Page 93 of The Pearl Sister
‘I have also decided I shall tell Andrew myself when he returns home. I will not behave like a coward, Drummond. Camira will take Charlie out beforehand and I shall have a trunk packed and ready. I will leave immediately, collect Charlie from Camira and we will travel to meet you, wherever that may be.’
‘It seems you already have it all worked out.’
‘I have a practical nature and I have found that in difficult situations, it helps to be organised.’ Kitty did not wish him to see the gamut of emotions that were swirling beneath her calm exterior.
‘Am I allowed to express my complete and utter joy at your decision?’ he asked her.
‘You are, but I also wish to know where we should meet after I have . . . done the deed.’
‘Well now.’ Drummond snaked a hand to her across the table. ‘Kitty, are you sure you don’t wish for me to be there with you when you tell Andrew?’
‘Completely. I fear he may shoot you on the spot.’
‘He may well shoot you too.’
‘And it would be no less than I deserve.’ Kitty swallowed hard. ‘But I doubt it. Shooting his wife would certainly damage his reputation in Broome society.’
They both allowed themselves a hollow smile.
‘Are you sure about this, my Kat?’
‘I have no choice because Andrew deserves far better than an unfaithful wife who can never love him.’
‘If it’s any comfort, I am sure it won’t be long before the pearling mothers of Broome have their dutiful daughters lined up along the path to his front door. Now, enough of that. I suggest that I still travel on to Darwin by ship, as I’ve already told both my father and Andrew I plan to do. Then you and Charlie make your escape on the next boat out to Darwin and meet me there.’
‘Andrew may come after us.’
‘He may, and if he does, we shall deal with it.’ Drummond squeezed her hand. ‘By then I shall be by your side.’
‘Must you go to Adelaide? Surely this business meeting with your father can be conducted on another suitable date?’ Kitty could feel her resolve to remain unemotional slowly melting away.
‘The last thing in the world I want to do is to leave you here; above all, I fear that you might change your mind while I’m gone.’ He gave her a grim smile. ‘However, in order for the three of us to have any kind of future, I must go and put my signature on the deeds to Kilgarra station and the other assets. I doubt my father will be keen to transfer them once he knows the truth.’
‘And what about Charlie?’ Kitty felt tears pricking her eyes. ‘How do I explain all this to him?’
‘Just tell him he is coming on a visit to the Outback to visit Uncle Drum and his thousands of cows. I have told him many stories about Kilgarra, and I know he is eager to see it for himself. Then’ – Drummond shrugged his broad shoulders – ‘time passes and you simply don’t return home.’ He paused then. ‘Are you sure about all this, Kat?’
‘No.’ Kitty gave a small shake of her head as he raised he hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.
‘Of course not. Why should you be?’
* * *
Kitty wept softly against Drummond’s shoulder the night before he left, then, as he slept, took in every inch of him and consigned it to memory. The awfulness of what she had to face between now and the next time she saw him was simply too huge to contemplate.
Their public parting on the quay the next morning was as it should be – she kissed him chastely on both cheeks and wished him well. Any emotion she felt was subsumed by an inconsolable Charlie.
‘Come and visit me soon,’ Drummond called as he walked up the gangplank.
‘I will, Uncle Drum, I promise.’ Charlie was crying openly.
‘I love you,’ he shouted back, though his eyes fell on Kitty. ‘I’ll see you sooner than you think.’
And with a last wave, Drummond disappeared from sight.
Kitty did her best to keep busy, spring-cleaning the house and even insisting Fred help her plant some rose cuttings. She had no idea whether they would take, and even if they did, she wouldn’t be here to see the result.
Yet there was no doubt of her resolve. She could not continue to live a lie. It was as if her life with Andrew had been like a blister pearl – so bright and large on the surface, but at its core, nothing but dull mud. Now she and Drummond had created their own perfect pearl, its edges smooth with joy, and impenetrable love at its very centre.
