Page 74 of The Sun Sister
Eventually the sun forced her to head for the cover of the shady veranda on one side of the house – she really must remember to wear a hat, even this early in the morning, otherwise her freckles would speckle her face like a leopard’s coat. She walked through the gardens that bordered the terrace, which were full of sweet-smelling flowers and exotic-looking plants that she couldn’t name. The sun had already warmed the grass under her feet and the air hummed with insects dipping their heads into the nectar-rich blooms.
‘All is ready for you,memsahib.’ Aleeki pulled a chair out for her as she arrived on the veranda. The table was set for breakfast, with all sorts of goodies sitting in baskets or on silver platters.
‘Thank you,’ Cecily said, feeling rather dizzy from the sun.
‘Here.’ Aleeki proffered her a glass of water and a fan. ‘Most helpful in the heat of the day. Shall I pour your coffee?’
‘Yes please,’ Cecily said as she drained the cool glass of water and began to fan herself rapidly. ‘Goodness, it’s hot today.’
‘It is hot here every day,memsahib, but you will become used to it.’ With a click of his fingers, a servant arrived carrying a gigantic version of her own fan. He began wafting it and Cecily’s dizziness began to abate.
‘Memsahibmust wear a hat, it is very important,’ said Aleeki. ‘Milk in your coffee?’
‘I’ll take it black, thank you. And please tell him, he can stop fanning me now. What time does my godmother usually rise for breakfast?’
‘Oh, very rarely before midday. There is fruit, cereal and fresh bread with homemade jam and honey. We can toast the bread for you if you wish, but we also have eggs. Sunny side up is your preference?’
‘I think I’m good for now, thank you.’ Cecily indicated the feast spread out on the table.
Aleeki gave his customary bow, then withdrew to the side of the veranda. As she sipped her coffee, she felt as if she was being served breakfast in a tropical version of the Waldorf Astoria. The food so far had been tastier than anything their family’s chef provided in Manhattan.Andthe staff were more attentive.
As Aleeki was pouring her a second cup of coffee and she was eating a slice of the gorgeous freshly baked bread smothered in honey, she turned to him.
‘How long have you worked for my godmother?’
‘Oh, ever since she arrived here and built this house. Many years,memsahib.’
‘I’d love to see what’s beyond the trees,’ she said, indicating the boundary that had been planted around the gardens and house. ‘What’s there?’
‘On one side there is a cattle farm, and on the other thememsahibkeep her horses. If you wish to ride after breakfast, I can arrange a good horse for you.’
A sudden image jumped into Cecily’s head of riding out with Julius across the frozen English parkland, then lighting a makeshift fire in the folly and warming up together in front of it.
‘Maybe another time, Aleeki. I’m still a little tired today.’
‘Of course,memsahib. You wish for eggs now?’
‘No thanks,’ she murmured, the memory of Julius washing the beauty and calm of her first morning in Kenya clean away.
It was two in the afternoon before Cecily glimpsed her godmother strolling onto the veranda. She’d spent the past few hours alone in her room, avoiding the intense noon sun and doing her best to take photographs of the view from the vantage point of her window. She would have to find somewhere to get them developed so she could send them home to her family. She’d written them a long letter on the thick vellum paper Aleeki had provided for her, documenting (most) of her adventures so far. The process had left her tearful on occasions; home had never felt so far away as it did right now.
‘Cecily, darling! Are you sleeping?’ called a loud voice from beneath the window.
Well, if I was, I’d certainly be awake now...
She poked her head outside. ‘No, I was writing home to my parents.’
‘Then come down at once!’
‘Of course.’ With a sigh, Cecily grabbed the letter and headed downstairs.
‘Champagne?’ said Kiki as Cecily approached the table on the veranda. Her godmother sat alone, a bottle in an ice bucket and a pack of Lucky Strikes apparently her only sustenance.
‘No thank you, I’m still full from lunch.’
‘Please accept my apologies, honey,’ Kiki sighed, taking a large slug of champagne and a draw on her cigarette holder. ‘The party went on late last night.’
Cecily didn’t think Kiki looked sorry at all.
