“They’ve never done anything like that before, and I’m sure they wouldn’t do it now. Besides, a sheep would be much easier to steal than a ram.”
Clementine looked at Abbey again. “You didn’t go into the paddock with the rams, did you, Abbey?” she asked.
Jack was astonished at the notion. “Why would she do that, Clementine?” he asked, as if the very idea were ridiculous.
Abbey looked at Jack. “I did,” she said in a small voice. “I went in just a little way to retrieve your spare hat, which was lying on the ground. It must have blown off a fencepost.”
Jack looked shocked. “That was a dangerous thing to do, Abbey,” he said.
“I thought the rams might eat the hat and become sick,” Abbey said. “But I shut the gate,” she added.
“Are you absolutely sure you put the wire over the fence post?” Jack asked, almost accusingly.
“Yes,” Abbey said, trying to actually recall doing so. She’d been feeling ill and had been shaking, but she was sure she had shut the gate properly.
“Well, they didn’t let themselves out of the paddock,” Jack said tensely. “As for my hat, Elias just gave it to me. He said he found it on the ground inside the gate.”
Abbey looked confused. “What? I thought I brought it back here,” she said, trying to remember.
“You thought you shut the gate, too,” Jack said. He glared at her. “I hope I haven’t lost Napoleon,” he said.
“I’ll help you search for him,” Abbey suggested in a voice that shook with emotion.
“No. I think you have done enough,” Jack snapped and headed for the backdoor.
Abbey burst into tears.
“Now, now, dear,” Sybil said, putting an arm around her. “Don’t take any notice of Jack. He’s always irritable when he’s tired. He’s been like that since he was little.”
“He thinks I left the gate open, Mrs. Hawker, but I wouldn’t have done that. I’m sure I wouldn’t.”
“Of course not, dear.”
“But if it was closed when I left, how did it get open?”
“I don’t know, dear, but Jack will find out,” Sybil said.
Clementine turned away to hide her smug expression. Not likely, she thought.
“He’ll find the rams,” Ralph said. “They probably haven’t gone far.”
“I hope so,” Abbey sniffed miserably.
Abbey couldn’t eat any breakfast. Her stomach felt uneasy, but even worse, she felt sick at heart because Jack thought she’d left the paddock gate open. She also felt annoyed with Clementine for turning Jack’s attention to her. Why did she have to ask point blank, in front of Jack, whether she went into the rams’ paddock, unless she’d been deliberately trying to cause trouble? Abbey didn’t want to believe it, but it certainly looked that way.
Abbey refused to eat more than half a slice of toast for breakfast. Even eating that much was an effort.
“Let’s set off for town,” Sybil suggested.
“I don’t want to go,” Abbey said, still miserable.
“We can’t do anything sitting here, dear,” Sybil said. “I’m sure by the time we get back, the rams will have been found.”
“Do you think so?” Abbey asked hopefully. She really wanted to believe it.
“Yes, I’ll send Elsa to the stables to tell Michael to get a buggy ready,” Sybil said.
Abbey still didn’t want to go, but she thought they could search for the rams along the road to town, so she got ready. It wasn’t until they were about to set off and Clementine joined them, that Abbey realised she was coming, too.
Sybil saw Abbey’s expression. “Oh, I forgot to tell you that Clementine is joining us,” she said, climbing aboard the buggy. “She needs a new dress for the dance, too. She lost most of her clothing in the fire.”
Abbey didn’t comment. She did feel sorry that Clementine had lost almost everything she owned, but Abbey was still a bit annoyed with her. The buggy had two benches, so Abbey offered to sit in the back, telling Sybil she’d look out for the rams on their journey. That meant Sybil and Clementine could chat along the way, and she didn’t have to join in their discussion.
Not far from the house, they passed Elias and Jack on horseback, as they searched the roadside.
“Any sign of the rams?” Sybil asked as they slowly made their way past.
“No,” Jack snapped. He still looked angry, and he was understandably worried.
“I’ll look for them on the way to town,” Abbey called, but Jack didn’t reply. She was hurt that he thought she was responsible, but there was nothing she could do about it. She wasn’t even completely certain that she wasn’t responsible, and that made her feel even worse.
***
Saturday morning in Clare was a busy time. Many farmers and their families came into town, and the streets were quite crowded with people looking to make purchases. The three women strolled along, looking in the shop windows, but Abbey couldn’t find any enthusiasm for the task at hand, and she still felt quite ill. When they came upon a shop run by the Country Women’s Association, Sybil said she was going inside to buy baby Gerald something to wear.
“I’ll wait out here,” Abbey suggested.
“Are you sure, dear?” Sybil said, concerned.
“Yes,” Abbey replied.
Sybil could see that she was still quite pale, and she was a little worried. “Very well,” she said. “I won’t be long.” She looked at Clementine. “Will you wait here with Abbey?”
“Yes, of course,” Clementine said. She’d noticed that Abbey was cross with her, so she wanted to speak to her.
“That won’t be necessary,” Abbey said to Clementine. “You help Mrs. Hawker pick something for the baby.”
“No, I’ll stay here. I’d like to speak to you, anyway,” Clementine said.
Abbey wasn’t pleased, but Sybil went inside, leaving them together.
“We’ve nothing to discuss,” Abbey said tersely.
“I think we have,” Clementine said. “I have noticed that you are cross with me, Abbey, and I can’t say that I blame you. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble with Jack. I only mentioned seeing you heading in the direction of the rams because I thought you might have seen something useful. I’m sorry that Jack now thinks you left the gate open.”
Abbey was confused because Clementine sounded sincere. “Please, don’t dwell on it. I just hope he finds the rams, especially Napoleon.”
“I’m sure he will, Abbey,” Clementine said.
Sybil appeared again and showed them the lovely outfit with a matching hat that she’d picked for Gerald. She held up the pale blue hat. “This will keep the sun off little Gerald when Martha takes him outside,” she said. “Isn’t it lovely?”
The young women agreed.
“Now, let’s go down to MacAvoy’s Emporium and get you both something nice to wear to the dance,” Sybil said, very satisfied with her purchases. “Then we should look in William’s Shoe shop.”
The three women were heading down the street when they crossed paths with two ladies accompanied by a man. It was immediately clear they were not country folk, as they were dressed quite smartly and seemed to have an air of grandeur that was quite out of place in the small rural town.
Sybil immediately became excited. “Bernice! Esmeralda!” she cried. “And Leonardo! What are you doing in Clare?”
“Sybil, darling,” the women gushed, embracing her and bestowing air kisses on her cheeks.
“We’re scouting for props for our next play,” Leonardo said in an accent more suited to London’s West End than rural South Australia.
“Oh, how exciting,” Sybil enthused. She turned to Abbey and Clementine. “Girls, allow me to introduce you to the Rubenstein Theatre Company’s artistic director, Leonardo McBride.”
“Enchanted,
ladies,” Leonardo said, bowing gracefully and tipping his hat.
“Abbey Scottsdale is my companion, and Clementine Feeble is a friend of my son, Jack,” Sybil explained. “Girls, this is Bernice Vincent and Esmeralda Dijon. The Rubenstein Theatre Company couldn’t survive without them.”
The women squealed with pleasure, and they exchanged greetings.
“Sybil, won’t you join us in the tearoom up the street?” Bernice asked imploringly. “Perhaps you could give us some information about where to find props in this quaint little town.” The way she articulated the word quaint gave the word a whole new meaning that had nothing to do with being charming or old-fashioned.
“Oh,” Sybil looked at Clementine and Abbey in a fluster. It was obvious she wanted to go, but didn’t want to abandon the young women.
“You go and have tea with your friends, Mrs. Hawker,” Clementine said. “Abbey and I can find our dresses and meet up with you later.”
“Are you sure, Clementine?” Sybil asked, obviously torn. She looked at Abbey.
“Yes, you go, Mrs. Hawker,” Abbey insisted. She felt quite ill again and just wanted to sit somewhere quiet for a little while.
“Fine. I’ll see you at the tearoom in an hour,” Sybil said, scurrying away with the threesome.
Abbey and Clementine had just begun walking when Abbey suddenly ducked into an alley between two shops and began heaving. As she’d eaten little that day, there wasn’t really anything to come up, but her stomach was twisting painfully.
“Abbey, what’s wrong with you?” Clementine asked, following her into the alley.
Abbey stumbled though the alley into a small park on the street behind and collapsed onto a bench, where she took several deep breaths, fighting the nausea. Clementine followed.
“Why don’t we stop at the doctor’s, Abbey?” Clementine asked, sitting beside her. “It is obvious you are quite ill.”
“No,” Abbey said breathlessly. “I’m sure this will pass.”
“What if it doesn’t?” Clementine asked. “What if it gets worse? There might be something seriously wrong.”
Abbey knew she was right. For the first time, she acknowledged what the problem might be and burst into tears.
“Abbey,” Clementine said in genuine dismay. “What is it? Do you know something you are not telling me?”
Abbey nodded. She wanted and needed to discuss her dilemma with someone, and Clementine sounded so caring.
“What is it, Abbey? You can confide in me.”
Abbey looked at her through watery eyes. “Promise you won’t judge me, because what happened wasn’t my fault.”
“Of course, I won’t judge you, Abbey.”
“I think I might be … with child,” Abbey whispered.
“What?” Clementine wasn’t certain she had heard correctly. Then she thought about Jack, and her heart fell to the soles of her shoes. She looked so shocked that Abbey felt she had to explain.
“Ebenezer Mason drugged me and” She couldn’t say the words, but she witnessed a transformation in Clementine’s expression. She didn’t realise it was relief.
“That horrid man,” Clementine spat. She was actually happy, for a number of reasons. Most importantly, Jack wasn’t responsible, and she was certain that he wouldn’t want Abbey if she had been so defiled, no matter how fond of her he had become. She had another thought that delighted her. She was sure Jack would never consider taking on the responsibility of raising Heath Mason’s half-brother. She suddenly saw Abbey in a whole new light. She was no threat at all. “You poor thing, Abbey,” she said. “This is such a terrible burden to carry alone. But I’ll do all I can to help you.”
Abbey felt a sense of relief. It was so good to be able to share her burden with someone of a similar age.
“Does Sybil know?” Clementine asked.
“She knows what Ebenezer Mason did to me, but she doesn’t know yet that I suspect I might be carrying his child.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
Clementine fished in her bag for a handkerchief and handed it to Abbey.
“You have to find out the truth, Abbey. That means visiting a doctor.”
“I’d be too ashamed,” Abbey said, blushing at the thought.
“You have to know for certain one way or another, Abbey. I’ll go with you.” Clementine stood up. “Come along.”
Abbey stood up, too. “Thank you, Clementine,” she said, feeling ashamed for thinking that Clementine had deliberately tried to get her into trouble with Jack when, in truth, she was turning out to be such a good friend.
CHAPTER 26
Clementine and Abbey went up the street to Dr. Clarence Ashbourne’s surgery.
Upon entering, Clementine took charge. “This young lady would like to see Dr. Ashbourne, Miss Swinson,” she said to the receptionist in the waiting room. She knew Cindy Swinson well, as she was a customer of Clementine’s.
“I’m afraid he’s away for the rest of the week and possibly some of next week, as well,” Cindy said apologetically. “His gout has flared up again, and it’s very bad this time,” she added. “He knows he shouldn’t eat tomatoes, but half of his patients pay him with produce, and he can’t help himself.”
“Oh,” Clementine said as she looked at Abbey in dismay.
Even though seeing a doctor was going to be humiliating, knowing one way or another whether she was with child was for the best. “Let’s go, Clementine,” Abbey said in a small, shaky voice. What little courage she’d summoned had deserted her, and hiding from the truth awhile longer seemed a more appealing option. “I can come back another day,” she whispered.
“Dr. Mead from Burra is filling in,” Cindy said. “If you’d like to see him, his next appointment isn’t for half an hour.”
Abbey recognised his name. Her father had been sent to see him after hurting his hand at work, but she’d not had a reason to see him herself, something she was now grateful for.
“Yes, Miss Scottsdale will see Dr. Mead,” Clementine said to Cindy. She turned to Abbey. “You will, won’t you?”
Abbey nodded as a wave of nausea overcame her again, quickly followed by the realisation that she would soon be facing the truth of her situation.
“Would you like me to come in with you?” Clementine whispered.
“No, I’ll go alone,” Abbey said, taking a deep breath. She was actually relieved that Dr. Ashbourne wasn’t in the surgery. Seeing a total stranger, someone she might never have to see again, was preferable.
That Vernon Mead was filling in for Clarence Ashbourne was not a coincidence. He’d been trying to think of a way to find out whether Ebenezer Mason had also been getting potions for his problem from the Clare doctor. It was possible because the mine owner had mentioned seeing Ashbourne more than once. Vernon couldn’t discuss the matter openly with Clarence Ashbourne, in case he inadvertently implicated himself in Ebenezer’s demise. When Vernon had heard that the Clare doctor was looking for a temporary replacement, however, he volunteered for the position, seeing the perfect opportunity to look through Ashbourne’s files. He then hired a young doctor without a practice to take over his own patients temporarily. The arrangement worked perfectly for all concerned.
Vernon had only arrived in Clare that morning, so he hadn’t yet had time to go through Clarence’s records. This was his last hope of finding out whether he was directly responsible for Ebenezer’s death. Upon doing a quick inspection of Clarence’s medicinal supplies, however, he found the man did have the ingredients for a potion similar to the one Vernon had concocted. Now he just needed to check the records to see exactly what the other doctor had given Ebenezer Mason.
After taking Abbey’s name, Cindy went to the doctor’s office door and knocked. “You have a patient, Dr. Mead,” she said. “A Miss Abigail Scottsdale.”
Vernon paled. The butler at Martindale Hall had told him that
the young lady who was in bed with Ebenezer Mason that last night was named Abigail Scottsdale. At first the Scottsdale name hadn’t been familiar, but he later realised he’d once treated a Finlay Scottsdale. Winston hadn’t mentioned the marriage to Vernon, so he now felt some concern about Miss Scotsdale finding herself in such a scandalous position.
“Send her in,” he said. He was curious, but anticipated meeting a rather unladylike character, possibly someone jaded by her circumstances and ambitious to improve them. He prayed she knew nothing of the potion.
With her head down, Abbey entered the doctor’s office. She still felt ill, but at that moment the humiliation she was suffering was far worse.
“Please sit down, Miss Scottsdale,” Vernon said, warily appraising her.
Abbey perched on the edge of a seat beside his desk with her back erect and her gaze averted.
“What can I do for you, Miss Scottsdale?” Vernon asked. He couldn’t help but notice that she was very beautiful. He wasn’t surprised that Ebenezer Mason had lusted after her, but that made him wonder what she saw in the mine owner. Not only was he old enough to be her father, he wasn’t a particularly nice man and was certainly not handsome. All he had to offer was his money, and he didn’t part with that easily. Vernon thought Abbey at first glance seemed rather shy and timid, rather than the brash and bold woman he’d been expecting. He tried to imagine her as a willing participant in an affair with the man he had known, but it was difficult. On the other hand, he’d learned to never assume anything when it came to people.
“I have been vomiting for a few days now and suffering waves of nausea,” Abbey said in a small, breathless voice. In the back of her mind she was praying that the doctor might diagnose her with the ill effects of eating something that disagreed with her. The chances of that, however, were slim to none, as Sabu was very particular, and Bungaree had an abundance of fresh food.
“And this has been going on for a few days, you say?” Vernon said, taking notes.
“Yes.”
“Are you able to keep anything down at all?”
“Yes, a little when I don’t feel sick, but nothing tastes the same.”
Shadows in the Valley Page 39