Page 72 of The Sun Sister

‘Sorry, I didn’t have time to change – I came straight from Nairobi and it was rather a detour to Alice’s farm to collect her.’

‘I think you look very dapper, Tarquin, darling,’ said Kiki as she guided the two of them across to the table. ‘And look whoImanaged to drag all the way from Manhattan?’ she said, indicating Cecily.

‘Good grief! Miss Huntley-Morgan, we meet again. Glad you could make it,’ Tarquin said with considerable understatement as Cecily stood up to be politely kissed on both cheeks. He took a glass of champagne and sat down next to her. ‘How was the journey?’

‘Long,’ Cecily said as she took a sip of her martini, ‘and dusty.’

‘But you’re glad you came? It is rather an extraordinary place your godmother has here, isn’t it?’

‘I really couldn’t say yet, because I’ve slept most of the day. But the sunset was just incredible, and the lake is simply marvellous. Can one swim in it?’

‘As long as one is aware of the hippos, yes. And the crocodiles, of course...’

‘Crocodiles?!’

‘Only teasing, Cecily, of course you can swim in it. The water is wonderfully cooling. I’ve taken a few morning dips in it myself. Anyway, welcome to Kenya. I have to admit that I’m rather surprised you came. It takes a brave heart – especially when it’s a female one – to make the trip.’

‘I sure hope I settle here, because I really don’t fancy making the journey back anytime soon.’

‘Give yourself some time to get used to it; it’s so different to New York – a different planet, one might say. But now you’re here you must embrace it. Cast off the Manhattan Cecily, with all her inbuilt prejudices, and enjoy every second of your time here.’

‘I intend to if I can stop feeling so sleepy.’ Cecily stifled another yawn. ‘Kiki said I should take some of that,’ she said, pointing to the samovar. ‘She said it would help keep me awake, but the truth is, I have no idea what it is.’

‘That, my dear Cecily’ – Tarquin leant towards her – ‘is a highly addictive and illegal substance called cocaine.’

‘Cocaine! Holy moly! I mean to say, I’ve heard of it, of course, but never seen it. Surely if it’s illegal, the cops could come and arrest Kiki?’

‘My dear girl, wearethe “cops” here,’ Tarquin chuckled. ‘As you will learn, anything goes in Happy Valley,’ he said as they both watched Kiki take another snort from the samovar.

‘Have you ever tried it yourself?’ she asked him.

‘A gentleman is never meant to tell a lie, and I would be lying if I said no. So yes, I have on occasion, and it does give one the most amazing feeling. But I wouldn’t recommend it for a young lady like yourself. As I’m sure you know, your godmother has had the most terribly difficult few years. Whatever gets you through the night, as they say. Neither you nor I are in a position to judge.’

‘No, of course not. I mean, I wouldn’t like her to get sick on it or anything, though.’

‘I know what you mean, Cecily, but as I said, the normal rules do not apply to either Kiki or Kenya and that is the best piece of advice I can give you.’

Tarquin left her a few minutes later, probably to talk to someone far more interesting. Cecily was content, in between being introduced to various middle-aged friends of Kiki’s, to sit and watch the gathering crowd. Aleeki and his band of servants buzzed around, keeping the guests’ glasses topped up and handing round trays of canapés. Realising she hadn’t eaten anything all day, Cecily tentatively took a devilled egg and found to her surprise on biting into it that it tasted just like the ones back home. Somehow she’d expected to be eating antelope roasted over a fire rather than American-style delicacies. After she had taken two of everything that came her way, Aleeki bent down to whisper in her ear.

‘I will makememsahiba sandwich if she would prefer? And there is soup in the kitchen.’

‘Oh no, these canapés are just divine,’ she replied, touched that he had noticed her obvious appetite.

‘All alone and forgotten about by your godmother already, my dear?’

Alice, the lady in the blue silk dress who’d arrived with Tarquin, sat down next to her. ‘Don’t take it personally, she’ll have forgotten her own name by the end of tonight,’ she drawled. ‘I think I met your mother once in New York. She lives in that sweet house surrounded by apartment blocks on Fifth Avenue, doesn’t she?’

‘Yes, she...we do,’ Cecily said, looking into Alice’s eyes, which were very pretty but had a rather glazed appearance. ‘I...Do you live close to here?’ she added, struggling to find conversation.

‘I suppose that depends on how you define “close”, doesn’t it? It isn’t so far away, not as the crow flies at least. But the problem is, we’re not crows, are we? Just humans, damned humans with arms and legs but no wings. You must come over to my farm someday. Meet all my animals.’

‘What kind of animals do you have?’

‘Oh, all sorts really; I had a pet lion cub for years, but sadly I had to give him away when he got too large.’

‘A lion?’

‘Yes. You don’t like guns, do you?’