In the Land of the Long White Cloud

would not be able to handle the animals. He was taking care to get on Gracie’s good side—which earned him even more points with Fleurette. After three days, the farmer was convinced that Fleur would not refuse his proposal. And Gerald Warden should be happy to marry the girl off so well.

    Gerald had mixed feelings about John’s proposal. This time the girl did not seem disinclined—Gerald even thought his granddaughter was flirting rather shamelessly with his old friend. Yet his relief was tinged with envy. John would have what he, Gerald, could not. John would not have to take Fleur by force; she would give herself freely. Gerald drowned his forbidden thoughts in whiskey.
    At least he was prepared when his friend came to him on the fourth day of his stay at Kiward Station and announced his marital intentions.
    “You know I can provide for her, old friend,” Sideblossom said. “Lionel Station is big. Granted, the manor house is not quite as grand as this place, but it’s comfortable. We have plenty of servants. The girl will be cared for tip to toe. Of course she’ll have to take care of the boy herself. But she’ll have her own soon enough, I’m sure—and she can see to two as easily as one. Do you have any objections to my making a proposal?” John poured himself a whiskey.
    Gerald shook his head and let John pour him one too. John was right; what he was proposing was the best solution. “I have no objections. The farm does have little in the way of liquid assets for a dowry. Would you be content with a flock of sheep? We could also discuss the possibility of two mares for breeding.”
    The two men spent the next hour in amiable negotiations over Fleurette’s dowry. Both of them knew every trick in the book when it came to the livestock negotiations. The offers just went back and forth. Gwyneira, who was once again eavesdropping, was not unsettled; toher ears it sounded like they were injecting new blood into the flocks on Lionel Station. Fleurette’s name was not mentioned once.
    “I mu…must warn you, however,” Gerald said after the men had finally reached an agreement and confirmed the amount of the dowry with a handshake and sealed it with a great deal more whiskey. “The gi…girl is not ea…easy. Had something for a neighbor boy…just nonsense. The boy has…sodded off in the meantime. But you kn…know how skirts are…”
    “I did not get the impression that Fleur was uninterested.” Sideblossom was surprised. As always, he seemed completely sober even now, although they had long since emptied the first bottle of whiskey. “Why don’t we just strike while the iron is hot and ask her? Go, call for her. I’m in the mood for an engagement kiss! And the other farmers should be back by tomorrow. Then we can announce it right away.”
    Fleurette, who had just returned from riding and was preparing to change for dinner, was surprised by Witi’s shy knock on her door.
    “Miss Fleur, Mr. Warden wishes to speak with you. He…how you say? He bid you come straight in his room.” The Maori servant was debating whether to add an additional comment, and ultimately decided to do so: “It best you hurry. The men much whiskey, little patience.”
    After the incident with Gerald the night of Reginald Beasley’s proposal, Fleur was suspicious about sudden invitations to Gerald’s room. Instinctively, she decided not to make herself look particularly attractive, clasping her riding dress closed again instead of putting on the dark green silk dress Kiri had laid out for her. She would have liked to bring her mother with her, but she did not know where Gwyneira was. The many visitors on top of the farm work were taking up a lot of her mother’s time. At the moment, it was true, there was not all that much to do—it being January, the shearing and lambing were done, and the sheep were mostly wandering free in the highlands—but the summer had been unusually wet, so there were constant repairs to be done, and the hay harvest was becoming a game of chance. Fleur decided not to wait for Gwyneira or to waste time looking for her.Whatever Gerald wanted, she would have to deal with him herself. There was little need to fear an assault; after all, Witi had spoken of “the men.” So John Sideblossom would likewise be present and act as a mediator.

    John Sideblossom was unpleasantly surprised when Fleur entered the study in her riding dress and with her hair a mess—she could have cleaned