The Blue Mountains of Kabuta Read Online Free Page B

mountains, but the sky was a mixture of pale green with streaks of red and gold. How early it got dark out here in Africa, she was thinking, as the electric light suddenly went on and she heard the rackety roar of an engine. That meant they had their own engine. She had a vague memory of Alex telling her this, but there was so much to try to remember. She wondered who switched it on and off. Did it run all night?
    All questions that only Alex Roe could answer—which meant that she must swallow her pride and ask them!
    She sighed now as she looked in the mirror. Alex was right. She looked ridiculously young. Tonight she felt as young and helpless as she looked! It was so easy to talk confidently, but was she going to be able to run the farm— alone? She hadn’t a clue. Not a single clue. Of course there was Alex to help her as he had been helped by Uncle Ned. But how long would she take to learn it all? He had his own life to lead . . . besides, she thought, as she got into the kaftan, she hated the thought of having to be dependent on him. Or on anyone, for that matter.
    â€˜Jon!’ her mother called. ‘Come and zip me up, darling.’
    With one last look in the mirror, Jon hurried to the next room. It was similar to hers, but the colour scheme was different. In here the curtains were made of deep red and black striped material with a matching rug.
    Her mother was peering into the mirror. ‘How can you be expected to see in this bad light?’ she was grumbling. She was wearing a long green velvet gown. Its very simplicity ensured its elegance, Jon thought. Her mother had brushed her dark hair up, piling it high on her head. She wore a diamond necklace and matching ear-rings, but, Jon thought with dismay, wasn’t it rather overdressed for a cocktail party? Knowing how sensitive her mother was, she was tempted to remark on this, but then decided to say nothing.
    Sandy, the boxer, lay patiently watching as Jon did up the long back zipper.
    â€˜You look super, Mum.’
    Her mother smiled. ‘Thanks, darling. First impressions are so important. I wonder what sort of social life one has here. I do hope we make lots of friends. It would be so nice to have a full social life,’ she added, almost wistfully.
    Jon looked at her in dismay and hoped her face didn’t show it. Surely her mother couldn’t mean it? she thought. A farm in an isolated district hardly promised a busy ‘social life’. They’d probably get to know a few families around, but . . .
    â€˜You had friends in Bexhill, Mum.’
    â€˜They were so boring, Jon. Bill never stopped talking about cricket. Sometimes I wanted to scream. When is Alex picking us up?’
    â€˜In ten minutes. I must just finish my face.’
    â€˜Let me look at you, darling. A pretty frock, but . . . well, Jon dear isn’t it a little . . . well, casual? I mean a kaftan is only a housecoat, after all.’
    Jon smiled, wondering what her mother would say if she pointed out that if a kaftan was ‘casual’ a long velvet gown had gone to the other extreme.
    â€˜Kaftans are all the rage in the fashion world, Mum. Besides, it is comfortable. See you in a moment.’
    In her room, she stared round, surprised. In that short space of time while she had been with her mother, either Dorcas or Violet had quietly come in, turned down the bed, pulled the curtains across and tidied away the dirty clothes.
    Jon laughed at herself. Now she was a lady of leisure with two maids to look after her, so she must adapt to this new life. How strange it seemed after life in Bexhill, for she had always been the tidy one, cooking the meals, doing the washing, tidying things away, for she knew her mother got very tired doing her job as hotel receptionist and book-keeper, though she never complained.
    Having one last look at her reflection in the mirror, Jon asked herself a question.
    â€˜Tell me, Jon, are you going to like this new