Mr Kent introduced the servants as the cook, two housemaids, houseboy and syce. The latter would drive for the family and tend the gardens. They welcomed their new employers with a series of shy smiles and bows before getting back to work; the cook and the housemaids back into the kitchen to prepare dinner, and the houseboy and syce to unload the luggage from the motor car.
‘Well, Templetons, I’ll let you all settle in,’ Mr Kent said. ‘You must be in need of a good rest after the journey. The servants will take care of you, but if you need anything at all, here is my telephone number.’ He handed Dorothy’s father a folded piece of paper, then told him that he would be back to collect him the next morning. ‘A word of warning: some of the neighbours will doubtless pop in to say hello. Having new blood arrivinghere is always a source of excitement! Are they being neighbourly or nosey? Well, you can decide that later!’ He chuckled as he made his exit and gave a hearty wave. ‘Cheerio for now.’
They had just finished their tour of the house and were in the process of selecting their bedrooms from the four on offer, when there came an enthusiastic halloo-ing from downstairs. They all looked down from the first-floor gallery to see a tall, dark-haired woman in a floral cotton dress step across the threshold. She was followed by a younger version of herself who looked cool and prim in a blue blouse and white A-line skirt, her dark brown hair pulled neatly back in a ponytail.
‘You made it! Welcome to Singapore!’ the woman began in a tinkling Home Counties accent. ‘Marion Davies,’ she introduced herself. ‘We’re just along the road from you; we thought we’d come and be neighbourly! My husband is Walter, he’s in banking. And this is my youngest, Clara.’ Marion nodded towards her daughter, then put the wicker basket she’d been carrying on the hall table and removed the cover. ‘Just a few little treats to welcome you: some pineapple tarts and some fresh mangoes from the garden.’
Though travel weary, Olivia Templeton smiled and switched into hostess mode, calling one of the housemaids and ordering cold drinks in the drawing room. Dorothy felt proud of her mother’s undaunted resolve to make the most of every opportunity. She had noticed her flushed face and the damp patches in the armpits of her dress; she was also struggling in this heat. Nevertheless, she welcomed the visitors, just as she would have done back home in Fulham. She led Marion through to the drawing room and suggested that Dorothy show Clara around.
The girls only got as far as the comfy rattan chairs on the shaded veranda, where a ceiling fan whirred overhead. Ah Lingappeared moments later with a fresh jug of lime squash and two glasses. Dorothy felt immense gratitude to the housemaid and wondered if she had read her mind.
‘I’m afraid you’re not seeing me at my best today.’ Dorothy gave a rueful smile as she handed Clara a glass of squash. The girl looked so cool and poised that Dorothy, soaked in perspiration and with her hair sticking out in all directions, felt completely hopeless. ‘Seasickness and overheating aren’t exactly a winning combination! I think I’m going to spend my days here spread-eagled beneath a fan,’ she joked, in an attempt to break the ice. ‘How do you ever get used to it?’
Dorothy was relieved when Clara leaned back on the chair and laughed easily, shattering the perfect, prim first impression she had made. ‘Oh, I remember that feeling! The journey is bloody awful. I always get so seasick and I still feel like I’m swaying days after we dock!’
Dorothy put her hands out, pretending to steady herself, and joked, ‘Oh yes, definitely still swaying!’
Clara laughed again and Dorothy felt herself relax. ‘It just takes a bit of time to adjust to the heat,’ she continued, taking a sip of her drink. ‘We’ve been here five years now and I find I don’t notice it half as much as I did when we first arrived; it really is unbearable in the beginning. But there are electric fans everywhere these days and there’s talk of the new air conditioning machines being installed in more places. Apparently the Alhambra cinema down by Raffles is getting it soon; it will be bliss!’
Dorothy’s eyes widened at the prospect and she felt her spirits rise.
‘Do you like the pictures?’ Clara asked.
‘Like it? I love it!’
‘Then we’ll have to go some time.’ Clara smiled.
‘What else is there to do?’ Dorothy asked.
Clara laughed. ‘Oh don’t worry, there’s plenty to keep you busy! Do you play tennis?’ Dorothy nodded. ‘Well I expect your parents will join one of the clubs. Then there’s the beach as well. The Botanic Gardens are rather lovely, they’re close by, too. Oh, and the Singapore Zoo is fun, it has over two hundred animals, including free-roaming chimpanzees. Anyway, what’s the plan for you while you’re here? Are your parents thinking like mine and hoping to marry you off to a “nice young man”?’ Clara asked, rolling her eyes dramatically.
‘Well’ – Dorothy’s forehead creased – ‘I’m a bit worried that might be the case. I’d actually just started my secretarial training back in London and I’d like to see it through and get a job. I doubt I’ll be able to continue with that here, though, or be allowed to,’ she added, a disappointed edge to her voice.
‘You really do think you’ve come to the back of beyond, don’t you?’ Clara raised her eyebrows at her new friend. ‘We do have secretarial training here too, you know! Don’t worry, you can still keep learning your typing and shorthand! What do you want them for anyway?’
‘Oh really?’ Dorothy exclaimed. ‘I want to work for a newspaper, that’s my dream.’
‘Aha,’ said Clara, nodding approvingly. ‘I’m fairly sure that Daddy knows a few people who could help with that.’
Dorothy grinned, then suddenly leapt out of her chair with a cry as a small creature scuttled up the pillar in front of her. ‘What on earth is that?’ she shrieked.
Clara chuckled softly. ‘It’s only a gecko! Don’t worry, they’re perfectly harmless. In fact, we like the geckos as they eat the mosquitoes!’
‘Oh!’ Dorothy felt herself blushing as she took her seat again.
‘It’ll all just take a bit of getting used to,’ Clara said kindly. ‘I suppose you don’t have geckos or lizards or monkeys back in Fulham? But don’t worry, Singapore is a super place to live; you’ll soon get used to it, I promise.’
‘Thanks.’ Dorothy gave her new friend a smile.
‘And another thing, we’re perfectly safe here, that’s what Daddy says. There’s talk of war brewing in Europe, but everyone says that Singapore is impenetrable. Like I said, it’s a good place to be.’
‘Well, that’s something.’ Dorothy smiled again. Then her face fell. ‘Although I do worry about my brother, Thomas. He’s back home in England.’
‘I’m sure everything will work out!’ Clara smiled. ‘That’s what the politicians are for! Now, what else can I tell you about Singapore?’
‘You mentioned that the cinema was near Raffles. Is that the hotel? Can we go there too? I saw pictures of it in a magazine and it looked splendid!’
‘Oh, absolutely! Once you’ve finished clacking away on your typewriter, we’ll go dancing there and I’ll introduce you to the Singapore Sling; it’s divine!’
