Suzanne borrowed Sarah’s Ford to drive them back into town, and they stopped at the bookshop for Hannah to change. Soon they were sitting on the deck of the bistro with Kathryn, enjoying glasses of crisp white wine as the sun disappeared over the mountains above Leliehoek.
White daisies and scented geraniums tumbled out of tubs along the edges of the deck, and every time a waitress brushed past, the sharp lemony scent carried over the table. Hurricane lamps were lit as the light faded, the citronella oil adding to the scent-filled air.
Kathryn leant forwards on the table. ‘Hannah, you have to end the suspense. I can’t bear it any more. What on earth is going on with Alistair? It all looked so promising at the picnic, and now? You’re both buried in your houses.’
Hannah looked down at her glass, running her finger around the base. ‘I don’t know what to do. He says he’s not interested in a fling. That marriage has to be a possibility, and nothing less will do. For Pete’s sake, we’ve only kissed once. It’s madness.’ She looked up and saw the other two girls staring at her. ‘Why are you looking at me like I’m the crazy one?’
‘Because that is the daftest thing I’ve ever heard.’ Kathryn shook her head as she saw Hannah nod in agreement. ‘Not Alistair, you nutcase – you! Don’t you see that he doesn’t want to mess with you? It’s romantic and honourable and sweet, and I can’t believe you’re sitting here feeling sorry for yourself!’
Hannah, stung, drew herself up a little. ‘I don’t know how to deal with it. I’ve never begun a relationship thinking of marriage. I’ve kind of been telling myself I might never get married—’
Suzanne quietly interjected, ‘Have you been hurt before?’
‘No… yes,’ she paused. ‘Todd was my only other significant relationship. We were together for nearly ten years, lived together for most of that. He bought me a ring and called me his fiancée, but he said it was because we needed to clarify our relationship for his colleagues.’
‘Charming!’ said Kathryn, causing Hannah to look at her in surprise.
She became thoughtful. ‘It actually doesn’t sound so nice, does it? I suppose I always just let him take control. I followed him wherever he went, dressed as he expected, socialised with the right people. I never took initiative. Until I found a woman in my bathtub.’
‘Ouch,’ said Suzanne, taking a sip from her glass.
‘Alistair says the ball’s in my court. The awful thing is that I feel like my feet are planted in cement, like I can’t physically get myself across the court to reach the ball.’ She sat back in her chair. ‘And even if I wanted to marry him, I would be an absolutely useless farmer’s wife. I’ve only lived in Cape Town and London. I have no experience of the country at all. It would be a disaster.’
‘You seem to be managing country life perfectly fine,’ said Kathryn. ‘In fact, I would go further and say you’re blossoming.’
‘And,’ added Suzanne, ‘you only get experience by doing something. Yes, my mother is a model farmer’s wife, but she has been one for forty years! More importantly, my parents love you. That carries more weight than a lifetime in the platteland. Actually, my mother would dance on the table if she knew we were having this conversation.’
‘Which she absolutely can never know, Suzanne!’
Suzanne put her hands up in a gesture of surrender. ‘Of course. It all stays right here.’
Their meals arrived and they tucked into slices of fillet with chips, and salad picked from the bistro garden.
‘Speaking of your parents,’ said Kathryn, ‘I picked up some concern about Gen and Glen at the picnic.’ She snorted, making the others look up from their meals as she lifted a napkin to her mouth. ‘Sorry, Gen and Glen? Even their names! Like a nursery rhyme.’
‘You know that his surname is Wren, right?’ said Suzanne smiling. ‘Yep, Gen and Glen Wren.’
‘I liked him,’ said Hannah. ‘Not that I got to talk to him much, but he seemed like a nice guy.’
‘He is a nice guy,’ said Suzanne. ‘I’m just not convinced he’s the right guy for Gen. Already, they spend the bare minimum of time on the farm. I’m worried he’ll draw her away completely.’
Hannah thought of her conversation with Gen about children. Suzanne was right to be concerned, but she kept quiet.
‘What can you do? They’re engaged and planning a huge society wedding in Joburg,’ continued Suzanne.
‘Not on the farm?’ said Kathryn, shocked. ‘How’s your mother handling that?’
‘Gen said it’s too far for their friends to travel.’ Suzanne rolled her eyes, but there was concern on her face. ‘Mum doesn’t know about it yet.’
‘Although,’ said Hannah, ‘a big wedding on the farm would raise that awkward thing of the De Jagers. Imagine Esme pulling a stunt at Gen’s wedding? Gen would never forgive your mum.’
Suzanne shook her head. ‘Gen thinks in black and white. She finds Esme creepy and cannot understand how other people make allowances for her. Esme gives me the creeps too, but she’s a very ill woman. You can’t shut her out for that.’
Kathryn leant back in her chair, cradling her wine glass on her stomach. ‘The thing is, though, she’s also dangerous. We know she torments Alistair. My impression is that she’s becoming more unstable, not less.’
Hannah’s skin lifted in a shiver, and she pulled her cardigan off the back of her chair and around her shoulders. Glancing at her watch, she saw the hands shift to half-past eight. The next moment, the lights went out.
‘Damn, I forgot there was load-shedding tonight,’ said Kathryn, ‘Eight-thirty to ten-thirty.’ A few seconds later, the restaurant generator kicked in, and fairy lights flickered and came on again. ‘What these power cuts do to my fridges in the shop, I hate to know. I have a recurring nightmare that one morning I’ll come in and find my shop swimming in melted ice cream and mousse cake.’
‘Speaking of nightmares, Hannah,’ said Suzanne, ‘Mum says you spoke to Kobie about the plateau. What did he tell you?’
‘What’s this?’ said Kathryn.
‘There’s an old guy who’s lived on Goshen his whole life, and his mother and grandmother before him,’ said Hannah. ‘Sarah suggested I ask him if he knew anything about the camp.’
‘And did he?’
‘Not as such, but he’s experienced strange things up on the plateau. Seen women dressed in Boer clothes, smelt smoke or sewage, heard keening. Did you ever hear these stories, Suzanne?’
‘No, Mum never told us. I suppose she didn’t want to frighten us as kids, but I saw something once.’
‘What?’ both Hannah and Kathryn said in unison, sitting forwards in their chairs.
Suzanne smiled at their response. ‘I was home on holiday from university, dealing with some stuff… Anyway, I rode up to the plateau on my own, just for some space. I don’t know why I did – I’ve always found it unsettling there. I got to the gate, and my horse wouldn’t ride through. He was a bit silly sometimes. I thought he was just acting up, so I got off and tethered him to the fence post. Kept going on foot. As I crested the slope, I saw, down at the other end of the plateau, two women digging a hole. One was standing in the hole, hip deep, and one was on the edge. I thought they must be workers doing something for my dad. But, for some reason, something unnerved me, and I turned before they saw me, went quickly back to my horse, who was trying to get away from the post. He nearly threw me off when I eventually managed to mount. We bolted home.’