The Primrose Bride (8 page)

She couldn
’
t turn towards him, couldn
’
t move at all. The hands burned her skin; if he
’
d taken her and turned her towards him, her reflexes would have done the rest. She needed him so much. He seemed to be gauging her reaction through his fingertips; they tightened. She felt him, strong, leashed, needing no more than an indrawn breath or a tremor from her. But she was frightened into an utter stillness.

Briefly, his breath rasped. He touched his lips, without tenderness, to the ear nearest him and let her go.

“
Glad they suit you so well,
”
he said, and moved away. A minute later the guests began to arrive.

CHAPTER THREE

There w
ere the Coppards, the doctor and his wife, the Pellings, the Vaughans, the McLennans, the Rawlings, several bachelors and then two more married couples who were late because they had to wait till children were asleep before they could get out. Congratulations flowed along with the drinks, and the married women offered their gifts
—
surprisingly good ones; luncheon mats, a bedside lamp, gramophone records, some pieces of Indian silver and even a set of Italian glasses.

There were eight women, all of them except Mrs. Mears not much over thirty. Only one of them, Rita Vaughan, the forestry officer
’
s wife, looked restless and dissatisfied. She was stick-thin, had a mane of copper colored hair and a petulant mouth.

It was she who drawled, after Karen had thanked her for the half-dozen gramophone records.
“
Welcome to the outpost, my dear. May you keep that petal-smooth skin for longer than I kept mine. Let me congratulate you on reaching the heights without touching the sides on the
way.
”

Karen gave her the automatic smile.
“
What does that mean?
”

“
It means,
”
said Tony Horwe
l
l, who happened to be near,
“
that Rita is in her best mood, and very happy for you. Come and have a cocktail with me, Rita.
”

If Tony started being tactful and protective, thought Karen, there would be trouble in other directions. But there was no time to think about it; she had to speak with the assistant medical officer, the bachelor magistrate, the agricultural officer, forestry, education, welfare, the man who had acted for Andrew during his absence, and the Governor
’
s secretary. And right behind her all the time was Andrew, tall, urbane, self-assured, saying the right thing.

“
Thanks, John. Yes, I
’
m the luckiest man in the world ... Good of you, Rawling
...
Well, here she is, Bingham. Of course she
’
s beautiful. Yes, it was a bit sudden, but it had to be
...
Oh, there you are, Austin. Meet my wife.
”

Dur
ing
that evening Karen grew a shell which was to help her quite a lot in the immediate future. It was the first time in her life that she had been the most important individual in a group upon whom she was expected to make a pleasing impression, and perhaps it was fortunate that
she felt a little detached from them all because it helped her to endure the inevitable glances and jokes without losing the discreet but friendly smile.

When Anai wheeled in the two loaded trolleys she helped him to serve while Andrew filled up the glasses. There was deafening talk, smothered music from the gramophone, and exclamations about Min Gan
’
s excellent cooking.

Warm air drifted through the french window bringing a tang of sea and violent growth, and stirring the
smoke laden
atmosphere. Half the guests had spilled into the veranda chairs, and some of them were dancing out there, though it was doubtful whether they heard enough of the music to acquire its rhythm. When more of them began dancing, the living room floor was cleared of rugs and the chairs moved close to the wall.

Andrew brought Karen an iced drink.
“
Take it easy now, there
’
s a good girl. You
’
ve done splendidly. We can
’
t both leave them, so I
’
ll get Tony to take you outside for a breather. Do you feel as exhilarating as you look?
”

She gave him the prefabricated smile.
“
I
’
m fine, but I could do with some air. Don
’
t bother Tony. I
’
ll go out the back way for five minutes.
”

He didn
’
t stop her, but she had no sooner emerged from the back door than Tony Horwell was there, setting a couple of chairs at the dark end of the veranda.

“
Andrew sent me.
”
he said.
“
Just to keep you company. You don
’
t have to talk.
”

She sank down and leaned back,
“
But I want to talk, or at least to listen to just one person instead of a babel.
”
She took a deep breath.
“
Can you smell the fruit in the orchard? Why are the trees allowed to grow into a jungle?
”

“
They produce, so no one bothers. My fruit trees are the same.
”
He paused, said in his quiet, ordinary tones,
“
I want to apologize for making that leading remark this morning—about you and Andrew corresponding before he went on leave. I guessed you hadn
’
t seen or heard anything of him for several years, and I certainly had no right to mention anything of the kind.
”

“
It didn
’
t matter.
”

“
It did, to me. I
’
ve never in my life hurt a woman, and I don
’
t intend to start now.
”

“
I wasn
’
t hurt.
”

“
You were shaken. I
’
ve been feeling badly about it all
day.”

“
There was no need. As a matter of fact,
”
she said with studied carelessness,
“
I thought perhaps you were a little hurt yourself, perhaps because Andrew had kept quiet about
...
things.
”

“
No, it wasn
’
t that. Andrew has never been the confiding sort.
”
His head went farther back and he stared out at the massed trees.
“
Of all the people here tonight, none could possibly wish you more happiness in your marriage than I do. I
’
ve always had an immense respect and liking for Andrew, and I couldn
’
t wish for more than that he should have a thoroughly happy marriage.
”

She let a few seconds elapse before asking,
“
Were you disappointed in me?
”

“
Of course not. You
’
re so charming and appropriate
...
”
He broke off, but at once went on,
“
I never thought of Andrew taking on someone so young, but looking after you may be good for him. An older woman might be a wife and a partner, but you will probably develop a side of him that he
’
s always ignored.
”
He gestured deprecatingly.
“
Am I being too personal, and a bore?
”

“
Not at all. In fact, I think I shall ver
y
quickly understand how you view everything. Please don
’
t be offhand with Andrew because of me.
”

“
Offhand?
”
In the darkness he sounded startled.
“
That
’
s not the way I feel, at all.
”

“
But there
’
s something, isn
’
t there? You didn
’
t want to come to the house this morning, and I don
’
t suppose you want to be thanked for your wedding gift, either. You didn
’
t buy all that lovely china because you wanted us to have something from you that we
’
d use every day; it was only a matter of form. I
’
m not a fool, Tony,
”
she ended in a tight voice,
“
and neither am I a social climber.
”

“
Oh, grief!
”
he said, and was silent.

Karen touched her throat, as if to ease a pain there.
“
I heard you speaking to Dr. Mears last night—about
Andrew and me. Don
’
t think I hold it against you; I hadn
’
t even met you then. I
’
m telling you now because it will help to clear the air.
”

Almost inaudibly he said,
“
You haven
’
t spoken to Andrew about it—I can tell that. He
’
d have slayed me. I do hope you
’
ll say no
thing
. What in the world must you think of me!
”

“
On the whole,
”
she said calmly,
“I
think you
’
re quite normal. Andrew was advised to find a wife, and he found one. You naturally thought he
’
d picked someone who looked very English and whom he could train and mould.
”

“
You make me feel terrible.
”
He turned her way, urgently.
“
I got the wrong idea altogether. Andrew adores you—he couldn
’
t help himself. He
’
s proud of you—your prettiness and reserve, the poise you showed among the gang, even though you knew they
’
d have gossiped about the Senior Executive Officer
’
s new wife. Don
’
t judge
him
by something I said to the doc.
”

A question hovered near the tip of her tongue, but she didn
’
t voice it. Instead she said, very calmly,
“
I simply wanted you to know that you got the wrong impression; I married Andrew because I love him. Whatever may happen here, nothing will alter that.
”
She stood up.
“
I
’
d better go ba
ck
to the others now.
”

He was on his feet.
“
Just a minute, Karen. Please believe that whatever I thought before I met you, I have nothing but admiration for you now. I don
’
t deserve it, but I
’
d like us to be friends.
”

She smiled, and held out her hand.
“
We
’
re friends, Tony.
”

He gripped her fingers and let them go.
“
If there
’
s anything I can do for you at any time—I
’
ll drop everything else. I shan
’
t feel quite right till I
’
ve crawled ten miles on my hands and knees for you.
”

“
I shan
’
t demand anything
so
lacerating,
”
she assured him.
“
Will you excuse me now?
”

Just briefly, as she walked along the veranda to where it was light and noisy, she thought that it was a relief to be on good terms with Tony Horwell. She was glad he hadn
’
t remembered mentioning that other
thing
to the doctor; or maybe he had thought that if she had heard the name of the other woman she would have asked him about her.

The crowd were still dancing and drinking and talking in
corner
s, but as the music ended Min
Gan
came in, bearing the oversized dish he must have kept back from the trolleys. In his spotless white suit and round cap, and smiling with his slanting Chinese eyes, he came straight to Andrew and bowed, before turning to bow towards Karen.

“
Tuan,
”
he said,
“
it is my privilege to watch, please?
”

Trust Andrew to carry it off suavely.
“
It sure is your privilege, Min Gan. I
’
ve never seen the marriage lotus so beautifully made and cooked. Come and look at them, Karen.
”

She saw them again, the pastry flowers packed with the fruit and nut mixture; only now were they garnished with real lotus buds. She smiled at the cook, murmured something. Andrew had the glasses filled up, carefully took the central mock-lotus and gave it to Karen before taking one for himself.

“
We bite at the same moment,
”
he said, holding her gaze steadily,
“
and the guests are not allowed their pick till we
’
ve eaten the whole flower. It means a long and happy
life together. Ready?
”