‘Surely you wouldn’t wish that on me?’
‘It’s no less than you deserve. Dear Lord, what a mess. What a mess! And I cannot see a way out.’
‘Does there have to be one?’ Drummond approached her as though she was a cornered scorpion that might attack at any minute. ‘Does it matter what my name is, or yours? This way, we can be together, always. Forgive me, Kitty, if I acted in haste.’ He took a step closer to her. ‘Please?’
There was a loud thwack as Kitty slapped him hard across his cheek for the second time in her life, only just restraining herself from launching at him and punching him to the ground.
‘Do you not see? If you’d only waited, had some patience, not acted in your usual impetuous manner, then perhaps one day we could have been together. Legally, in the sight of God. Everyone would have thought it natural for a widow to grow close to her brother-in-law. But no, Drummond, you had to take the law into your own hands, and present yourself as Andrew to everyone in town!’
‘Then I will tell them I had a knock on the head, or—’
‘Don’t be ridiculous! No one would give that credence for an instant, and it would only implicate me in your disgusting lie. Are people really to believe that I didn’t know my own husband?’
‘Then perhaps we stick to the original plan,’ Drummond offered, desperate now. ‘You and Charlie come with me to the cattle station. No one would know who you were there . . .’
‘No! My husband is dead and I must honour his memory. Oh Drummond, can’t you see that you’ve made a pact with the Devil, and now nothing can ever be right between us again?’ Kitty sank to her knees on the sand and rested her head in her hands. Silence lay between them for a long time. Eventually, Drummond spoke.
‘You are right, of course, Kitty. I was impetuous. I saw a chance to claim you, and I didn’t stop to think. It is a huge fault of mine, I admit. I am so eager to live in the moment, I do not address the future consequences. So, what would you have me do?’
Kitty closed her eyes and drew in a breath, garnering the courage to say the words she needed to.
‘You must leave. As soon as possible.’
‘To go where?’
‘That cannot be my concern. You didn’t ask my opinion on your rash decision, and I cannot be party to others you make in the future.’
‘Then perhaps I will go and see my mother. Let the dust settle. Whichever son I am, it will bring her comfort that she has one left. Who should I be?’
‘I have just told you, I want nothing more to do with it.’ Kitty wrung her hands.
‘And what of the people here in Broome? Will they not wonder why your husband has arrived and departed again so swiftly?’
‘I am sure they will understand that after the death of a father and a brother, there is much to attend to elsewhere.’
‘Kitty . . .’ His hand reached out to her and she flinched, knowing his touch would break her resolve.
Drummond withdrew his hand. ‘Can you ever forgive me?’
‘I forgive you now, Drummond, for I know that despite your utter stupidity, you did not mean harm. Nor can I say I no longer love you, because I always will. But I can never condone what you have done, or live the lie that you have forged not just for us, but for Charlie too.’
‘I understand.’ Drummond stood up, and this time Kitty saw there were tears of utter devastation in his eyes. ‘I will leave as you have asked. And try – though at present I hardly know how – to put right the wrongs my selfish behaviour has inflicted upon you and Charlie. He will grow up without a father—’
‘Or an uncle.’
‘Is this forever?’
‘I can never lie to my son. He must hold his father’s memory sacred.’
‘But he saw me only this morning . . .’
‘Time heals, Drummond, and if you go away, it will not be so difficult to one day tell him that his father died.’
‘You would have me dead again?’
‘It is the only way.’
‘Then’ – Drummond took a deep, wrenching breath – ‘I will leave tonight. And however much I want to beg you – beseech you – to change your mind, to take the chance for happiness that stands now within our grasp, I won’t. Kitty, never look back on this moment and wonder if you were in any way to blame. You are not. It was I who ruined our future.’
‘We should be getting back. It’s growing dark.’ Kitty rose, her limbs hanging limply, as though she was a stuffed toy plucked of its innards.
‘Can I at least hold you one last time? To say goodbye?’
Kitty had no energy to answer yes or no. She let him take her in his arms and they stood close together for the last time.
Eventually he released her, offered her his hand and they walked back together across the sand.
Kitty was only glad that Charlie was already in bed by the time they arrived home. She fled to her bedroom and shut the door, then sat in a chair like a condemned woman, waiting for the sound of Drummond’s feet along the hall, and the click of the front door that would tell her he was gone. Instead, she saw shadows outside her window, and the sound of voices. Rising from her bed and peering out, she saw Drummond talking to Camira in the garden. Five minutes later, there was a knock on Kitty’s door.
‘Forgive me for disturbing you, Kitty, but I must give you something before I leave.’ Drummond proffered a small leather box to her. ‘It is the reason why I am still alive today. Andrew received a telegram as we were sailing up from Fremantle. He told me that there was a pearl – a very famous pearl – that he’d heard through his contacts was for sale. He’d done much detective work to confirm its provenance, and had contacted the third party acting for the seller. The telegram he received in return said he was to bring the cash to the appointed place, some hours’ journey from Geraldton. As you know, I agreed to be his messenger, left the ship and went to collect the pearl. With Andrew advising me of what to look for when I saw it, I knew it was genuine. So,’ he sighed, ‘my last gesture to my brother is to deliver the Roseate Pearl into his wife’s hands as he wished. It is worth a king’s ransom – almost two hundred grains heavy – and Andrew could hardly wait to see it around your neck, to show both his love for you and his success to the whole of Broome.’
‘I—’
‘Wait, Kitty. There is more. You must know that legend has it that the pearl is cursed. Every legal owner has allegedly died a sudden, shocking death. Andrew was the current owner of the pearl, and he lies at the bottom of the sea. Kitty, even though I must do as my brother asked, I entreat you to rid yourself of it as soon as you can. Never own it. In fact, I shall not put it into your hands, but leave it wherever you deem a safe place. I beg you not to touch it.’
Kitty studied the box, then Drummond’s face, and saw not one hint of mirth in his eyes. He was deadly serious.
‘Can I at least see it?’