Читать книгу Local Customs - Audrey Thomas - Страница 8

“AND WILL THERE BE LIONS AND TIGERS?” I asked.

“If you want those you must go elsewhere,” he said, smiling at my ignorance. “But lovely birds, Letty, and palm trees, hibiscus flowers. The landscape is quite beautiful.”

“I was rather hoping for lions and tigers,” I said, but smiled up at him so that he would know I was only teasing, gave his arm a little squeeze.

I don’t think I have ever walked so much as I did in the days of our courtship: Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park Gardens, Regents Park, Russell Square. In my plan of Paradise, I always said, people will ride very little but walk not at all. In revenge they shall have the most comfortable chairs from morning to night. But George was better outside; drawing rooms and gossip did not interest him. He would have fled London for the hills of Scotland long before, except for me.

He smiled at babies in perambulators, at little boys sailing their boats; I did not want him to look at babies or little boys; it was important that he keep his mind on me, on what he had been working up to say.

“I’m feeling a little fatigued,” I said, spotting an empty bench. Just beyond, an old man was casting bread to the ducks.

We sat down. There was a not unpleasant silence between us.

“‘Cast thy bread upon the waters,’” I said, “‘for thou shall find it after many days.’ I’ve never been quite sure what that means.”

Still silence, but less comfortable. I wondered if I should suggest we continue our promenade. We made a pretty picture, Captain Maclean in his scarlet tunic and I in my new pelisse. I made a small movement, as if to rise, but he grabbed my hand.

“Letty,” he said, “I have no flowery way to say this. Will you marry me? Will you come back with me to the Coast?”

Victory. (Bugles and pennants, but only in my head.)

“Of course I will, George.” Then, “Shall we walk?”