Page 138 of The Sun Sister

The sound of her mother’s voice at the other end of the crackly line brought unbidden tears to Cecily’s eyes.

‘How are you? How’s Papa? And Mamie, of course? Has she had the baby?’

‘One question at a time, Cecily,’ her mother chuckled. ‘I’ve been trying to get through to you for days to tell you that yes, Mamie has had a sweet little girl whom she’s named Christabel. Papa isn’t happy because he was so hoping for a boy to help “fight his corner”, as he put it, but oh, Cecily, she is the most beautiful little thing.’

‘And are they both well?’

‘Sure they are. The birth was a breeze according to Mamie – she keeps asking why so many women complain about it.’

‘It must be all those calisthenics classes she took,’ said Cecily. ‘Please send her my love and tell her I can’t wait to see my new niece. You will send me a photo of her, Mama, won’t you?’

‘Of course I will. How is Kenya?’

‘I...It’s good, Mama.’

And so hot that I can’t breathe sometimes, and it’s so very weird and lonely here at Mundui House and I nearly got eaten by a hungry lion and I’m missing you so much...

‘So, when are you coming home? Papa says everyone here is getting concerned about the war. Some are saying that it’s inevitable now.’

‘I know, Mama, I’ve heard that too but—’

‘Well now, I was wondering whether it might be an idea for you to fly to England as soon as you can, honey. Then at least, if anything does happen, you’re only a steamer’s trip across the Atlantic away. Audrey says she’s happy to have you back at Woodhead Hall until...’

‘After Jack and Patricia’s wedding is over,’ Cecily finished for her. Her body gave a small shudder, not only at the fact her mother would put the embarrassment of the wedding of her ex-fiancé above her daughter’s safety, but also at the thought of ever setting foot in Woodhead Hall again.

‘Really, Mama, even though I’m desperate to come home as soon as I can, I’m fine right here. If war does break out, my friend Tarquin swears it won’t affect Kenya immediately. So how about you book me a ticket for the middle of April?’

In other words, just after the nuptials have taken place...

‘Are you sure you don’t want to go stay with Audrey in England?’

‘Totally,’ Cecily replied firmly.

‘Okay, I’ll tell Papa to look into making the reservation. Oh, I’ve missed you so much, honey, and we all...’

Dorothea’s voice disappeared into the ether as the crackling grew louder. Cecily replaced the old-fashioned receiver onto its cradle and, arms folded, walked out onto the terrace and surveyed the view.

Maybe she should just return home next week and to hell with Jack’s wedding.

‘Who cares?’ she whispered to a baboon, who was staring at her, wondering whether he should risk making the leap onto the table on the veranda to steal the breakfast that had just been set up by Chege, the junior houseboy who was second in charge to Aleeki.

‘Boo!’ She clapped her hands as she walked towards the baboon, who sat where he was, regarding her slyly. ‘Off with you!’ she shouted and, eventually, he retreated. Sitting down at the table and drinking the hot, strong coffee, Cecily listened to the now familiar caws, cackles and calls that heralded the start of the day here at Mundui House. She’d breakfasted alone here every day for almost three weeks now. On her return from the safari, she’d been handed a letter from Chege.

‘Frommemsahibtomemsahib,’ he had said.

The letter from Kiki had informed her that she had gone to Nairobi to support Alice through her illness, and had taken Aleeki with her. She’d added that she would ‘return in a trice’, but a few days later, Aleeki had come back to collect a trunk of his mistress’s clothes. He’d explained that Kiki was staying in Nairobi for longer and had disappeared off back to her soon after.

Cecily knew full well that what Aleeki had told her was a lie; she’d met Katherine only last week when she’d joined Makena and Chege on a trip into Gilgil.

‘I’m so sorry I haven’t been in touch,’ Katherine had apologised, ‘but the wedding has rather taken over, amongst other things.’

When Cecily had asked her how Alice was and when she might be leaving hospital, Katherine had looked surprised.

‘Oh, she’s been back home for the past two weeks. She insisted she couldn’t stay in hospital a moment longer, so I’ve been taking care of her at Wanjohi Farm. She’s much better now and talking about going off on safari in the Congo, although, of course, she’s concerned, as we all are, about the situation in Europe and how that might affect things in Africa...Gosh, I’m amazed Kiki didn’t tell you Alice was back.’

‘I haven’t seen Kiki for weeks,’ Cecily had explained. ‘Aleeki told me she was in Nairobi.’

‘Well, maybe she is – probably staying at Muthaiga Club, although I must say that it’s pretty bad form to abandon her goddaughter. Anyway, once this wedding of mine is over and I’ve finally moved into our new home, you’ll be terribly welcome to come and stay with me and Bobby. You must be lonely at Mundui all by yourself, poor darling.’