Satiated at last they sat back and Blaine looked at her. She wore only one of his navy blue roll-necked fisherman's jerseys but the hem reached almost to her knees. She had piled her damp unruly tangle of hair on top of her head and tied it there with a yellow ribbon.
We could go for a walk, he suggested. Or, She thought about that for a few seconds and then decided.
I rather think I'll settle for the or. Your wish, madam, is my command, he replied courteously, and stood over her to lift the heavy jersey off over her head.
In the middle of the morning he lay flat on his back on the bunk while Centaine was propped on an elbow above him, tickling his lips and closed eyelids with a feather that she had plucked from the seam of one of the pillows.
Blaine, she said softly. I am selling Weltevreden. He opened his eyes, caught her wrist and sat up quickly.
Selling? he demanded. Why? I have to, she answered simply. 'The estate, the house and everything in it. But why, my darling? I know how much it means to you.
Why sell it? Yes, Weltevreden means a great deal to me, she agreed But the H'ani Mine means more. If I sell the estate, there is just a chance, a very small chance, that I will be able to save the mine. I didn't know, he said gently. I had no idea things were that bad., How could you know, my love? She caressed his face.
Nobody else does. But I don't understand. The Hlani Mine, surely it is making profits sufficient- No, Blaine. Nobody is buying diamonds nowadays.
Nobody is buying anything any more. This depression, this terrible depression! Our quota has been slashed. The prices we are being paid for our stones are less than half of what they were five years ago. The H'ani Mine is not quite breaking even. It is losing a small amount every month. But if I can hold on until the economy of the world turns around, she broke off. The only chance I have of doing that is by selling Weltevreden. That is all I have left to sell.
That way I might be able to hold on until the middle of next year, and surely this terrible depression must be over by then! Yes, of course it will! he agreed readily, and then after a pause, I have some money, Centaine She laid her fingers on his lips, smiled sadly and shook her head.
He lifted her hand away from his mouth and insisted, If you love me then you must let me help you., Our bargain, Blaine, she reminded him. Nobody else must be hurt. That money belongs to Isabella and the girls. It belongs to me, he said. And if I choose, I Blaine! Blaine! she stopped him. A million pounds might save me now, a million pounds! Do you have that much?
Any lesser amount would be wasted, simply disappear into the bottomless pit of my debts. He shook his head slowly. So much? Then he admitted regretfully, No. I don't have a third part of that, Centaine. Then we will not speak of it again, she told him firmly.
Now show me how to catch crayfish for dinner. I don't want to talk of anything unpleasant for the rest of our time together. There will be plenty of time for ugliness when I get home. on their last afternoon they climbed the slope behind the shack, wading hand in hand through the bright banks of wild blooms. The pollen painted their legs the colour of saffron and the bees rose in noisy swarms as they disturbed them, then resettled as they passed on.
Look, Blaine, see how every flower turns its head to follow the sun as it moves across the sky. I am like one of them, and you are my sun, my love. They wandered along the slope, and Blaine plucked the choicest blooms and plaited them into a crown. He placed it on her head. I crown you Queen of my heart, he intoned, and though he smiled when he said it, his eyes were serious.
They made love lying on the mattress of wild flowers, crushing the stems and leaves beneath them, enveloped in the herby aroma of their juices and the perfume of their blooms, and afterwards Centaine asked him as she lay in his arms, Do you know what I'm going to do? Tell me, he invited, his voice drowsy from their loving.
I'm going to give them something to talk about, she said.
A year from now they may say, 'Centaine Courtney went out,' but they'll have to add, 'but she went out in style.' What do you propose? Instead of the usual Christmas high jinks, I'm going to throw a bash to end all bashes! Open house at Weltevreden for a week, champagne and dancing every night. It will also throw the creditors off the scent for a while longer, he grinned at her. But I don't suppose you had thought of that, had you? You devious little vixen. 'That's not the only reason. it will give us an excuse to be together in public. You will be there, won't you? That depends. He was serious again, and they both knew it depended on Isabella, but he did not say it. I'd have to find a pretty good excuse. I'll give you an excuse, she said excitedly. I'll make it a polo week, a twenty-goal tournament. I'll invite teams from all over the country, all the top players. You are the national captain. You could not reasonably refuse, could you? I don't see how, he agreed. Talk about devious! And he shook his head in admiration.
It will give you a chance to meet Shasa. I told you he had been pestering me ever since he heard that I knew you. That I'd enjoy. 'You will have to put up with a bit of hero-worship. You could invite a few junior teams, Blaine suggested.
Give them a tournament of their own. I'd like to watch your son ride. Oh, Blaine! What a wonderful idea! She clapped her hands excitedly. My poor darling. It will probably be Shasa's last chance to ride his own ponies. Of course, I will have to sell them when I sell Weltevreden. The shadows were in her eyes again for a moment, but then she rallied and her eyes sparkled. But as I said, we'll go out in style. Shasa's team, the Weltevreden Invitation, under 16 years, had won through to the final round of the junior league, mostly by virtue of their handicap allowance. Shasa was the only plus player. Of the other three members of the team, two were scratch handicaps and the third was a minus one.
However, they had finally come up against the Natal Juniors, four of the top youngsters, all of them two- and three-goal players except their captain. Max Theunissen had only made the age limit by a few months. He was rated five goals, the best in Africa for his age, with height and weight in the saddle, a good eye and a powerful wrist. He used all these advantages to the full, adopting a hard driving style of play.
Shasa was the next best rated player in the country, at four goals, but he lacked the older boy's weight and strength, Max was backed by his strong team-mates, and all Shasa's skill and determination were not sufficient to prevent his team crumbling under the onslaught, leaving Shasa virtually unaided to try and stern the rout.
in five chukkas Max had pounded in nine goals against Shasa's best efforts in defence, wiping out the Weltevreden team's handicap start, so that on handicap the teams were all square as they came in to change ponies for the last chukka.
Shasa flung himself out of the saddle, his face flushed with exertion and frustration and anger and shouted at
