gossip that Sam left, and you know there are several eligible gentlemen in the colony. Shall I tell you who is looking?”
“No! Introduce them to Emily.”
“I have, but don’t be surprised if Steven Holly comes over.”
Jade made a low growling noise. “Can’t your sister keep him occupied?”
“Emily’s busy with that new missionary gentleman, Dr. Landrake Dymant, and the postmaster, Mr. Hamilton. We could join them if you like.” Beverly nodded towards her sister, who wore a powder blue linen dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat trimmed in matching satin roses. She was speaking with a middle-aged man with hair the color of wheat. His bushy beard bore traces of gray strands amid the golden brown. He matched Emily’s height of five feet, five inches, but looked shorter because of his disproportionate build. Somehow his legs looked unable to support his expansive chest.
Bev led the way and Jade followed, preferring to stay by her friend and have some hope of intelligent conversation rather than risk Mr. Holly’s silly, self-centered attempts at repartee. She gave a slight tug to Biscuit’s leash and the cat immediately fell in step beside her. They joined the group as Dr. Dymant was explaining his reasons for coming to Kenya Colony.
“I spent several years in India and have acquired a certain respect for the Hindu,” Dymant explained. “But I felt I should look to those Indians who have made their home here in this colony. I have heard that they are not as well looked after as one might hope, but I intend to take care of that dreckly ,” he said, slipping into an old dialect.
“Their houses and shops are atrocious,” declared Hamilton. “Do you realize that there were four more instances of plague in the Indian district last month? It’s shameful.”
“So much disease in Africa,” said Emily. “Although I understand that Kenya Colony is much healthier than the interior. Why, I read that leprosy still haunts parts of the Belgian Congo.”
“Leprosy is the least of the Congo’s troubles,” said Hamilton. “I fear they’ll never recover from Leopold’s rule. He encouraged every villain to brutalize and torture the natives in order to extract the last ounce of gold that he could wring from that land. Some of the atrocities! And not all from Belgians either. I heard tell of an English overlord who routinely cut off the ears of the laborers and branded them—”
“Ahem,” said Dymant. “Such topics are probably not appropriate for a lady’s ears.” He nodded towards Emily, Bev, and Jade.
“That is what is most curious,” persisted Hamilton. “Some claim that it was an English woman in charge—”
Emily gasped and Hamilton blushed. “My apologies. I forgot myself.”
“You are forgiven,” said Emily. She beamed at Dr. Dymant. “It is so good of you to come, Doctor. I’m sure Kenya can use a fine medical man such as yourself.”
Before Dr. Dymant could reply, Hamilton chimed in again. “The colony is a splendid place, to be sure, but it seems to be attracting a considerable amount of riffraff,” he said. “Er, not meaning yourself, Doctor. I was speaking of this latest news in the paper. Death on the Limuru Bridge, no less. The medical examination said that the man had consumed far too much alcohol. That smacks of an accident due to overindulgence.”
“Most tragic,” said Dymant. “Perhaps a suicide?”
“That is what the Leader hinted at,” said Hamilton. “Of course, the police have been very closemouthed about it. But the Leader even suggested there was a woman involved. One was spotted at the bridge with the inspector but he bundled her out before anyone could speak with her. All they could say was that she wore trousers.” Hamilton looked pointedly at Jade when he said this.
“If you are implying that Jade was the female, Mr. Hamilton,” said Emily, “then you should remember that she’s never without her cheetah, and the paper failed to mention seeing one
“No! Introduce them to Emily.”
“I have, but don’t be surprised if Steven Holly comes over.”
Jade made a low growling noise. “Can’t your sister keep him occupied?”
“Emily’s busy with that new missionary gentleman, Dr. Landrake Dymant, and the postmaster, Mr. Hamilton. We could join them if you like.” Beverly nodded towards her sister, who wore a powder blue linen dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat trimmed in matching satin roses. She was speaking with a middle-aged man with hair the color of wheat. His bushy beard bore traces of gray strands amid the golden brown. He matched Emily’s height of five feet, five inches, but looked shorter because of his disproportionate build. Somehow his legs looked unable to support his expansive chest.
Bev led the way and Jade followed, preferring to stay by her friend and have some hope of intelligent conversation rather than risk Mr. Holly’s silly, self-centered attempts at repartee. She gave a slight tug to Biscuit’s leash and the cat immediately fell in step beside her. They joined the group as Dr. Dymant was explaining his reasons for coming to Kenya Colony.
“I spent several years in India and have acquired a certain respect for the Hindu,” Dymant explained. “But I felt I should look to those Indians who have made their home here in this colony. I have heard that they are not as well looked after as one might hope, but I intend to take care of that dreckly ,” he said, slipping into an old dialect.
“Their houses and shops are atrocious,” declared Hamilton. “Do you realize that there were four more instances of plague in the Indian district last month? It’s shameful.”
“So much disease in Africa,” said Emily. “Although I understand that Kenya Colony is much healthier than the interior. Why, I read that leprosy still haunts parts of the Belgian Congo.”
“Leprosy is the least of the Congo’s troubles,” said Hamilton. “I fear they’ll never recover from Leopold’s rule. He encouraged every villain to brutalize and torture the natives in order to extract the last ounce of gold that he could wring from that land. Some of the atrocities! And not all from Belgians either. I heard tell of an English overlord who routinely cut off the ears of the laborers and branded them—”
“Ahem,” said Dymant. “Such topics are probably not appropriate for a lady’s ears.” He nodded towards Emily, Bev, and Jade.
“That is what is most curious,” persisted Hamilton. “Some claim that it was an English woman in charge—”
Emily gasped and Hamilton blushed. “My apologies. I forgot myself.”
“You are forgiven,” said Emily. She beamed at Dr. Dymant. “It is so good of you to come, Doctor. I’m sure Kenya can use a fine medical man such as yourself.”
Before Dr. Dymant could reply, Hamilton chimed in again. “The colony is a splendid place, to be sure, but it seems to be attracting a considerable amount of riffraff,” he said. “Er, not meaning yourself, Doctor. I was speaking of this latest news in the paper. Death on the Limuru Bridge, no less. The medical examination said that the man had consumed far too much alcohol. That smacks of an accident due to overindulgence.”
“Most tragic,” said Dymant. “Perhaps a suicide?”
“That is what the Leader hinted at,” said Hamilton. “Of course, the police have been very closemouthed about it. But the Leader even suggested there was a woman involved. One was spotted at the bridge with the inspector but he bundled her out before anyone could speak with her. All they could say was that she wore trousers.” Hamilton looked pointedly at Jade when he said this.
“If you are implying that Jade was the female, Mr. Hamilton,” said Emily, “then you should remember that she’s never without her cheetah, and the paper failed to mention seeing one
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