‘He gave me no indication, Mr Donovan.’
‘Did he not talk over your supper table as my missus and I tend to?’ Noel continued to press her. ‘If anyone knows his thoughts on the future of the business, t’would be you.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Some deeper instinct in Kitty told her to answer in the affirmative. ‘Before his departure, we spoke of many things.’
‘Then ye’ll be aware that your husband removed twenty thousand pounds from the company bank account only a few days before he died?’
Kitty’s stomach plummeted as she realised what Andrew had almost certainly used the money for. ‘Yes. What of it?’
‘Perhaps t’was for a new lugger?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘And would ye be knowing who was building it? There seems to be no record in the ledgers.’
‘I’m afraid not, although I believe it was a company in England.’
‘Could well be. The fact remains, Mrs Mercer, that we lost three luggers in the cyclone. I’m thanking God t’was the lay-up season, or t’would surely have been more. The problem is that, combined with the deficit of twenty thousand pounds, it means that we’re running a substantial overdraft with the bank.’
‘Are we really?’ Although Kitty was shocked, she did not show her surprise. ‘Surely the debt can be repaid over an agreed period of time, while the company recovers from its loss?’
‘Twenty thousand pounds and three luggers down is a lot to recover from, Mrs Mercer. Even with a good haul in the coming months, I’d say t’would take us a good three years to pay it off before we’re back into profit. Unless, of course, we strike lucky . . .’ Noel’s voice trailed off and she read the concern on his normally placid features.
‘I see.’
‘And the other problem we have, if ye don’t mind me saying so, is that morale amongst the crew’s low. ’Tis the double loss, see. However hard your husband worked, many of them would still be seeing Mr Stefan as the boss. As it is, with Mr Andrew absent, some of our best men are being lured into taking offers from other companies. Only yesterday, Ichitaro, our most experienced diver, told me that he and his tender were off to work for the Rubin company. ’Tis a huge blow, and will only encourage other men to do the same.’
‘I understand completely, Mr Donovan. It is indeed a very concerning situation.’
‘Well now.’ Noel stood up. ‘Here’s me bothering you about business at a time when ye yerself have lost so much. I’ll be on me way.’
‘Mr Donovan.’ Kitty also stood. ‘It seems to me that, as you say, the men are dispirited and without a leader. Perhaps it might be a good idea if I came down to the office and spoke to them? Explained that the Mercer Pearling Company is still very much a going concern, and that there is no cause for alarm?’
Noel looked doubtful. ‘I’d say that – without wishing to offend you, Mrs Mercer – I’m not sure they’d be listening to a woman.’
‘Do men not listen to their wives or take comfort from them at home?’ Kitty retaliated and Noel blushed.
‘Well now, maybe ye are right. And I can’t say as t’would do harm. Our luggers are due out the day after tomorrow. We’ve been delayed by trying to find replacement crew.’
‘Have you yet paid those men who have said they are leaving?’
‘No. They’ll be coming in for their final wages in the morning.’
‘Then please gather together as many crew as you can drag out of the bars and whorehouses and tell them that the new boss of the Mercer Pearling Company wishes to address them all at eleven o’clock tomorrow.’
Noel raised an eyebrow. ‘Are ye telling me, Mrs Mercer, that Andrew has handed the business over to you?’
‘In essence, yes. I am executor of the trust in which the business is currently held, so I am the closest thing to a “boss” there is.’
‘Well now, there’s a thing. I warn ye, Mrs Mercer, they’re a motley crew, so they are, and they’ll all be expecting a man.’
‘I have lived in Broome for five years, Mr Donovan, and I am hardly unaware of that. I will see you tomorrow at eleven o’clock sharp.’ Kitty went to the drawer in her writing bureau and counted out a stack of Australian pound notes. ‘Go to Yamasaki and Mise and buy twenty-four bottles of their best champagne.’
‘Are you sure ’tis sensible, Mrs Mercer, given the company’s finances?’
‘This is not the company’s money, Mr Donovan. It is mine.’
‘Well now.’ Noel pocketed the money and offered her a smile. ‘I’d say that one way or another, our employees are in for a grand shock altogether.’
When Noel had left, Kitty called for Fred to take her into town. She walked into Wing Hing Loong’s tailoring shop and asked whether he could run her up a long-sleeved bodice and skirt in the white cotton drill used for the pearling masters’ suits. The bodice was to have five large pearl buttons, which fastened at the front, and a mandarin collar. Having offered double the normal cost to make sure that the garments would be ready for collection at nine the following morning, she returned home and spent the afternoon pacing the drawing room to think what she would say when she addressed the men. At a loss, and wondering if she was completely mad to do this, she remembered her father standing in the pulpit each Sunday. She had often watched the crowd mesmerised, not by his words, but by the sheer strength of his belief in them, and his undoubted charisma.
It’s worth a try for Andrew, for Charlie and for Drummond, she told herself, as an idea suddenly came to her.
*
Kitty studied her image in the looking glass the following morning. She fastened on the small gold chain taken from Andrew’s pristine white jacket, which was the symbol of a master pearler. She picked up the white pith helmet, put it on her head and chuckled at her reflection. Maybe it was a little too much, but nevertheless, she stowed it by Andrew’s leather case, which he had used to transfer his papers between office and home.
Taking one last glance at her reflection, she drew in a deep breath.
‘Kitty McBride, you were not born your father’s daughter for nothing . . .’
*
‘Gentlemen,’ Kitty began as she looked down at the sea of male faces below her, wondering briefly how many different nationalities she was addressing. Japanese, Malay, Koepanger, and a slew of whiter faces peppered amongst them. She could see some of them were already sniggering and whispering to each other.
‘First of all, I wish to introduce myself to those of you who do not know me. My name is Katherine Mercer, and I am the wife of Mr Andrew Mercer. Due to the recent loss of his father and brother, Mr Mercer has been forced to take a leave of absence from Broome to deal with our family’s affairs. I hope we would all wish him well on his travels, and pray for him to find the strength to deal with such matters at a difficult time for him personally.’
Kitty heard a slight quaver in her voice as she repeated the lie.