‘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. What is important 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?! You knew that 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.
‘Charlie has shown me the town,’ Drummond said, setting him onto his feet. Kitty noticed her son’s face was filthy from chocolate and ice cream and God knew what else.
‘I did, Mama, and everyone thought he was Papa! He lookum the same!’
‘He does look the same, yes, Charlie.’
‘We fooled a few people, didn’t we, Charlie?’ Drummond laughed as he set about wiping the child’s dirty mouth.
‘We did, Uncle Drum.’
‘We might well be receiving some house calls from confused neighbours who believe that your husband has returned early from his travels. Personally, I can hardly wait.’ Drummond winked at Kitty.
Sure enough, in the days that followed, there was a stream of townsfolk beating a path to her door. Each time, Drummond greeted them politely, behaving like the perfect host. He was far more ebullient than his brother, joking with them gently about their mistake and charming all who met him. The end result was a flood of dinner invitations arriving through the letter box.
‘Yet another one,’ Kitty said as she opened it. ‘And it’s from the Jeffords! Truly, Drummond, we must refuse them all.’
‘Why? Am I not your brother-in-law? Let alone Charlie’s uncle and my father’s son? Have I not been invited here at the specific request of my twin brother?’
‘You said only recently that a snakebite was less deadly than the viper tongue of a female neighbour. You will see such an event as sport, and however dull you may find our “colonial middle-class” acquaintances, I do not wish you to offend them,’ Kitty retorted.
‘I told you that I was drunk that evening. I remember nothing,’ he called after her as she stalked along the hallway and into the drawing room.
‘What the matter, Missus Kitty? You lookum sad.’ Feather duster in hand, Camira surveyed her.
‘Nothing, I think I must be tired.’
‘Mister Drum upset you?’
‘No.’ Kitty sighed. ‘It’s too complicated to explain.’
‘He likem light in sky; Mister Andrew dark, likem earth. Both good, jus’ different.’
Kitty thought how accurate Camira’s assessment of the twins was.
‘Charlie likem him, me an’ Fred likem him. He good here now for us.’
But not for me . . .
‘Yes, it is good he is here. And you’re right, Charlie seems to adore him.’
‘Mister Drum makem the life better for you, Missus Kitty. He funny fella.’
Kitty stood up. ‘I think I’ll take a nap, Camira. Could you mind Charlie while I do?’
Camira studied her suspiciously. ‘Yessum. I in charge of little fella.’
Kitty went to lie down and wondered if she was sick. She certainly felt feverish and, despite her best intentions, the mere thought of Drummond’s presence only a few feet away through a paper-thin wall had set her senses on fire. He hadn’t said a single intimate word to her since the first night, and he’d confessed to being drunk then anyway . . .
Kitty rolled over to try to get comfortable and allow her tired mind some rest. Perhaps he really was here out of best intentions: minding his sister-in-law as his brother had asked him to do.
*
IN SINGAPORE STOP HEAR DRUMMOND WITH YOU STOP GLAD YOU ARE NOT ALONE STOP BUSINESS GOING WELL STOP LOVE TO YOU AND CHARLIE STOP ANDREW STOP