by Amanda Deed
‘Jane.’
Jane jolted from her deep reflection at the sound of her name, and almost lost her grip on the branch. Price. She recognised his voice at once, but she didn’t want to acknowledge him. She stiffened her spine and dared not look down. What was he doing here? She dashed at the tears which had been freely roaming her cheeks. Lost in her grief as she had been, she had not even heard anyone approach. What a fool I am.
‘Or, should I say, Cleopatra?’
She sucked in a deep breath. He knew? When did he find out? Or did he figure it out after she ran from the ballroom last night? She shook her head as fresh tears began to spill over her cheeks. It was too late now, she’d already learnt who he truly cared for.
‘Won’t you come down? I was hoping I could return your shoe to you.’
Jane brushed her sleeve across her face again and chanced a glance at him. In that moment, she noticed he held up her missing shoe and he wore that ridiculous, dimpled smile on his face. It was not fair that her heart leapt at no more than a tiny peek in his direction. How would she ever be able to forget him? Hopefully he was serious about going back to America.
‘You can leave it on the ground there.’ Jane hoped her voice sounded stronger than it felt.
‘I’d rather not. We need to talk, Jane.’
She shook her head again, keeping her eyes diverted, and bit on her lip. When would he give up and leave?
‘It’s like that, is it?’
Was that amusement she detected in his voice? Did he think it was funny? Her misery transformed into anger and she stiffened her spine further.
‘Well now, I might sit here and wait all day. I have nothing better to do, you know.’
‘There’s nothing to talk about.’ Jane needed him to be clear on a few things. ‘Why don’t you go back to America with Miss Anderson as you plan and leave me alone?’ She buried her face in the crook of her arm against the branch.
Price answered her with silence. Silence except for the scraping of bark.
And then she sensed it. His presence beside her on the huge limb. He’d climbed up to sit with her as he had done once before, back at the very beginning. Jane’s heart thudded. What did he want with her? Why did the obstinate man refuse to go away?
‘Yes, you are right. I love Miss Anderson.’
Jane gritted her teeth. His words were so smooth, but they hit her like a punch in the stomach, leaving her breathless. She had already guessed the truth, but it still hurt.
‘But only like one loves an annoying little sister.’
What? Another blow to the stomach, but this time it was the shock of the unexpected. Jane jerked around to look at him, to see if he was joking or making fun of her.
‘Violet Anderson left Hay on a paddle steamer yesterday morning.’ His smile was soft and reassuring.
Jane couldn’t believe her ears. Yesterday morning? That meant … ‘You knew it was me last night?’
Price reached out and took Jane’s free hand in his, caressing it with his thumb. ‘I never doubted it.’
Jane’s tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth as her throat went dry. Price’s grip on her hand alone sent her head spinning. Everything he’d said at the ball was to her. ‘But you asked me to come to America.’
He let out an awkward chuckle. ‘Well now, I must confess I was tongue-tied by your extravagant beauty and I am sorry if I frightened you with my blathering. I think if you’d stood beside the real Cleopatra, you would have left her in the shade. I was clumsy, I know it. Forgive me?’
‘You don’t really mean that.’
‘That I was clumsy? Yes, I do.’
‘No, about the real Cleopatra.’
Price placed a finger under her chin and raised it so she had no choice but to look into his eyes. ‘Here me now, darling. You are the most beautiful woman on whom I have ever laid eyes.’
He leaned in and touched his lips to hers. His kiss was so gentle and tender that Jane almost melted into a puddle. When he pulled back, he moved away the barest inch, so that she still felt his breath on her mouth, and his voice rose not much above a whisper.
‘I was an idiot for deserting you for so long. You should not have had to deal with the rumours, unintentional though they were, spread by Violet Anderson. I should have been here when she arrived unannounced. I should have stayed and faced your folks as I promised. At the time, I believed it the best option for me to leave, but in fact, it made everything worse. I know now I was wrong and I’m sorry for the hurt it caused you. Can you forgive me, darling?’
Jane’s heart beat so fast she couldn’t speak. She nodded, her eyes locked on his lips. Whether he read it as an invitation or not, he kissed her again and Jane almost swooned with the joy of it. This time Price drew back enough to gaze into her eyes and ran the back of his fingers over her cheek, sending the warmth of longing to her toes.
‘I was serious about taking you home to America with me, but I missed a very important step.’
Jane searched his face and saw the hint of a smile play around the corners of his mouth. ‘Yes?’
‘Marry me?’
There was only one answer she wanted to give him, but fear clenched her stomach anyway. America? It would be a big change—an enormous change. It meant leaving everybody and everything here behind. ‘What about Moses? And Essie? And Papa?’
At the sound of his name, Moses descended in a flutter of wings and happy squawks. Price started in surprise and before Jane had time to draw breath, he lost his balance. He had not been hanging on to anything except her hand and he slipped backward off the branch into the river with a loud splash. His fingers slid away from hers so quickly, Jane was helpless to stop him. She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream and hoped with all her heart Price could swim.
Heedless of her petticoats, Jane clambered from the tree as fast as possible. ‘Price! Are you all right?’ It was hard to keep an eye on his progress and focus on getting out of the red gum without falling herself. The sound of splashing water met her ears, but not his voice.
As her feet landed on the ground at last, and she rounded the trunk, great relief washed over her as Price pulled himself onto the bank. She closed the distance between them in a few quick steps. The poor man resembled a drowned rat, water running from his clothes and hair in a stream. But when he looked at her he laughed, then flicked his head and ran his hands over his face.
‘What’s so funny?’ Jane frowned at him.
Without warning Price grasped her around the waist, pulling her close and within seconds, water soaked through to Jane’s skin. She gasped and tried to pull away, but he held tight while an arch grin remained on his lips, but his dimple made it difficult to be cross.
‘You’re making me wet,’ she complained.
‘You haven’t answered me yet.’ His eyes glittered with merriment.
He was teasing her, but not in the familiar way that hurt, as she had known from her sisters. The love and tenderness remained very clear in his expression. She pressed her lips together and tried to appear petulant. ‘You haven’t answered me.’
The warmth of his smile all but melted her insides. ‘I couldn’t imagine bringing you to America without either Moses or Essie. They are part of who you are, and they make life more of an adventure.’
Jane giggled at that, knowing he referred to his dip in the river. ‘I’m sorry you fell in.’
‘No harm done. If the weather was a little warmer, it would have been quite pleasant.’
‘You lost your hat.’ Jane noticed it drifting with the current in the distance.
Price heaved a dramatic sigh. ‘Well, I guess I’ll have to wear my Boss of the Plains again. Not sure Essie will appreciate that. Does that mean you won’t marry me?’
Jane could not keep the grin from her mouth if she tried. She gazed at the still damp but gorgeous face
of this man with whom she had fallen so deeply in love. A life with him would indeed be an adventure, and she wanted nothing more. ‘Oh, I’ll marry you, Price Moreland. You’d better buy yourself several new hats.’
Epilogue
Jane stood in the doorway of the small Mission Hall clutching her father’s arm and a petite posy, while Moses rode on her shoulder. So much had taken place in the last six weeks, the way Jane’s life had changed still amazed her. God had given her the things she’d cried out for her whole life.
As a girl, she dreamed of being a princess and marrying a handsome prince. Now, here she was, about to marry the heir to an enormous legacy, even if Price was not exactly a prince. Jane felt like a princess even if she wasn’t royalty.
Jane gazed down at her bridal gown and recalled the day by the river when Price proposed. He had handed her a package while they stood beneath the tree—though he still dripped with water—a parcel from Miss Anderson. Inside, Jane found a spectacular dress—the first of many Price told her—deftly crafted in sky blue taffeta with fine embroidery down the bodice and skirt.
Within the folds of fabric rested a jar that said Castor Oil Pomade. Apparently, it was for strengthening and beautifying the hair, rejuvenating the growth and giving it a soft glossy appearance. Along with the gifts, there was a letter from Violet, which Jane read in dumbfounded silence.
Dear Jane,
I’m sorry we did not get the chance to be formally introduced, and I am sorry for the trouble I caused you. You are a very lucky woman to have won Price’s heart so completely, and I bear you no hard feelings. I pray you both will be happy together.
As a token of my sincerity, I have enclosed, along with the dress Price asked me to have made for you (and rather swiftly I might add), a hair product that you will find useful. I noticed your gorgeous red hair the day you fainted, but saw at once you suffered the same problem as I—untameable locks.
This pomade, when spread through your curls, will make them ever so easy to manage. You have my word of experience on that.
I hope we get to meet again one day, so I may better learn to know you. Perhaps, we might even be friends.
Yours etc.,
Violet Anderson.
True to Violet’s word, the pomade did wonders for Jane’s hair, and Jane sincerely hoped that they might indeed become friends when Price took her to America to live.
Jane swallowed hard as she took the first steps down the aisle and allowed her gaze to wander over the small congregation gathered. She would soon leave these people behind to start a new life on the other side of the world. Sending a sideways glance to Papa, she gripped his arm a little tighter. He beamed at her, pride emanating from his eyes.
Near the altar, Aunt Ruby stood as her matron of honour while Mr Clark stood with Price as his best man. Old Darcy sat in the front row with his neck craned toward her. Jane couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she remembered his emphatic statement when she asked him to come. ‘I wouldn’t miss it even for a chance to kiss the Blarney Stone.’
The hardest part would be saying goodbye to these dear people. Many tears had already been shed and promises of frequent letters exchanged. Price, in his generous way, offered to bring Papa to America for visits as often as he wanted. Although, equally, they could return to visit Australia whenever they desired. Still, Jane would miss them terribly.
Apart from them, only Mother, Harriet and Nancy attended the ceremony and they sat, quiet and sullen. It saddened Jane that they couldn’t be happy for her, that they refused to enter the celebrations. Yet, it was enough that they no longer spoke against her. Not one word of mockery had left their lips from the moment she became engaged to Price and throughout the preparations for leaving Australia.
Ahead of her, Jane caught Price’s eye and his gaze seemed to smoulder as he took her in. He wore a superbly fitted coat and top hat, a bow tie at his neck. She’d never seen him look so resplendent and her heart did a back flip.
Dear Price. He had some challenges ahead. He’d written to his father to prepare him for their homecoming, a message filled with humility and apology. Jane knew the two of them would have much to talk through in the months ahead, but Price was optimistic about their relationship for the first time in years.
As they reached the front, Papa placed Jane’s hand into Price’s, then began the sharing of promises until death. When Price spoke his vows to her, her heart thudded with amazement that anyone would make a life-long commitment to her. And she made her promises with the same fervency.
Price had given her so much, shown her so much about herself, loved her when she was unlovable, that he deserved her best in return. It had been a long lesson to learn. She had prayed God would make her beautiful so many times, but that beauty was there from the beginning. It only needed to be accepted, just as she’d accepted God’s love.
When the minister at last said ‘man and wife,’ Price’s arms circled her waist and he drew her to him, but his mouth jerked into a lopsided grin. Without removing his gaze from her face, his voice rose. ‘Would someone please take charge of this bird?’
Jane searched his face for his meaning, while Old Darcy moved to collect Moses from her shoulder.
‘This is one moment he will not be interrupting,’ Price murmured, a fire burning in his eyes.
‘Oh.’ Jane barely got the acknowledgement out before she was crushed to him, his lips pressed fervently to hers, sealing their vows before the small gathering.
When he did pull away a few inches, she was quite breathless. ‘I love you so much, Price.’
‘And I you, my exceptional, beautiful bride,’ he whispered, his arms still clasped around her waist. Moses screeched, whether in protest or hilarity Jane didn’t care, as Price lowered his head to kiss her again.