Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [78]
‘Mem Hennessy wife too,’ said Niah after a while, causing Tyndall to look up at her, slightly puzzled.
‘Yeah. That’s right. She’s a wife.’ He was prepared to let it rest at that.
Niah was silent for a while, quietly massaging.
‘You like Mem Hennessy?’
Tyndall stiffened and grabbed her hands, looking up at her. ‘Good Lord, girl, what are you getting at? Like her? Well, she’s a nice young woman. Why do you ask?’
‘Mem Hennessy no like me. No like you get me.’
‘Rubbish.’
‘You see,’ said Niah sadly. ‘She send Niah away.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Tyndall and he pulled her down and she lay on top of him, light as a sea breeze, her hair and skin smelling of salt. She licked his ear and nuzzled her face in his neck, clinging to him like a lovable puppy. Tyndall realised however that she saw Olivia as a threat, someone who might send her away. It began to dawn on Tyndall that this romantic interlude was coming to an end and that soon they would be returning to Broome and the prying eyes of a small community. Suddenly the thought of giving up this pretty and affectionate girl was an appalling idea. As he felt his passion rise under Niah’s expert hands he decided to worry about what to do with her later.
The same thoughts had been on Ahmed’s mind and one evening while he and Tyndall rowed back to the Shamrock he delicately raised the question of Niah’s future.
Tyndall was vague. It troubled him that he’d become so attached to her. He hadn’t realised how empty his life had been. How he had envied Olivia and Conrad their shared life and companionship. ‘Don’t know. S’pose she could make herself useful round the place. She doesn’t want to go back home, nowhere to go really.’
‘Being useful could cause plenty talk, tuan,’ said Ahmed gently.
‘Hmmm,’ said Tyndall in half agreement.
‘No good for business. No good for Mem and Tuan Hennessy. All people have their place in Broome. You break rules,’ sighed Ahmed.
Tyndall gave a weak smile. ‘I know what you mean. But she’s a nice little thing. Bright, you know. Easier to get along with than most of the women in Broome, I’ll wager.’
Nearing the Shamrock, he could make out the silhouette of Niah on the deck outlined against the starry sky. He was acutely aware of a pleasant and sudden surge of excitement that was just as suddenly neutralised by Olivia Hennessy striding into his consciousness. Yes, that was going to be difficult, he acknowledged to himself. Explaining away the relationship to Mrs Hennessy. The old hands of Broome would accept it readily enough so long as both of them were fairly discreet in public. After all, everyone knew what went on in Sheba Lane some afternoons in the lay up season and after dark, but no one talked about it publicly. Ah, to hell with it. But try as he might, the prospect of facing Olivia Hennessy worried him. He suddenly realised that she was more than just a business partner. He didn’t want to let her down, not just because they were in business together, but because she was Olivia. It was but momentarily disconcerting. The sight of Niah smiling down at him in the moonlight, her long hair ruffled by the light breeze, and the sensual memories of her body filled his mind with only one thought.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The arrival of a steamer was always a highlight and families turned out to greet any arrival as it came to the jetty on the high tide. It was a social occasion, the white community paraded in best clothes, ladies in large hats and lacy parasols held the hems of their dresses out of the red dust and were escorted by husbands wearing smart tropical suits. Children leapt about, enthusiastically dashing along the wharf. Chinese and Malay amahs, Koepanger houseboys or Japanese house staff watched over the young children or pushed babies in high-wheeled English prams.
The Resident Magistrate, with a party of special guests, were among the few invited by the Captain to be entertained on board. Passengers took the opportunity when the tide was out and the steamer sat on the exposed mud, to indulge in the novelty of walking