Page 155 of The Sun Sister

She hadn’t seen him for a few days now, as he’d been busy with his cattle. They’d communicated by the crackly telephone, Cecily reporting in verbal shorthand that Kiki had suggested the third Friday in April (which just happened to be the same day as Cecily’s ex-fiancé’s, a coincidence which gave her a healthy modicum of satisfaction). This would allow everyone time to organise whatever it was that one needed to organise for a wedding. Her godmother was eager to hold the reception here at the house, but equally, Cecily was acutely aware of Bill’s feelings towards Kiki.

She walked upstairs to tidy herself up. Bill was due for supper here in an hour. At least Kiki was in Nairobi visiting Tarquin tonight, so she and her husband-to-be could discuss the situation openly. It was sad that her family wouldn’t be with her for the wedding, Cecily thought as she surveyed her wardrobe, wondering which dress would still zip up around her already expanding waist, but at the very least she’d make sure there was a photographer on hand to record the event. Perhaps it was her godmother’s infectious enthusiasm for the wedding, but even Cecily felt a tingle of excitement at the thought of her fiancé arriving for dinner tonight to discuss the plans.

‘My fiancé.’ She laughed out loud at the absurdity of it, but then all romantic notions of the union were swept away as she tried to zip up her favourite blue dress and failed miserably.

You have to remember, Cecily, she told herself,this is just an arrangement. Bill doesn’t love you. And besides, how could he anyway, when you are expecting a baby by someone else?

Eventually, dressed in a cream muslin blouse and a skirt with an elastic waist, Cecily walked downstairs. She went into the library to collect the notes she’d made with Kiki.

‘Sahibis just arrived. Ginger tea,memsahib?’ Aleeki said.

‘I’ll stick to water tonight, thank you,’ she said as she stepped outside onto the terrace.

‘Good evening, Cecily. My apologies if I’m a little late.’

‘No, you’re not at all,’ Cecily smiled as Bill came to join her.

‘And I probably stink of cattle too; there’s been a problem – six of them have got sleeping sickness, so I’ve spent the past three days checking on the rest.’

‘I see.’

‘You almost certainly don’t and probably never will,’ sighed Bill, striding to the table set for two under the veranda, then reaching for the champagne and pouring himself a glass before Aleeki could do it for him. ‘The damned animals rule my life – they’ll be on the move down from the mountains when the rains come, and we want them in good health for the journey. So how has your week been?’

‘Good, thank you. I obviously have a few questions for you,’ replied Cecily as she sat down opposite him.

‘Of course you do.’ Bill took a slug of his champagne. ‘And I have some for you too.’ He placed a cardboard tube on the table then unrolled a sheet of paper from it. ‘These are the original plans for the farmhouse that I intended to build when I first came to Kenya. Up to now they’ve never come to fruition and the tin hut has sufficed. I’d like you to have a look over them and see if there’s anything you want to change. Then I’ll get a team going on the building of it.’

‘Why, I’d be delighted to look at them.’

‘You’ll be there a lot more than I will, so you might as well have a say,’ Bill said, pouring himself another glass of champagne. ‘God, I hate this stuff! Have you any beer, Aleeki?’

‘Yes,sahib.’ As Aleeki scuttled away to get it, Cecily could read the tension on Bill’s face.

‘So,’ he said as Aleeki reappeared with the bottle of beer, ‘have you decided when we’re going to make the announcement?’

‘Well, as soon as we have a date for the wedding, I suppose. Kiki has suggested the third Friday in April.’

‘That sounds about right,’ Bill nodded. ‘Hopefully just before the rains arrive. And what about the ceremony itself?’

‘Kiki wants to hold it here.’

‘Whateveryouwant, Cecily, is fine by me. All that is your concern; I’ll just turn up wherever and whenever.’

‘The only thing I’d like is a minister to marry us. In the eyes of God and all that,’ Cecily said tentatively. ‘It just won’t feel the same if it’s a civil ceremony. Kiki says she knows a pastor in Nairobi who would conduct the service.’

‘Good, fine. If that’s important to you, then go ahead,’ Bill answered abruptly.

‘So you don’t believe in God?’ Cecily asked him.

‘Not in a traditional god per se, no. Haven’t you noticed how every god is made in the culture’s image? Jesus was an Arab from Israel – swarthy and dark-skinned, yet in every painting we see, his skin is as white as the average Christian’s idea of snow. However, I do believe in a magnificent maker, as I call it. In other words, something that created all we see in front of us.’ Bill swept his arms around. ‘Because it is a miracle that we can live in such beauty, don’t you think?’

‘Magnificent maker.’ Cecily repeated Bill’s words, pleasantly surprised by his uncharacteristic eloquence. ‘I like that.’

‘Well, thank you. Despite being a humble farmer, I do have my moments,’ Bill replied.

‘I...I was wondering where you were educated?’

‘I suppose your parents are asking for my credentials?’ He gave her a wry glance as Aleeki arrived with their supper.