The Pearl Sister (The Seven Sisters Book 4), page 14
‘I remember her saying that she did not enjoy her time in Broome.’
‘When my mother lived there ten years ago, it was hard for a woman, but as the pearling industry grows, so does the town. And with such a mixed society, it is certainly never dull. An acquired taste but, speaking for myself, I find it exciting. I think you would too, because you have an adventurous spirit.’
‘Do I?’
‘In my opinion, yes. And you seem to take people at face value.’
‘My father – and the Bible,’ she added hastily, ‘say never to judge by creed or colour, but only by a person’s soul.’
‘Yes, Miss McBride. It’s rather interesting, isn’t it, that those who would consider themselves true Christians can behave like the opposite? Ah well . . .’ he said, then lapsed into an embarrassed silence.
‘Now.’ Kitty rose to her feet. ‘I must seek out your mother and offer my help with the preparations for tonight’s party.’
‘That is kind of you, but I doubt she will need it. Like everything she manages, it will be run like a well-oiled machine.’
As Kitty put on her turquoise dress that evening, which Agnes had skilfully steamed to remove any sweat patches, there was a rap on her door. Mrs McCrombie came in bearing a length of plaid.
‘Good evening, my dear Miss McBride. Here is your sash for this evening’s festivities. Courtesy of myself, and my poor departed husband. I shall be proud to see you wearing the McCrombie tartan. In these past few weeks, you have become nothing less than a daughter to me.’
‘I . . . thank you, Mrs McCrombie.’ Kitty was deeply touched by her words. ‘You have been so very kind to me.’
‘May I have the honour of fastening it on for you?’
‘Of course. Thank you.’
‘You know,’ said Mrs McCrombie as she draped the tartan across Kitty’s right shoulder, ‘it has been a pleasure to watch you blossom in the weeks since we left Edinburgh. You were rather a mouse when I first met you. But now look at you!’ Mrs McCrombie fastened a delicate thistle brooch at Kitty’s shoulder. ‘Why, you are a beauty and a credit to your family. You will make any man a wife to be proud of.’
‘Will I . . . ?’ Kitty replied as she allowed herself to be propelled towards the mirror.
‘Look at yourself, Miss Katherine McBride; with your proud Scottish heritage, your clever brain and your pretty physique. Oh, it has amused me so watching my two nephews vie for your attentions in their different ways.’ Mrs McCrombie giggled girlishly and Kitty knew she’d already been at the whisky.
‘So,’ she continued, ‘I have asked myself, which one will she choose? They are both so different. My dear, have you decided which twin it will be?’
Given that Kitty had never even presumed to think that either of the wealthy twins considered her anything other than sport (Drummond) or a younger sister (Andrew), Kitty answered honestly.
‘Really, Mrs McCrombie, I am sure that you are wrong. The Mercers are quite clearly one of the most powerful families in Adelaide . . .’
‘If not Australia,’ Mrs McCrombie added.
‘Yes, and I, as the poor daughter of a minister from Leith, could never consider myself good enough for either of them. Or their family—’
The sound of the doorbell clanging came to her rescue.
‘Well now, my dear.’ Mrs McCrombie took her in a warm, bosomy embrace. ‘Let us just see what happens, shall we? And in case I don’t get the chance to wish you a happy 1907 later tonight, I shall do so now. I just know it will be a happy one.’
Kitty watched as Mrs McCrombie swept from the room, a veritable ship in full sail. Once the door was closed, she collapsed onto her bed in relief and confusion.
* * *
If there was one thing Kitty knew she was good at, it was dancing reels. She and her siblings had been taught by their mother, partly because Adele loved to dance, but mainly because there wasn’t much else with which to while away a long winter’s evening in Leith. And it had the benefit of keeping them all warm.
And goodness, thought Kitty, as she danced the ‘Duke of Perth’, it was certainly doing that tonight. She envied the men, who at least had the luxury of bare legs in their kilts, while she in her corseted silk dress and heavy tartan sash sweated away like the proverbial pig. Yet tonight, she didn’t care, dancing reel after reel with numerous partners until finally, shortly before midnight, she sat down to rest and Andrew brought her a large glass of fruit punch to quench her thirst.
‘My, my, Miss McBride, we have seen yet another facet of your personality tonight. You are a most accomplished dancer.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, still panting and praying Andrew did not step too close to her, because she was sure she smelt awful.
Minutes later, he led her into the entrance hall with the rest of the guests, so that the old Scottish tradition of welcoming the first person across the threshold at the stroke of midnight could be observed. Gathering around the Christmas tree, which looked forlorn with its shed pine needles pooling into green puddles on the floor, Kitty stood next to Andrew.
‘Ten seconds to go!’ roared Stefan from the crowd, and they began to count down the numbers until the crowd cheered and wished each other affectionate New Year’s greetings.
Kitty suddenly found herself in Andrew’s embrace.
‘Happy New Year, Miss McBride. I wanted to ask . . .’
Kitty saw the anxiety on his face. ‘Yes?’
‘Would it be all right if I called you Kitty from now on?’
‘Why yes, of course.’
‘Well, I do hope that in 1907 we can continue our . . . friendship. I . . . that is, Kitty . . .’
‘Happy New Year, my boy!’ Stefan interrupted their conversation as he slapped his son on the back. ‘I have no doubt at all that you will do me proud in Broome.’
‘I will do my best to, sir,’ Andrew replied.
‘And happy New Year to you too, Miss McBride. You have been a delightful adornment to our family Christmas.’ He leant forward and kissed Kitty warmly, his handlebar moustache tickling her cheek. ‘And I’m sure we both hope that you may decide to extend your time with us in Australia, eh, boy?’ Stefan gave his son an obvious wink before moving on to offer his other guests New Year felicitations.
Andrew swiftly excused himself to go in search of his mother and Kitty wandered onto the veranda in search of some cool air.
Instantly, she was swept up from behind by a strong pair of arms and twirled round in circles, then finally lowered back to the ground.
‘Happy New Year, Miss McBride, Kitty . . . Kat . . . yes, that nickname suits you perfectly, for you are feline, light on your feet and far cleverer, I suspect, than most people give you credit for. In short, you are a survivor.’
‘Am I?’ Kitty’s head was spinning and she steadied herself. She looked up at Drummond. ‘Are you drunk?’
‘Hah! That’s rich coming from you, Miss Kitty-Kat. Perhaps a little, but people tell me I’m an affectionate drunk. Now, I have something to say to you.’
‘And what might that be?’
‘You must know as well as I do that plans are afoot to make sure you join our family on a more permanent basis.’
‘I . . .’
‘Don’t pretend you have no idea what I mean. It is quite obvious to everybody that Andrew is in love with you. I have even heard my parents discussing it. Father is all for it; Mother – for whatever churlish female reason – less so. But given that my father’s word goes in this house, I’m sure it won’t be too long before a proposal is forthcoming.’
‘I can assure you that no such thought has crossed my mind.’
‘Then you are either full of false modesty, or more stupid than I took you for. Naturally, as the eldest, he gets the first shot at you, but before you decide, I wanted to throw my hat into the ring and tell you that, for a woman, you have a number of qualities which I admire. And . . .’
For the first time since Kitty had known him, she saw uncertainty in Drummond’s eyes.
‘The thing is this.’ Then he took her in his arms and kissed her hard upon the lips. Whether from shock or sheer pleasure, Kitty did not immediately pull away, and her entire body proceeded to melt like a knob of butter left out in the Australian sun.
‘There now,’ he said as he finally let her go. Then he leant down to whisper in her ear. ‘Remember this: my brother can offer you security, but with me, you’ll have adventure. Just swear to me that you won’t make a decision until I’m back from Europe. Now, I’m off to The Edinburgh Castle to celebrate until dawn with my friends. Goodnight, Miss McBride.’
With a wave, Drummond left her on the veranda and headed to the back of the house. As she heard the pony and cart trotting out of the gate, Kitty moved her fingers tentatively to her lips. And relived every second of the pleasure she had felt at his touch.
* * *
Kitty did not see Drummond the next morning – he’d gone early to the steamer to supervise the loading of the trunks. Kitty handed over the letters that Stefan Mercer had kindly said he would post to her family when he reached Europe.
‘Or in fact,’ he said with a wink, ‘I may even go and deliver them personally. Goodbye, my dear.’ He kissed her on both cheeks. Then, with the household waving him off, he climbed into the carriage.
Kitty ate breakfast alone with Andrew, as Mrs McCrombie was taking hers in her room and Edith had gone to the dock to wave her husband and son goodbye. Given the various conversations that had taken place yesterday, she felt uncomfortable sitting there with him. He seemed unusually subdued.
‘Miss McBride . . .’ he said eventually.
‘Please, Andrew, we agreed you must call me Kitty.’
‘Of course, of course. Kitty, do you ride?’
‘I do indeed, or rather, I did. I learnt as a child when we went down to stay with my grandparents in Dumfriesshire. Some of the ponies were rather wild, coming from the moors, and I spent quite a lot of my time being thrown off. Why do you ask?’
‘I was just thinking how there’s nothing like a gallop to clear out the cobwebs. We keep a bungalow up in the Adelaide Hills with a small stable attached to it. How say you we go up there today? The air is clearer and cooler, and I think you would like it. Mama has given her full permission for me to chaperone you, by the way.’
They arrived up at the Mercer family bungalow two hours later. Having expected little more than a cottage, Kitty was amazed to see the low-lying house was nothing less than a one-storey mansion, set in lush gardens and surrounded by vineyards. She made a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn, seeing the way the green hills dipped and rose around them. It reminded her a little of the Scottish Lowlands.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she breathed, meaning it.
‘I’m glad you like it. Now, let me show you the stables.’
Half an hour later, the two of them set out for a ride. As they trotted down the valley and onto a plain, Kitty chanced a canter. Taking the lead from her, Andrew kept pace, and Kitty laughed out loud in delight at the fresh air on her skin and the verdant green all about her.
When they returned to the bungalow, she saw a light lunch had been laid out on a table on the veranda.
‘This looks delicious,’ Kitty said, still panting from exertion as she flopped into a chair, and without further ado took a slice of bread, still warm from the oven.
‘There’s fresh lemon cordial for you too,’ Andrew offered.
‘Who made all this?’
‘The housekeeper here. She lives in all year round.’
‘Even though you told me on the way here you rarely visit?’
‘Yes. Father is very rich, and I intend to be too.’
‘I am sure you will be,’ Kitty said after a pause.
‘Of course,’ Andrew continued hastily, realising he had made an error, ‘it is not my main goal, but especially here in Australia, money can help.’
‘It can help anywhere, but I truly believe it cannot buy happiness.’
‘I couldn’t agree more, Kitty. Family and . . . love, is all.’
They ate the rest of their lunch in virtual silence, Kitty simply concentrating on enjoying her surroundings. And trying not to think of the probable reason for this outing.
‘Kitty . . .’ Andrew eventually broke the silence. ‘Perhaps you know why I’ve brought you up here?’
‘To show me the view?’ she answered, sounding disingenuous even to her own ears.
‘That, and . . . it cannot come as a complete surprise to you to know how . . . fond I’ve become of you in the last ten days.’
‘Oh, I am sure you would tire of me if you knew me for longer, Andrew.’
‘I doubt it, Kitty. As usual, you are just being modest. I have spoken to my aunt at length, a woman who has known of you for most of your life, and she could not find a bad word to say about you. In her eyes, as well as mine, you seem to be perfect. And, having already told my father and mother of my intentions, and them both agreeing . . .’
At this, Andrew stood up abruptly and came to kneel in front of her. ‘Katherine McBride, I would like to ask you to do me the honour of becoming my wife.’
‘Goodness!’ Kitty said after a suitable pause, which she hoped denoted ignorance of such a proposal. ‘I am shocked. I never thought . . .’
‘That is because you are who you are, Kitty. A girl . . . woman, in fact, who does not recognise her own beauty, either inside or out. You are beautiful, Kitty, and I knew the first moment I saw you that I wished for you to be my wife.’
‘Did you?’
‘Yes. I would not say that I am of a romantic nature, but . . Andrew blushed. ‘It was truly a case of love at first sight. And then,’ he chuckled to himself, ‘I knew that it had to be right when you showed such enthusiasm for the dinosaur footprint in Broome. Most girls wouldn’t even know what a dinosaur was, let alone be interested in its fossilised footprint. So, what do you say?’
Kitty looked down at Andrew, at his undoubtedly handsome face, then raised her head and surveyed the beautiful estate that this man would presumably inherit. Her thoughts travelled back to Leith and her father, who had professed to adore her, but then, because of what she knew, had banished her to the other side of the world.
‘I . . .’
Her demon mind issued a vivid picture of Drummond, and subsequently began to play a selection of memories across a frame in her head. The way he teased her, treated her less like a china doll than an equal, how he made her laugh despite herself . . . and, most of all, how she’d felt when he’d kissed her only a few hours ago.
The question was, did he bring out the best or the worst in her? Whichever it was, she was certainly a different person when she was with him.
‘Please, I understand that this is a shock, coming so soon after we’ve met,’ Andrew persisted into her silence. ‘But I must return to Broome in February or March, and as Mama pointed out, that leaves little time to prepare for any wedding. That is, not that I want to rush you into a decision, but . . .’
Andrew’s voice trailed off and she thought what a sweet soul he was.
‘May I take a little time to think about it? I had planned to go home to Scotland and my family. And this would mean . . . well, staying here. For the rest of my life. With you.’
‘Dearest Kitty, I understand completely. You must take all the time you need. Aunt Florence has told me what a close family you come from and I know the sacrifice you would be making if you were to marry me. And of course, at least for the next few years, you would be living in Broome.’
‘A place that your mother loathes.’
‘And one that I believe you would grow to love. It has changed much since she last deigned to visit. Broome is thriving, Kitty; the ships that arrive daily from all over the world bring luxuries and precious things that you would not believe. But yes,’ Andrew agreed, ‘it is still an unformed society, where many rules of normal social behaviour don’t exist. Yet I feel that you would embrace it as strongly as my mother derided it, simply because of your egalitarian and generous nature. Now, I must stand up before my kneecap breaks in two.’ Andrew stood, then grasped Kitty’s hands in his. ‘How much time do you need?’
‘A few days?’
‘Of course. From now on,’ he said, kising one of her hands softly, ‘I shall leave you be.’
* * *
During the ensuing three days, Kitty discussed the situation with herself, a magnificent parakeet in the garden and, of course, God. None of whom were able to give her any further insight on the subject. She longed for her mother’s wisdom, whose advice would be given purely out of love and her daughter’s best interests.
Although would it? Kitty pondered, as she paced up and down her bedroom, realising there was every chance that Adele would urge her daughter to jump at the opportunity to marry such a handsome man from a fine, wealthy family, given the frugal life they lived in Leith.
The bald truth was that even though Kitty had known marriage was the next stage of her life once she turned eighteen, it had always seemed far away in the future. Yet now, here it was. The question she asked herself over and over was whether one must love one’s future husband from the first moment one set eyes on him. Or whether initially, the excitement of an engagement came from a far more pragmatic angle: that of knowing one had been plucked from the tree of single young ladies – especially being as poor as she was – and that one was secure for the rest of one’s life. Maybe love would grow through the sharing of an existence together, which would one day include a family.
Kitty was also sure that if the Mercers had seen the straitened circumstances in which her own family lived and realised she was less than a ‘catch’, they may have viewed the union very differently. Yet this was not Edinburgh but Australia, where she and everyone else who reached its dusty red soil could reinvent themselves and be anyone they chose.
What was in Scotland in the future for her anyway? If she was lucky, marriage to Angus and a life as a clergyman’s wife that would be little different from her first eighteen years, except perhaps harder.
Despite Drummond’s words about having ‘adventure’ with him, Kitty realised that marrying either twin and following them up to the north of this vast land mass would provide that.
