The Pearl of Penang by Clare Flynn (best books to read for students txt) 📗

introductions to people whose names she would never remember, Evie ached to leave. Like a butterfly pinned to a specimen tray, she was being passed around for inspection and approval. If she had hoped to be welcomed warmly and enthusiastically into their inner circle, she was to be disappointed. The ladies appeared to operate as a clique, slow to accept outsiders or newcomers. Her nerves raw and her head throbbing from too much champagne and a vain effort to remember names, she escaped to the ladies’ powder room.

Once inside a cubicle, she told herself to calm down. These people would eventually accept her and possibly even become her friends. It was only natural that at the beginning they would be cautious about her and she would feel like an outsider. She remembered her first term at boarding school and how different it was from what followed. Girls who had cold-shouldered her had become firm friends and alliances inevitably changed as time went on. That was what she needed to do. Give it time.

As she sat in a stall, treasuring this quiet moment away from the intimidating throng, she heard the door to the Powder Room open and two or three people came in.

‘You’re not serious, Vronnie!’ The speaker had a drawling tone that made her sound bored.

‘I told you. I’m absolutely certain. He mistook her for another woman. It has to be that. He’s been propping up the bar ever since he got here, getting absolutely sozzled.’ Veronica’s voice was unmistakable. ‘Dougie would never have chosen to get hitched to someone like her. Remember they’d only ever met once and that was years ago. He obviously muddled her up with someone else.’

A third voice chipped in. ‘You can’t seriously be suggesting he went ahead and married her knowing she was the wrong woman?’

‘Once she’d trekked all the way to Malaya he could hardly send her back again, could he? Parcel her up to return to sender!’

Evie winced as she listened to the ripples of laughter but Veronica wasn’t done. ‘Besides, Dougie only cares about what will happen to his damned rubber estates. As long as she can give him a couple of brats why should he be bothered? What’s that expression? You don’t look at the mantelpiece when you’re poking the fire.’

More gales of laughter. ‘Really, Vronnie. You are the giddy limit!’

Evie was humiliated. She could hear the sound of handbags opening and closing and a tap running. The women seemed to be repairing their makeup. No one had gone near the cubicles.

The woman with the drawling voice spoke again. ‘The girl does seem gawky. Not fat exactly, but very big-boned. Not at all like Felicity who was such a delicate, pretty little thing.’

Veronica’s voice cut through the air again. ‘But Felicity didn’t cope well with being here, did she? Dougie’s not daft. He probably decided that it was better this time to pick someone made of sturdier stuff. Evie definitely has child-bearing hips and appears to have the constitution of an ox.’

‘The body of one too.’ Gales of laughter followed.

‘You two are awful. Her face is actually quite attractive – she has great big eyes and lovely skin. And her hair’s a lovely colour.’

Veronica snorted. ‘Her skin will be like leather after a few months here. She spent hours sitting out on deck on the ship out here. I’d be amazed if Dougie can manage to get it up for her.’

Evie was shaking with anger. What should she do? Stay hidden and hope they hadn’t noticed that one of the cubicles was occupied? Or brave it out and shame them? On a sudden impulse, and unable to stand the sniggering, she flushed the lavatory and pushed the door open. She had nothing to be ashamed of. Better to face down the three witches than cower in a corner herself.

Veronica was sitting on a chintz-covered armchair, her cigarette holder in one hand. Her eyebrows rose a fraction as she registered Evie’s presence but she made no other sign of acknowledgement. The drawling woman, a redhead, whom Evie remembered was called Dolly something, was perched on top of the dressing-table unit that ran along one wall, her legs swinging like a pendulum. The third woman, who’d been introduced as Flora Davenport, a petite blonde with narrow cat-like eyes and a tiny mouth, was standing in front of the mirrors, applying lipstick.

Evie could hear their collective intake of breath. Saying nothing, she moved over to the basins and washed her hands, taking her time and relishing the embarrassed silence. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dolly slither down from her perch while Flora appeared frozen in front of the mirror, the application of her lipstick forgotten.

From her corner seat, Veronica was the first to speak. ‘As I was just saying, Evie, you must come and join us in our next tennis game. Rowena’s ankle won’t be mended for some time yet so you could make up our four for doubles. You do play don’t you?’ Her tone conveyed the impression that she thought it unlikely.

Evie had been captain of the school tennis team and was a frequent winner of house and school tournaments. ‘Tennis isn’t my cup of tea,’ she lied. Without a backward glance she left the room.

Avoiding the gathering in what was designated the Small Drawing Room, Evie slipped through an open full-length window into the garden. Apart from a few people playing croquet on the lawns at the side of the building, there was no one outside in the grounds of the club. Brimming with hurt pride and suppressed rage, she settled herself on a wooden bench under a palm tree.

She must be the laughing stock of the club and probably half of George Town. It was obvious that in this narrow expatriate society, rumour and gossip spread like sparks in a tinder pile. Were the women right about her? Was she so unappealing that her new husband would probably have to shut his eyes and