Andrew swiftly excused himself to go in search of his mother and Kitty wandered onto the veranda in search of some cool air.
Instantly, she was swept up from behind by a strong pair of arms and twirled round in circles, then finally lowered back to the ground.
‘Happy New Year, Miss McBride, Kitty . . . Kat . . . yes, that nickname suits you perfectly, for you are feline, light on your feet and far cleverer, I suspect, than most people give you credit for. In short, you are a survivor.’
‘Am I?’ Kitty’s head was spinning and she steadied herself. She looked up at Drummond. ‘Are you drunk?’
‘Hah! That’s rich coming from you, Miss Kitty-Kat. Perhaps a little, but people tell me I’m an affectionate drunk. Now, I have something to say to you.’
‘And what might that be?’
‘You must know as well as I do that plans are afoot to make sure you join our family on a more permanent basis.’
‘I . . .’
‘Don’t pretend you have no idea what I mean. It is quite obvious to everybody that Andrew is in love with you. I have even heard my parents discussing it. Father is all for it; Mother – for whatever churlish female reason – less so. But given that my father’s word goes in this house, I’m sure it won’t be too long before a proposal is forthcoming.’
‘I can assure you that no such thought has crossed my mind.’
‘Then you are either full of false modesty, or more stupid than I took you for. Naturally, as the eldest, he gets the first shot at you, but before you decide, I wanted to throw my hat into the ring and tell you that, for a woman, you have a number of qualities which I admire. And . . .’
For the first time since Kitty had known him, she saw uncertainty in Drummond’s eyes.
‘The thing is this.’ Then he took her in his arms and kissed her hard upon the lips. Whether from shock or sheer pleasure, Kitty did not immediately pull away, and her entire body proceeded to melt like a knob of butter left out in the Australian sun.
‘There now,’ he said as he finally let her go. Then he leant down to whisper in her ear. ‘Remember this: my brother can offer you security, but with me, you’ll have adventure. Just swear to me that you won’t make a decision until I’m back from Europe. Now, I’m off to The Edinburgh Castle to celebrate until dawn with my friends. Goodnight, Miss McBride.’
With a wave, Drummond left her on the veranda and headed to the back of the house. As she heard the pony and cart trotting out of the gate, Kitty moved her fingers tentatively to her lips. And relived every second of the pleasure she had felt at his touch.
*
Kitty did not see Drummond the next morning – he’d gone early to the steamer to supervise the loading of the trunks. Kitty handed over the letters that Stefan Mercer had kindly said he would post to her family when he reached Europe.
‘Or in fact,’ he said with a wink, ‘I may even go and deliver them personally. Goodbye, my dear.’ He kissed her on both cheeks. Then, with the household waving him off, he climbed into the carriage.
Kitty ate breakfast alone with Andrew, as Mrs McCrombie was taking hers in her room and Edith had gone to the dock to wave her husband and son goodbye. Given the various conversations that had taken place yesterday, she felt uncomfortable sitting there with him. He seemed unusually subdued.
‘Miss McBride . . .’ he said eventually.
‘Please, Andrew, we agreed you must call me Kitty.’
‘Of course, of course. Kitty, do you ride?’
‘I do indeed, or rather, I did. I learnt as a child when we went down to stay with my grandparents in Dumfriesshire. Some of the ponies were rather wild, coming from the moors, and I spent quite a lot of my time being thrown off. Why do you ask?’
‘I was just thinking how there’s nothing like a gallop to clear out the cobwebs. We keep a bungalow up in the Adelaide Hills with a small stable attached to it. How say you we go up there today? The air is clearer and cooler, and I think you would like it. Mama has given her full permission for me to chaperone you, by the way.’
They arrived up at the Mercer family bungalow two hours later. Having expected little more than a cottage, Kitty was amazed to see the low-lying house was nothing less than a one-storey mansion, set in lush gardens and surrounded by vineyards. She made a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn, seeing the way the green hills dipped and rose around them. It reminded her a little of the Scottish Lowlands.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she breathed, meaning it.
‘I’m glad you like it. Now, let me show you the stables.’
Half an hour later, the two of them set out for a ride. As they trotted down the valley and onto a plain, Kitty chanced a canter. Taking the lead from her, Andrew kept pace, and Kitty laughed out loud in delight at the fresh air on her skin and the verdant green all about her.
When they returned to the bungalow, she saw a light lunch had been laid out on a table on the veranda.
‘This looks delicious,’ Kitty said, still panting from exertion as she flopped into a chair, and without further ado took a slice of bread, still warm from the oven.
‘There’s fresh lemon cordial for you too,’ Andrew offered.
‘Who made all this?’
‘The housekeeper here. She lives in all year round.’
‘Even though you told me on the way here you rarely visit?’
‘Yes. Father is very rich, and I intend to be too.’
‘I am sure you will be,’ Kitty said after a pause.
‘Of course,’ Andrew continued hastily, realising he had made an error, ‘it is not my main goal, but especially here in Australia, money can help.’
‘It can help anywhere, but I truly believe it cannot buy happiness.’
‘I couldn’t agree more, Kitty. Family and . . . love, is all.’
They ate the rest of their lunch in virtual silence, Kitty simply concentrating on enjoying her surroundings. And trying not to think of the probable reason for this outing.
‘Kitty . . .’ Andrew eventually broke the silence. ‘Perhaps you know why I’ve brought you up here?’
‘To show me the view?’ she answered, sounding disingenuous even to her own ears.
‘That, and . . . it cannot come as a complete surprise to you to know how . . . fond I’ve become of you in the last ten days.’
‘Oh, I am sure you would tire of me if you knew me for longer, Andrew.’
‘I doubt it, Kitty. As usual, you are just being modest. I have spoken to my aunt at length, a woman who has known of you for most of your life, and she could not find a bad word to say about you. In her eyes, as well as mine, you seem to be perfect. And, having already told my father and mother of my intentions, and them both agreeing . . .’
At this, Andrew stood up abruptly and came to kneel in front of her. ‘Katherine McBride, I would like to ask you to do me the honour of becoming my wife.’