Page 83 of The Pearl Sister
‘I presume they are blacks?’
‘I prefer not to use that term. They are Yawuru.’
‘Good for you. It is unusual to have such a family unit working for you.’
‘I wouldn’t call them that, exactly. It’s complicated.’
‘It always is,’ Drummond agreed, ‘but I am glad for you. Once such people are committed, they make the most loyal of servants and protectors. To be honest, I am astounded that my brother allowed you to employ such a couple.’
‘They aren’t a couple.’
‘Whatever arrangement they have is unimportant. Whatisimportant is that Andrew overrode his prejudice and allowed them close. Now I am no longer so concerned about you being here in Broome alone. I admit to being horrified when I received the telegram. Why did my brother not take you with him?’
‘He said it was a business trip and that Charlie would become restless aboard ship. He wanted me to go to Adelaide to stay with your mother, but I refused.’
‘You thought that option a fate worse than death, no doubt.’ Drummond raised an eyebrow and refilled his brandy glass. ‘I am sure that you have realised by now that the only thing that matters to Andrew is proving himself to Father. And, of course, becoming richer than him.’
‘These things matter to him, of course they do, as they matter to any man—’
‘Not to me.’
‘To every other man, then.’ Kitty stifled her irritation as she watched Drummond drain his brandy glass yet again.
‘Perhaps I have never known the pressure of being the eldest son of a rich man. I’ve often mused on the fact that those two short hours it took me to follow Andrew into the world were a godsend. I am happy to have him take the Mercer crown. As you may have realised, I am a lost cause, unfit for civilised society. Unlike Andrew, who is – and has always been – a stoic pillar of it.’
‘He is certainly a good husband to me and a caring father to Charlie. We want for nothing, I have no complaints.’
‘Well, I do.’ Drummond suddenly slammed his glass down onto the table. ‘I asked you to wait until I’d returned from Europe before you said yes to Andrew. And you didn’t.’
Kitty stared at him, outraged at his vanity. ‘Do you really believe I thought you were being serious? I didn’t hear another word from you!’
‘I was on a boat when my brother proposed. I hardly felt it appropriate to send a telegram asking him why his fiancee hadn’t adhered to my wishes!’
‘Drummond, you were drunk that night, as you are now!’
‘Drunk or sober, what the hell is the difference?! Youknewthat I wanted you!’
‘I knew nothing! Enough!’ Kitty stood up, now shaking with anger. ‘I will not listen to this rubbish any longer. I am Andrew’s wife. We have a child and a life together, and that is the end of it.’
Silence fell between them; the only sound in the room was the rain rattling down on the roof above them.
‘My apologies, Kitty. I have travelled a long way. I am exhausted and not used to civilised company. Perhaps I should go to bed.’
‘Perhaps you should.’
Drummond stood up, swaying slightly. ‘Goodnight.’ He walked to the door, then turned round to look at her. ‘That New Year kiss is what I remember most of all. Don’t you?’
With that, he left the room.
17
Kitty hardly slept that night, Drummond’s words racing around her head like a swarm of flies feasting on a carcass.
‘Please ignore anything I said, I was delirious from exhaustion and drink,’ he said at breakfast the next morning. Then he took Charlie into his arms and threw him high into the air, catching the laughing child and placing his chubby legs about his own broad shoulders.
‘So, nephew of mine, we men must stick together. Show me what needs to be shown around here.’
They promptly disappeared out of the drive, and were gone so long that Kitty was quite beside herself with worry when they eventually returned.
