‘Ask Mr Noel. He authorised them,’ the man told her.
‘Well now, there’s sometimes an occasion when a diver has a snide pearl – that is, one that he has smuggled off the lugger. If he believes it might be valuable . . .’ Noel looked down at his hands, which were clasping and unclasping nervously. ‘Rather than having the diver steal it and keep the value totally for himself, Mr Andrew – and Mr Stefan before him – would offer an amount in cash for any man who would bring what they believed to be a particularly special pearl to them. Some of them turned out to be nothing more than blister pearls, but this way, the risk was shared. Do ye see?’
‘Yes, I understand completely.’
Kitty made an appointment at the bank for that afternoon, and sat across the desk from Mr Harris. His face looked pained as she explained the situation to him.
‘I assure you that there is no shortage of funds, Mr Harris. The Mercer empire is worth a fortune.’
‘That may be, Mrs Mercer, but I’m afraid the bank needs immediate surety. Perhaps you can transfer such funds from another part of the Mercer empire.’ The bank manager remained stony-faced, used to living in a town full of souls who would blag their way into gaining further months of credit.
Given the fact that Kitty had no idea what was in the Mercer bank accounts and knowing she would need to take a trip to Adelaide to visit the family lawyer to find out, she nodded.
‘I am aware of that. Could you perhaps give me a month’s leeway?’
‘I’m afraid not, Mrs Mercer. The overdraft is currently running at twenty-three thousand pounds.’
‘Perhaps our house could provide temporary surety for you?’ she suggested. ‘It is in the best part of Broome, and sumptuously furnished. Will you accept that until I can arrange further funds?’
‘Mrs Mercer,’ the bank manager said with a frown, ‘far be it from me to advise you, but are you sure this is wise? Perhaps you do not realise just how capricious the pearling industry can be. I would be most distressed to find you and your son without a roof over your heads in the future.’
‘It is indeed a capricious business, Mr Harris, and if one was a gambler, one might bet on the fact that the Mercer family is due a run of good luck after such a difficult time. I will bring the deeds to you tomorrow.’
‘As you wish, Mrs Mercer. And the bank will require the rest of the funds to be replaced within the next six months.’
‘Agreed. However,’ Kitty said as she rose, ‘if I even hear a whisper about this transaction from any quarter of this town, all our business with you will be withdrawn forthwith. Is that understood?’
‘It is.’
‘Good. I will be back tomorrow to complete the paperwork.’
Kitty left his office with her head held high, fully aware that she didn’t need to put herself through this – she and Charlie could scuttle back to Alicia Hall and live in luxury with Edith if she chose to.
‘A fate worse than death.’ She repeated Drummond’s words as she left the bank and walked out into the burning midday sun. Living a lie here alone was one thing, but to live it every day under the roof of a woman who believed her eldest son was alive and would one day return was another.
Back at home, Kitty’s head swam once more and she cursed her skin and bones, knowing she needed to show nothing but strength if the business was to survive. Sitting at her desk, she drew out the ledgers she had brought home with her in Andrew’s leather case and studied them again.
‘Good Lord.’ Kitty rested her head on the desk. ‘What have I begun?’
There was a knock on the door and Camira came in with a tray holding the pot of tea she had requested.
‘Thank you,’ she said, rising from her desk to take it from her.
‘Missus Kitty, you look like you dead too. Rest, you needum rest.’
‘It is merely the heat, and I . . .’
Camira watched in horror as her beloved mistress collapsed on the floor.
*
‘Madam, when was your last course?’
Kitty looked up into the intelligent dark eyes of Dr Suzuki. She frowned as she tried to remember, wondering why he wished to know this when it was obvious she was still suffering from exhaustion, plus the remnants of her recent bout of cholera.
‘Perhaps two months ago. I really do not know, Dr Suzuki.’
‘You have not bled since?’
Kitty shuddered at his lack of delicacy. Even though she knew he was the better physician, Dr Blick would never talk in such graphic terms. She thought quickly. ‘It was the middle of April,’ Kitty lied. ‘Now I remember.’
‘Really? Well now, that surprises me. I would say that your baby is around four months in gestation.’
‘I am pregnant? Are you sure?’
‘Quite sure.’
It can’t be true . . .
‘Apart from your condition, I can pronounce that you are in perfect health. May I offer my congratulations, madam, and hope your husband returns to you soon so you can share the happy news with him.’
‘Thank you,’ said Kitty numbly.
‘You have endured terrible loss, but what God takes away, he returns. Now, I can only prescribe as much rest as possible. You are far too thin and the baby is obviously large. Stay in bed for the next month and preserve the life that is growing inside you.’
Kitty watched in shocked silence as Dr Suzuki packed away his instruments.
‘Good day to you, Mrs Mercer. I am at your service, should you need me.’ He gave her a small bow and left her bedroom.
‘No, please . . .’ Kitty gasped as a small tear dribbled from her eye in protest. ‘I have so much to do.’
She looked up at the ceiling and saw a large spider making its way across it. And remembered how Drummond had appeared in her bedroom to save her all those years ago.
‘I am pregnant with your child . . .’ she breathed, then thanked the stars in the sky that at least his recent deception would allow everyone to believe it was her husband’s baby. From what she remembered, her last bleed had been in mid-February . . .
‘Oh Lord.’ Kitty bit her lip. ‘What a mess,’ she whispered.
Tentatively, she touched her stomach.
‘Forgive me,’ she begged this new life that was innocent of all sin. ‘For you will never be able to know the truth of who your father is.’
Broome
January 1929
17 years later
24
The sun had long since set when Kitty raised her tired eyes from the ledger in front of her. Taking off her reading glasses, she rested an elbow on her desk and rubbed the bridge of her nose wearily. Glancing at the clock on the office wall, she saw it was well past eight. The staff would all have left the building by now and she knew she probably should too, but if she was honest, it was quite normal for her to sit here burning the midnight oil.