“Why don’t you sing her yourself, Father? She’d like to hear from you.”
Tunggaree closed his eyes. “I can’t. I don’t have the strength. Sing your sister, Muchuka. She’ll know what to do.”
Chapter Twenty Five
Bridget and Mrs. Ferdanez had worked late into the night, making alterations to the gown, and Claire was very pleased with the results.
Tarrapaldi wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about, but when she found the gown was clean, and didn’t smell, she had agreed to try on the light yellow muslin dress.
Mrs. Ferdanez had been scandalized when Tarrapaldi refused to wear any of the foundation garments she had laid out for her. But she had to admit when she saw the tall, ebony colored Tarrapaldi standing in front of her, that the woman’s natural curves did more to enhance the elegant lines of the dress, than any foundation garments would.
“Miss Claire,” Mrs. Ferdanez said, while doing up the last of the little buttons on Tarrapaldi’s dress. “If you insist on allowing this woman to be presented to the Governor with no undergarments on, for the love of Christ, make sure she doesn’t get between the light and any men. They’ll see straight through the material. And what they’ll see, I swear to God, it’d make a priest bust out of his britches.”
Claire laughed. “What do you mean, Mrs. Ferdanez?”
“You know very well what I mean.” Mrs. Ferdanez positioned Tarrapaldi in front of the window and stepped back. “There’ll be a riot if the men see that.”
With the light behind her, the yellow dress became virtually transparent.
The door opened and Nathaniel walked in with Dennis. Both were dressed for the Governor’s interview. Dennis in his uniform, and Nathaniel in a pair of white breeches, stockings and a gray morning coat that Dennis had lent him. They were absorbed in their discussion, and were several steps into the room before they both noticed Tarrapaldi by the window.
“Oh, my Lord,” Dennis said.
“Now, Dennis,” Claire said, with humor bubbling in her voice. “It’s not polite to stare.”
Tarrapaldi frowned. “What’s the matter, Nathaniel? Does my wearing a white woman’s dress, shock you so much you cannot talk? Is it that ugly?”
Nathaniel walked over to her, put his arms out, and held her by the shoulders. “Tarrapaldi, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s hard to think straight when I look at you.”
“And Dennis?” Tarrapaldi inclined her head in Harrington’s direction. “What does he think?”
Nathaniel turned in time to see Claire, with her hand on Harrington’s chin, physically turning his head away. “He’s probably thinking the same thing,” Nathaniel said. “And it’s about to get him into trouble.”
Tarrapaldi chuckled. “If I’d have known wearing a dress would have this effect on you, I’d have worn one from the beginning. But if it’s going to effect other men as well, perhaps I should only wear dresses when we’re in private.” She raised her hands to the little buttons and began undoing them. “I don’t think I should wear a dress to see the Governor.”
Nathaniel caught her hands, pulling them away from the buttons. “Tarrapaldi, trust me. The Governor is going to love seeing you in your dress.” Leaning closer, he kissed her. “But as your man, I’m going to ask, that you be careful not to let yourself be back-lit.”
For the first time, looking down at her dress, Tarrapaldi saw the way the light shone through. Lifting her eyes without lifting her head, she smiled at him through her hair. “Now I understand. It excites you more to almost see, than it does to see. Isn’t that interesting?”
Nathaniel looked across at the others in the room. “God help us. We’re witnessing the birth of a butterfly. She’s only just realizing how beautiful she is.”
“Hang on to your hat, old son,” Claire said, putting her arm around Dennis’s waist and holding him close. “This is going to be an interesting ride.”
Macquarie rose from his chair and came around his desk, his hand outstretched. “Dennis, Claire, how lovely to see you.”
Harrington took the Governor’s hand. “Thank you for giving us your time, Sir. May I introduce Nathaniel Johnson and his lady, Tarrapaldi.”
“Delighted, absolutely delighted.” Macquarie shook Nathaniel’s hand, then turned his attention to Tarrapaldi. For a heartbeat, he hesitated. “Good Lord, Dennis. You could have warned me you were bringing the two most beautiful women in the colony into my office this morning.”
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Sir,” Harrington said. “Some people see the beauty in a finely honed blade. Others don’t. Mrs. Macquarie as an example, is, in my opinion, the most beautiful lady in the colony.”
“Touché, m’boy. If work hardened and battle tested makes them beautiful, then I’m married to one of the best. MacTaffish,” he called to his orderly, “close the door will you, and see we’re not disturbed.”
When the door closed, Macquarie opened a drawer in his desk, and took out the nugget he’d received with the original letter. Placing it on the desk, he looked Nathaniel in the eye. “More men have died because of this metal, than any other known to man. You do know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, Sir, I do.”
Macquarie stood, walked over to the map on his wall, and traced out the triangle Nathaniel had drawn on the original map. “Is this the only area where there’s gold?”
“I don’t know. I do know for sure, there’s gold in that area. Is there gold in other areas?” Nathaniel shrugged. “I have no way of knowing. I haven’t been there.”
“Would you know if you went there and looked?”
“I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea,” Nathaniel said. “I’m not a geologist. The only reason I know about this gold, is because Tarrapaldi and her father told me about it, and took me there to see it.”
“Why did they tell you, and not somebody else?” Macquarie asked.
Nathaniel studied the older man for a few seconds while deciding how to answer. “I didn’t ask them. I think it was because I’m not an Englishman, and I have an honest face.”
Macquarie smiled, gestured his guests to seats already placed in front of his desk and returned to his own seat, put his elbows on the armrests, and propped his chin with steepled fingers. “You’re a cocky young devil, for a man who’s been convicted of treason and transported for life.”
“Treason?” Nathaniel leaned forward in his seat. “I’ve not committed treason against my country or people. I was caught helping my people, American sailors, who were being impressed and forced to fight against their own in the war of 1812. That’s not treason, Sir. That’s patriotism. Doing what I believe is right. That’s what I’m guilty of.”
“And is that what you’re doing now? What you believe is right. Blackmailing me into giving you, and a bunch of boongs, more land than God could look after?” Macquarie asked.
Harrington shifted in his seat, opened his mouth to speak, but closed it when Macquarie held his hand up in his direction, without taking his eyes off Nathaniel.
Nathaniel saw Harrington’s reaction to the blatant provocation, and Macquarie’s gesture. Taking a deep breath, he leaned back in his seat. “Governor, Tarrapaldi nearly killed me a couple of weeks ago when, in all innocence, I referred to her as a boong. Now please don’t take that as advice, because it’s not.”
“You’re warning me? You’re warning me this magnificent creature might kill me, if I call her a boong? I don’t believe it.”
“If I told you this magnificent creature, unarmed, with a ball through her shoulder, immobilized a squad of armed troops led by an officer of the crown, would you believe me?” Nathaniel asked.
Macquarie sat up straight. “This is the woman Caruthers and his men chased?”
“Yes, Sir. This is Tarrapaldi. Daughter of Tunggaree, the greatest Koradji in the land. As evidence o
f the Koradji’s power, I’ll point out her wound has been completely healed.”
“That’s not possible. Nobody heals that quickly.”
Nathaniel stood, motioning for Tarrapaldi to stand as well. “He doesn’t believe your shoulder has been healed so quickly.”
Tarrapaldi nodded and began undoing the buttons on her dress. Pulling the material aside, she exposed the faint scars above her breast.
Macquarie walked over and studied the scars. “All right, she has a gunshot scar. But it doesn’t look like any recent gunshot wound I’ve ever seen. What other sort of parlor tricks are you going to try on me, Mr. Johnson?”
Tarrapaldi placed her hand on Nathaniel’s arm. “Tell me what he’s saying.”
Nathaniel repeated Macquarie’s words for her.
Macquarie looked at Claire and Harrington while Nathaniel and Tarrapaldi were communicating. “Now what’re they doing? Pretending to be zombies?”
Harrington shifted in his seat, then looked at Macquarie. “Actually, what they’re doing is one of their best parlor tricks. Except it’s not a trick. They communicate by telepathy.”
“Telepathy? Do you mean they communicate by thought? Do you seriously expect me to believe that?”
“No, Sir, not at the moment. Claire and I didn’t believe it either, until it was proven to us.”
Macquarie turned to Claire. “Do you believe this drivel?”
“Yes,” Claire said. “I’ve seen them do it. And if you’re half the man we think you are, you’ll keep an open mind, and not pooh-pooh what we’re telling you.”
Macquarie frowned. “Young lady, you’re bordering on insolence.”
Claire leaned forward and spoke quietly, “I’m not one of your junior officer’s wives who’s going to toady for your favor, Lachlan. When you ask me a question, I’ll tell you the truth, as I know it. And if you don’t like the answers I give, then don’t ask me the questions.”
“Claire,” Harrington said. “Why don’t you interrupt those two, and take Tarrapaldi to meet Mrs. Macquarie. There’s a few things the Governor and I would like to discuss with Nathaniel, in private.”
“No.” Claire stamped her foot. “I’m your partner, Dennis, not your servant. I’m helping you become one of the most influential people in this country. I’ve already taken serious hits for you, and saved your life. I need to know what Lachlan’s plans are, so that I can do what has to be done to support you. And I will not have you brush me off like a child.”
Claire’s heated words caught Tarrapaldi’s attention. “What’s she saying?”
“Dennis asked her to take you to meet Mrs. Macquarie,” Nathaniel explained. “Claire said no. She’s telling Dennis she wants to be part of the discussion we men are about to have.”
Tarrapaldi nodded, walked to the door, opened it and stood there.
“Claire,” Tarrapaldi said, with her hand extended towards the irate young woman. When Claire looked at her, Tarrapaldi smiled and lifted her fingers twice, in a gesture clearly asking Claire to come and take her hand.
“This is not over,” Claire said, before she turned away from Dennis, and marched over to Tarrapaldi. She took the proffered hand, and while Tarrapaldi appeared to glide out of the Governor’s office, Claire stomped out.
Macquarie motioned Nathaniel to take a seat, then turned to Harrington. “We’ve a lot of work to do over the next few years. If you take my advice, you’ll marry that filly just as soon as can be done with decency, and get her with child. That’ll settle her down.”
“She was pregnant. It didn’t slow her down at all.” Harrington said.
“Was? What do you mean, was?” Macquarie asked.
“I mean she was pregnant. But when Caruthers kicked her in the stomach, she lost the baby. She’s very angry about it,” Harrington said. “And she’s angry we left him and MacLaughlin out there alive.”
“Yes, well I’m not too happy about that either.”
“Sir,” Nathaniel said. “If I may interrupt. Tunggaree convened a council of elders. Caruthers and MacLaughlin were tried, and found guilty of murdering Richard Pike. They were sentenced to be released, naked and unarmed, in the wilderness. I doubt very much if they’ll survive.”
“But they might. And that’s what bothers me. If those two turn up telling stories about caves full of gold, and blacks stealing their arms, there’ll be no controlling the mayhem that’ll happen in the colony,” Macquarie said. “When we finish our discussion today. I want you two to go back out there, find Caruthers and MacLaughlin, and make sure that doesn’t happen.
“Now,” Macquarie said, turning to Nathaniel. “Would you be interested in joining a group of men who are dedicated to bringing this land, we call it Australia, into the modern, civilized world?”
“What sort of group?”
“A consortium of very powerful people, from all walks of life, who have a common interest in seeing this land, and its people develop.”
“Do you mean a secret society?”
Macquarie smiled. “Some of us, like Dennis and I, are not in the least bit secretive about our interest in seeing Australia advance. But there are others who keep their involvement under wraps.”
Nathaniel shifted in his seat. “Why would they want to keep their involvement under wraps?”
“Can you imagine,” Harrington said, “what people would have thought, if they’d known Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding Knights of Australis?”
“Benjamin Franklin?” Nathaniel asked. “The Benjamin Franklin from Boston and Philadelphia? He died in 1790. Nobody in America even knew about Australia back then.”
“Not true. Franklin was in England when Cook and Banks returned, with the news of New South Wales, in ’71. Franklin was a fellow of the Royal Society. He’d been awarded the Copley medal in ’53,” Macquarie said. “And he was instrumental in getting Cook the medal in ’75, and Banks, the Presidency of the Society in ’78.”
Nathaniel shook his head. “But Benjamin Franklin was an American patriot. I grew up hearing stories about him. He was my godfather, and would come to our home to dine. He died shortly after I was christened, but my brothers and sisters talked about Uncle Ben all the time. They loved him.”
“And they love you too, Nathaniel,” Macquarie said. “Despite your foolish indiscretion, getting caught helping impressed sailors to desert. And then, during your trial, denouncing your parents as spies for the crown.”
“What are you saying?” Nathaniel said.
Macquarie leaned forward in his seat. “I’m saying you have some very powerful friends, who’re prepared to help you, if you’ll help us.”
“If they’re prepared to help me now, why wouldn’t they help me get back to America?”
“America is not safe for you, m’boy. When you denounced your parents at your trial, you put several people in jeopardy. Some of them, and they were all in America, turned up missing. Others took serious downturns in their social, political and professional lives. They haven’t forgotten or forgiven. You have some powerful friends, Nathaniel. You also have some powerful enemies. And America is not somewhere you should go any time soon.”
“Well, it’s a moot point, isn’t it if I decide to stay here.” Nathaniel said. “Dennis has told me he’s recommending I be granted a pardon, the Valley of Wonggaroa, and be leased the land to the north. He’s also suggesting I be made a Justice of the Peace, and become a magistrate. Will you approve all that?”
“I will,” Macquarie said. “If you agree to meet some requirements I have.”
Nathaniel leaned forward. “And they are?”
“First,” Macquarie said. “Will you agree to accept nomination as a Knight of Australis?”
“Will I have to ride a goat?” Nathaniel asked.
“This is not a joke, Nathaniel,” Harrington said. “We don’t ride goats. But we do t
ithe one-tenth of everything we earn, to the order’s coffers.”
“All right, one tenth of everything I earn goes to the order. I’m not agreeing to this yet. I want to know all the requirements before I agree to any of them. What’s next?”
Macquarie nodded. “We have 180 horses in the stockyards at the moment. They’re not saddle-broke, and that’s a problem. But given the time you’ve had to round them up and deliver them, I’m impressed. In the future though, rather than the twenty per month Dennis has suggested, I want you to deliver 120 saddle-broke mounts every six months. Can you do that?”
“120 saddle broke mounts every six months? Governor, I’ve got two horse breakers who’re going to think all their Christmases have come at once,” Nathaniel said. “The answer to that one is yes. What’s next?”
“I want Dennis to marry Claire as soon as possible,” Macquarie said. “Then they’re to go to England with three chests of gold. I’ll supply letters of introduction, he’ll meet the people we need him to meet, and he’ll buy the machinery and stock we need to import.”
Nathaniel frowned. “I thought the object of this exercise was to not export gold.”
Macquarie smiled while shaking his head. “Let’s not be naïve at this point. The object is not to let the masses know there’s gold out there for the taking. We’re going to be exporting gold in secret. And we’re going to divide the first shipment, three ways. Do you have a problem with that?”
“May I summarize this?” Nathaniel said, and without waiting, forged ahead. “I get pardoned. I become a Justice of the Peace, and am appointed Magistrate of the Western Slopes. I get one third of our first shipment of gold. All of what comes off my million acres. And in return, I give one tenth of all I get, to the Knights of Australis?”
Macquarie nodded. “That about sums it up.”
“I know people who would consider this bribery, and an abuse of government power.”
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