The Plantation - Di Morrissey [19]
‘I’d like you to know that I’ve enjoyed your company more than I can say, Margaret. More than I have with anyone else. You’ll be in my thoughts for a long time to come.’
‘Mine too,’ said Margaret.
‘Then perhaps you might consider this.’ He reached into his pocket and took out a small velvet box and placed it in front of her. ‘Margaret, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
Margaret gasped and her hand shook as she put down her glass and opened the little box. Nestled inside was a ring, a sky-blue stone surrounded by diamonds. ‘Oh, Roland. It’s beautiful. Of course, oh yes. Yes, I’d love to marry you.’
‘Excellent.’ He took the ring and put it on her finger and leaned across and kissed her softly. ‘Then it’s settled. I hope you like it,’ he added as Margaret held out her hand to admire the ring. ‘It’s a jolly good Ceylon sapphire, perfect, just like you.’
‘It’s really beautiful. And it’s special because of our being here, isn’t that so?’
‘I thought so. Now, my dear, let’s order dinner. We do have quite a few things to discuss. Naturally I will write to your father and formally ask him for your hand in marriage. Have to do the right thing.’
‘Will we get married in Brisbane?’
‘’Fraid not. I’ve just had my leave. No, you’ll have to come to Kuala Lumpur. Any problem with that?’
Margaret gulped. She would have liked a wedding at home with all her friends and family to show off her handsome husband but instead she said, ‘I’m sure my mother will come. But Father runs a business, so taking time away might be difficult. And Bette is still at school.’
‘You’ll work things out. We can discuss plans later. You’ll have to book a passage up to Singapore as soon as you can.’
‘So then a wedding in three or four months?’ asked Margaret feeling quite breathless, already wondering how she could get a wedding dress made and a trousseau together so quickly.
Roland earnestly began to explain how their life would revolve around Utopia, the family plantation. He talked of the obligations and tribulations, but also of the community of workers, which he called the plantation estate ‘family’.
‘It will be quite different from your life in Australia,’ he said. ‘But there is a wonderful social life, even in our isolated area, and an excellent social scene in Penang and KL when we go there.’ He patted her hand. ‘I know you’ll get on with everyone and you’ll handle the climate much better than the English wives do, coming from Queensland,’ he said confidently.
So it was decided. Winifred, Margaret’s mother, would accompany her daughter to Kuala Lumpur, where the wedding would take place at St Mary’s Church. A passage on a P&O steamer was booked to Singapore. From there, they would take the coastal steamship to Port Swettenham and then the local train would take them to Kuala Lumpur where Roland would meet them. The wedding would take place a week later.
Roland’s father, Eugene, would attend the wedding, but his mother, Charlotte, was still in England. Because Margaret’s father was unable to be there, Roland suggested that Dr Hamilton, the Scottish doctor in Perak and a great friend of the Elliotts, could give her away.
There was much fussing over Margaret’s trousseau. Winifred fretted that Margaret’s clothes might not be considered as stylish and as up to date as some of the clothes that came from Europe or London, but in one of his weekly letters, Roland offered some advice.
‘My dear, the tailors in Malaya are excellent. Bring some pictures from ladies’ magazines and have them copy them. They can make them cheaply and quickly.’
‘He may be right. Why don’t you take some lengths of good fabric,’ suggested her mother.
Fine table linens and some favourite pieces of family silver were given to Margaret for her glory box, and Winifred offered to send her anything else she might need in the coming months, which she couldn’t obtain ‘up there’.
Roland made all the arrangements for the wedding and reception, which he hoped would meet with their approval.
‘St Mary