The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,230

own child, so she knows how to care for a baby.’

‘Her son would come and live with her here too?’

‘He would, yes. He can help you out in the garden. Nygasi has talked to her already and she understands the situation with Stella.’

‘She won’t tell anyone, will she?’

‘Goodness, no. She already thinks you’re a saint for saving the child. And you are, my dear. I’m ashamed and horrified that I may have made you feel anything else.’

‘Okay, let me get Stella cleaned up and myself dressed and we’ll see her,’ Cecily agreed.

An hour later, she sat in the drawing room with Bill. Nygasi had led in a painfully thin young woman whom Cecily recognised and a boy whose slight frame marked him out as undernourished for a ten-year-old. Mother and son stood in the drawing room, looking round in wonder.

‘Please’ – Cecily pointed to the couch – ‘sit.’

Both looked utterly terrified at the thought, but Nygasi said something to them and they perched reluctantly on the edge of it.

‘This is Lankenua and her son, Kwinet,’ said Bill. ‘This is Cecily, my wife,’ he said in Maa to the pair on the couch.

‘Very pleased to meet you. Takwena, Lankenua,’ Cecily added.

‘Right, perhaps it’s best if Nygasi and I translate the questions you have for Lankenua,’ Bill suggested.

‘I . . . I don’t know what to ask.’

Cecily was sizing up the young woman in front of her. Her eyes had the look of a frightened deer that would bolt at the slightest noise. She was not particularly comely, her hair shaved close to her scalp, her nose rather large for her face and her teeth yellowing and uneven. The son was altogether more handsome, with the proud bearing of his Maasai forefathers.

‘Lankenua knows what the job entails and is happy – very happy,’ Bill repeated, ‘to take it. Perhaps the simplest thing to do is to fetch Stella and see how she interacts with her.’

‘Okay,’ said Cecily, standing up. Returning with the baby a few seconds later, she handed her over to Lankenua, whose eyes lit up as she saw Stella. She muttered under her breath and smiled, then cooed at Stella, who lay calmly in her arms.

‘What is she saying?’ Cecily asked Nygasi.

‘That baby is beautiful, like a princess.’

‘Which, of course, in the world of the Maasai, she is,’ added Bill.

‘Lankenua mother wise woman,’ put in Nygasi. ‘Very clever.’

Stella began to cry, so Cecily went to fetch her a bottle.

‘Let Lankenua feed her, my dear,’ Bill said.

Cecily did so, and the baby accepted the bottle from Lankenua with no fuss.

‘Does she know how to cook?’ Cecily asked.

Nygasi duly translated in Maa.

‘She say not white person food, but she quick learner.’

Cecily watched the way that Kwinet, the young boy, was leaning over Stella, his features softening as he smiled down at the baby.

‘And there will be laundry too. And work for the boy in the garden,’ Cecily said.

‘Boy look after cow. He strong,’ Nygasi explained.

Lankenua said something then to Nygasi, who nodded.

‘What did she say?’

‘I say you good woman.’ Lankenua spoke the words slowly as she smiled at Cecily. ‘I like work you.’

Bill looked askance at Cecily. ‘Well?’

Cecily was still looking at Lankenua. ‘Okay,’ she breathed. ‘I like you work for me too.’

Early that evening, Lankenua, her son and their two skinny cows were installed in one end of the barn.

‘You know, I really don’t think there’s any need to convert it,’ Bill commented. ‘They’ll only sleep in there during the rains anyway. They seem as happy as Larry with their new home.’

‘They must have some sanitary facilities at least, Bill. A lavatory and a faucet. Are you sure we can trust them?’

‘Absolutely, and besides, Nygasi will be here to oversee things whilst we’re in Nairobi.’

‘Oh Bill, I can’t go tomorrow. I want to make sure with my own eyes that she’ll take care of Stella properly.’

‘My instinct is that the woman is a trustworthy soul, who has had a difficult time of it. I suggest we leave Stella in the nursery with Lankenua now and have an early night.’ He smiled down at her. ‘Then see how she’s got on in the morning.’

‘Okay.’ Cecily took the hint and nodded shyly. With Bill’s arm draped across her shoulders, they both walked back towards the house.

So began a new era for Cecily. Having seen that Lankenua was already in love with Stella, she accompanied Bill to the races in Nairobi. The fact that her clothes were two years out of date and that