As Josh approached the house, tired and sweaty from the long journey, a small female figure dressed in an emeraldgreen crinoline suddenly pushed aside the mosquito net on the main entrance and darted onto the verandah with a broad smile on her face.
‘Esperanza!’ Josh hurried forward to hug the woman and they spoke for a while in a language that Maria did not understand. The woman was clearly not English, but she was without doubt one of the most beautiful women that she had ever set eyes on. Her skin was olive-coloured and flawless, and her hair, which cascaded down her back, was coal black and curly. Her eyes were dark too, and as Maria watched her she suddenly turned her attention to the women in the party and smiled a radiant smile that revealed small white teeth.
‘Ah, Isabelle,’ she said now as she came forward with her arms outstretched, merely glancing at Maria and Kitty. ‘Your uncle is working on the land. He did not expect you until later.’ She waved her hand vaguely in the direction of the fields behind her that seemed to be full of sheep and then urged, ‘But come. You must be tired and thirsty. I shall have Binda prepare you some refreshments.’
She helped Isabelle down from the carriage and as Maria fell into step with Josh behind them, she whispered, ‘Who is she?’
Josh grinned. ‘Well, if you remember, I told you that Uncle Freddie was the rebel of the family. Esperanza is his mistress.’
Maria’s eyes almost popped out of her head. ‘What? You mean they . . . they live together and they’re not married!’
‘That’s about the long and short of it,’ he chuckled. ‘Although it isn’t for the want of Uncle asking her. He’d marry Esperanza tomorrow if she’d have him, but she seems to be quite happy as she is and they’re totally devoted to each other. They’ve been together for years and have two children, whom I’m sure you will meet in due course.’
‘Oh.’ Maria gulped, for she couldn’t think of anything more to say. She was well aware that back home it was accepted that the gentry had mistresses, but they didn’t live together openly with them; the women were usually set up in some small establishment where the men discreetly visited them. Obviously things were very different in Tasmania – and who was she to question them, after just losing a child out of wedlock?
By now they were entering the ranch-house and Maria looked about with interest as Kitty stayed close to her side, apparently overawed at her surroundings. Just like the outside of the building the inner walls were made entirely of wood, but the furnishings might have come straight from the rooms of a palace; and Maria couldn’t help but be impressed. Velvet-upholstered settees on spindly gilt legs were set here and there with tiny occasional tables at the side of them, and a large marble Adam-style fireplace that would have graced a stately home stood against one wall, not that Maria thought it would be needed very often. Fine Turkish rugs were strewn across the highly polished floorboards and oil paintings aplenty adorned the walls. Maria assumed this must be the sitting room as she and Kitty followed Esperanza and Isabelle into the room beyond. In here, a fine mahogany table took centre stage, surrounded by a dozen matching chairs with cabriole legs and embroidered seat-covers. A matching sideboard stood nearby, over which hung an enormous mirror. For a moment, Maria was speechless.
It was then that a small round woman bustled into the room and Esperanza said, ‘Ah, Binda. Our guests have arrived. Would you prepare them some tea, please? Englishstyle of course.’ She grinned at the visitors, then, saying, ‘I know how fond you people are of your tea, so Freddie has had some shipped out for you, enough to last for a few months at least. We prefer coffee here, but then each to his own.’ Then more discreetly she addressed Maria and Kitty, suggesting, ‘Perhaps you would like to go through to the kitchen with Binda and take your refreshments there?’
Josh looked uncomfortable but Maria was happy to go with Kitty and soon they found themselves in a very splendid kitchen. A large range stood against one wall, and copper pans, which gleamed in the sunshine that poured in through the open back door, were suspended from a thick beam above it.
The black woman smiled at them and gestured towards the large oak table in the centre of the room. ‘You sit down, yes?’ she said pleasantly and although Maria and Kitty would have loved to have a wander around, they did as they were told.
It was whilst they were sitting there that two very lovely, well dressed children charged into the room, stopping dead in their tracks to stare curiously at the visitors.
Binda instantly spoke to them in a language that neither Maria nor Kitty could understand, and the boy, who looked to be about nine or ten years old, stepped forward and solemnly extended his hand.
‘How do you do,’ he said formally. ‘I am Alfonso and this is my sister Rosa.’
With their thick black hair and deep brown eyes, Maria instantly guessed that these must be Esperanza’s children, and she thought that they were both exquisite. The little girl, who hung back shyly behind her brother, looked to be about six or seven and Maria smiled at them. A lump formed in her throat as she thought of her own little sister back at home.
‘I am very pleased to meet you,’ she told them. ‘My name is Maria and this is Kitty.’
‘We knew you were coming,’ Alfonso told her importantly. ‘Papa told us, and Aunt Isabelle and Uncle Josh are here too, aren’t they? But you are not going to be staying here. Mama has had the guesthouse made ready for you.’ His face dropped a little then as he confided, ‘Mama has told us that we must not come troubling you and making a nuisance of ourselves.’
‘Oh, I’m sure you could never be nuisances,’ Maria assured him gravely with a smile in her eyes. ‘And as far as I am concerned, you are welcome to come and see us whenever you choose.’
‘That would be very nice, thank you. But of course we are with our tutor for much of the day doing our lessons. Mr Brady lives in a small dwelling not far from the guesthouse so I am sure you will meet him at some stage. Papa says education is very important. Can you read and write?’
‘Yes, I can,’ Maria told him and he looked mildly surprised as he glanced towards Binda who was busily laying a tea tray while the kettle boiled on the range.
‘Most of our servants cannot write,’ Alfonso confided, then addressing Kitty he asked, ‘Can you?’
Kitty blushed. ‘Just a little bit. Maria here has been teachin’ me on the journey.’
‘Ah, then that is good.’ Alfonso flashed a smile and Kitty’s heart melted. She had a feeling that she would get along with these two just fine, even though the little girl appeared to be much shyer than her brother.
They then spent another half-hour pleasantly drinking tea and eating freshly baked griddle scones until Joshua appeared in the doorway.
After the children had greeted him he told Maria, ‘It seems that you and Isabelle are to stay in the guesthouse along with Robbie McPhee, Uncle’s right-hand man. He’ll make sure that all the heavy jobs are tended to during your stay. You and Kitty are free to take care of Isabelle. Are you happy with that arrangement?’
‘Perfectly,’ Maria assured him, secretly relieved that she would not have to be too close to him. She knew that it would be unwise in the circumstances.
They said goodbye to the children, who were reluctant to let them go, and in no time at all they were in the carriage again heading for the guesthouse.
‘Is it very far?’ Maria enquired as the vehicle slowly rolled along the rough track.
‘About a mile or so, I should say, but don’t worry. Robbie will be there and if you should need us he can be back here for help in no time.’
Maria sat back to enjoy the scenery and soon enough a small guesthouse came into view. It was nowhere near as big as the ranch-house, but charming all the same. Again the main structure was made of wood and it had a verandah at the front. To one side was another building that Maria guessed must be the stables, and beyond that were a number of large outbuildings surrounded by trees. Shelter for the sheep in inclement weather, perhaps?
Isabelle w
as looking tired and drawn by now, and had not uttered so much as a single word since leaving her uncle’s home, so Maria was relieved that they had finally arrived so that she might rest.
Josh helped them all down and together they went into the smaller dwelling, which proved to be surprisingly spacious inside.
‘Nearer to Isabelle’s time, Binda will be coming to stay with you so that she’s on-hand to deliver the baby,’ he informed Maria as he began to carry their luggage inside.
When Maria raised an eyebrow he grinned. ‘Don’t look so worried. I think Binda has delivered more babies than we’ve had hot dinners, Alfonso and Rosa included. Isabelle will be in very safe hands and should she need a doctor, Robbie will ride into town to get one.’
‘Binda is a very unusual name,’ Maria commented, and he nodded.
‘It means “deep water”,’ he explained. Maria thought it was enchanting.
He placed a trunk at the side of the door as Maria looked about at what was to be her home for the next few months. The house was comfortable and cosy. A large settee was placed in front of a wooden fireplace, and animal skins were spread across the floor. The next room was a very serviceable dining room with an oak table and six solid oak chairs placed around it, and the room further on proved to be a very adequate kitchen with everything they would need.
A long corridor led to three bedrooms and a bathroom with a large enamel bath. At one end of the house was a water closet that stood slightly apart from the main building, which Maria was silently pleased about.
‘Eeh, it’s really grand,’ Kitty sighed delightedly as she skipped back along the corridor to look at the bedrooms again. After the cramped conditions she had endured in the steerage quarters aboard ship, the brass bed appeared positively enormous. There were pretty curtains fluttering at the window and the whole place was spotlessly clean.
Josh looked pleased by her reaction, but hastily assured her, ‘If there’s anything else you need, you only have to ask. Esperanza will have it sent straight over to you along with your food supplies, which will be delivered daily together with fresh milk and so on. But now perhaps we’d better get Isabelle to lie down.’ He glanced worriedly at his sister, who was as white as a sheet. Maria instantly took Isabelle’s elbow and steered her towards the best bedroom. The girl went without complaint, too weary to even comment.
As Josh watched them go, his eyebrows drew together in a frown. Isabelle didn’t seem to be herself at all and looked quite unwell. But then he supposed it was to be expected. She was with child, after all, and the long sea voyage from Liverpool had taken its toll on all of them. But now that they were here and with good fresh air and good food inside her, no doubt she would soon be her normal irritating self. Hoping he was right, he went to join Kitty who was joyfully exploring the kitchen.
Chapter Nineteen
It was later that evening when Maria and Kitty first met Robbie McPhee. He breezed into the kitchen with a big smile on his face and Maria knew instantly that they were going to get along. Robbie was a great giant of a man with hands like hams and a bushy beard. His hair, which was on the long side, had a tendency to curl and was bright red, and he had a freckled suntanned face from the many hours he spent outside.
When he spoke it was with a broad Scottish accent as he settled himself at the kitchen table and said, ‘So is there anything to eat going? If I’m goin’ to be stayin’ here with you lassies, I shall expect you to feed me. A grown man needs his tucker!’
Kitty giggled as she rushed away to fetch bread and cheese from the cold shelf, and as Rob watched her go he thought what a canny little lass she was. Her giggle was quite infectious.
Once Kitty had disappeared, he turned his attention to Maria to ask, ‘So do you have everything you need?’
He was thinking what a pretty girl she was although the shapeless dress she was wearing did nothing to enhance her appearance. But then Freddie had told him to expect two pregnant women, so Maria was probably one of them. Robbie had already guessed without being told that Freddie’s niece must be the other one, and a right little tartar she was by all accounts. He hadn’t actually met her yet and Robbie had always been one who liked to form his own opinion of a person.
Now Maria smiled at him as she wiped her hands down the front of her apron and answered, ‘Yes, thank you, we seem to be well supplied with everything. In fact, I’m sure we shall be very comfortable here once we settle in. But was I right in assuming that you would be staying here with us?’
‘Not exactly.’ Robbie smiled at Kitty as she came back into the room and she blushed becomingly. ‘I shall actually be staying in my own place, which is just around the back there.’ He gestured towards the open window. ‘I’m in the process of buildin’ my own cabin, as it happens.’
‘Really?’
He nodded. ‘Aye, I am that, but I still have a long way to go. There’s only three rooms habitable at present but I get by just fine.’
‘And does your wife live there too?’ Maria asked innocently, and when his face darkened she instantly wished that she had kept quiet.
Ignoring the question, he began to carve some slices from the loaf that Kitty had placed on the table while Maria busied herself making him some coffee to go with it. The atmosphere had become tense and she wondered what she could have said that was so wrong. She had only asked him about his wife, assuming that he was bound to have one.
When the coffee was made she poured it into a jug and carried it to the table along with sugar and milk so that Robbie could help himself. Kitty skittered off to fetch him a mug and Maria was amused to see that the girl seemed to be very taken with him. From the corner of her eye Maria glanced at him, trying to assess how old he might be, but it was hard to judge with his heavy beard and his weatherworn skin. He could be anywhere from his early twenties to forty, from what she could see of him – not that it was any of her business, she told herself hastily.
Robbie finished the rest of his meal in silence then rising from the table he told them, ‘I’ll be away to fetch the logs in for you now. You need to keep the range stoked up for cooking. I’ll also see to the cleaning out of the closet each day and do any heavy work that needs doing, but during the day hours I shall be away working around the ranch. I’ll also need to teach you both how to handle a gun and ride.’
‘Whatever would we need a gun for?’ Maria asked, horrified, and he smiled again now.
‘Just in case you get any visits during the day from any stray bears,’ he told her calmly. ‘But don’t look so scared, it isna a regular occurrence. And you need to be on the lookout for spiders too. Most of them are harmless, but some of them can pack a rare old bite. The male Funnel Web is the worst – he’ll rear up at you and attack if he thinks he’s being cornered. He tends to like warm moist conditions, so take care when you visit the dunny, eh? The little devil likes to hide beneath the seat.’
Kitty visibly paled as her hand went to her throat but Robbie hadn’t finished. ‘Be on the look-out fer snakes too, especially of an evening when everywhere is quieter. The three to watch out for are the Taipan, the Brown Snake and the Tiger Snake.’
Seeing how distressed Kitty was getting, Maria quickly changed the subject when she asked, ‘And why do we need to know how to ride?’ She had never been astride a horse in her whole life and had absolutely no inclination to do so.
‘Just in case you should need help here in the day whilst I’m out on the ranch,’ he explained affably. ‘There’s a stables out back with my own and another horse in it. Gentle as a lamb, old Bessie is, so you might enjoy learning to ride her. Handy if you want to go into town too. Hobart is the nearest settlement, and it’s where we go to get any provisions that we can’t grow ourselves. Esperanza shops for clothes there and all, and some of the ranch hands go there of a night for a pint or two. Being able to ride will make you feel less isolated.’
‘I dare say it would,’ Maria agreed, although she still wasn’t at ease with the idea.
‘Right, well, there’s no need to rush things.’ Robbie headed for the door. ‘I dare say you’ll all be wanting to turn in, after your journey. You must be bushed so I’ll get the logs in and then I’ll leave you in peace to bunk down.’
The minute he had left the room, Kitty looked around fearfully as if a spider or a snake might appear at any second. ‘I like the sound o’ the kangaroos an’ the wallabies but I ain’t so keen on the idea o’ the snakes an’ spiders,’ she muttered.
‘Well, I dare say Robbie was only warning us, but I doubt we’ll even see one,’ Maria answered stoutly, praying that she was right. She didn’t much like the sound of them herself, but Kitty was quite spooked enough so she wisely didn’t say so.
Maria stifled a yawn as she flicked the mosquito net aside on Isabelle’s bed and peeped in at her. It had been a long, long day and now she was ready for bed herself – but first she wanted to check that there was nothing that her mistress needed.
‘Are you all right?’ she asked softly as she lifted the candle she was holding high.
The light spilled onto Isabelle’s face and she smiled sleepily. She had been in bed ever since they had arrived, but then Maria supposed this wasn’t a bad thing. The journey had been long and tiresome, and Isabelle was heavily pregnant now. She had roused just once to eat the meal that Maria had carried into her earlier on but now she shook her head.
‘I’m fine, thank you. Go and get some rest.’
‘Are you sure that there’s nothing you need?’
‘No, nothing. Goodnight, Maria.’ Isabelle then turned over and was fast asleep again before the other girl had even had time to answer her.
After carefully dropping the net into place Maria quietly made her way to her own room further along the corridor. The night was warm and balmy and the curtains in the corridor fluttered gently in the breeze. Outside she could hear the night creatures in the forest and she shuddered as she thought of the snakes and the spiders Robbie had warned them about. Through one of the windows she could see the glow of an oil lamp and she guessed that this must be coming from the cabin that Robbie was in the process of constructing. It was nice to think that a man was close by, should they need him. She moved slowly into her room where she slumped exhaustedly on to her bed and slept like a baby till early the next morning.
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