In the Land of the Long White Cloud

herself up a bit. However, she still looked indisputably charming. No, it would not be difficult for him to conjure up a little romance.
    “Miss Warden,” he said, “will you permit me to speak?” John bowed formally before the girl. “This is a matter that concerns me more than anyone else, and I am not the sort of man who sends others to do his bidding.”
    He looked into Fleur’s shocked eyes and interpreted the nervous flickering in them as encouragement.
    “It’s true I first laid eyes on you three days ago, Miss Warden, but I was enthralled by you from the very first moment, by your beautiful eyes and your gentle smile. Your kindness these last few days has given me hope that my presence was not objectionable to you either. And for that reason—I am a man of bold decisions, Miss Warden, and I think you will learn to love that about me—for that reason I have decided to ask your grandfather for his permission. He joyfully agreed to an alliance between us. I may therefore, with the permission of your guardian, formally ask for your hand.”
    John smiled and sank down to one knee in front of Fleur. Gerald suppressed a laugh when he noticed that Fleur did not know where to look.
    “I…Mr. Sideblossom, that’s very nice of you, but I love someone else,” she finally said. “My grandfather really should have told you, and—”
    “Miss Warden,” he broke in, full of confidence, “whomever you think you love, you will forget him in my arms soon enough.”
    Fleurette shook her head. “I won’t ever forget him, sir! I promised to marry him.”
    “Fleur, don’t talk such bloody rot!” Gerald roared. “John is the right man for you. Not too young, not too old, socially acceptable, and he’s rich to boot. What more do you want?”
    “I have to be able to love my husband!” Fleurette exclaimed frantically. “And I…”
    “Love comes in time,” John explained. “So, come now, girl. You’ve spent the last three days with me. I can’t be all that disagreeable to you.”
    Impatience flickered in his eyes.
    “You…you are not disagreeable to me, but…but that’s why I won’t…marry you. I think you’re nice, sir, but…but…”
    “Stop playing coy, Fleurette!” John interrupted the girl’s stammering. He could not have cared less about the girl’s objections. “Say yes and then we can begin discussing the formalities. I think we should have the wedding this fall—right after this unfortunate business with James McKenzie has been taken care of. Maybe you can even ride to Lionel Station straightaway…in the company of your mother, of course; we must go about this properly.”
    Fleurette inhaled deeply, imprisoned by anger and panic. Why the devil was no one listening to her? She resolved to say clearly and in no uncertain terms what she had to say. These men had to be capable of understanding the reality of the situation.
    “Mr. Sideblossom, Grandfather,” Fleurette said, raising her voice. “I’ve said it several times now, and I’m getting tired of repeating myself. I won’t marry you, sir! I thank you for your proposal, and I appreciate your attentions, but I am already spoken for. Please excuse me from dinner, Grandfather; I’m indisposed.”
    Fleur forced herself not to run from the room, so she turned around in a slow and measured manner. She left the room with her head held high and without slamming the door behind her. But then she fled through the salon and up the stairs like the devil was on her heels. It was best that she shut herself in her room until John Sideblossom left.She had not liked the flickering in his eyes. The man was no doubt unaccustomed to not getting what he wanted. And something told her that he could be dangerous when things did not go according to his plan.

5
    T he next day Kiward Station filled with men and horses. The sheep barons of the Canterbury Plains had not skimped on their promises: the number of participants in the punitive expedition had grown to the strength of a military company. Gwyneira did not care for the men Gerald’s friends had signed up. There were few Maori shepherds and farm employees among the men. It looked as though the breeders had recruited men in the pubs and the new arrivals’ barracks, and many of them looked to Gwyneira like fortune hunters, if not plain old seedy rabble. For this reason, she was happy to keep Fleurette away from the stables for the next few days. For his part, Gerald did not skimp either and