Kitty by Deborah Challinor Read Free Book Online Page B

yesterday, how could she not?
    ‘So do you understand now why I forbade you to have anything to do with him?’ Emily demanded. ‘The whole of Dereham knows what a scoundrel that man is, despite the best efforts of the Bentleys to keep the matter quiet, and now no doubt the whole of Dereham also knows what Ida Ormsby saw yesterday. Your reputation is ruined, Kitty, and so are your chances of ever finding yourself a husband, in Norfolk anyway.’ Emily paused, gathering strength for what she had to say next. ‘So I have decided—your Uncle George and I have decided—that you will accompany him and Aunt Sarah to New Zealand when they leave in a fortnight.’
    For a second it seemed that the world had tilted, and Kitty put her hands out flat on the sofa to maintain her equilibrium. ‘New Zealand! For how long?’
    ‘For as long as necessary. There will be young men there who have no knowledge of what has befallen you, so you may find a husband yet. Perhaps not the sort of husband I had envisaged for you, but a husband nevertheless.’
    ‘Mama, no !’ Kitty cried.
    ‘I’m sorry, my darling, I really am, but you must see that it would be impossible for you to remain here now. In New Zealand you can start again. You can help Aunt Sarah and you can teach in this mission school Uncle George talks so much about. It will be better than spending the rest of your life here as a spinster.’
    ‘It won’t! I could teach here, Mama, I could sew! Please, don’t send me away!’
    Emily shook her head resolutely, blinking hard. ‘You’re better to go off to New Zealand, away from gossip and long memories.’
    ‘But Mama—’
    ‘No, Kitty, I’ve made up my mind.’
    Kitty burst into tears, followed closely by Emily, who moved closer and wrapped her arms around her sobbing daughter.
    ‘I’m so sorry, Kitty, but there’s nothing else to be done. You’re a good girl, you always were, if rather headstrong, but you’ve made a terrible mistake. Your chances of a good life here have gone, don’t you see that?’
    Kitty was helpless to stop her tears, because she couldn’t see it, not at all.

Chapter Four
    Paihia
    B reakfast was a rowdy affair, with the Purcell children joining in. Five of them sat along one side of the table, from the eldest to the youngest, like a graduated row of Russian dolls Kitty had once seen. The baby, Harry, was perched on his mother’s knee, waving a spoon and flicking porridge everywhere. Next to Rebecca sat Uncle George, and on his right was Aunt Sarah, the only gloomy notes in an otherwise loud and lively tableau.
    ‘We will be moving into the vacant house this morning, Kitty,’ George said, parsimoniously spreading bright yellow butter on a slice of bread. ‘I trust you will have your things ready to be carried over by ten o’clock? On the dot, please.’
    Kitty nodded, her mouth full of porridge.
    ‘Unfortunately, I won’t be available to help,’ George went on. ‘Mr Purcell and Mr Tait and I will be meeting with Reverend Williams this morning. But Mr Purcell assures me there will be more than enough Maoris to assist you.’
    ‘Just keep an eye on everything, that’s all,’ Win said, helping himself to extra porridge. ‘They can be a bit light-fingered.’
    At first Kitty had been daunted by the sight of the dozen Maori men and boys who arrived from Pukera village on the dot of a quarter past eleven to help with the move. She was especially alarmed to see that Haunui was among them.
    Looking contrite, he said solemnly, ‘I am sorry for drowning you, Miss Kitty,’ and extended his huge brown hand.
    Kitty eyed it nervously, then shook it, wondering how he knew her name. ‘And I am sorry for hitting you, Mr Haunui.’
    He grinned then, the wide smile transforming his fierce face. ‘Not mister, just Haunui.’
    Sarah left her seat in the shade of the verandah, briskly clapped her hands three times and commanded, ‘Pay attention, please!’
    The Maoris looked at each other in