Sleep in the Woods by Dorothy Eden

Author:Dorothy Eden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media

XVII

SAUL, WAS already having breakfast when she went down. In a bright conversational voice she said, “Good morning. Were you alarmed about a Hauhau attack last night that you did not come to bed?”

He met her gaze with a hard, indifferent one. “No, I had a sick colt. I stayed with him.”

“Nothing serious, I hope?”

“No. He seems better this morning. Been eating something to upset him, probably. We don’t know a lot about some of the plants here. The tutu plant, for instance, will kill cattle in a few hours.”

“How terrible!”

“But that grows chiefly in the South Island, luckily for us.”

Katie had come in with a fresh pot of tea. Briar said good morning to her, and sat down opposite her husband. They surely, she reflected ironically, gave every appearance of being a well-bred, happily married couple, conversing politely at breakfast. It was not apparent that she had suddenly become so distasteful to her husband that he did not wish to share her bed.

“Briar, as soon as you have finished your breakfast will you write letters to Sophie and to my mother inviting them here as soon as they care to come. Can you have them done in an hour?”

“Yes. But why this urgent hurry?”

“I’m leaving for New Plymouth immediately. I’ll take them with me and they can be sent on the return journey of the Seagull.”

Now she was startled. “You’re going away?”

“Only for the night. I should be back before midnight tomorrow. There are stores which have arrived for me that I must arrange to transport, and other business to attend to.”

“You didn’t tell me this last night?”

“We were talking of other things.” His voice was aloof and unemotional. Suddenly she was in a panic. Had they quarreled so seriously? And what was to happen if they had? Although she could not view the next fifty years with equanimity, it was disastrous to view them with no marriage.

“Must you go yourself?”

“I could send Fred Potter.”

“No, he mustn’t be away from Jemima just now, with the baby sick, and everything.”

“I imagined you would say that.” Did his gaze hold a little approval? She couldn’t be sure.

He went on, “When you have written the letters I want you and Katie to get ready to come as far as the village with me. You can stay with the Peabody’s, and I expect Jemima can manage a bed for Katie.”

“Why can’t we stay here?”

“I don’t wish you to.”

“But I’m an excellent shot now with a rifle, and there have been no alarms. Surely for one night—”

“I don’t wish you to stay here,” he repeated impatiently. “I know it’s been safe so far, but it will be safer in the village. So make haste, will you.”

“Very well,” said Briar slowly. “I’ll go and write the letters. But there’s no need for you to wait for Katie and me. Fred can take us later in the dray. You can be miles on your way by then.”

He considered. “Perhaps that would be a good idea. But I wish you to go as soon as possible, you understand.

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