be held.
‘Of course, it must be here, surely? And as soon as possible, don’t you think?’ Kiki had insisted.
‘Whatever Cecily would like,’ Bill had said, looking at her askance.
Cecily could hardly believe how very patient he was being with Kiki. She’d felt a sudden wave of tenderness because he was trying to make it easy for her, despite his own misgivings about her godmother.
‘I . . . In truth, I haven’t had time to think about. Whatever you think is best.’
‘To be frank, I don’t think either of us want any kind of grand bash, do we, Cecily?’
‘Not at all, Bill. Something low-key would suit me just fine.’
‘I’m not sure “low-key” is in the Valley’s dictionary,’ Kiki had smiled. ‘We all love to celebrate here, don’t we, Bill?’
‘Some of us, yes,’ Bill had replied before standing up. ‘Well, I must get back to my cattle. I’ll leave you girls to work out the details of the nuptials, but it would certainly be best to hold it before the rains arrive.’
‘Wait a moment!’ Kiki had said, staring down at Cecily’s hand. ‘Why, Bill, Cecily has no engagement ring on her finger?’
‘Ah, yes, of course,’ Bill had nodded. ‘I’ve been staying at Muthaiga Club for the past few days and haven’t had a chance to sort that one out, but rest assured I will.’ Bill had kissed Cecily’s hand, nodded to Kiki and left.
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.
‘Sahib is 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