Page 214 of The Sun Sister

‘Oh darling, I am so very sorry. Perhaps it’s better if I come to you?’

‘Whatever happens, they’ll arrange his funeral pretty quickly. They have to out here, you see. Well, if you’re sure you want to come, I’ll see you at the club later then. Take care on the drive, Cecily.’

She put down the receiver and went into the kitchen to make herself a strong cup of coffee. Sipping it, she stared out of the window at another glorious morning; a morning that Joss – so full of life and vitality – would not see. She remembered how her father had often used a rather archaic saying, something about if one lived by the sword, one died by it too. For the first time, Cecily really understood what it meant. Joss had cut a swathe through his own life, hardly pausing for breath. And now he was gone.

Lankenua appeared in the kitchen with Stella in her arms.

‘Okay, Missus Cecily?’

‘I have to go to Nairobi,’ said Cecily. ‘You take care of Stella, okay?’

‘Okay.’

Cecily packed the one black dress and hat she owned, and a little after noon, set off in Bill’s spare pick-up for Nairobi. Even though she’d been nervous at first to drive by herself, she’d learnt to enjoy the freedom of getting around under her own steam.

The atmosphere at Muthaiga Club was muted to say the least. She saw through the small window that men were huddled together in the Gentlemen’s Bar, drinking whisky and talking in low voices. A few women were sitting out on the terrace, raising their champagne glasses in a toast to Joss. Cecily went to her room intending to change after the dusty drive, but soon heard the door open behind her.

‘Hello, darling, they told me you’d arrived.’ Bill looked grey and tired, as if he’d aged ten years since the last time she’d seen him. Cecily walked towards him.

‘I am so, so sorry. I know what he meant to you.’

‘Well, despite his faults, life will never be the same around here again. But it gets worse, Cecily. I went to see him in the mortuary and spoke to Superintendent Poppy. Thiscannotbecome public knowledge until Government House announces it tomorrow, but it looks as if the old boy was murdered.’

‘Murdered? Oh my God, Bill. What happened?’

‘He was shot in the head. Apparently the bullet had travelled in a straight line from his ear, and ended up in his brain. He didn’t stand a chance.’

‘But who would want to murder Joss? Everybody loved him! Didn’t they?’

Cecily searched her husband’s face for the answer, then thought again.

‘Oh,’ she whispered.

‘Yes, I’m afraid that’s what everyone thinks, especially as it happened very close to Jock and Diana’s house. Joss had apparently dropped Diana off there and...God only knows what exactly happened, but it’s not looking good for Jock Broughton.’

‘Well, to be frank, Bill, even though I know how fond you were of Joss, I wouldn’t entirely blame Jock if hehadshot him.’

‘I know, darling, I know.’ Bill sighed and sat down on the bed. ‘Obviously this is all top secret – the funeral will go ahead tomorrow and after that the police will interview Jock.’

‘Doyouthink he did it?’

‘As you say, he certainly had the motive. Anyway, mum’s the word for now. I just wanted to tell you. Now, I need to get back to the War Office and try and man the ship there. Will you be all right?’

‘Of course I will,’ Cecily nodded.

‘I’ll be back in time for dinner.’ With a sad wave, Bill left the room.

The funeral of Josslyn Victor Hay, 22ndEarl of Erroll, took place the following day at St Paul’s Church in Kiambu, just outside Nairobi. Cecily, sitting with Bill in the front pew, looked behind her and saw that everyone who was anyone was there, but she could not spot Diana. Last night, Bill had told her that only hours before Joss’s death, Jock had agreed to divorce Diana so she could marry Joss. He’d toasted to their happiness at Muthaiga Club in full view of the other diners.

‘Please remember that only the police authorities know that Joss was murdered; everyone else still believes it was just a tragic car accident,’ he’d cautioned her before they’d left for the funeral.

Yet it was obvious during the wake afterwards at Muthaiga Club that murmurings were already afoot. Both Alice and Idina looked devastated and there were few kind words for Diana. Jock made an appearance, looking half-cut and distressed, and was taken off by his friend June Carberry before he ‘made a fool of himself’, as she hissed to Bill.

‘It feels like the end of an era,’ Bill said as he helped Cecily into the pick-up later that day. ‘Happy ValleywasJoss, and even if I found some of his antics deplorable, the world will be a lesser place without him. Please take care on the journey home and telephone me when you arrive, won’t you?’

‘I will.’

As she drove off, Cecily fervently hoped that the blow of the death of Bill’s closest friend would not put a damper on their own new and wonderful relationship.