The Pearl of Penang

Chapter 2-2

Embarrassed, Evie said, ‘I was a bit under the weather. I didn’t think I’d make very cheerful company so I’ve been keeping out of the way for a while.’

‘May I?’ He gestured towards the deck chair next to hers, then sat, sideways on, so he could see her. ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’

Evie pursed her lips, then saw his face had such a kind and concerned expression that, before she could stop herself, she’d blurted out the truth. ‘Actually, I’ve had a bit of a wobble. Realised I’ve been a frightful chump in agreeing to come to Malaya and marry Douglas when I don’t really know him. I expect he made his offer without thinking through the implications and by now he’ll be wondering how to get out of it.’ She pleated the fabric of her dress through restless fingers. ‘I was wondering if I ought to get off the ship when we reach Bombay. Only I’ve no money to pay the passage home. What do you think I should do?’

Arthur frowned and shook his head. ‘Has Veronica been filling your head with nonsense? Sometimes she speaks out of turn. She seems to find it amusing, but it can be bloody hurtful.’ He looked uncharacteristically annoyed.

Blushing, Evie said, ‘No. I’ve not spoken to her in days. It’s just that the whole idea seems such a crazy enterprise that I can’t think why I ever agreed to it.’ She smoothed the creases out of her dress then gathered the fabric up again, rippling it nervously through her fingers. ‘My life had become so dull and predictable and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my days reading aloud to Mrs Shipley-Thomas and, after her, a succession of old ladies, while life passes me by.’

She looked up at him, afraid he would think her foolish, but his face showed only attention and concern.

‘When Douglas Barrington’s letter arrived it was as if my prayers had been answered. It was an opportunity to start again, to see something of the world, to embark on an adventure, to do something unpredictable and spontaneous for the first time in years. It was the only way I could see to get out of my rut.’

‘I understand.’ Arthur nodded. ‘That all makes perfect sense. So, what’s made you change your mind?’

She hesitated then said, ‘If I’m honest I suppose I’m worried about what people will think. That they’ll say I’m a desperate spinster who’s grasped her only chance to hook a husband.’ She gave a dry laugh. ‘And they’d be right. ’

When Arthur said nothing, she stumbled on. ‘But more than that I’m worried that Mr Barrington – I mean Douglas – it seems odd to call him that when I barely know him. That he must surely be having second thoughts himself. I can’t imagine what would possess a man like him – successful, comfortably off, handsome – to ask someone like me to marry him when he must have the pick of the field. There. You have it.’ She bit her lip and waited for him to reply.

He reached out and took her hand, holding it in his for a just a brief moment. ‘I don’t know what you mean when you say someone like you. I happen to think Doug is a very fortunate man that you’re willing to become his wife. It shows you have pluck, Evie. You’re a brave girl. Fearless, in fact. Not many people would do what you’re doing and that’s to be admired. And you’re kind, intelligent, independent, interesting. All in all, you’re a very attractive woman and if you ask me, Doug is a very lucky chap.’

Evie felt a rush of gratitude mingled with disbelief. Was he just trying to be nice? Did he mean it? Would he later laugh about what he’d said with Veronica? ‘Thank you,’ she said, deciding to accept the compliment graciously. ‘That makes me feel better. I hope you don’t think I was fishing for compliments?’

‘You don’t need to fish for them, Evie. You deserve them.’ His mouth formed a smile but his eyes looked sad. ‘You do however need to go into this crazy enterprise, as you call it, with eyes wide open. Penang is a beautiful place. Quite magical. But Malaya’s not an easy country to live in if you’re not born to it. The climate in the Straits is hot and humid all year round and it can take a long time to adjust. Some people never do. Felicity certainly didn’t.’

Evie looked at him, shocked.

‘She struggled from the moment she arrived and never settled. It was a constant source of tension between the two of them. Maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I think you’ve a right to know.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes and offered her one. It was the only time she’d seen him smoke. She shook her head.

‘When Felicity married Doug she thought she’d signed up to a life in the Home Counties. Two years later Doug’s bachelor uncle died, leaving him the rubber estate on Penang island. He was determined to take it on. He hated his job in the City and the thought of owning land and making a living from it appealed. Like you, he wanted adventure.’ Arthur lit his cigarette and drew on it slowly. ‘Felicity took some persuading. She didn’t want to leave her friends and family, and was nervous about moving overseas. She was expecting Jasmine at the time which can’t have helped. But Doug can be very persuasive. He swept her up in his enthusiasm and they went off.’

Evie was rapt with attention, waiting as Arthur took a second slow draw on his cigarette before stubbing it out. ‘Trying to give the blessed things up,’ he said. ‘From the moment they arrived it was a disaster. Felicity hated Penang. She felt isolated on the rubber estate, so Doug bought a house in George Town for her to use when she wanted. But she disliked that even more. There may have been more for her to do in town but the humidity can be suffocating in the lowlands. She had a very difficult time with Jasmine’s birth and was in poor health from then on. She appeared to lose all her zest for life.’

None of this squared with the eulogy to Felicity that Veronica had given. She’d described her as a human dynamo, not a wilting flower.

Arthur swung his legs round and leaned back into the deckchair so Evie could no longer see his face. ‘Veronica and I were posted to Penang around the same time the Barringtons arrived. As we’re similar ages, naturally we became friends. It was sad to watch as Felicity faded away. She was always ill. One thing after another. Coping with a baby was too much for her so she left the care of Jasmine to a servant and grew more and more listless. It was as though she had no interest in anything or anyone. Almost as if she were willing herself to die. An extraordinary business. She contracted malaria and had no strength to fight it. Doug sent the child away to be cared for by the nuns and threw himself into running the business, so we rarely saw him in town any more. Jasmine was just three or four. ’

‘How awful for the poor child to lose her mother so young – and to be separated from her father.’

He nodded. ‘I think Doug would like her to be at home. I know that’s one of his reasons for wanting to re-marry. And from everything you’ve told me, Evie, I think he’s made a wise choice in you. I’m not saying you’ll find life there easy, but you’re made of stronger stuff than Felicity was.’

Evie stretched her mouth into a smile. ‘You’ve cheered me up, Arthur. Thank you. I don’t know how it will be, but rest assured I’ll give it my best effort.’

He got to his feet. ‘That’s the spirit.’ Giving her a mock salute, he added, ‘See you at dinner tonight?’

‘I’ll be there.’

When he’d gone, Evie hugged her knees, experiencing a new burst of energy. She wouldn’t let Veronica get under her skin again. Hadn’t Arthur himself said she enjoyed making trouble? Not for the first time she wondered how they’d come to be together. They were the most unlikely of couples. But people did say opposites attract.

With her first sight of Penang, Evie was entranced. The island was covered with jungle and the coastline was rocky. As the ship sailed between the mainland on the port side and the island, the dense jungle gave way to breathtakingly beautiful sandy beaches. Then there was George Town, with its elegant colonial buildings. How had Arthur described it? The Pearl of the Orient. All around the strait there was shipping, from Peninsular and Oriental passenger liners, numerous cargo vessels and tramp steamers, ferries, junks and sampans.

After they docked in Penang, at Swettenham Pier, Evie said goodbye to the Leightons, who were travelling on to Singapore. They assured her they would be in George Town in a couple of weeks, after Arthur’s post-leave briefing session at his Singapore headquarters.

‘I’d rather come straight back to Penang, but Arthur needs me,’ Veronica told Evie. ‘He hates to travel without me.’ She put a hand proprietorially on his arm. ‘My darling boy won’t let me out of his sight. And he’s hopeless without me to organise him.’

Evie found this hard to believe. As a senior civil servant with extensive responsibilities, it seemed unlikely he’d have attained and retained such a position if he were disorganised. Arthur made no comment but his face showed his embarrassment.

The couple’s relationship mystified Evie. Arthur seemed too ordinary to be married to an exotic and beautiful creature like Veronica. There was nothing sleek and polished about him, with his tousled hair, constantly slipping spectacles, too-baggy trousers and frequently ink-stained fingers. Veronica, when in his company, was always on her best behaviour. When they were together, she touched him constantly – a hand on his arm, a palm brushed against his cheek, her arm slipped through his – demonstrating possession, and making clear to the world that they were a couple. Yet, on board, she spent much of her time in the bar, flirting with any available men. Evie had often viewed her from a distance, watching her preen, perform and soak up the admiration of her coterie of admirers as they jostled to buy her next drink. Veronica was a man-magnet. If she entered an empty room, within moments it was packed. Women, on the other hand, tended to give her a wide berth. Evie was glad to see the back of her, even if it was only for a matter of days. Having Veronica around while she was getting to know Douglas would have sapped her confidence.

As she prepared to go ashore, Evie’s nerves returned. Thanks to her conversation with Arthur, this time it was not due to self-doubt but nervous excitement. In a matter of days she would be married. At least she presumed she would. Other than the telegram to confirm the Leightons’ contact details in London and the departure date of the ship, she’d heard nothing more from Douglas. Would he expect her to call him Doug – or even Dougie as Veronica Leighton did? Was he as excited about what was happening as she was? Would he be as handsome as she remembered?

While Arthur Leighton seemed to believe her forthcoming marriage would be a successful and lasting one, it was nonetheless a marriage driven by convenience. Douglas Barrington needed a wife to keep his house, bring up his child and, hopefully, provide him with more children. While maybe in time he might grow to love her, it was too much to expect that he would feel that from the start.