"I daresay it will be a matter of who Ricky uses in the store to make curtains and drapes and things, otherwise they could do those too," Mrs Landon said.
"Yes, I must ask Ricky about that. Goodness there's such a lot to do."
The Forrests arrived two days before the ball and Nell was pleased that she was given some tasks to do. "Otherwise I will feel that I am just an ornament."
"You have no need to worry, Nell, Jenny has done more work than I could ever have expected a lass to do. My goodness that girl is a worker."
"Yes, she is," said Jenny's aunt. "She has that ability to get into a job without being asked. If she hadn't been like that I would never have left you with the task of getting the ball ready."
"All the girls have been marvellous. They have had such fun. I am sure Betsy has done no schoolwork since all this began. Truly I have done very little; they have done it all. It's good training for them, but I do think you and I should go over all the things just to make sure they haven't forgotten anything."
There was no need to worry for all seemed to be in readiness. The only thing that worried them was the weather. It was very hot and humid and not quite the best for dancing, but they all hoped that a cool change would come on the evening of the dance. They were very fortunate for as the three English men pulled up at the door for dinner they felt the first of a cool southerly breeze. Nell sent the servants to open all the doors and windows and fill the place with coolness.
Other guests were coming for dinner and twenty people sat down to a light but sumptuous meal. Sadie had suggested this as it would be difficult to eat a big meal and expect to be able to dance well after it. She was a skillful hostess and even though the meal was light it was very satisfying even for the men who were used to large hot dinners.
Ricky only had eyes for his Jenny. He couldn't remember afterwards what he ate, he just wanted to look at her and couldn't believe his good fortune in having such a wonder for his affianced wife. Tad was in much the same state over Amabel. Will had been partnered with a sweet little girl whose name was Dimity Roger. The Rogers had only just come to the colony and so the Landons had taken this opportunity of introducing them to the social life of Sydney.
Mr Falconer-Mead and Joshua were there, of course. Joshua partnering Harriet who was feeling very grown up. Poor Betsy was not allowed to come down to dinner but was to come and watch the dancing for a short time, later.
"They all look lovely," thought John Landon. "Like beautiful butterflies. But sensible ones," he assured himself. He felt very proud of his family.
His own Sadie looked magnificent in rich cream satin and lace. She wore a necklace of topaz which had belonged to his mother and grandmother. Nell was in pale mauve taffeta with a lace overdress which suited her prematurely grey hair. She looked regal in that colour and her necklace of amethysts was the same colour as her dress.
Jenny wore palest blue sprig muslin which made her blue eyes even bluer. She wore a string of pearls which had belonged to her mother. She also had a pearl bracelet which she wore over her blue lace mittens, a gift from Ricky.
Amabel was in plain pale green muslin with a deep green sash of wide satin. Her mittens were the same tone as the deep green sash. She wore an emerald pendant which was a present from her father on her eighteenth birthday. Harriet looked shy and sweet in her yellow Indian cotton, the neckline of which went right to her throat and so she wore no jewellery. Yes, a sweet bunch of blossoms John Landon thought.
Dimity Roger, the only other young lady at the dinner, was in beige. It did not really become her. She should have been wearing colours like the others but her mother had very strict ideas about girls wearing colours. She seemed to fade into the background of all the glitter and Will felt sorry for her. She seemed ill at ease but when he spoke to her found that she was a pleasant little person who was quite able to converse with a great deal of ease so he enjoyed their conversation. She had dark brown hair and brown eyes. She had an elfin appearance that attracted Will. Her face lit up when she smiled and from being a plain little thing, as Will had at first thought her, she became quite appealing.
During their various conversations she asked him if he liked dancing. "I think I would like it quite a lot Miss Roger, but you see I am crippled and I look awkward on the dance floor." Will surprised himself at this utterance for he rarely spoke so about his leg.
"But you can dance, Mr English? It doesn't hurt you?" Dimity asked.
"No, it doesn't hurt, Miss Roger. I just feel clumsy, that's all. Yes, I can dance. I have been well taught but it isn't my favourite occupation," he added with a smile.
"What is your favourite occupation then, Mr English?" she asked.
Then before he knew it Will found he was enjoying his speech with this little mouse of a girl. She seemed to have a knack of putting him at ease, and so he chatted about his painting, his going to Paris and about his two brothers of whom he sounded very proud.
It was time for the ball to commence and the four hosts stood at the door greeting their guests. There was a flurry of excitement among the young girls. Amabel noticed that Dimity was rather alone and took her to join the others. They all accepted her with interest and kindness. Each person was given a dainty program and pencil and it was hard for the girls to fit in all the names of the men who wished to dance with them. Of course Ricky wanted all of Jenny's dances as Tad wanted all of Amabel's but they knew better than that and had to be patient and share them out with others who had a call on them.
The orchestra set the music going and the dancing began, and they were soon swirling and waltzing and stepping out in country dances. A colourful scene. The great chandelier shone brightly and with bunches of candles in sconces along all the walls the whole place was shining. Will stood by a pillar watching it all and wishing a little that he was more nimble on his feet. His lameness didn't worry him often but on occasions like this it did. Both Mrs Landon and Mrs Forrest insisted on dancing with him, then Jenny and Amabel who assured him that they had kept dances for him, which pleased him mightily. He felt so confident after this that when he saw Dimity sitting out he asked her to dance and enjoyed it very much. She was as light as a fairy and was able to praise him without making him feel embarrassed. He thought she was a very nice girl, unusual for Will. Ricky was pleased to see it.
At 11 o'clock the music stopped and supper was announced. The dining room had been set out for supper and the tables seemed to groan with the weight of various savouries and sandwiches, dainty pies and pastries, sweet meats, jellies, trifles, iced desserts, lemonade and fruit cup.
After this Mr Forrest stood up and asked to speak. He first thanked Mr and Mrs Landon for their hospitality and then asked Ricky to bring Jenny forward, he introduced them then as an engaged couple and that the wedding would take place the following December. This news was greeted with a great deal of applause and Ricky had to put up with a lot of back slapping from his friends and Jenny a great number of kisses. The already light and happy atmosphere seemed to become even lighter and happier. Jenny then folded her dancing mittens back so that all the girls could see her sapphire ring, which was much admired.
The dancing resumed and Ricky was able to claim most of Jenny's remaining dances as he now knew that everyone expected it. By one o'clock Jenny was feeling hot and rather tired and as Ricky noticed he asked Mrs Forrest if he might take her to the balcony and catch some of the cooler air. She agreed and as Tad was passing and heard the request he made haste to Mrs Landon and asked her permission to do the same for Amabel. The four young people went out on the terraces and looked over the lawns to the harbour below with the moonlight shining on the water. Several other couples joined them and Ricky was delighted that Will also had taken the opportunity to ask Dimity's parents if he may take her to join them. Apparently they had been reluctant to let their precious daughter go out with a stranger and so only agreed by accompanying them themselves.
The music resumed and the dancers returned to the ballro
om to have the last of the dances. Ricky and Jenny lingered and he was able to catch her to him and say, "Oh, Jenny I love you so much. I cannot believe that you have promised to be mine. I wonder that I have agreed to wait until December to truly claim you. I am most impatient , my darling." He gently folded his arms about her and kissed her softly on the lips. It was a precious moment and they forgot their surroundings and were only conscious of their love. Then they realised that the music was playing the finale; Ricky took her hand and laughing they returned to their guests not realizing how the time had slipped by.
Soon after the ball came Christmas. The Forrests had asked Ricky and Will to join them for the festive season and Tad and the Falconer-Meads went to the Landons. By this time Ricky had had apartments made for his and Will's use.
Will had not intended to come often but he found he liked being in the country and had spent some time painting pleasant country scenes, finding that this had been more of a challenge than he had ever imagined. He found he had to think in all sorts and new shades of greens, blues and greys that he had hitherto taken for granted. It was all very well to look at a lovely green hillside in real life, but to make it look good on canvas was an entirely different thing. He reveled in the challenge, and was turning out some quite satisfactory things. He was even making gum trees look really like gum trees and not the English trees that so many artists had made them look like. He thought he might do a very large canvas of the scene from the verandah for Ricky so he could have it in his new town house.
After a delightful and lazy week over the Christmas time the two young men returned to Sydney. Ricky was loath to leave his Jenny but there was much to do and a living to make and so he set off with a, for once, reluctant Will, who had announced that as soon as he got some gear ready he was returning to complete a big thing, about which he was rather secretive. Ricky recognised that there would be a surprise in store so said nothing.
Back in Sydney things had moved with the Falconer-Meads. The old man called a gathering of the senior Landons, Ricky, Tad and Amabel and also Will to attend him at the hotel over dinner. They dined this time in the main dining room and then retired to their host's suite. As soon as they had assembled and given the men a drink of rich old port he announced that he had called them together for he had much to tell them.
"I have decided that I should return to my home very soon. I am not getting younger and I find the summer heat a little trying. I feel as though I have achieved all that I can and so there is little use our staying any longer," he said.
Ricky saw that Tad had paled to such an extent that he thought the younger man would faint. He looked at the man again who continued. "I have not found any evidence to prove that Tad is my grandson and so must go home disappointed." If anything Tad looked even paler. "But on the other hand," the old man continued, " I am as convinced as I ever will be that he is my son's child." Tad let out a huge silent sigh. "I asked Tad, or may I now refer to him as Theodore? if proof were to be obtained would he change his name to the one he was born with and to my disappointment but not to my surprise, he assured me he would not. At first I was distressed about that but on thinking it over I can see that he had good reasons for this. Theodore, you might explain your reasons, please."
Will's eyes were glued to Tad as he rose to speak. "Yes, indeed, sir." Tad said, "Perhaps if you had found proof, sir, that I was your grandson I may have been tempted to change my name. If I had been going back to England to live I might also have been tempted to change my name. But as there is still no proof and as I am not going to live in England I do not think it would be right for me to change my name from the one I have lived with since I was a young boy. I owe everything to Rick, and that I know Will will agree with me. We have borne his name and deem it an honour that he wanted to share it with us all this time and I wish to continue to do so. I hope I shall never do anything to dishonour it. Thank you, Rick, but sir," Tad continued, turning to the old gentleman, "I do thank you and honour you for accepting me as your grandson even though there is no proof. I am sorry I cannot do as you ask but that is the way I feel. There is just one thing, and that is something I must ask Mr Landon." He turned to the Landons. "Sir, would you prefer it if Amabel married a Falconer-Mead rather than an English? For she comes first in my thinking."
"Mr Falconer-Mead," John Landon said, standing up. "I have told you how I watched these boys grow up. I have seen how they struggled to make ends meet. I have always felt a great deal of admiration for them, all three. And the fact that I have willingly agreed to give my precious daughter to Tad, no matter what he calls himself, is good enough for me, and I am sure my dear wife agrees." He sat down.
"Thank you sir," said Tad. "Please understand, Mr Falconer-Mead. Please don't be disappointed that I do not wish to do what you suggest."
"Come here, Theodore, my grandson." He took the young man's hand. "No, I am not disappointed, lad. I am proud of you. I will say that even though I have found no proof of our relationship I know you are Mathew and Martha's son and I am content, I need no proof. I go home content."
"Thank you sir," said Tad gripping the wrinkled hand. "I wish I could do something to show how grateful I am and what great pleasure you have given me."
Quickly Mr Falconer-Mead said, "There is something you can do for me, Grandson. I hope you will do it, and you too, Miss Amabel." They all waited to hear what was coming. He said, "Joshua and I are leaving in two weeks time when the "Redcoat" sails. She will get to England in time for spring and so we will miss the worst of the winter. But, I suggest that these two young people, Mrs Landon, marry as soon as it is possible and come to England and Mead Park for the northern summer. I would like Theodore to see the family home and meet our family. I hear that young Mr Will is about to head for Paris so why not combine the trips and come together. He can stay at Mead Park and have a small taste of England before carrying on to Paris. What do you say?"
The assemblage gasped at the thought, and at first were quite speechless. John Landon was the first to speak. "Sir, you have caught me, at least, unawares." There were murmurs of, "Yes." "That's so." "But, if you will give us all a little time to think about it we will certainly tell you as soon as possible. Isn't that right, dear?" he asked turning to Sadie, who was looking rather flustered.
"Yes, please, a little time to think about it," she said."There would be so much to do."
"Certainly, Mrs Landon. I wouldn't think that you could decide right away. But I would like to know before we leave if that is possible," their host said.
He was assured that they would make the decision before that. They spent the rest of the time together discussion possibilities. Ricky and Will drawing together while the others spoke of different things. "Puts you on the spot a little, Will. Looks as though you will have less time to think about going. What do you feel about it?" Ricky asked.
"As a matter of fact, Rick, I had thought I might go. The sea trip was a bit daunting for me but if Tad and Amabel are going it really makes things a bit easier for me. That is if they don't mind my tagging along."
Tad heard this last and assured him that they would be very happy to have him. "That is if Amabel is wanting to go," said Tad. "She might hate the idea, and I won't force her. I wonder if she wants to. You know I didn't even think of going, it never entered my head."
It certainly gave them all a great deal to think about but the decisions were made much quicker that Ricky could believe. Will was sure he wanted to go and the Landons and Amabel had agreed. Tad was, surprisingly, the only one who was dubious.
"Why so hesitant, Tad?" Ricky asked over dinner one evening. "It is a much faster voyage than it used to be in the old days. You may even get a steamboat and they are even faster. Are you worried about being seasick, or Amabel, Tad?"
"No, apparently Amabel is a good sailor, Rick. Of course I don't know whether I am, but I'm not worried about that. But, oh, I don't know whether we ought to."
"Why ever not, Tad?" asked Will. "Do you t
hink you won't like the place or the people?"
"As a matter of fact, Will, " he answered, "it is just the opposite. What would happen if we liked it so much we didn't want to come home again. Or if they put so much pressure on us that we might have to stay. I don't want to get myself into a situation that I cannot handle. Do you see my point?"
"Yes, I do. I suppose you have to meet a lot of strange people you may or may not like, too. Yes, I do see. What do you think. Rick,?" asked Will.
"I just have to say that you must all make up your own minds. I am really happy with things as they are, but I can see that even if you don't go, Tad, things are going to be different. Will is going anyway. I suppose neither of you will be here when Jenny and I get married, will you? I will miss you both very much. But I still say you must do what you think is right."
"Gosh, Rick we can't do that. We can't leave you to get married all by yourself," said Will."I won't go. I'll go some other time. After you're married."
Ricky laughed and clapped him on the back. "You silly duffer I can get married without you. I'll miss you of course, but by the time you all return we'll be settled in our new house and be an old married couple."
Tad looked thoughtful. "I don't want to leave you in the lurch, Rick, either. Any way we might be home by the end of November. If we get married soon, we could go to England and return before you do the deed."
"For goodness sake, don't worry. I'll have others who will stand by me. Please don't put your trip off. Don't take me into your calculations, I really am happy for you to go. Just don't ask me to put the wedding off until you come back. I don't think I could wait."
"He really has it bad, Tad, hasn't he? But seriously, Rick, do you mind?" asked Will anxiously.
"No, you goat. Carry on with your plans. We only aim to have a quiet wedding at Windsor, anyway, not a hullaballoo like yours is going to be, Tad."
"Well, if we have to marry soon we may have a quiet one, too. But I don't really want to hurry it up and spoil Amabel's day. She is so looking forward to it."
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