Martin must have recalled the cold cynicism of the woman up there in the veranda.
“
Not yet, but don
’
t close your mind against the possibility. She needs the child far more
than
you do because she
’
s decided she
’
ll never marry.
”

“
Oh, but she should marry! It would give her back all her courage and belief.
”

He smiled his kindly, disarming smile and patted her shoulder, wished her goodbye and drove away. Lou sauntered among the flowe
r
s and wondered. But relentlessly, her thoughts returned to the bald fact that Ross was spending his afternoons with Paula, that taking Keith along was no doubt intentional. Let Lou Prentice teach the child and hand out all the discipline he needed; it wouldn
’
t matter if Keith resented her. But Paula had to be loved as a child does love the companion of his pleasures; she had to be loved by Keith because some day she would be his new mother.

Over my dead body! thought Lou fiercely. She yanked a dead gardenia from a bush of creamy blossoms. She was not compelled to give in
. Le
gally, she had to approve of the woman Ross married as a guardian for Keith, and definitely she did not approve of Paula...

She pulled herself up. Careful, now. Keith liked Paula and there was nothing to suggest that Paula did not like Keith, except the mild threat she had uttered weeks ago, that when she married Ross she would have the little boy sent away to a boarding school. Most people in this country would see nothing very unusual in that; certainly nothing wrong. Lou realized, with an appalling jolt, that in the eyes of these people she would have only a weak reason for clinging to her own share in Keith Weston.

Why not be honest with herself? Why not admit that Keith, as a link with Ross Gilmore, had become her most treasured possession? Yet even that link was tenuous and frail and one that made Ross impatient
.

She went up into the veranda and forced cheerfulness into her voice as she asked Elinor if she would like some fresh tea. The older woman retained that stillness to which Lou was becoming accustomed and faintly shook her head.

“
How do you feel about Martin Craddock?
”
she asked.

“
He
’
s steadfast, in a country that
’
s full of surprises.
”

“
What
’
s the real reason he hasn
’
t married?
”

Lou lifted her shoulders.
“
I should say that he
’
s the type to take a long time over knowing a woman before he
’
d hint at marriage. He just doesn
’
t have a long time anywhere, except here, where there aren
’
t any women to measure up to his requirements.
”

“
As simple
as
that? I
’
m not so sure.
”
Elinor drew her mouth down at one
corner
.
“
He
’
s slow and a bore, never
thinks
of anything beyond his job. His type are always like that.
”

“
He only
seems
slow! Really, he
’
s calm and judic
i
al, and
I
think
he
’
s the kindest man
I
know. He
’
s tremendously respected by the Africans in the province.
”

“
No, I don
’
t think you will,
”
Lou replied a little shortly, and she carried the tea tray into the kitchen.

Ali was equal to the task of catering for four adults and a child, but invalid cookery for Mrs. Acland had tried
him
so sorely that Lou had taken over the task. Now, she prepared an egg dish ready for the big black iron stove, and whipped up a fluffy fruit fool. The fan droned away on the top of the kitchen cupboard and she found it soothing, yet, like a grain of grit under the eyelid, Paula Craddock persisted in obtruding into her consciousness. A bright, beautiful woman with ash-blonde silky hair and vivid china-blue eyes. Paula the admired, who wanted only the admiration of Ross Gilmore
...
and who had it. Lou worked steadily, almost unaware of the houseboy who was preparing vegetables and the quick silent movements of Ali, as he counted silver and gave it a final polish.

The door swung open and Ross said,
“
Come out of the kitchen, young Louise. We
’
ve something to show you.
”
Lou wiped her hands and went with him, found herself pushed into Keith
’
s bedroom, where the little boy sat on the floor, absorbedly
staring into a square wooden box. She knelt beside him and gazed with consternation at the odd-looking eggs that he was gloating over.

Ross said,
“
Tell Louise what they are and where they came from.
”

Keith bestowed upon them both a faraway smile and once more stared at his treasure.
“
They
’
re crocodile eggs,
”
he said dreamily.
“
Mr. Gilchrist gave them to me. Do you know Mr. Gilchrist, Lou?
”

“
I
’
ve never met him, but isn
’
t he the man who keeps a small nature reserve on the other side of the Kolana River?
”

The little boy nodded slowly.
“
Last time we went there he promised me a crested crane, but this time he said he hadn
’
t got any, so he gave me the eggs instead. You can
’
t eat crocodile eggs.
”

Ross was down on his haunches, tolerantly watching them both.
“
You should have gone with us, Louise. The old chap was in generous mood and he might have given you a squirrel or a monkey. His animals are quite tame.
”

“
He gave Paula a crocodile skin!
”
proclaimed Keith.

Lou
’
s lips went dry. She put a finger on one of the eggs and then sat back on her heels.

“
You
’
ve been having some lovely afternoons, Keith,
”
she said quietly.

Ross made a smooth comment.
“
Balances the day for him. Don
’
t object, do you?
”

“
It
’
s a bit late to ask, isn
’
t it? But I don
’
t object. I used to take him for drives myself when I had the
u
se of Peter Whyte
’
s car.
”

“
I
’
m afraid the afternoon outings have come to an end now. I shall be too
b
usy. But you can borrow the saloon, so long as you don
’
t go far.
”

“
Thanks.
”

It was all very polite and stilted. Ross stood up, apparently decided there was no more to be said and went from the room.

Keith lovingly caressed the eggs.
“
I
’
m going to collect things,
”
he sighed happily.
“
Eggs and skins and shells and .
.
. and
...
”
His imagination baulked, so he asked,
“
Why didn
’
t you go with us, Lou? It was fun!
”

“
Is it always fun when you go out in the afternoon with Uncle Ross?
”

He nodded.
“
Sometimes we have tea with people, but I don
’
t like going where there are children.
”

The remark was typical of a child who had become accustomed only to adults. Lou said,
“
Not at first, but you might like it after a bit. It would be nice
if you could play
with other boys and girls.
”

“
That
’
s what Paula says.
”

“
Does she?
”
Lou watched him as she said,
“
It
’
s true, of course. I think you
’
d have been very happy at the kindergarten where I used to teach.
”

“
Paula says boarding school is best. She knows one at Durban where you can do as you like. I
’
ve got a secret with her about it.
”

Lou found her hands tight, and she felt a cool dew at her temples.
“
Just between you two? Not with Uncle Ross?
”

Keith shrugged his small shoulders carelessly.
“
She says that Uncle Ross knows all about it but I mustn
’
t say anything till he mentions it. I mustn
’
t tell you
either.
”

“
It
’
s right to keep secrets you
’
ve been trusted with,
”
she said. Then, after a moment,
“
You
’
ll have to keep your eggs on the top shelf of your cupboard, Keith. Wash your hands before you come to the living-room.
”

Lou went out into the corridor, hesitated and listened. There were sounds only from the kitchen where the boys were working. She moved along to the small study which adjoined Ross
’
s bedroom, tapped on the door and, receiving no answer, turned the handle and walked into the
book lined
sanctum. There was a roll-top desk and a hide chair, a smaller chair, a bright hooked rug and an old grandmother clock in the corner. Nothing else, except books and the large map of Africa which hung on the only vacant expanse of wall. Lou had several times seen the map through the half-open door, and she now went close to it, and found the town of Durban on the southeast
corner
of Africa.

She measured her thumb against the scale, roughly calculated the distance between Durban in South Africa and Chekwe in Nyasaland. More than a thousand miles! And they were contemplating sending there a child who would be no more than six and quite alone. It was unthinkable.

Lou stared at the map, and then turned from it and left the small study. She walked into the living-room and saw that Mrs. Acland sat there taking some sort of refreshment with Elinor Weston. She smiled at them automatically and went to the window, stood there wondering how in the world she was to handle this.

When Ross and Paula were married they would send the child a thousand miles away, unless ... unless she, Lou Prentice, could legally appeal against it
.
But could she? Legal expenses were high, and the other two had everything in their favor. There was no one she could appeal to for advice or even for sympathy. Mrs. Acland would definitely agree to whatever Ross decreed, and Elinor Weston ... well, Elinor would present no problems to Ross Gilmore.

For minutes, Lou considered approaching Ross himself
,
asking him point blank if, when he and Paula were married, they were going to deprive Keith of a real home and parents. But what would be the use? Ross was a master of the art of cynical evasion and counter-thrust; she would get nowhere at all with him.

She thought back over the child
’
s few remarks, decided that her first step must be to ascertain how near her guess approached the truth. Her nerves contracted, defensively, and she turned casually towards Mrs. Acland.

“
Ross said I might use the saloon. Do you happen to know where he keeps the keys, Mrs. Acland?
”

“
In the top drawer of his desk, I think. Are you going far, dear?
”

“
Only a few miles. It
’
s cool and inviting outdoors.
”

“
Wouldn
’
t you like Elinor to go with you?
”

By now, Lou was quivering.
“
I
’
d sooner be alone, just this once. You don
’
t mind, Elinor?
”

Elinor gave her jaded smile.
“
Why should I? As far as I can remember I
’
ve never been wanted in my life.
”

At any other time Lou would have said something compassionate and begged forgiveness. Now, though, she was too keyed up by her decision to pay much attention to Elinor. She found the keys and ran out and round to the garage, got into the big car and tested the gears before backing out.

As she drove her pain was almost tangible, a fine thin probe of a thing that touched her exposed nerves with exquisite precision. She didn
’
t yet know that although her mission was connected solely with Keith, the pain had no relation to the child at all.