Page 199 of The Sun Sister

‘Oh, and Bill?’

‘Yes?’

‘I saw Njala today, and she seemed upset...almost frightened. I think she said that she wanted me to help with the birth. I explained that her mother is coming to help her, but I’m not sure she understood. Her time must be real close. You will ask Nygasi to make sure her mother comes soon, won’t you? I couldn’t bear it if anything...’ – Cecily gulped – ‘happened to her.’

‘Of course I will. Njala knows her mother will arrive when it’s time. You probably misunderstood her.’

‘Probably.’

But as Bill closed the door and she heard the sound of the water running, Cecily knew for certain she hadn’t mistaken the fear in Njala’s eyes.

Cecily and Bill’s guests arrived an hour later than expected. Joss Erroll – even though he looked exhausted – was as handsome as ever, and Jock, aka Sir Henry John Delves Broughton, turned out to be a tall elderly Englishman who sported a large paunch and a head of thinning grey hair.

‘Please, m’dear, call me Jock. This is m’wife, Diana. Nice for you to have someone of your own age to play with, eh, old girl? Diana’s surrounded by octogenarians in Nairobi,’ Jock chuckled.

‘I’m sure that Cecily will agree there aren’t many of us under thirty here, are there?’ replied his wife.

‘Er, no, there sure aren’t,’ she smiled, unable to stop staring at the striking blonde woman standing in front of her. Diana Delves Broughton was definitely what some would call a ‘looker’, and for the life of her, Cecily couldn’t understand what such a woman was doing with a man old enough to be her father – or even grandfather.

‘This is utterly charming,’ Diana said as Cecily led the party into the sitting room, where Katherine was already cracking open the champagne. ‘We’re camping out at Muthaiga Club at the moment.’

‘Now, m’dear, you know it’s only temporary – we’ll be moving into the villa in Karen in a few days,’ Jock reminded her.

‘A ghastly dark one in the suburbs of Nairobi,’ Diana muttered under her breath.

‘Diana, this is Katherine Sinclair, my great friend and neighbour,’ Cecily said quickly.

‘Golly! This is obviously where all the bright young things live.’ Diana turned to her husband. ‘Can we build a house near here instead, darling? Then I shall have plenty of jolly company.’

‘Fizz, everyone?’ Katherine asked as she poured the champagne into six glasses.

‘Rather,’ said Jock, smiling at the assembled group. ‘This feels more like the Kenya I used to know. Cheers!’

‘Cheers!’ everyone chorused.

‘And welcome to Happy Valley, Diana,’ Joss added, his eyes lingering on the new blonde recruit.

‘Thank you, Joss, I’m pleased to be here,’ Diana said, holding his gaze.

Even Cecily admitted later that the evening – and Diana – were fun. After dinner, Diana asked if Cecily had a gramophone.

‘Why yes. And Mama sent some of the newest records over from America with it.’

‘Well, for heaven’s sake, let’s put them on! The ones at Muthaiga Club might have been popular in the twenties, but they’re hardly up to date,’ Diana drawled.

Cecily did as asked, setting the gramophone up on the veranda, while the men moved the table and chairs out of the way to create a makeshift dance floor.

‘Dancing under the stars is just so romantic, don’t you think, Cecily?’ Diana said dreamily, clasped in the arms of her husband as Glenn Miller’s ‘Moonlight Serenade’ played in the background.

‘Dance with me, Diana?’ asked Joss, holding out his own arms.

‘If you insist,’ Diana smiled, disengaging herself from Jock.

‘Then Cecily, will you afford me the pleasure?’ Jock asked.

She had no choice but to agree. Looking over his shoulder as they danced, Cecily saw Bill had taken to the floor with Katherine, but her attention was mainly caught by Diana and Joss, who were swaying together in a shadowy corner. Jock asked Cecily lots of polite questions which she duly answered. When the music ended, she excused herself to put another record on the gramophone.

‘For goodness’ sake, put on something upbeat,’ whispered Katherine, sifting through the records. ‘Here, Count Basie will do.’