The Primrose Bride (23 page)

“
Well,
I...”
she began, distressed.

But he broke in,
“
I just want you to know that in some things I
’
m no less sensitive than you are. I learned a lesson at Hill Lodge—that there can be nothing more devitalizing than making love to a woman against
h
er will.
”

She looked at the dark water.
“
There seemed to be more anger in you than
...
than love.
”

“
You might remember what went before it—and think it all over. Then maybe we
’
ll discuss it,
”
he answered a little grimly.
“
We
’
ll go back to shore now
.
”

It was nearly ten when they returned to the house. Andrew poured a small gin and tonic for Karen and whisky and soda for himself. He put her drink into her hand.

“
You
’
d probably prefer to drink it slowly in your room,
”
he said.
“
Goodnight.
”

That night, and the whole of the next day, Karen wondered. She hated herself for thinking that in taking her out to the reef, talking without heat and casually sending her off afterwards Andrew had worked to some plan—or the beginning of some plan. He
’
d been so different; nothing like the old days in Cornwall, and nothing like the raging man who had left marks on her shoulders at Hill Lodge. He
’
d been detached and yet intimate, and determined not to be roused. From the depths of her quivering heart she wished it were possible to understand him, to make him realize the torment she felt
...
when she felt at all.

Saturday morning came, the day of Mrs. Rawling
’
s all-day party. Andrew went up to the offices for an hour, Karen took a bath and decided to wear a candy-stripe sun frock. It had been arranged that Andrew should drive one of the cars and take two passengers. All would start out at round about ten o
’
clock and meet at a pre-arranged spot for elevenses, and from then on they would move in a convoy of eight cars. The Mearses would attend only this evening
’
s function. The doctor had released Dr. Wilmot for the day and put him on duty from six o
’
clock.

Karen came into the living room at a quarter to ten, and five minutes later Andrew turned up. He saw her standing in the doorway of the french window, slim and sweetly tanned, the honey-gold hair drawn back, the young lines of her face and neck sharply defined against the dimness of the room behind, her.

“
You look charming,
”
he said, with the non-committal companionableness.
“
You
’
d better bring a hat and a light jacket. We
’
ll get away at once and collect the others.
”

“
Who are we taking?
”

With a narrow, smiling glance, he said,
“
Tony, of course. And young Austin. Are you looking forward to it?
”

“
Yes. It
’
s time I saw more of Nemaka. What does one do all day?
”

“
This morning it will be driving,
m
ore or less. After lunch we
’
ll do whatever Cath Rawling has arranged—unless it doesn
’
t appeal to us. In that case, we decide ourselves what to do. The whole thing is just a giant-scale picnic.
”

She had to ask it, as carelessly as she could.
“
I suppose you know what Miss Marchant and her father have been invited to spend the day with us?
”

His nod was careless.
“
I
’
ve just heard that the Colonel
’
s off-color and Camilla will stay at home with him. Bad luck, but there it is.
”

Something eased in Karen
’
s chest.
“
Shall we go now?
”

“
Sure. I
’
ll get your hat and jacket if you
’
ll tell me where they are.
”

“
Wouldn
’
t a scarf serve both purposes?
”

“
It
’
s no trouble to shove a hat in the trunk of the car.
Make it the scarf and a hat. And, Karen
—”

“
Yes?
”
she said quickly.

He was smiling slightly, but his glance was keen.
“
This is your first time with the whole government tribe. No Prichards, but everyone else. It
’
s nothing to worry about, but I do want you to seem happy even if you aren
’
t, just yet. And don
’
t,
”
swiftly, to forestall her comment,
“
assure me that you won
’
t let me down. I want rather more than that. I want you to do your utmost to enjoy the day, not to pretend to do so for my sake.
”

“
I
’
ll do my best,
”
she said rather stiffly, and went off herself for the hat and scarf.

Tony Horwell was waiting in her veranda, with Austin, who lived next door to him. They came down to the car, slipped into the back seats.

“
Good morning, Karen,
”
said Tony politely.
“
How are you?
”

“
Hallo, Tony,
”
she said.
“
Hallo, Mr. Austin.
”

“
Just Austin,
”
murmured the young man.
“
No one here thinks I even own a first name, and I haven
’
t been called mister since I left England.
”
He sank back.
“
I
’
m glad I
’
m with you, Andrew; it means we
’
ll get everywhere fast. May we smoke?
”

“
Go ahead,
”
said Andrew.
“
Give two to Karen—one for me.
”

Instan
tl
y she thought, a little tensely.
“
Here we go again; playing for the crowd!
”
But she took the two cigarettes, lighted one and passed it to him and then used Tony
’
s lighter upon her own. She settled into her corner and watched the passing scene. Palms, coffee trees, grass huts under the trees and here and there a woman pounding coconut to make cream. In one clearing a whole family were cutting a tub of coconut-oil soap into bars, and further on more islanders were doing something which they left hurriedly, to smile and wave vigorously at the passing car.

“
Kava,
”
said Andrew succinctly.

“
What is that?
”
she asked.

“
A kind of palm wine—very potent. We
’
re supposed to be told exactly how much is made, but we hear only the half of it. The same with the orange wine. Taken in quantity they
’
re both deadly.
”
He spoke over his shoulder.
“
Seen much kava-making lately, Tony?
”

“
No more than usual. Someone actually sent me
a
cask of the stuff on the last copra barge from Malu.
”

“
I suppose the copra was inferior?
”

“
Afraid so. You can
’
t blame them for trying a bribe. I gave the cask to my
cl
erk—his family were having a wedding. And I marked the copra third-grade.
”

“
If it
’
s deteriorating on Malu you
’
ll have to go over there, Tony.
”

A brief pause. Then:
“
It
’
s only a load now and then that
’
s of poor quality, but I
’
m going over next week.
”

“
A good idea.
”
Andrew spoke casually.
“
Before you leave you
’
ll be asked to attend a Committee meeting. We
’
re going to try new crops on the three main islands—soya, sisal, cotton and a few others. The trouble is, we
’
ve probably some pests that don
’
t harm what we grow already but might make a holy mess of new stuff. I think the Governor is going to ask you to do a spot of research.
”

Tony took his time before answering.
“
Sounds interesting. Thanks.
”

It was what Tony wanted above everything; Karen knew that. He was cool about it because he had found that his friendship with Andrew had changed or come to an end. Karen was certain Andrew had said nothing to Tony about his visit to the house last Saturday; though she could not be as sure that he had not wordlessly handed to Tony that official paper he had picked up from the floor. It was the sort of action no one would expect of Andrew. The worst of it was that Karen happened to be the one who had unwittingly forced them apart. She supposed she ought to be thankful that Andrew hadn
’
t carried out his threat to eliminate Tony from Nemaka.

They wound through low hills which were covered to their tops with palms and jungle vegetation. Globe mangoes were entwined with limes, an old vanilla garden whose vines had grown woody and unproductive had become blanketed in ferns, and a river they crossed was noisy but invisible under its covering of giant weed and bamboo. Everywhere the growth was prodigious and beautiful, and one could live almost anywhere along that road and find plenty to eat. Fine red bananas growing alongside huge mauve blossoms which would produce more bananas in a few weeks
’
time; breadfruit trees, mangoes, oranges, papaya, passion fruit and the ever-present coconut. There were even a few pheasant to provide meat, and
for the adventurous there was an occasional disgruntled wild pig, while a trip down the hillside with a spear could result in a basket full of fresh fish. No wonder the Nemakans were gentle and leisurely. They had never had to fight for their existence, or even to work much for it.

“
It
’
s almost a pity,
”
said Karen, thinking aloud,
“
that white people came here at all. The islanders had eve
r
ything before that and westernization will probably spoil them.
”

Andrew sounded tolerant.
“
We
’
ve been here a good many years, you know. There were no schools, no roads, leprosy was rife, every hurricane cost them hundreds of lives and they were being exploited by every trader who came this way. They applied to Hong Kong for protection, and got it. We haven
’
t taken a single step in forming the constitution without the approval of the various headmen, and so far they
’
ve paid less than ten per cent in taxes towards the improvements.
”

“
They were probably happy enough without schools and roads.
”

“
Thirty or forty years ago, yes. Today a certain amount of education is necessary everywhere, if people aren
’
t to be misused. Ask Austin what he thinks of the education in the Leamans.
”

Austin leaned forward.
“
It
’
s pretty good, and they
’
ll soon have their own local teachers. The Malays and Chinese have done a first-rate job, but they won
’
t be needed much longer. Remember the Schools Committee meeting you attended, Mrs. Eliot? Did you notice that the Nemakans had more to say than we did? At least half their demands and suggestions are acted upon, and we like it that way.
”
He smiled.
“
By the way, is it true that you
’
re coming on to the Committee permanently?
”

“
No,
”
she said quickly.
“
I don
’
t think so.
”

“
Pity.
”
He sounded regretful.
“
You sure brightened up that meeting!
”

“
I didn
’
t say a word.
”

“
Austin
’
s talking of the general scene,
”
Andrew explained with a grin. He nodded to the right as they took a bend.
“
How do you like that?
”

It was the spot Mrs. Rawlings had chosen for midmorning refreshment. The cars were lining up on the left, but to the right a cleared space was rapidly assuming a picnic atmosphere. Folding tables held dishes of cakes and scones, cups and glasses. Those who had already arrived were lounging in chairs or on the cropped grass and staring down over a ravine at the distant sea; for the clearing was at the edge of a precipice. Straight below, the gorge was packed with a wilderness of tropical growth, but its opposite side was craggy in places, and trees actually grew out of isolated rocks. For sheer beauty, the view surpassed anything Karen had ever seen. She ventured closer to the edge.

“
That
’
s far enough,
”
Andrew said, his arm firm about her waist.
“
Not bad, is it?
”

She shook her head without speaking, knew that she had walked to this position so that he would do just what he did. Because this way, she thought a little tremulously, he had to hold her and she had to endure it
,
and no complications. She would have given anything to have been able to turn into his arms and cling.

She moved backwards and sat down, accepted a glass of ice-cold lemon and kept her glance on the view. People were laughing and chattering behind her, telling anecdotes about the short trip and discussing last night
’
s bridge
p
arty. She could hear Andrew persuading someone to try a
b
iscuit and adjuring Mrs. Rawling to sit down and let the men do the serving. Rita Vaughan came and sat beside her.

“
Hi. This is your first bunfight, isn
’
t it? What do you think of it?
”

“
The buns will keep,
”
said Karen.
“
The scene is breath-taking.
”

“
Wait till you
’
ve seen it as many times as I have,
”
came Rita
’
s jaded comment. She shook back her copper-colored hair.
“
Cath Rawling gives me the pip with her dinky ideas for large-scale entertaining. Who wants to be stuck with this mob for a whole day?
”

“
You should take it gradually. That
’
s what I
’
m doing. You and Clive came with the Coppards, didn
’
t you?
”

Rita nodded.
“
They used to be our closest friends. They
’
re still Clive
’
s.
”

“
And yours, if you
’
d let them be.
”

“
No. I hate sane, satisfied women. I think what drew me to you was the fact that you
’
re newly married and strange to this kind of life; you
’
re uncertain in two spheres, so we have something in common. If you go sleek and contented on me, I
’
m stymied. By the way, do you play golf?
”