The Man at Mulera (16 page)
Authors: Kathryn Blair
“
How long shall I have to wait?
”
she asked lightly, as she sat forward to watch the tiny waves.
“
We don
’
t get many during the dry season, but just as it
’
s ending the elements get really tough with each other. Any time of the year you
’
ll see rollers and plenty of foam. Lower down, where it
’
s rocky, the spray is flung twenty feet into the air and the storms are quite a spectacle.
”
Lou imagined them.
“
The real glory of the Lake, of course, is the mountains towering in every direction. Ross once said
...
”
she broke off.
“
Well, what did he say?
”
“
It was nothing. We were talking about the mountains and he said that one day he
’
d show me a sunrise. He said you go out in the early morning darkness and
find
a spot that faces east across the Lake. Then the sun comes up behind the mountains and the Lake turns from opal to silver and the water goes through every shade of blue there is.
”
“
You
’
d like to see that?
”
“
It
’
s something you miss unless you make the effort. But Ross mentioned it in the early days. We
’
re not friendly now.
”
Greg leaned on the wheel and gazed at her.
“
Good lord. How do you get along in the house, then?
”
“
We don
’
t see a lot of each other,
”
Lou answered offhandedly.
“
What does Mrs. Acland say about it?
”
“
She
’
s either blind to it or it strikes her as natural.
”
Again Lou sought a new topic.
“
Are you sure it will be all right if we arrive late at this house party?
”
Greg leaned back.
“
I
’
m too nosey, aren
’
t I? That
’
s the devil of it
.
I
’
ve never cared about a girl
’
s background before in my life. You certainly did something to me that night you took pity on me.
”
“
Don
’
t be absurd. I seemed extra kind because you were low in health and spirit; anyone who helped you then would have earned your gratitude.
”
“
It isn
’
t gratitude, I
’
m afraid. But leave it for now.
”
He pushed the starter.
“
Let
’
s find the hotel and have tea.
”
They skirted the Lake till another mountain loomed, drove about a mile up a steep gradient and came to a long building that sat in the sun and looked down over a slope of grass and boulders to an expanse of the Lake. They had tea on the grass under a flame tree, listened to the lazy drone of insects, the washing of the water over stones, the distant hum of a steamer. The hotel slept; had not some of the balcony rails been festooned with bathing gear one might have assumed it was empty.
Soon after five they took to the road again, found a lane which led to the white thatched dwelling of the couple who were giving the party. They were welcomed and given drinks, drawn into a circle of government officials and settlers.
When Lou parted from Greg that night, at about eleven-thirty, she told him, truthfully, that the day had been one of her best since coming to Mulera.
”
“
It
’
s been my best in years,
”
he replied,
“
and I
think
we
’
d better repeat the medicine fairly often. How about doing that early morning trip with me tomorrow?
”
“
You mean to watch the sunrise?
”
Sternly, Lou ignored the hollow regret that Ross had never invited her to do it with him. She shook her head.
“
I shan
’
t want to get up early tomorrow. Perhaps some other day, Greg.
”
“
I
’
ll keep you to that
.
”
He leaned forward and touched his lips to her cheek, did it as carefully as if he were well aware that with such as Lou one trod gently.
“
Some day I
’
ll kiss you properly,
”
he said.
“
Goodnight, Lou.
”
She answered
him
and went quietly into the house.
A few days later, as she was helping Ali to set the table for lunch, Lou heard a car on the drive. Nothing unusual in that; in fact, her nerves tightened against Ross
’
appearing in the doorway and her chin tilted defensively as steps became audible in the veranda. But it sounded as if there were two people, and Lou relaxed slightly.
Then a woman
’
s rather smoky voice said,
‘
Ten shillings? No, you needn
’
t wait.
”
The main door stood opened, and beyond the wire fly-screen stood a woman in dark blue linen with white at the throat. A navy straw cap hid most of her hair, which was red-brown and lack-lustre, and she carried a furled sunshade. She looked like someone who had just returned from shopping in a tropical town. Behind her, an ancient car rattled away.
Ali sprang forward and pushed open the wire screen. The woman smiled automatically and came into the room, stood there looking about her. She was tallish and painfully thin, though she looked physically strong. Her features would have been pretty on a twenty-year-old, but at thirty or more the attractions of a pert nose and a girlish mouth are definitely on the wane. Yet there were potential good looks and grace on her features, and her smile, though perfunctory and conventional, stirred memories.
Lou said suddenly,
‘
You
’
re Dick
’
s sister, aren
’
t you! Elinor Weston?
”
The other lifted thin brown eyebrows.
“
How sweet to be known. I
’
m afraid I can
’
t return the compliment
.
”
“
I
’
m Lou Prentice—Dorothy
’
s cousin. I was very young when you left England, so you won
’
t remember me.
”
Elinor Weston shook her head.
“
No, I don
’
t but I know your name, of course. You are one of the child
’
s guardians.
”
She turned to Ali with the aplomb of a woman who has lived for a long time among the dark servants.
“
You can leave my suitcase over there against the wall. Bring me some ice water, will you?
”
“
I should have offered you something,
”
said Lou hastily.
“
You
’
ve come in time to have lunch with us, anyway. Really
...
you
’
re a great surprise.
”
“
Yes, I suppose I am.
”
She dropped her sunshade on to a chair, pulled off the straw hat and tossed it on to a side table.
“
I came as far as I could by rail, then got a lift to Chekwe with an education officer and his wife. From there, I managed to hire a sort of taxi
.
”
She sand down on to a dining-chair, took a glass of ice water from the servant and once more cast a glance about the
modern
, comfortably furnished room.
“
This place belongs to the other guardian, doesn
’
t it?
”
As if it were a cue, Ross strode into the room from the porch. He stopped and stared for a second, summoned the charming smile and indicated to Lou with a glance that she had better effect an introduction.
A little bewildered, Lou said,
“
This is Mr. Gilmore. Ross, Miss Weston has just arrived. Dick was her brother.
”
Ross, of course, took it in at once. He bowed and said suavely,
“
How do you do, Miss Weston. Keith will be overjoyed to meet his aunt.
”
“
So you
’
re the two guardians,
”
stated Miss Weston. She sipped, and looked from one to the other with slanting brown eyes.
“
Are you both unmarried?
”
“
Yes,
”
said Lou quickly.
“
Are you going to marry each other?
”
“
No!
”
R
oss shrugged, but his eyes were keen as he asked,
“
Does it matter? Keith will be well looked after while he needs it
.
”
She drained the glass, clinked together the remains of the dissolving ice cubes.
“
I
’
m not very welcome, am I?
”
“
Of course you
’
re welcome,
”
said Ross, more roughly than was his habit
. “
When you
’
ve met Keith and had some lunch we
’
ll all be friendly. Like a strong drink?
”
Her eyelids flickered and she drew in her lip.
“
No, thank you. I don
’
t take it these days. I
’
m
...
I
’
m sorry if I was a little abrupt. I hadn
’
t enough cash to travel by air, so it
’
s taken me weeks to get here from the East Arriving and finding you both here is something of an anti-climax for me. You must forgive me if I don
’
t appear very bright
.
”
Ross shot a swift look at Lou. Then he half-bowed to the visitor.
“
Take your time, Miss Weston. Excuse me while I have a wash. I
’
ll find Keith and send
him
to you.
”
Unnecessarily, Lou straight
e
ned the cutlery on the table. Ali had already set the fifth place and somehow managed to keep the table from looking crowded, but she felt the small bowl of gardenia buds would be safer elsewhere. She moved it to the side table, glanced involuntarily at the woman who sat there watching her movements.
“
I suppose you
’
ve been in touch with the solicitor?
”
she asked conversationally.
Elinor Weston nodded.
‘‘
I saw him in Zomba this morning, but he hadn
’
t much to tell—couldn
’
t help me at all
”
‘‘
Did you need something from him?
”
The other woman ran long pale fingers through hair which had once been rich and abundant—was this faded cap of hair the result of an illness or of long years in the tropics? Lou wondered.
“
I needed some information,
”
Miss Weston answered.
“
I came a long way for it
.
”
“
You said the Far East
.
”
A nod.
“
I was managing a smal
l
hotel in Hong Kong.
”
Lights came into Lou
’
s eyes.
“
Really? You
’
ve been travelling for a good many years, haven
’
t you?
”
“
And always working where I could live in,
”
came the dull-toned reply.
“
It
’
s the only way when you
’
re a woman alone. Have you a cigarette?
”
Hastily, Lou supplied a box and struck a match. As she held the flame to the cigarette tip she saw a close-up of the woman
’
s face; it was dry and crinkling faintly and her eyelid
s
were a drab brown. Yet somehow, Lou was certain Elinor Weston could be no more than thirty-two. It seemed incredible that so much could happen to a face in eight or ten years.
She said brightly,
“
You must have had a fascinating life.
”
“
Yes, fascinating.
”
The echo was flat with disillusionment, but Elinor looked up and scanned Lou
’
s features.
“
Are you shy?
”
“
Sometimes.
”
“
Would you like to be certain of self-assurance in the future?
”
“
I
think
so. It would certainly be a help!
”
“
Then fall in love and stay there. There
’
s nothing like a happy love match to give a woman self-assurance. I know what I
’
m talking about, because it
’
s the one thing I
’
ve missed.
”
How did one answer this kind of statement, Lou queried in her mind. But she was spared the problem, for Keith lounged in, wearing his hands in his pockets in the best Uncle Ross style.
He looked at Elinor with mild curiosity.
“
Are you my aunt?
”
Elinor had gone pale, but she made no movement towards him.
“
Yes,
”
she said.
“
Auntie Elinor. Hav
e
you heard about me?
”
“
I don
’
t remember. Have you come from England?
”
“
I did once. Is that where you want to go?
”
He shook his head.
“
I want to stay here with Uncle Ross and Lou. Are
you
going to stay?
”
Ross came in, negligently.
“
Your aunt can stay as long as she likes. I
’
ll sleep on the veranda and she can have my room.
”
“
I want to sleep on the verandah!
”
exclaimed Keith.
“
All right, you may try it with me. But I
’
ll kick you
i
ndoors if you snore.
”
Keith giggled.
“
I
’
ll take my gun with me in case a lion
c
omes in the night
.
Bang, bang,
”
he ended blithely and, quite unperturbed by the
stranger
’
s arrival, he went over to examine the luncheon table.
Mrs. Acland came in and was introduced to Miss Weston. Patently, the older woman considered the newcomer merely a visitor who held no threat to herself or to anyone she cared for. In any case, Aunt Maud was still to some extent a victim of the climate; she had no urge for excitement or uncertainty.
But Lou remained uneasy. She watched Elinor pick at pressed tongue and salad, refuse everything else but coffee and put on another cigarette. And she was aware of Ross exerting himself just a little, to
charm
Mis
s Weston into a
confiding mood. He only used his charm when he wanted something, thought Lou unjustly.
The meal ended and Mrs. Acland went off to rest, taking Keith with her. Ross indicated near the french door and saw the two women seated. He lit still another cigarette for Elinor Weston, and this time Lou also accepted one.
He snapped off the lighter, blew smoke.
“
You
’
ll like it here,
Miss
Weston,
”
he said conversationally.
“
It
’
ll be restful after Hong Kong.
”
Elinor nodded.
“
I
’
ve been thinking that, but I doubt if I
’
ll be able to stay long in Nyasaland. I
’
m afraid I spend as I go.
”
“
We
’
ll be happy to have you as a guest for as long as you like.
”