The Primrose Bride (15 page)

Dinner was announced, and Karen found herself entering the family dining room with the Governor. Andrew was just ahead with Lady Prichard on his arm; he was definitely mid-twentieth century, but he did the courtly business as if born to it. Well, no doubt he had been born to it, at Welhayes. Karen had been born to cottage china and a prized silver tea set that was used only for visitors.

She sat at Sir Wallace
’
s right with Mr. McLennan on her other side. Andrew was down the table with Lady Marcia. He hadn
’
t told Karen they were at first names, but she could see how he had graduated to it; the woman was almost flatter-proof, but not quite. A man such as Andrew, keen, diplomatic, with his job always at his fingertips, was one after Lady Prichard
’
s own heart. So long as he showed all the attributes necessary to a potential governor she would accord him all the privileges he wanted. Also, a woman who dominated through being a woman had to be fed with a modicum of compliments. While she watched to see that the guests were well but not too zealously fed, she responded to Andrew
’
s conversation like a flower to strong light. Obviously he was amusing her vastly; he was probably telling her about his leave, omitting Cornwall.

The food was no doubt delicious, but to Karen it had no color or taste. She wasn
’
t miserable or apprehensive; she wasn
’
t
anything.
The course came to an end
.
Lady Prichard rose and led the three other women into a boudoir where they could mend their make-up. Being the
modern
type of Colonial wife, she did not insist that they linger and talk, and within ten minutes they were back in the sitting room, and being served
w
ith coffee and liqueurs.

It was about an hour later that Karen found herself sitting on a small silk sofa alone with Lady Prichard. The manoeuvre had been skilful but child
’
s play to the seasonal first lady of the Leaman Islands. She sat looking relaxed but dignified, a polite smile on her thin, well-shaped lips.

“
Well, Karen! This is my first opportunity of having a little chat with you. I suppose Andrew told you we came early from Filfua expressly to make your acquaintance?
”

“
Yes. I feel most honored.
”

“
You may as well know that we were a little cross with Andrew for being a trifle quick and secret about his marriage, but we
’
re too fond of him to keep it up. You
are
husband and wife, and we
’
ll go on from here. Except,
”
a brief pause,
“
that I would like to know something of your background. Andrew says your people live near Welhayes
—
your aunts, I believe. And your family name is Hurst?
”

“
Yes. My father was a solicitor.
”

“
An esteemed profession.
”
Though she didn
’
t sound enamored of it
.
“
I believe you have known the Eliots all your life?
”

“
Yes, through my cousins. Their father was the Eliots
’
doctor.
”

This didn
’
t seem mightily to please Lady Prichard either, but then nothing did. She was too poised, right through her being, to react violently, in any direction. Karen
’
s background was left just there.

“
I suppose you do realize,
”
asked the older woman,
“
that life with Andrew is likely to be exacting?
”

The question might have been comic if Karen had possessed that particular sense of humor.
“
Yes, of course,
”
she answered.
“
He
’
s an ambitious man.
”

“
To give oneself completely to a career doesn
’
t always mean one is ambitious. In Andrew
’
s case I would say that he is keen to use all his talents for the good of his country. You
’
re young enough to consider such a sentiment high-flown, but as you learn the duties of your position you
’
ll change. I daresay,
”
with a thin smile,
“
that as you
’
ve been married such a short time you consider yourself still at the honeymoon stage?
”

Tiredly Karen wondered whether it would shake Lady Marcia to know that that particular stage never had and never would be reached.
“
No, I don
’
t think so,
”
she said awkwardly.
“
Andrew has already started work.
”

“
So I believe, and it pleased me very much. I couldn
’
t really imagine him doing anything else, once he was back on Nemaka, but marriage does react peculiarly on some men. We had one young official who took quite three months to simmer down after marriage.
”

Karen heard herself saying.
“
He must have been very much in love.
”

Lady Prichard gave her a cool, amused glance.
“
One day you
’
ll be glad that you allowed your head to rule your heart. Even now, you should be very grateful and proud that Andrew chose you for his wife. However far he may go in life, he
’
ll take you with him. You
’
re most fortunate.
”

By now Karen was slightly muzzy. One good thing about those tablets, she thought detachedly, was that they robbed one of all desire to assert oneself. She could sit here and listen to Lady Prichard, make brief replies when they were expected, and feel very little.

“
Oh,
there
was something my husband insisted that I
mention
to you. He
’
s a warm-hearted man and he would have taken the greatest pleasure in toasting you and Andrew at dinner. I
’
m afraid I
’
m to blame for the fact that he didn
’
t. You
’
re very young, my dear, and I don
’
t wish it to appear as if the Governor were favoring you too much at the beginning. Perhaps in time, when you have proved yourself, we may give a special celebration for you here at the Residency. Let us say your first anniversary
?
”

Or the tenth, thought Karen; or the fifteenth. One year or twenty; what did it matter? She wouldn
’
t be there. She might even have said something of the sort if Andrew and the Governor had not joined them.

Andrew was smiling.
“
I
’
ve just been hearing about your adventures on some of the smaller islands, Marcia. I can imagine you sailing through those primitive ceremonies.

“
They were quite jolly, but wearing. I
’
ve just had a nice talk with your wife. We must all meet again soon. Some time next week I must take Karen on a tour of our clinic and social centre. I think it might be a good thing if she took over my place on the primary schools committee; it would be a small step in the right direction, and if
...
”

“
I won
’
t allow that just yet,
”
said Andrew.
“
Karen
’
s not even acclimatized let alone settled. I
’
m sorry, Marcia,
”
with a sharp but charming smile,
“
but you
’
ll have to wait a bit before training my wife as a stand-in.
”

Lady Prichard was not put out, but she said,
“
You vex me, Andrew. At one moment you seem to be exerting yourself to please me and the very next you
’
re more commanding than the Governor himself. I wonder I put up with it.
”

Sir Wallace said genially,
“
I
’
ll tell you why you put up with it, my dear. You
’
re half in love with the fellow, always were. Don
’
t think I mind; it
’
s helped me no end to have you agree with anything Andrew might suggest!
”

Lady Prichard laughed, and gestured as though her husband were merely teasing her. Yet there was just a hint of mild emotion in the glance she turned towards Andrew.
“
Let
’
s see—today is Friday. How would you like to bring Karen out to the cottage for the day on Sunday? Wallace and I thought we
’
d rest up there for the weekend, and it would be pleasant to be just four for the day. No secretaries, only two servants
...
and do as we please.
”

“
We
’
d like that, wouldn
’
t we, Karen? Shall I drive you up there tomorrow morning, Sir Wallace? Then all four of us could return together on Sunday.
”

“
A splendid idea,
”
said the Governor. He gave Karen his kindly smile.
“
I can
’
t tell you how happy I am about your marriage. You
’
ll find many things strange, but don
’
t let them bother you. You
’
re one of us now.
”

Karen, still seated beside Lady Prichard, lowered her eyelids.
“
Thank you, Sir Wallace. You
’
re very generous.
”

Andrew must have caught the quiver in her voice. He looked at his watch.
“
It
’
s been a long day for you two travellers. We
’
ll say goodnight and start the general move.
”
As Karen stood up a knife pierced the ball of her foot. All evening she had been aware of a painfully tight shoe and throbbing, but the whole condition seemed to be worsening. At all costs she must walk normally. It wasn
’
t far to the car.

The goodnights were protracted and pleasant. The cars slipped away from the Residency, dropped off one by one as the drivers reached their homes. Andrew drove the last five hundred yards and stopped the car on his own
drive. Karen got out and with an effort walked into the living room.

Just behind her Andrew said,
“
You did very well, little one. The Governor
’
s charmed, and Marcia quite unbent, I thought.
”

“
Well, that
’
s all that matters, isn
’
t it?
”
she said dully, and made as casual a movement as she could towards the door.

“
Karen!
”

“
Yes?
”

“
Are you all right?
”

‘
Yes, of course.
”

“
You look pale—but you
’
ve had a tiring day. Like a nightcap?
”

“
No, thank you.
”

He had already taken a bottle and glasses from the cabinet, and as he poured a finger of whisky he said,
“
It
’
s rather necessary for you to understand how things are at the Residency. The Prichards know me very well. The Old
Man
will take to you for your own sake, but Marcia has to like you for mine—at first, anyway. Some day I
’
ll explain a few things that happened before I left; I can
’
t do it now. In any case compared with the nightmare we seem to have made for ourselves they
’
re not even very important.
’
He stopped, gave her a long grey stare.
“
Are you listening?
”

“
Yes, I
’
m listening.
”

But as she spoke she moved away, and he started forward as though to detain her. Perhaps it was the extraordinary degree of tension in her eyes that halted him.

“
God!
”
he said under his breath.
“
This is impossible! Then he forced a hard laugh.
“
One of these days you
’
ll goad me into handling you without gloves. You can thank your stars that you
’
re looking tired out at the moment. Get going!
”

Karen passed a most peculiar night. The tablets from Dr
.
Mears performed some sort of delayed action and would
have sent her to sleep had her foot not stabbed her awake every time she turned. She had examined it before getting into bed, but found movement of the foot so painful that she could not get a good look at the offending spot. Bathing it in hot water was apparently not enough; she would definitely have to do something about it tomorrow. Then she realized it was tomorrow already. Saturday—her first on the island, and she felt as if she had never lived anywhere else, or ever been free.

Anai brought her some coffee at seven, and as soon as he had gone she got up. To her consternation the foot had swollen to twice its normal size and was inflamed as far as the arch of her instep. She tried again to see the center of the trouble, was frightened anew at its strangely puffed and purple appearance in the hand mirror. It must be poisoning of some sort.

She sat on the stool at the dressing table, leaned forward with her head in her hands. She ought to have asked
Anai
what the tuan was likely to do this morning, whether he would go up to the offices or stay here till it was time to take the car to the Residency. Perhaps if she remained here the servant would bring her breakfast, and she could put her question.

It seemed a long time before there came another tap at the door. Involuntarily, she stretched her foot into the kneehole of the dressing table before saying,
“
Come in.
”

It was Andrew, and he didn
’
t come in. From the doorway he said,
“
I have to go up to the Welfare Department. After that I
’
ll go on to the Residency and drive the Prichards out to Hill Lodge. If the old man has things to discuss I may not get back till this afternoon, but the servants will stay on duty here in the house, and I
’
ll certainly return as soon as I can. Would you like me to invite someone to keep you company for lunch?
”