Anna of Strathallan (27 page)

She still had hold of his arm as if she were frightened her happiness might dissolve in a cloud and disappear. She said, 'What is it? A photo of the memorial they'd put up to Dad, recording his bravery?'

'No, at least I have, but this other is far, far better. It will be poignant for them, but I hope it will also give them great joy. I want them to go away quite by themselves to read it. It's a letter your father wrote them, the day he was killed. He tells them about his rehabilitation in it, that when first he came to himself, and began thinking of others, he felt he had to make good before he got in touch with them. He didn't want them to think this was just another wild enthusiasm that he'd take up and drop. And by the time he'd spent two years there, trying to improve die lot of these very poor people in Latin America - and succeeding in much of it - he knew this was his destiny.

'He mentioned that he'd deserted a wife and child, that she had divorced him and he hoped she had found happiness again, and if so, he would never disturb her, but he asked his parents' pardon for all the grief he'd caused them, and hoped they would forgive him. He would come home for a visit, when he could leave these people. He finished it, but had only got as far as 'Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert—' on the envelope, when he must have been called out to the disaster in the mine.

'He'd lodged with a dear old lady in the village. But she had only the few words of English he had taught her, and didn't realize this letter was for his parents. She took the Gilbert for a surname, and didn't know what to do with it. She put it inside his Bible, and put it beside her little statue of the Virgin Mary on a little shrine she had in her home. It had a candle each side. She thought that someday, if it was the will of the Lord, someone would come seeking it. She said she prayed for that every day. Let's go and take it to them now, Anna. Perhaps we will tell them this, before our news, what do you think?'

'Yes, Calum, because they will weep a little, naturally, then it will make them very happy when they realize that you and I will be living at—' She stopped, looked almost indignant, said, 'Calum Doig! You said you didn't think half an hour before you left for South America was time for a proposal. Well, my lad, let me remind you, you haven't proposed yet! How am I to know you were meaning marriage?'

He gave a great burst of laughter, scooped her up, said, 'You're just shameless, then, talking about living with me before I've had a chance to tell you I love you and want to marry you. Oh, Anna, you've got me addled too. But I'm damned if I'll ask you now. What an anti-climax that'd be! Besides, how stupid, when I've already bought my wedding present for you.'

Her lips parted, she stared, 'You - you've bought my wedding present before you - oh, I suppose you saw some jewellery in South America and thought you'd never have the chance to buy that sort of thing again and—'

'Jewellery nothing! I bought it at Momona Airport before I left New Zealand.'

'Momona? But what have they got except a few paperbacks and postcards?'

'I bought it by phone. I got it from Doug Fenton. It has four walls and a verandah from which you can see sunrise and noon and sunset. It faces the open sea ... it now has welcome written on the mat for you, for our children ... they're all bound to love the sea. We're going to honeymoon there... Anna, can't you guess?'

She looked as a child might look beholding a Christmas tree for the first time. 'Calum, you can't mean - you mean you've bought Captain Bluenose's darling house for us? Oh, Calum, how wonderful, but can you afford it? It's like a dream ... Strathallan to live in, the Captain's house for holidays. Oh, there's a letter for you here from Doug. But—'

'But me no buts. It's not all ours yet. I've paid a good deposit on it, that's all. We'll have to hope wool prices hold --the last few years they've gone up and down like a seesaw - I heard some time ago that Doug was getting a transfer to Auckland. He's bought a residence in one of the bays up there. He'd rather sell to me than to anyone, he said, because he knows I love it and that way any time they want a holiday -down south, they can have the loan of it. Anna, did you hear what I said? We're going to honeymoon in it. Before long, too - February. We don't do much harvesting, so we'll be able to get away then. Philip and Sophy are having theirs in January. Sophy can marry us when they get back, and Philip and Ian can manage on their own here in February. Your mother and stepfather must come over for the wedding. We'll ring them tonight.
And
we'll ring Mother and Blair and Victoria.'

Anna was laughing helplessly. 'Calum, you're sweeping me along! We'll never get that beach-house paid off if you keep ringing all over the world.'

'Oh, what matter? This is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Of course we'll ring them. My lady mother has been in mental turmoil for too long, torn between the separate happinesses of her two sons. Oh, lord, I forgot. Perhaps a letter would explain it better to your mother and Magnus. How could we possible explain that Victoria and I have broken up, and we've got engaged, all in the one call?'

Now it was Anna's turn to reassure. 'Oh, that part wouldn't matter. I never did tell them you were engaged to Victoria. In fact,' the dimples showed, 'I hardly mentioned you at all beyond saying if you got married, we'd retire to the Annexe. I was afraid to say much about you in case Mother read between the lines.'

Calum was mightily relieved. 'We'll just tell them when they come for the wedding. Now for Kit and Gilbert. Don't forget, we'll tell them about Alex first, then I'll feel the best comes last. After we do that I'll ring Dad and get him to come over.'

They were therefore astonished as they got out at the terrace steps and looked up to the front door, to find Kitty and Gilbert standing there, hand-in-hand, knowledge in their smiling eyes.

As Calum and Anna reached them they burst out laughing. 'Made it at last, have you, Calum?' said Gilbert Drummond. 'Well, you two have sure taken a long time to get
your
wires uncrossed.'

It wasn't often Calum Doig looked winded. Then he managed, 'But how could you know?'

Kitty, her eyes blue as forget-me-nots above her blue dress, said softly, 'Grace Sherborne came over here one day Anna was on duty. She was so happy for you, Anna, for Victoria and Blair, and for your mother, Calum. Victoria had written her. We thought you'd never come home from Australia, Calum, but instead of that, you were in South America, restoring Alex to us, in pride and love...

It was much later. Alex's letter had been read, wept over, . rejoiced over. Plans had been made. Kitty had whisked Anna upstairs to find with joy that her own wedding-dress, carefully packed away, fitted her; the calls had been put through to Hong Kong, to Haslemere. There had been a gathering of the clans at Strathallan for after-dinner coffee and congratulations.

Calum's father had arrived, beaming, whispered into Anna's ear, 'You're certainly the girl I'd have picked for Calum,' and had joined in the lengthy international call to his wife, his son, his grandchildren, and to Victoria, his new daughter-in-law-to-be. Grace and Henry Sherborne had spoken to them all too. Gilbert had said, 'Spare no expense. This is all on me. What a night for Strathallan!'

Lois and Magnus, because they had known nothing of the undercurrents of pain that had underlain this betrothal, were wholeheartedly excited and assured them nothing would stop them from coming over in February for the wedding.

Maggie didn't wait to be asked to be a junior bridesmaid. She just announced that she'd rather be that than a flower- girl. 'That's kid's stuff,' she said firmly. Betty began to protest it was manners to wait till you were asked, but Anna silenced her. 'It will be quite novel to have mother and daughter for bridal attendants.'

Betty gasped. 'Me? Matron of honour? Why, I thought I was past all that.'

Ian looked at her fondly. 'You don't look a day older than when I married you.'

Betty said, laughing, but flushed with pleasure, 'I've a feeling that marriage turns men into practised liars. But I like it.'

Bill and Mac hurriedly said to leave them out of it They wouldn't be page-boys for anything. Anna said, finally, to the others. 'Stop teasing them. No self-respecting tough hombres like these two could possibly fancy being pages!'

Bill beamed on her, then said anxiously, 'It won't change you, will it, Anna?'

'What won't change me?'

'Marrying him.' He indicated his uncle with scant respect.

Mac explained, 'We're scared you won't let her go climbing trees again and turning cartwheels and things.'

'I'll still let her,' promised Calum gravely, 'though her prowess in some things still surprises me. I've never seen her turning cartwheels. I'm constantly learning.'

Gilbert chuckled. 'You always will. That's me with Kitty. It hasn't stopped yet. Never a dull moment with Anna of Strathallan as your wife, I'll warrant.'

'I think that too,' said Calum softly, looking at Anna.

Ian said, 'Look, I've got to ask this or I'll die of curiosity
When
did you propose, Calum? We saw the dust of your car, heard you come over the cattle-stops, and just half an hour later Kitty was on the phone to us with the news. I mean, the night I asked Betty to marry me, it took me two and a half hours to screw up my courage to do it and then she had the nerve to tell me she thought I was never going to get round to it!'

They all laughed, and then Anna said indignantly, 'Ian, he hasn't done it yet! Talk about being taken for granted!' The pansy-brown eyes above the cream and gold and brown of her dress were alight with laughter, belying the rueful sound of that declaration.

Calum said, 'I think I'll have to rectify this or I'll have it cast up to me for the rest of my life. There's a crescent moon outside. It will be shining down on Blue Spur and reflecting in Crannog Dam. Ideal place for a proposal, if proposal she must have. I'm sorry the daffodils and lily-of-the-valley are over, Anna. You'll have to put up with buttercups. There's a sheet of them in that field now.'

Philip looked wicked, nudged Sophy. 'Better watch it, Anna, there's a heavy dew tonight. Don't I remember the fact you don't like getting your feet wet! Better propose on the terrace, Calum.'

'Ah, bah!' said Anna, getting up and holding out a hand to Calum, 'when there's a moon over Crannog, who cares for wet feet?'

A silence fell over the entire company as they heard their footsteps fading down the path.

Calum's father raised his glass again. 'The last toast of all,' he said, 'even if they aren't here to share it.' He smiled at Kitty and Gilbert Drummond as they sat, hand in hand, on the couch.

'To Strathallan... to generations yet unborn ... and may they never again, Anna and Calum, have to gang warily.