Authors: Rosalind Brett
So that morning, at about ten-thirty, Mr. and Mrs. Winchester and Annette drove away towards the Peninsular Rubber Company
’
s Penghu estate, and Terry stayed alone in the veranda, writing a letter to Elizabeth. Terry had always found her stepmother easy to communicate with, and it was a pleasure to describe everything more fully than Annette would have done, and to be able to mention that Annette did seem more reconciled to living in Penghu. She wrote that she had half promised to stay on for a month or so, though they could recall her by telegram straight after Annette
’
s wedding, if they needed her.
When the letter was finished, Terry read
a
little and watched the couple of pale English children who often took a walk with their ayahs before lunch. It was hot and hazy, but at about twelve-thirty she heard the drone of the plane which was carrying away the personages who had come to declare the airstrip ready for use. Now the Winchesters and Annette, and others who had been invited, were moving towards the plantation manager
’
s house for lunch. Fleetingly, Terry knew a desperate wish to see Pete in his own house; then she pushed the longing away. To know exactly where and how he lived would make everything a thousand times worse. The thing that was barely manageable now would become completely ungovernable. She had acted rightly in staying away.
At three o
’
clock, when the others returned, she was even more certain that she had been wise to remain at the house. Annette was flushed and gay, she talked of marvellous frozen foods which the plane had brought as a gift for Pete, of one particular V.I.P. who had stared more at herself than at Astrid Harmsen.
“
Oh, yes,
”
she said,
“
the Harmsens were there. The man is plain Jan, pleasant but rather nondescript. But his sister! A vital ash-blonde with green eyes and more than her fair share of wits. I gathered that Pete invited them specially to meet the company director who came with the government johnny
...
It looks very much as if the Peninsular people will make an offer for the Harmsen plantation, and the two Swedes may come out of it rather well.
”
She flipped her fi
n
gers.
“
Pete certainly has their interest at heart!
”
Terry stood it doggedly, even though it was searing to reflect that in two or three hours Annette had learned more about the rubber estate and its ramifications than she herself had been permitted to absorb in as many days. She reminded herself that it was her own fault she had not attended the ceremony and luncheon today, but it was poor comfort, particularly when, over a cup of tea, Vida Winchester exchanged impressions with Annette, and they laughed over a couple of incidents which had happened at the airstrip.
Annette mentioned that Pete had wanted to know why Terry had not accompanied them; apparently he had accepted their explanation without question, and forgotten her. Feeling wretched. Terry tried to rally herself with
a
shot of common sense. She was sure she wouldn
’
t sleep that night, but she did.
Then—it seemed to be quite sudden—there were only three days to the wedding, and Annette went to pieces. She didn
’
t weep and storm, or pace like a prisoner, or dither all over the place. She went quite white and silent, ate nothing and would not go to the flat or see Vic. Lying on her bed with her eyes closed and her face free of makeup, she looked plain and lifeless. Terry knew that the sight of her sister shouldn
’
t make her angry, but it did. Not for anything would she have accused Annette of putting on an act so convincingly that she had even deceived herself, but it did appear that way to Terry. Annette, usually strong-minded but occasionally uncertain of herself, had never before, in any circumstances, let herself go so completely.
Terry stood at the foot of the bed.
“
What are we to do about finishing things at the flat? Don
’
t you want to see it quite ready before you go away?
”
“
I
’
m just not interested,
”
said Annette, without opening her eyes.
“
What about the woman who is making the curtains and cushions? Surely someone ought to get in touch with her?
”
“
There
’
s no hurry. You do it some time next week, darling.
”
“
Well, there
’
s the minister who
’
s coming from the coast to perform the ceremony. Aren
’
t you and Vic supposed to meet him and have a talk
?
”
“
If Vic wants to do it, he can. I
’
m out.
”
“
Oh, Annette, you
’
re behaving like a child!
”
“
I know, and I don
’
t care. I
’
m sick to death of the whole business.
”
Terry said patiently,
“
It
’
s just, wedding nerves, but you owe it to Vic to get a grip on them. He
’
s so distressed, Annette.
”
“
How do you think I feel? He can still call it off.
”
“
You
’
re being absurd—you don
’
t even know what you
’
re saying. It would serve you right if he did call it off.
”
Annette opened her eyes tiredly.
“
You
’
re sweet and anxious, and I
’
m a beast. Just leave me alone, Terry.
”
Later Terry saw Vic. He looked rugged and unsmiling, and something gnawed at him so that he couldn
’
t give his attention to conversation. In the darkness, after dinner, he took her for a walk round the square and down one of the overgrown lanes. His shoulders seemed to be drawn up permanently close to his ears, and a worried frown had etched itself between his brows.
For the tenth time he said,
“
I wouldn
’
t have believed it of her, Terry—not as late as this.
”
He added,
“
I feel as if I haven
’
t learned anything about her temperament at all.
”
“
She
’
s slightly artistic, you know. I suppose all models are, and here in Penghu she has no outlet. Just be patient, Vic. Once she
’
s married she
’
ll be different. I
’
m sure of it.
”
“
I wish I were sure,
”
he said smoothly.
“
Do you
think
it would help if I promised to back out of my contract when the first year is up—it has about two and a half months to go now?
”
“
Don
’
t do that—not at this stage,
”
she said quickly.
“
If you feel after you
’
re married that she won
’
t be happy here, then it may have to come. But don
’
t give in while she
’
s like this. I know Annette.
”
“
I
’
m depending on that. If you weren
’
t here now I
’
d be going crazy. Is she going to be like this in a
l
l the crises of our life together?
”
Terry smiled at his rueful expression.
“
I don
’
t think so. I honestly believe it
’
s a last fling, while she
’
s still free. Some girls on the verge of marriage go feverish and work themselves to death, others become slightly light-headed and can never remember afterwards how they felt. Annette has withdrawn from life for a couple of days; that
’
s her particular reaction.
”
This was a mystery to Vic.
“
But what has she to be nervous about? We love each other, and I
’
ve told her that I
’
m willing to give in if she really can
’
t settle outside England.
”
“
She
’
s just as sensible as you are. Besides, in a way that you wouldn
’
t understand, she
’
s enjoying this emotional upheaval.
”
He turned and gazed at her.
“
Good lord, is she? Would
you
be like that? Would
you
refuse to see your
fiancé
as she does?
”
“
I doubt it, but then I
’
m more ordinary than she is. Don
’
t let it worry you so much, Vic. Everything will be all right.
”
“
But we haven
’
t even made final arrangements!
”
“
Make them without her—it
’
s what she needs. I promise to see that the flat will be ready for your return.
”
“
And you
’
ll be here?
”
he asked urgently.
“
Probably, but you won
’
t need me. Annette gave up a job she loved and brought a lovely wedding gown all the way to Penghu—just because she wanted to marry you. The climate and
the
unusual surroundings for a wedding have got her down temporarily, but she
’
s essentially the same person you knew in England. The minute you have her quite alone she
’
ll start bucking up. You
’
ll see.
”
Clumsily, he kissed her cheek.
“
You
’
re a dear little comfort,
”
he said.
“
If you need any help with Roger, let me know.
”
A dear little comfort, she thought a trifle bleakly. What a thing to be—in the humid, passionate heart of the East.
Though Vida Winchester must have understood what was happening, she and her husband professed concern at Annette
’
s collapse and said they thought it wise for her to rest completely until her wedding day. She was not to fret about anything at all; details were already taken care of.
Only during the last day was there a flurry of preparation. The Malay cook and his helpers concocted a fridgeful of delicacies, the french windows of the lounge were thrown wide so that the veranda helped to form one massive room. There being no church in Penghu, the marriage had to be performed right here in the house.
Huge vases were borrowed, flowers selected from the garden of the fruit-and-flower seller but not cut; from somewhere Vida conjured trestle tables and white lace cloths, a bevy of different colored napkins, masses of cutlery and glasses, cups, saucers and plates. No one knew quite how many guests would arrive. Most of the white people in the town and many important Malays had been invited, but in addition, there were the odd few who had been asked by Mr. Winchester or Vic to look in if they could. Provision had been made for fifty guests.
It was not till the momentous morning itself that Terry pressed her turquoise bridesmaid
’
s dress. She did it at six o
’
clock, because her own nerves had begun to jump and she had to get up, and after she had carried it into her bedroom she surveyed it with mixed feelings before slipping into the bedroom next door. And what a relief it was, to find her sister out of bed and sipping tea between push-ups. The simple fact of Annette reverting to her morning exercises meant, more than anything she could possibly say, that normality was back.
Terry drew a deep breath, said,
“
Hi, darling, you look great,
”
and went
back
to her own room to compose herself. After which she sought out Roger and told him to see Vic at once, and tell him that Annette was fine and doing push-ups.