“I can’t, Dad.”
“You can, but you won’t,” he shouted. “What would it cost you? Nothing.”
Fiona stared at him in shock, unable to believe that her tolerant, humorous father had lost his temper. “It’d cost me the truth.”
“You bloody Clarksons are all the same,” he shouted, dropping the receiver. “Go back to Eumeralla. I’ll sell your unit and send you the money and anything else you want.”
“Dad, please.” She had been so excited she hadn’t noticed how drained he looked when she arrived.
“Get out of my sight.”
After she left, Alex deplored his explosion. ‘If I’d been calm she might have been persuaded to at least ring Virginia. Then I could go home and get back to normal,’ he thought, tossing a newspaper across the room. ‘Normal? When has anything to do with Virginia ever been normal?’
The phone rang half an hour later and he picked it up. It was Ruth. Fiona had arrived in a state and they were both worried about him. He reassured her and hung up.
An hour later Virginia rang. “Alex, why haven’t you rung me? Why haven’t you come home?”
“I’m sick of ringing you and tired of hearing your peevish voice. I’m staying in Melbourne till I feel like coming home – if I ever do. I might not because I’m sick of the sight of your miserable face.” He threw the receiver back in its cradle.
Eumeralla
July 1972
I got an impersonal letter from Dad yesterday telling me that he’s had my unit put on the market. That’s all. He signed himself Alex and didn’t even put love. Last night I couldn’t sleep. Usually I just crash out, but I lay awake for ages. I’m so far away from him and not just in miles. I wish I knew what I could do to make things right. But I do know, don’t I? Forgive my mother. There ... I’ve written it. I said it to Dad and now I’ve written it. My mother instead of Virginia.
All this has spoilt my excitement about Acacia. The bank manager said that with the sale of my unit and Gabby’s house and putting up Eumeralla as collateral we will be able to manage the repayments provided the fates are kind. Can we take the risk? Are we greedy to want more? But what a slap in the eye this would be for Margot. What a triumph for the Clarksons. We mustn’t get our hopes up too much. Someone else might offer more. The waiting is nerve-racking. Mum would be so happy if we got it. I don’t miss her, but I think about her a lot and not all my thoughts are angry ones.
***
“Fertilizer-collecting time?” Fiona said when she and Tom had finished weeding the garden.
He got the wheelbarrow from the shed. “You’re toughening up.”
Fiona carried their shovels to the paddock. The first time she had helped collect the horse dung she had felt queasy. Now she found the smell more pungent than vile.
Tom leant on his shovel. “How come your family were so much richer than ours? Were they squatters?”
“No.” She grinned. “The first Australian Clarksons were crooks.”
“Convicts? Really?”
She scooped up a pile of dung and put it in the barrow. “Crooks not convicts.”
“What’s the difference?”
“They were crooks, but didn’t get caught. He was a coach driver for a family who had country estates in Sussex and Scotland and a house in London. He was in cahoots with a maid. They planned it for ages, and practised their employer’s la-di-da accent till they got it right. When the family went out one night she stole lots of jewellery, money and clothes. She wore the clothes, pawned the jewellery and they came to Australia. When they got here they bought the land and built the house with the money.”
Tom looked shocked.
“What’s the matter with you?” she asked. “They didn’t kill anyone. The Victorian aristocracy paid their servants paltry wages and made them work long hours, while they lazed around all day. If the master of the house got a maid pregnant she was thrown out without a reference and became a prostitute or went to the workhouse. And they had the gall to preach morality. Pah! If my ancestors were thieves they earned every penny they stole.”
“Don’t get mad at me, Sis,” he said with a laugh. “None of my ancestors were toffs.”
She smiled. “Sorry.”
“Is that how they could afford servants?”
“I suppose so. I went to see the places they lived when I was in England. It gave me a weird feeling to stand in front of the London house. It was not far from BuckinghamPalace.”
“How come you knew the address?”
“Family history. They wrote it all down.”
“Wasn’t it dangerous to brag about what they did?”
“They didn’t tell anyone. Our grandfather found their ... confession I guess you’d call it ... when he was sorting through some trunks when he was young. It was addressed to the descendants of Ellen and James Clarkson. They hid their tracks well – Clarkson wasn’t their real name.”
“What was it?”
“They didn’t say. But they wrote in graphic detail about their working conditions and their callous employers and why they did what they did.”
“If they’d got caught would they have been hung?”
Fiona nodded. “They wrote about what they’d stolen – rubies, sapphires, pearls and diamonds ... necklaces, bracelets, rings, brooches and tiaras. The whole lot would probably be worth millions today, so I think their crime would have been judged heinous enough.”
“And you wouldn’t be here and neither would Juju.” He sighed. “What a pity they didn’t hang.” He jumped sideways as Fiona tossed a pile of dung from her shovel at him.
Eumeralla
July 1972
Today we went to see Acacia. The owners and their workers have left and the sheep have been sold. The new homestead that was built in 1950 is vulgar and modern. Eleanor went mad at Tom when he said it could be pulled down. She wants to live in luxury so we’re going to keep it and grow creepers up it to hide its ugliness. There are two tennis courts, a pavilion, garages and a massive swimming pool. No wonder they went broke.
The old homestead has survived. Guests stayed in it when the main house was full. They must have had heaps of visitors. It’s similar to Kingower, but it’s built of timber and it’s smaller. There are seven bedrooms, a vast kitchen and a bathroom with a flushing toilet. Heaven! Now I’ve been to the old homestead I hate Aunty Margot even more. Seeing where our family lived has given Keith, Gabby and me a peculiar sensation. For years we’ve heard about Acacia, now we’ve been there and hopefully we’ll live there. It hasn’t affected Juju like it’s affected us – she hadn’t been brought up on the injustice done to her real father.
Neil’s going to move into this house and Tom will stay in the house they moved from Dalby. The rest of us will live in the old homestead. Greg wants to keep Keith’s cabin because it was the first house to be built on Eumeralla. We’re going to plant hundreds of trees. Greg said the wheat fields will have to be manured and left alone for a year. He is the only person who’s being sensible about this. If we don’t get it Keith will be the hardest hit. We must get it – we must!
CHAPTER 16
Greg opened his eyes and stared into the darkness. He had almost been asleep when Eleanor had called out, “Johnny.” During the first years of their marriage she had often said ‘Johnny’ in her sleep. He knew by her tone when she spoke Jonathan’s name that she still loved him. Sometimes she sounded happy, sometimes anguished, but never neutral. The first time she had woken sobbing, he comforted her, but realized his intrusion was unwelcome. While appreciating that her intense feelings for Jonathan would never fade and that he would always be second best, Greg hoped that she did have some kind of love for him. In pessimistic moments he decided that his wish that her feelings for him would develop into love had never materialized. Even now, when she addressed him, it was in a careful way as if in an unguarded moment she might call him Johnny instead of Greg. When Eleanor was at her most withdrawn, he tried to cheer himself by remembering
that when Jonathan had come back she had sent him away. ‘Why?’ he had asked himself hundreds of times.
Now, she spoke his name less often, and the times that she did settled into a pattern. It was usually after a visit to the cemetery. But tonight was the third time in succession it had happened. He knew that visiting Acacia had brought back the dreams.
***
“Hi, Aunty Virginia, it’s Gabby. Listen, I want to buy a new house, and I’d like your opinion. Have you got time to come up?”
Virginia’s voice became brighter. “Yes. When?”
“Any time. Book a flight and let me know.”
“Where’s the new house? Why are you – ”
Gabriella laughed. “Wait and see.”
The last weeks had been the worst Virginia had ever experienced. Whatever her troubles, there had been Alex to share them. Now there was no one. He put the phone down whenever she rang Fiona’s unit. ‘I’ve driven him away,’ she thought. ‘I’ve pushed my kind, gentle and humorous husband too far.’ She wondered if Margot knew about their problems. ‘How she’d gloat if he wanted a divorce.’
If it hadn’t been for the fear that he would slam the door in her face she would have gone to Melbourne. Gabriella’s invitation gave her something to look forward to. She would only stay a few days. If she stayed longer the temptation to get in touch with Fiona would be overwhelming. She could not endure another rejection.
When Gabriella met her at the airport she was bubbling with excitement. She jangled a bunch of keys in front of her. “I got these first.”
“Is the house vacant?”
Gabriella smiled mysteriously. “Yes.”
She was obviously revelling in her secret so Virginia decided not to question her. “You’re looking well, Gabby,” she said, as they walked to the car.
“Tom’s teaching me to ride.”
“Splendid. It’s exhilarating, isn’t it?”
“Sure is,” Gabriella replied, putting Virginia’s bag in the boot. “He’s a fantastic teacher.”
“Perhaps Fiona would like to have another try. She had a bad experience with David. She was so excited about learning to ride, but he intimidated her. Just because Catriona and Kim were tomboys didn’t mean Fiona was. She might have more success with Tom.”
As they drove down the road towards Eumeralla, Virginia said, “Are we going to Eumeralla?”
Gabriella grinned. “No.”
“Oh, I thought Fiona – ” The gates of Acacia were open, and to Virginia’s astonishment she drove through them. “Gabby, this is – ”
“I know.”
“Gabby, don’t. I couldn’t bear it. I don’t want to see the new owners.”
“Depends what new owners you’re talking about. The last new owners or the future new owners.”
“You don’t mean ... you’re buying this?”
“If we can. Keith and me and the Mitchells and Fiona. We don’t know if it’s a private sale yet. We hope so, but they might decide on an auction.”
“It looks so bare without the trees.”
“We’ll plant lots more. In ten years’ time it’ll be just like it was when you and Dad and Uncle Johnny lived here.”
Keith was waiting outside the old homestead. When Virginia got out of the car he hugged her. “Welcome home, Aunty Virginia.”
She felt too emotional to speak. As they walked onto the verandah she felt a surge of optimism. ‘They’ll buy Acacia, Alex will come home and Fiona will forgive me,’ she thought.
Virginia indulged in nostalgia as they wandered through the echoing rooms. She showed them which bedroom had been their father’s and told them stories about when she, Laurence and Jonathan were young.
“Dad told me how you fell out of a tree when you first met Uncle Alex,” said Gabriella.
Virginia was indignant. “I didn’t fall – the branch broke.” She walked over to the kitchen window. “Without all the trees it’s hard to get my bearings. They were our landmarks. There were ghost gums and blue gums. And peppercorn trees – we used to play under them when we were little. There were lots of bushes round the house too and we had fig trees. It looks so bleak now.” She sighed. “Margot’s actions destroyed more than her stepsons’ lives.”
There were chairs on the verandah so they went outside and sat down.
“Did any of you ever like her?” asked Gabriella. “At first, I mean.”
“No, she was bossy. We hated her for making Dad forget our mother. Margot was very brainy – all the Lancasters are. She knew as much about farming as Dad did.”
“What was your mother like?”
“Beautiful. She had very blue eyes and silver-blonde hair. Dad had green eyes. Your father got that amazing mix of blue and green – so did Fiona. I’ve got Dad’s eyes and Johnny had Mum’s. Dad’s hair was blonde too, but darker. Mum was gentle and she deferred to Dad. Margot changed all that – he deferred to her.”
“Did she marry him because he was rich?” asked Keith.
Being on Acacia for the first time since 1947 brought all Virginia’s outrage flooding back, but knowing how her consuming behaviour had alienated Alex and Fiona she struggled to be dispassionate. “No, she loved him, there’s absolutely no doubt about that. She would have married him even if he’d been destitute. And Francesca and Ruth were her treasures and she adores Alex too. To be fair, Margot wouldn’t have done what she did, if Francesca had been alive. But what she did to your father was morally criminal. Apart from the six years of the war, he’d worked here all his adult life.” She sighed. “When the war ended we should have been happy, but Johnny left Eleanor and Laurence came home to the news that Francesca had been dead for two weeks. Ruth had to tell him. He stumbled out of her flat and didn’t come back. She sent a telegram to Acacia, but he didn’t turn up for months. We were frantic ... we thought he might have killed himself. As soon as I knew he was back I came up. He was depressed and thin. God knows where he’d been. He wouldn’t say. Acacia and the horses were the only things that kept him from permanently plunging into despair. He threw himself into the land ... he said if he didn’t go to bed exhausted he’d be awake all night.”
“Greg told me Johnny was disinherited because he left Eleanor. Is that true?” asked Keith.
Virginia nodded.
Gabriella looked perplexed. “So Johnny being cut out was nothing to do with Margot?”
“Yes it was. Because Laurence told me that he’d ignore Dad’s wishes and he and Johnny would share Acacia. Johnny had earned his inheritance – he and your father had never had a wage. I’m certain Margot heard our conversation and told Dad and that’s why he left everything to her. They didn’t have the decency to tell Laurence. They let him work for what would never be his. It could have gone on for years, but then Dad died suddenly ... he was only sixty-two and seemed healthy. Margot was distraught and it brought us all together for a few days. It was ironic. Laurence told Margot that if she wanted to stay on Acacia she could. We should have guessed by her expression then. She looked sly. I’ll never forget the reading of the will. But shocking as it was, we consoled ourselves with the thought that Laurence had a home here. We assumed Margot would keep Acacia and let him run it.”
“Surely he wouldn’t have wanted to work for her,” Keith said.
“He didn’t have any choice. The only money he had was from the army, but it wasn’t enough to buy even a small house. He was going to make her pay him. He had the idea that eventually he’d be able to buy her out. But Kingower was in debt so she sold it. She said that if Laurence hadn’t called her a scheming gold digger she would have used Acacia as collateral to save Kingower. But she was justifying her actions. Your father had nothing and she knew it.”
“Why didn’t he contest the will?” asked Keith.
“A solicitor advised us against it. He said that although Laurence hadn’t had a wage at Acacia he had never had any expenses. It was true. He’d lived rent free and his food and clothes came from the household budget. If h
e lost he’d have had a huge legal bill. I offered to pay, but Laurence wouldn’t let me. Margot was cunning ... she’d gambled on his pride.”
***
“Right, Sis, soon it’ll be spring,” said Tom as they walked to the chicken coop to collect the eggs. “It’s time to teach you about our native fauna. In September all the hibernating snakes come out – they’re dozy for a bit, but still dangerous. What will you do if you see one?”
“Run like hell,” said Fiona.
“Right. But if you take precautions you won’t have any problems. In the summer if we’re working in the fields or anywhere with long grass we wear long trousers and socks. It’s hot and uncomfortable, but if we tread on a snake we’ll have some protection. The one you’re most likely to tread on is the Death Adder. They’re difficult to see and can whip round like lightning and strike. They hide under leaves and the end of their tail looks like a worm. It’s a lure for birds and frogs. When you’re walking in long grass stamp your feet and most snakes will go away. They don’t want to see you any more than you want to see them. They’ll only bite when cornered, but some are more aggressive than others. Some are venomous and some aren’t, but treat every one you see as if it is. Spiders are something else. Check your shoes and shake your clothes before you put them on. If one falls down your neck – ”
Fiona shrieked. “Are you trying to make me die of fright?”
Tom grinned and opened the door to the coop. “No, I’m teaching you bush law.”
“Okay.” She shuddered. “What do I do if one falls down my neck?”
Eumeralla - Secrets, Tragedy and Love Page 22