Read Online The Red Thread by Dawn Farnham - Free Book Online Page A

but I think any kind of marriage would be out of the question. Since Charlotte has come, she can no longer visit me and, really, I’ve come to you for some advice.’
    The words tripped over each other as they fell off his tongue, and when he stopped, he felt drained.
    Coleman looked at him sardonically. ‘Well, now, that’s an unusual case, is it not? Can’t think of any of the other bachelors in the settlement who are sleeping with young native women, can you?’
    Robert said in a small voice, ‘No, I know, but George, this girl, it’s … Shilah.’
    Coleman put down his cup with a bang.
    â€˜Shilah? Our Shilah, here in the house? Two months, by the saints, and you haven’t been to tell me! Why, she could be pregnant by now. Did you think of that?’ His voice had risen.
    Robert stood up and looked out in the half light over the balcony, past Tir Uaidhne and towards St Andrew’s Church.
    â€˜Auch, George, don’t yell at me I beg of yer, for I want to do the right thing. She came to me. I know that’s no excuse, but I’m a young man, and really that sort of thing has been sorely lacking. You know I don’t like to go to the ah ku women.’
    He turned and faced Coleman dolefully. George shook his head.
    â€˜Well, sit down. We’ll discuss this calmly. What’s done is done. The girl’s as much to blame; I offered to find her a decent husband.’
    He poured them both some more coffee and sat in thought. Robert, relieved, said nothing and watched him warily.
    â€˜She’ll stay here with me for the moment,’ Coleman said finally. ‘I’ll speak to her and get Dr Montgomerie to look her over. If she’s pregnant, then you have to decide what you want to do about it. Takouhi knows someone who can fix that. After that, if you still want to continue in this, then I think, if you want to be fair, you have to set her up somewhere. Does your salary run to a small place? I’ve almost finished a nice row of houses on Middle Street, on a plot of land I’ve leased. Perhaps I could let you rent one of the upper rooms cheaply. But think this out carefully. If you want to get married in a few years, better think what you’ll do then.’
    Robert was glad he had come. Coleman was always a reasonable and pragmatic man. At the moment he could not think of giving up Shilah, and to establish her in Kampong Glam was a good idea. His inheritance was but a few weeks away, and, while it was not large, money would not be wanting. Any child could be got rid of. Shilah was young, only sixteen; there was plenty of time for that if they were still together later on. He looked over at George with gratitude.
    â€˜George, how can I thank you?’
    Coleman looked at him severely. ‘You can thank me by making this unfortunate young woman happy. She was raised with no parents and doubtless has a large store of love to offer you, the lord knows why. This is the only home she has ever known. At the moment you are crazy to get your hands on her, but life has a way of setting traps. Don’t let her down when you no longer have any use for her. Yer know, Robert, just because she’s a parentless half-blood doesn’t mean she doesn’t aspire to marry you or that you should reject it out of hand. But that is up to you.’
    George suddenly rose and approached the edge of the verandah. Robert looked over and saw Takouhi at the upper window of the house opposite. The dawn was almost upon them, and birds were busily twittering and flitting amongst the trees and shrubs and in and out of the pagoda-like birdhouse. Her black hair fell over her shoulders, and she waved and smiled at them. At her side was a young girl, pretty, with shoulder-length brown hair. This was Meda Elizabeth, George’s daughter. Coleman blew them a kiss. Not for the first time, Robert was struck with how strong and affectionate this relationship was.
    Coleman