chair. ‘Inedible. So, all that is left to do is drink. Cheers.’ He picked up the tooth mug and drained the rest of the contents. ‘So, tell me about your life in New York,’ he said as he refilled the mug and handed it back to her. ‘I’ve never been myself, but everyone tells me it’s a wonderful city.’
‘It is. The skyscrapers go up and up towards the heavens, yet there are big wide-open spaces so you never feel claustrophobic. Our house overlooks Central Park and you can walk for what feels like miles and rarely see another human being. It’s the best of both worlds, I guess. It’s my home,’ she shrugged, ‘and I love it.’
‘Pray tell me, if you love it so much, why are you scuttling off into the African Bush in a few days’ time?’
‘Because . . . my godmother invited me.’
‘Did she now?’ Julius’s piercing brown eyes bored into hers. ‘Given the fact that Europe is currently in such a muddle and Kenya may well be drawn into any coming war, I’d surmise there’s more to the story than that.’
‘I . . . was going to get married and, well, it didn’t work out.’
‘I see. So,’ Julius said, having taken a further swig from the shared tooth mug, ‘in short, you’re running away.’
‘I rather hope I’m running to something actually. It’s a wonderful chance to be somewhere completely different and I decided to take it.’
‘Good for you, and I like your positive frame of mind. Anywhere has to be better than Woodhead Hall in the depths of winter,’ Julius sighed. ‘But that is my lot. Unless of course there is war in Europe, then I shall without a doubt be travelling to distant lands in a uniform to face certain death. So, one must seize the moment, mustn’t one?’ he added as he refilled the tooth mug again. ‘Perhaps I can become the Rupert Brooke of the new war, though I rather hope I don’t end my days on a battlefield in Gallipoli.’
‘I’m real sorry, but I don’t know who you’re talking about.’
‘Good grief, Miss Huntley-Morgan, did you receive an education?’
‘Why yes, I went to Vassar, one of the best women’s colleges in America!’ she replied, wounded.
‘Then your English Literature professor has failed you miserably. Rupert Brooke was a genius and the most famous war poet of all time. I shall furnish you with a book of his poems forthwith.’
‘Literature wasn’t ever my thing, although I enjoy reading for pleasure.’ Cecily shrugged, feeling much more relaxed after the whisky. ‘As I told you, I’m far better at arithmetic.’
‘Then you have a logical rather than an aesthetic brain. So let’s test it out: right now, how quickly can you work out, uh . . . let’s see, nine hundred and seven minus two hundred and fourteen.’
‘Seven hundred and eighty-three,’ Cecily said after a few seconds.
‘One hundred and seventy-two divided by six?’
‘Twenty-eight point six recurring.’
‘Five hundred and sixty multiplied by thirty-nine.’
‘Twenty-one thousand, eight hundred and forty.’ Cecily giggled. ‘That was positively easy, quiz me on some algebra or logarithms.’
‘As I hardly know the meaning of either word, I don’t think I’ll bother. You’re a seriously clever girl, aren’t you? Do you ever feel miffed that you had a college education and yet, because you’re a woman, apart from whizzing through household ledgers in the blink of an eye, you can’t use your gifts to earn a living?’
‘If I’m honest, of course I do. But Papa simply won’t allow a daughter of his to work. I guess it’s just the way things are.’
‘Well now, isn’t that ironic? All I want to do is to be left alone to think of the perfect words to put into a poem and dream my days away, rather than learning the ropes of running the estate – and ploughing through the ledgers, of course,’ he grinned at her. ‘And here’s you, who could do all that with alacrity, yet you’re denied the chance because you’re female.’
‘Life is never fair, and I guess we just have to accept it. I mean, we’re both very privileged, Julius. You will one day inherit all this land and the house, and I will get to live a comfortable life as a wife and mother. Neither of us are living in poverty, are we?’
‘We’re certainly not, no, but the question is, Miss Huntley-Morgan,’ he said as he eyed her, ‘does money bring one happiness? I mean, are you happy? Am I?’
At this moment, I’m as happy as