Thankfully, Opal was saved from having to reply when Belle tapped at the door and entered to tell them, ‘Dinner will be served in the dining room in ten minutes.’
‘Excellent, and what is on the menu this evening, Belle?’
‘I believe it’s broccoli and Stilton soup followed by roast lamb, sir.’
He nodded his approval and turned his attention back to Opal, his expression serious. ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news for you,’ he told her solemnly. ‘And as it has been weighing on my mind and there is no easy way to say it, I may as well tell you now and get it out of the way. It’s about your brother, Charlie.’
Opal’s heart began to beat a mad tattoo, and she felt the colour drain from her face as she fixed her eyes on him.
‘The thing is . . . I have written a number of letters to the penal colonies, as you know, to try and trace his whereabouts and today I heard back from one of the governors. I’m so sorry, but he believes that Charlie might have been one of the men who died of typhoid on the journey out there. They can find no trace of him in the prisons there.’
Opal gasped as her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes filled with tears. ‘B-but he can’t be dead!’
Henry crossed over to her and put his arm about her shoulders, and she was so shocked that she made no move to prevent it.
‘I’m afraid there is a grave possibility that he is,’ he told her grimly, the lies tripping easily from his lips. ‘And I’m heartily sorry to have to be the one to tell you. The only consolation is that you can start to think of getting on with your own life now.’ In truth, Henry had no idea if Charlie had survived the sea trip; he only knew that he had been transported and the chance of any of the prisoners who were sent to the colony returning was so slim that he had no need to worry about lying to her if it achieved his aims.
‘No, until it’s confirmed I shan’t believe it! And I still have to find Susie . . .’ she said desperately .
He gave her a gentle squeeze. ‘Have no fear, if she is out there, I shall find her for you eventually. You may be assured of that. But perhaps you should prepare yourself for confirmation of Charlie’s death. But now, shall we go in to dinner?’
Opal was in a daze as she allowed him to take her arm and lead her into the dining room. Belle brought course after course, but each one of Opal’s was returned to the kitchen untouched as she sat there so steeped in misery that she forgot all about Henry’s presence. He in turn seemed to realise that she was in shock and he remained silent as he did justice to the food. At last the meal was over, and they retired to the drawing room again to wait for Belle to serve them coffee.
It had just been brought in when the sound of the doorbell echoed in the hall and a moment later Esther Partridge appeared in the doorway. It was all Henry could do to hide his annoyance, but remembering his manners, he greeted her, ‘Why, Miss Partridge, what a pleasant surprise. We were not expecting you.’
‘I came to see how your mother is,’ she told him as she pulled her gloves off, ignoring Opal. ‘Mother and I have been so concerned about her. Is she any better?’
‘Thanks to Opal’s care she is no worse. But do come in and sit down. Would you like some coffee?’
‘Yes, please.’ She sat down heavily on the nearest chair and it was all Henry could do to stop himself from groaning aloud. It seemed like Esther intended to stay and he had been looking forward to having Opal to himself all day, drat the woman!
‘Would you mind pouring for us all, my dear?’ Henry asked Opal and as she rose from her seat she was aware of Esther glaring at her. This evening she was dressed all in black and she reminded Opal of a great fat crow.
‘While she is doing that, I think I shall go and tidy myself after my journey, if you would excuse me.’
Opal was all fingers and thumbs as she poured the coffee into the cups, and an awkward silence settled on them as they waited for Esther to return.
Outside in the hall, Belle was just about to enter the kitchen when she saw the back of Esther’s dark dress disappearing up the stairs. Why would she be going up there? Perhaps she was going to see the mistress. With a shrug, Belle went on her way, but for no reason that she could explain something didn’t feel quite right.
Shortly after Esther returned and told Opal, ‘I believe I just heard dear Mrs King calling for you as I came down the hallway.’
‘Then will you excuse me?’ Opal hurried from the room, but when she got upstairs to peep in on her mistress, she found her fast asleep, so reluctantly she returned to the drawing room.
The next half an hour passed in somewhat stilted conversation until at last Esther rose from her seat. ‘Well, dear Henry, I suppose I should be going,’ she simpered, starting to pull on her gloves. Suddenly she paused and gasped. ‘Oh dear, I seem to have misplaced my emerald ring.’
Henry frowned and asked impatiently, ‘Are you quite sure you were wearing it?’
‘Oh yes.’ She continued to stare at her hand for a moment and then suddenly smiled. ‘Ah, I believe I took it off to wash my hands earlier. It belonged to my grandmother and is very valuable. Would you mind going and looking?’
She gazed pointedly at Opal, who instantly rose from her seat. ‘Of course.’ She hurried to the bathroom but there was no sign of the ring, so after a thorough search, she went back to the drawing room.
She had barely got through the door when someone tapped on it and Belle appeared.
‘Excuse me.’ She bobbed her knee as she looked at Esther. ‘But I found this in the bathroom a few minutes ago. Is it yours, miss?’
Esther looked dumbfounded for an instant, but quickly forced a smile as Belle held out the missing ring. ‘Oh, er . . . yes, yes it is . . . Thank you.’ She took the ring and rammed it on to her finger and, after saying a quick goodbye, she left.
‘I rather think it’s time I was retiring too, if you don’t mind, Henry,’ Opal told him, and hiding his disappointment he nodded.
‘Of course. I didn’t realise how late it had become. And I’m so sorry I had to be the bearer of bad news. Goodnight, my dear.’ He crossed to Opal and lifting her hand he gently kissed it, making the colour rush to her cheeks.
Opal made a hasty exit while Belle hurried away to fetch Henry’s hat and coat.
A little while later, as Opal was taking the pins from her hair, there was a gentle tap on the door and Belle stuck her head around it and whispered, ‘May I come in fer a minute?’
‘Of course.’
‘Look, I just came to warn yer that Esther tried to set yer up tonight,’ Belle told her, in a hushed voice. ‘Earlier on I saw her disappearin’ up the stairs, then as I passed the drawin’ room door I heard her askin’ you to go an’ look for her ring. It got me to thinkin’, so I checked the bathroom, then sneaked upstairs to check your room, an’ there was the ring sittin’ on your dressin’ table bold as brass. The stuck-up madam was tryin’ to make it look like you’d stolen it, so just be on yer guard.’
Opal was shocked. ‘But why would she do that?’
Belle snorted. ‘It’s as clear as the nose on yer face. She knows that Henry is taken wi’ you an’ she’s green wi’ envy. She wanted to try an’ make you out to be a thief to put him off you.’
‘She must really hate me,’ Opal whispered. ‘And she’d hate me even more if she knew that Henry had proposed to me.’
Belle chuckled. ‘Per’aps yer should tell ’er that an’ that you’ve accepted him,’ she suggested with a wicked grin. ‘I’d love to see the look on ’er face then!’
Opal shook her head, stunned. All in all, it had been a terrible evening. ‘Thank you, Belle,’ she breathed when she’d managed to compose herself a little. ‘Had she succeeded, it could have cost me my job and I would have been homeless again.’ Esther had never tried to pretend that she liked her, but even so Opal was shocked at the depths she would sink to to discredit her.
‘Well, now yer know just watch yer back,’ Belle advised as she left.
&nbs
p; Reeling, Opal dropped on to her stool. What Esther had tried to do on top of the news about Charlie possibly being dead was just too much, and lowering her face into her hands she sobbed broken-heartedly. After a time she sniffed and raised her chin. Charlie couldn’t be dead! She would feel it in her heart if he was, surely? She refused to believe it; there must be hundreds of prisoners in the penal colonies and eventually they would trace him and this would all be a terrible mistake. Gazing from the window, she determined that she would not believe otherwise.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘So, it seems you are the hero of the hour.’ The governor grinned when Charlie reported for work the day after New Year’s Day. ‘Everyone in town is saying that had it not been for you a certain young man would probably be in a shark’s belly by now.’
Charlie flushed a dull, brick red. ‘I only did what anyone else would have done,’ he mumbled just as Francesca burst into the room, her cheeks glowing.
‘Is it true what I’m hearing? That you rescued Julian from a shark?’
Charlie shrugged as Francesca clapped her hands. ‘I just spoke to his mother and father and they are so grateful to you,’ she gushed as Charlie squirmed uncomfortably.
‘Well, it’s done now so let’s just forget about it, and hope he isn’t daft enough to try swimming out so far again.’
The governor, Phineas, chuckled. ‘Such modesty, but I think you’ll find Julian’s parents feel you should be rewarded.’
‘There’s really no need.’ Charlie crossed to the desk and began to shuffle through the paperwork that had mounted in the few days they had had off. He’d never been one for blowing his own trumpet and just wanted to forget the incident had ever happened. It was all too embarrassing.
Sensing the boy’s discomfort, the governor ushered Francesca from the room, leaving Charlie to get back to work, but in the early afternoon the governor came back after a visit to the prison with some very exciting news.
‘It appears that gold has been discovered about thirty miles south of here,’ he told Charlie. ‘And suddenly everyone is flocking there staking claims on parcels of land hoping to find some.’
‘Then good luck to them,’ Charlie said good-naturedly, turning back to his work and forgetting all about it.
A little later, through the open door of the office, Charlie saw the governor and Julian’s father in the hallway walking towards the office, deep in conversation. A moment later the door was pushed open and Julian’s father, with a broad smile on his face, strode over to the desk.
‘So, I believe I have you to thank for saving my son’s life,’ the deputy governor said, reaching out to shake Charlie’s hand. Before Charlie could reply he went on, ‘Governor Morgan had already brought you to my attention before this happened, saying what a great help you had been to him, so we’ve had our heads together and have decided that you should be rewarded.’
‘There’s really no nee—’
The man held up his hand. ‘From where I’m standing there is a need, and the governor here agrees with me. And so we’ve discussed it and have something to tell you, but I’ll let Mr Morgan do that.’
The governor grinned. ‘The thing is, Charlie, neither of us believe that you should have been sent here in the first place,’ he said. ‘And you’ve certainly proved that you’re honest and hard-working. So, in light of that, I’ve decided that I’m going to grant you a free pardon. You will be free to leave whenever you wish. I’ll even arrange a passage on a ship home for you, if that’s where you want to go. I shall miss you, but I feel you deserve it a dozen times over. My family and I will be leaving here shortly to return to England and you would be very welcome to travel with us, should you so wish. There will be no more prisoners transported here, and Edward will take my place as governor until those that remain have served out their sentences. So, what do you think?’
‘I . . . I . . .’ Charlie was so shocked the words stuck in his throat as Julian’s father clapped him on the back.
‘You’re a fine young man,’ he told him. ‘And if I’m not much mistaken, you’ll go far in life. But take a few days to decide what you’d like to do. Some prisoners opt to stay here and farm the land; it will be your choice.’
‘Th-thank you, sir,’ Charlie stuttered and when the men had left the room, he rose and crossed to stare sightlessly from the window on to the parched lawn. He was free! It was taking some getting used to, and it hadn’t quite sunk in yet.
He blinked as tears burned at the back of his eyes. If only there were some way he could let Opal know – but he had no idea where she was or even what she was doing. Still, God willing, it wouldn’t be long until they were reunited.
The door suddenly burst open, and Francesca exploded into the room in a froth of lemon satin and lace. ‘Oh, Charlie, I am so thrilled for you,’ she gushed. ‘Father just told me the wonderful news.’ And before he knew what was happening she flung her arms about him and rested her head on his chest setting his heart thudding erratically. ‘But . . . I must admit . . . I shall miss you.’ There was a tremble in her voice and as she raised her face to look up at him he saw tears glistening on her long dark lashes. Without thinking his arms tightened about her and his lips settled on hers in a hungry kiss that she returned eagerly.
Charlie came to his senses first and, with an effort, he pushed her away from him and held her at arm’s length. ‘I . . . I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.’ His hand rose to swipe a lock of hair from his brow and, confused, he turned to gaze from the window again.
‘But why are you sorry?’ Her voice was gentle. ‘I have been waiting for you to do that for a long time.’
Suddenly angry he wheeled about. ‘Why, you ask? Surely you know the answer to that question? What would your father have said if he had walked in and caught us kissing? I don’t think he would have been too pleased, do you?’
Her brow creased. ‘But you are a free man now,’ she pointed out as a tear slid down her cheek.
‘That’s as maybe but I’m still an ex-criminal.’ Francesca’s lips trembled and his voice softened. ‘Look, Francesca, you are the most beautiful and interesting girl I have ever met and had things been different there might have been a future for us. But as it is . . .’ He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. ‘We come from different worlds. Your parents will want you to marry someone with position and wealth; someone who can keep you in the manner to which you are accustomed. They would never consider a chap like me, not in a million years.’
She sniffed and raised her chin. ‘If that is how you feel, then there is no more to be said,’ she whispered, and with what dignity she could muster she sailed from the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Charlie was in a quandary. Since the moment he had met her, he had dreamed of kissing her and holding her in his arms and yet now that he had he had sent her away. But what choice did I have? Charlie asked himself, and the answer came back: none at all. With a heavy sigh, he turned back to the window. He needed to channel his thoughts into what he wanted to do now, but right at that moment he had no idea whatsoever.
Later that evening when the worst of the heat had died down, Charlie wandered into town and strolled along the main road, such as it was. Eventually as he neared the harbour he came to the Mermaid Inn, and after checking that he had some coins in his pocket he decided to go in and have a celebratory pint of ale. It wasn’t every day a man was granted a pardon, after all, and he thought he should celebrate.
The air inside was heavy with tobacco smoke, and the sawdust on the floor was grubby. Even so, every table was full and after ordering a tankard of ale, Charlie soon discovered that almost every man in there was talking about the latest gold found in Ophir – a town close to the Macquarie River north-east of Orange.
‘They reckon there was almost a riot in the prison when the convicts heard of the gold,’ one old chap at a table close to him told his companions with a chuckle. ‘They were planning on escaping s
o they could go an’ try their hands at gold prospecting, but the guards soon put paid to that plan, by all accounts. Some of ’em were whipped then thrown into the hell hole for twenty-four hours, poor sods!’
Charlie shuddered as he listened to the conversation. The hell hole, as it was nicknamed, was a small wooden box, barely big enough for a grown man to stand or turn around in, and prisoners were locked in there as a punishment. He could only imagine how unbearably hot and uncomfortable it must have been for them, and from what he had heard there were many who didn’t survive it.
‘Hm, it seems like everyone’s caught gold fever,’ an old man, who Charlie recognised as Mr Schwartz, the tailor, said glumly. ‘My apprentice took off yesterday without a by your leave to go and buy a plot of land. And I’m left to manage on my own. I’ve no doubt he’ll come back with his tail between his legs if he has no luck, but I shall send him packing with a flea in his ear if he does, the ungrateful young bastard!’
There was a mutter of assent around the table, but suddenly Charlie’s mind was working overtime. Would it be worth trying his hand at gold prospecting? As things stood, if he returned to England now he would go with very little, but if he should strike gold he could return home a rich man and change the lives of his sisters – when he found them again! The more he thought of it, the more appealing the idea became. He had hardly spent a penny of his meagre wages since arriving there and it didn’t amount to a lot, but even so there would be enough for the tools he would need and to feed him for some weeks if he was careful. He hastily drained his tankard and stepped outside again with his mind working overtime. Perhaps he should ask the governor’s opinion? He passed the barber shop, the butcher and the ladies’ dress shop without so much as glancing in their windows, suddenly keen to get back to the governor’s house.
Unfortunately, when he arrived back, the governor and his wife were entertaining visitors. There would be no chance of speaking to him that evening, so Charlie made his way to his room where he tossed and turned for most of the night.
The Winter Promise Page 20