Page 119 of The Pearl Sister
His eyes narrowed but he did not reply.
‘Oh my God, Drummond, you’re alive! You’rehere!She ran to him, but was startled when he pushed her away harshly. His blue eyes were steely and red-rimmed.
‘Kitty, it is not Drummond, but Andrew, your husband!’
‘I . . .’ Her head spun and she fought off the urge to vomit, but some deep instinct told her she must dredge her mind to produce an explanation.
‘I have been so lost in grief, I can hardly remember my own name. Of course it is you, Andrew, yes, now I see it is.’ She urged her hand to caress his cheek, his hair. ‘How can this be? How can my husband return to me from the dead?’
‘I hardly know . . . oh Kitty . . .’ His face crumpled and he fell back against the wall. She caught him by the arm and led him to a chair, where his head dropped into his hands and his shoulders shook with heavy sobs.
‘Oh my darling,’ she whispered, tears coming to her own eyes. She went to the sideboard, poured him a measure of brandy, then thrust it into his trembling fingers. Eventually, he took a sip.
‘I can’t bear it,’ he murmured. ‘My brother and father . . . gone. But I am still here.Howcan God be so cruel?’ He looked up at her, his eyes desolate. ‘I should have been on theKoombana.I should have died with them . . .’
‘Hush, my darling, it is a miracle to have you back with us. Please, how did you survive?’
Andrew took another sip of brandy and gathered his strength. Pain seemed to have deepened the lines on his young face, and beneath the red streaks of mud, his skin was grey with exhaustion and shock.
‘I left the ship shortly after Fremantle. I had some . . . business to attend to. I travelled overland, and it was not until I reached Port Hedland two days ago that I heard the news. I have not slept since . . .’ His voice broke then, and he hid his face from her.
‘It has all been a grave shock for you, my love,’ she said, trying to collect herself, ‘and you have not had time to process it. Let me fetch you something to eat. And you must take off your wet clothes. I shall lay out some dry ones for you.’ Her body was eager to have some occupation, as her mind could not be still. He caught her hand.
‘Did you not get my telegram? I told you I had a last-minute errand to attend to.’
‘Yes, I did. You said your father would tell me what you meant, but Andrew, he didn’t arrive . . .’ Kitty’s voice trailed off.
He winced. ‘Of course. How is my mother? She must be devastated.’
‘I . . . do not know. I did write to her straight after it happened, but . . .’ Guiltily, Kitty pointed to the pile of still unopened telegrams. ‘Noel Donovan came to see me only yesterday and said that he had not heard from her either.’
‘For God’s sake, Kitty!’ Andrew stood up, shaking with anger. ‘Noel Donovan is merely a member of my staff. At a time like this, she would hardly respond to such a man. You are her daughter-in-law! Did you not think that she might need to have a further response from you?’ He began to tear open the telegrams, read them briefly, then shook one in her face.
COME TO ADELAIDE AT ONCE STOP I CANNOT TRAVEL THERE FOR I AM UNDONE STOP MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENED STOP REPLY BY RETURN STOP EDITH STOP
Andrew threw it on the floor. ‘So, while you have been comforted by the local townsfolk, attending memorial services and receiving letters of condolence, my mother has been alone in her grief, thousands of miles away.’
‘You are right, and I am so very sorry. Forgive me, Andrew.’
‘And forgivemefor coming home in anticipation of seeing my wife, having discovered that my father and brother are dead. And yet you have sat here for these past weeks without even having the foresight to think of my poor mother.’
They didn’t speak much after that. As Andrew wolfed down the plate of bread and cold meats she brought him, Kitty watched his expressions carefully as a variety of emotions passed across his eyes, but he didn’t share them with her.
‘Andrew, will you come to bed?’ Kitty asked him eventually. ‘You must be exhausted.’ She reached a hand out but he snatched his away.
‘No. I will take a bath. Go and sleep.’
‘I will draw one for you.’
‘No! I will do it. Goodnight, Kitty. I will see you in the morning.’
‘Goodnight.’ Kitty left the room, and upon reaching her bedroom, closed the door behind her, biting her lip to stop the sobs that were building up inside her chest.
I can’t bear it . . .
After undressing, she lay down and buried her face in the pillow.
I called him Drummond . . . my God! How could I have done that?
