Inside the front room was cosy with a fire and several lamps lit. The children were already at the table and the men joined them while the women brought in the food.
Once they were seated and grace had been said they started their meal in silence. The mood was still sombre but William was hungry. The mutton stew was warm and flavoursome.
Millie looked across the table at Robert who was also tucking in heartily.
“Tell me about this windmill,” she said.
Robert put down his spoon. “It will be a huge tower.”
“Who will build it?” Matthew asked.
“I got the instructions from the bloke who made it. It will need all of us to work on erecting it.”
“I’m keen,” Clem said.
“And me,” Matthew added.
It was decided they would meet in a week at the windmill site and when Jessie and the children heard about it they wanted to go too.
“We can camp there,” Haji declared, his face full of excitement.
“Why not?” William ruffled the boy’s hair. He had just had his fourteenth birthday and had his father’s shorter build. He was already proving to be a good stockman.
“We’re coming too.” Twelve-year-old Sally put her arm around her younger sister.
“Looks like it’s to be a family affair.” William chuckled. The faces around the table reflected his enthusiasm and he was pleased to see that included Millie.
When they gathered a week later at the site they were a big group. Millie had returned to Wildu Creek, but Matthew had stayed behind to help. Robert was there, and Clem with his family, and Georgina and Eleanor wouldn’t be left behind once they heard about it. Eleanor loved any chance she had to play with Clem’s girls.
The men helped set up the camp then left the women and girls to finish it while they inspected what was to be done.
“You’re the one who knows what to do, Robert,” William said. “We shall rely on you to direct us.”
The men laboured each day while the women made sure everyone was fed and took the children for long walks. Matthew had a mouth organ, which he played as they sat around the campfire each night. They had survived some tough times and William was thankful for this rare opportunity to be together, working and playing.
The children were in bed early on the last night but the adults were reluctant to turn in. It would be their last chance to enjoy each other’s company for some time. Matthew put away his mouth organ as mugs of tea were handed around.
“Johannes would have enjoyed this,” Georgina said as she settled on the ground beside William.
“We haven’t seen him out our way for a while,” Jessie said.
“Nor at Prosser’s Run,” Georgina said.
“Now he’s got permanent work I expect he’s too busy with that and courting the pretty Laura Wiltshire to have time for us,” William said. Johannes had ended up working for them for a few months, and had endeared himself to everyone during that time.
“She seems a nice young woman,” Jessie said.
“Hard to believe she’s Charles’s sister, isn’t it?” William said and noticed Jessie’s face still darkened at the mention of Wiltshire’s name.
“She’s more like her mother,” Georgina said. “And she was raised by Mrs Nixon, who was the Wiltshires’ housekeeper. She was a sensible and kindly woman.”
“I spoke to Johannes a month ago in Hawker,” Robert said. “I think he was working up to asking Laura to marry him.”
William raised his eyebrows. “I wonder what the high and mighty Charles Wiltshire will think about that. I like Johannes, which is a good reason for Charles not to.”
“And I’m afraid Charles is rather a snob,” Georgina said. “Johannes is a labourer. I am sure Charles would hope to marry her to someone with money.” She smirked at Robert.
“Laura Wiltshire’s far too young for me.”
“No meddling, Georgina,” William said. Besides, he had an idea Robert had met a young woman in Quorn. Robert hadn’t said as much but most of his trips south took him that way, whether he needed to go through Quorn or not.
“I’m going to turn in.” Robert lumbered to his feet and the others followed.
“It’s such a beautiful night,” Georgina said as William helped her up. She looked to the starry sky and the firelight reflected on her face, highlighting her smile.
“Let’s go for a walk before we go to our swags,” William suggested. They were both so busy they rarely had special moments like this to themselves.
She threaded her arm through his and they set off together. Away from the campfire their eyes adjusted to the darkness and between the moon and the stars there was plenty of light. They walked in silence for a while and when Georgina broke it her words astounded him.
“It would be good if Robert married. He might produce a son to inherit all this.”
“Good heavens, Georgina, you of all people know we don’t need a son to take this on. Look what you’ve done with Prosser’s Run.”
“With your help.” She leaned her head against his shoulder.
“We’ve done it together. Surely you wouldn’t want our daughter removed from her own property?” Even as he said it he recalled the empty camp in the hills and sadness swept over him. “With all that’s happened with the windmill I forgot to tell you the natives have left the camp for the reserve.”
“I’m glad.”
He was surprised by her response. “Why?”
“Don’t you think they’ll be much better off there than camped in the hills? They’ll receive food and have proper homes.”
William remained silent. He wasn’t so sure.
“Well, if Robert won’t produce any children I’ll have to see about a wife for Matthew.”
He shook his head at her. Obviously his wife wasn’t giving up on the idea of a male heir for the Bakers.
“Who’s to say we won’t have another child?” he said. “Perhaps a son this time.”
He felt Georgina stiffen within the circle of his arm and immediately wished he hadn’t spoken.
“Perhaps,” she murmured.
They didn’t talk about another child any more, though it was an unspoken wish between them. They both knew how lucky they were to have Eleanor, but they couldn’t help their longing for more children. William didn’t like to see his wife suffer any more losses. Each little baby lost had been so hard on her. Yet he knew that even though Georgina filled her days with Eleanor and the horses and working alongside him, there was still a hole in her heart none of that could fill.
They went on together under the blanket of a million stars. William looked up at the brilliant display and knew he would wish on every one of them if it would bring Georgina the son she longed for.
Fifty-six
Johannes approached the Wiltshires’ front door with trepidation, and yet with a spring in his step. It was a glorious April — and it was Laura’s seventeenth birthday. Today he was going to ask her to marry him. He felt sure she would say yes. His trepidation was over her brother’s likely reaction when Johannes asked for her hand.
The curtains at the dining-room window fluttered. He grinned. He knew Laura would be watching for him. Before he reached the door it flew open and there she was, his angel, smiling back at him with the same excitement as his in her look. He brought forward the hand behind his back and showed her a bunch of flowers he’d managed to cajole from his landlady.
“Happy birthday.”
She took them from him and put them to her nose. “Thank you, Johannes. They’re so pretty.” She glanced behind her, pulled the door to and before he knew what she was doing she had planted a kiss firmly on his lips. He was stunned but then wanted her to do it again. They had contrived stolen moments alone on several occasions and he had held her in his arms and kissed her but she had never offered him her lips in this way. He grabbed her hand, tugged her to the space beside the door and kissed her back. She tasted sweet and smelled of lavender.
> There was a thud from somewhere inside. “Is there someone at the door, Laura?”
He stepped back quickly at the sound of Edith’s querulous voice, then smiled as Laura pouted her lips in an exact imitation of her sister-in-law. Laura put her head to the door. “Johannes has called to wish me happy birthday.”
The door swung back and Edith glared at him. “That’s very kind of you, Mr Becker, but Laura has jobs to do.”
“Even on her birthday?” Johannes was being bold, but he felt someone had to stand up for Laura.
Laura smiled sweetly at Edith. “We have time to have a cup of tea and some of that cake I made, don’t we? I’ll finish doing the dusting later.”
“Your brother is working in the sitting room and you know he doesn’t like to be disturbed. He has much on his mind.”
“We’ll take our tea in the kitchen.”
“Actually I did want to speak with your husband, Mrs Wiltshire. How fortuitous that he is at home.” Johannes gave her his most charming smile. He had already called at the shop to see if he could speak to Charles but Mr Hemming had told him Mr Wiltshire was working at home this morning.
“I’ll let him know you’re here.”
Laura spoke before Edith could then disappeared down the hall.
“You’d better come in, Mr Becker.”
Johannes removed his hat as she stepped back to allow him to pass. Edith closed the door firmly behind him. It was dark in the hall after the bright sunlight outside. Ahead of them Laura backed out of the sitting-room door.
“My brother would be happy to see you now, Johannes.” Laura gave him an encouraging smile. “Edith and I will prepare the morning tea so come into the kitchen when you are finished.”
“You can prepare the morning tea,” Edith snapped. “I will accompany Mr Becker to the sitting room.”
“Very well, Edith.” Laura hesitated by the door.
Edith stopped and Johannes pulled up abruptly so as not to run into her. “And check on Emma while you are there; she should be due to wake up from her nap.”
“Of course, Edith,” Laura said and gave Johannes a wink as he followed Edith into the room.
Charles was seated at a desk in the corner of the room near the window, bent over some papers.
“Mr Becker would like to speak with you, Charles.”
Charles turned at his wife’s voice. “So I am informed.” He nodded at Johannes but didn’t get up, nor did he ask Johannes to sit. Edith took a chair near her husband. “What is it you wish to speak to me about?”
Johannes clutched the brim of his hat in his hands. “I’ve …” His voice squeaked. He cleared his throat and began again. “I’ve come to ask your permission to marry your sister.”
Johannes was startled by a low hiss from Edith.
Charles ignored his wife and stood. He was a big man, taller than Johannes, and carrying a lot of weight for a man only in his early thirties.
“I don’t give it.”
Johannes baulked at the sharp response. He had expected perhaps some resistance but not outright denial.
“Oh, well I’m sorry you—”
“We will marry regardless.”
They were all surprised by Laura’s interruption. She came to stand beside Johannes, slipped her arm through the crook of his and looked up at him with such tender adoration he was momentarily speechless.
“You will not.” Edith was on her feet now, jabbing a finger in their direction. “Charles, tell her. She will not marry without your permission.”
“You are not yet eighteen, Laura.”
“I am old enough to make my own decisions.” Laura gazed up at Johannes and his heart thudded harder in his chest. She looked back at her brother. “I love Johannes and I’m going to marry him.”
Charles puffed himself up. “Laura, this is not in your best interests.”
Johannes felt her grip on his arm tighten.
“Mine, or yours and Edith’s?” she said.
“You little brat,” Edith snapped. “I told you, Charles, this is what you get when you spoil children.”
Charles narrowed his eyes. Johannes thought it made him look rather ugly.
“Laura, you will apologise for that remark. Edith and I took care of you after Father died. We have treated you as our own family.”
Johannes shook his head. He had witnessed Edith’s poor treatment of Laura but he had assumed perhaps Charles had been oblivious to it. Now he thought not.
“Laura is your own family,” he said. “And yet you treat her like a servant.”
Charles ignored him. “Laura, we want only what is best for you.”
“If that were true you would wish me well.” Laura tugged on Johannes’s arm. “We should go.”
“Where are you going?” Charles’s face turned deep red.
“With the man who loves me.”
Charles glowered at Johannes then at Laura as she turned away. “If you leave with this man you shall not be welcome back.”
Laura paused at his words but without looking back she moved on swiftly down the hall and through the kitchen, where the youngest Wiltshire was beginning to stir. Once more she hesitated, this time looking into the cradle. Then she turned swiftly away from the sleepy-eyed child and pulled open the back door. “There are some things I would like to take with me,” she said and went into her bedroom. He waited at the door, watching in case Wiltshire should come and try and stop her.
“Funny, isn’t it? I moved out here after Father died. It used to be the guest room.”
He glanced back. Laura was bundling clothing and personal items into the middle of her quilt.
“Really that’s what I’ve become,” she said. “A guest in my own family home.”
She formed a bundle and tied the top with a ribbon. Johannes took it from her and tilted her face back to his when she turned for one last look.
“No, Laura. You weren’t treated as well as a guest. You were a servant. You’re my angel and I’ll never allow anyone to mistreat you again.”
He brushed his lips across hers and led her outside. They hurried down the side of the house and into the street. Johannes noticed the lady in her front garden next door looking at them closely. He took a few more steps then stopped.
“What’s the matter?” Laura asked.
“We haven’t thought this through. Now you have nowhere to stay and Charles is right. We can’t legally marry until you’re eighteen.”
“Oh,” Laura’s face fell. “I can’t go back.”
“No, of course not.” Johannes clicked his fingers as a solution came to him. “What about Mrs Prosser? She’s very fond of you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Your brother has evicted you from the family home. I am sure she would be happy to take you in if we asked.”
“For a year?”
“It won’t take long to pass and at least we could see each other. I will have more time to fix up our cottage.”
“Our cottage?”
“It’s only a shepherd’s hut.” As he said it his high spirits ebbed at the thought of the house she had given up for him. “It’s just out of town. I have rented it and planned to make it a bit nicer before we moved in.”
“Take me there,” she said.
“Now?”
“Yes, I’d like to see it.”
He took two steps then pulled up again. “Are you sure, Laura?”
“Positive,” she said.
“Then I’ll take you but first we should visit Mrs Prosser.”
They set off again. At Mrs Prosser’s door his bravado waned. Laura stood silently beside him. He held her hand and knocked.
“Hello, Johannes.” Mrs Prosser smiled at him then turned. “Oh, and it’s Laura. How are you, dear? I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I’m well, thank you, Mrs Prosser.”
“What’s brought you both to my door?”
“We wondered …” Johannes faltered. “Well at least I did—”
“Oh dear.” Mrs Prosser stepped back into her house. “You’d better come in and tell me all about it.”
An hour later, after two cups of tea and slices of Mrs Prosser’s cake, they set off again. They had come to an agreement. Laura was to stay with Mrs Prosser in return for some domestic help — far lighter than the work she’d been doing for Edith, but enough that she would feel useful. Johannes felt a little better: she would have a roof over her head.
But first she insisted he show her their home. Mr Reynolds had allowed Johannes the use of his horse and small cart, so they went to the stable at the back of his yard. Johannes loaded two old chairs he had repaired for their sitting room then he helped Laura into the cart. It took little time to reach the cottage but then Johannes’s spirits took another dive. The place looked lonely on the edge of a grassy plain, with only two nearby trees to break the flat landscape that stretched beyond it.
“It’s not so far from town,” Laura said as he helped her down from the cart. “I could walk there and back easily.”
He strode ahead of her to the door. It needed a hard push to open.
“That’s one of the things I have to fix.”
She stepped into the middle of the first room, which had a large fireplace but was totally empty of furniture.
He took her hand. “The chairs will go in here. Come and see the kitchen.” He led her through to the back of the house. The kitchen was small but he had spent some time cleaning it up. “The oven works — I’ve tested it already — and the table and chairs are sturdy.” He flung open the door leading into another room. “This one is small but would be big enough for a nursery.”
Laura looked around his shoulder then stepped back. “And where is our room to be?”
“It’s the other front room.” He led her back to the sitting room then came to a stop in front of the door that led to the bedroom. He was afraid to open the door. Not only because the room wasn’t finished, but because it felt intimate and he wasn’t sure what to say.
“Johannes?” She looked up at him with such love and trust. “Aren’t you going to show me our room?”
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