‘We’re partners, ain’t we? We share. Good things and bad. Ain’t that right?’
‘I suppose so …’
‘Then half the land be thine. O’ course, the paper’s all in my name, you still bein’ in the Corps. But I’ll look after thee, never fear.’ Thornton watched him. ‘If tha wants our association to go on, o’ course.’
Jonathan frowned. ‘Why should it not?’
‘Seeing as ’ow tha’s a bit fastidious, like.’
Wanting time to think, Jonathan walked to the window and stared out not so much at the river as at a vision of the future that only he could see.
Two hundred and sixty acres. Enough to set him on the road to the empire he’d always dreamt of. Jones was the price. But was it really such a high price? It wasn’t as though he knew for certain what Thornton had in his mind. As the ex-convict had said, it was best not to ask too many questions. He wouldn’t be directly involved and for a certainty he owed the Tremains nothing.
He returned to his seat and stared at Thornton. ‘No one must know.’
A slow shake of the narrow head. ‘It’s my neck too.’
Jonathan smiled and rang the bell for the maid. ‘What you arrange with Orville Jones is your affair. So long as it’s profitable.’
There was a knock on the door.
‘Come in,’ Jonathan barked.
The door opened. Rosina stood there. ‘You called, sir?’
‘Fetch me a bottle of madeira,’ Jonathan ordered. ‘The new stock. And two glasses.’ When she was gone he said, ‘I had it sent over in the last stores ship. It’s not too cloying on the palate. I think you’ll like it.’
Thornton neither knew nor cared about the quality of madeira wine but said nothing. If Jonathan wanted to play his society games let him. All the same, he thought, I’d best be pinning thee to this business. I’ll not have tha pretending afterwards it were all a misunderstanding.
‘Tha understands what we’re talking about, I take it?’
‘I just told you to make the arrangements,’ Jonathan said sharply.
‘So tha did, lad. But arrangements to do what? That’s the question. If we send Jones south, there’s a good chance neither Tremain nor that ship o’ his be comin’ back. I want to hear tha say tha agrees to that. Afore I gives Jones his orders, like.’
‘Goddammit it all to hell!’ So even the pretence of ignorance was to be denied him. So be it. Jonathan set his teeth. ‘I agree we give Jones authority to take Orion south to find Nantucket. What he does when he finds her is up to him.’
Thornton watched him. ‘And to ’er crew.’
‘And to her crew.’ Jonathan stuck his face into Thornton’s own. ‘Is that clear enough for you?’
Unruffled, the merchant leant back in his chair, stretching until it creaked beneath him. ‘No need to get upset, lad. Jus’ checkin’, like.’
There was the faintest of sounds from behind the closed door. Both men looked up, faces alert, bodies frozen. In an instant Thornton was on his feet and across the room. He threw the door open. Rosina stood there, a tray with bottle and glasses in her hands.
Thornton put his hand on the girl’s wrist and drew her almost gently into the room. He kicked the door shut behind her. ‘What be tha up to, lass?’ His voice was deathly quiet.
Rosina’s face was white with terror. ‘Nuthin, sir. Honest.’ Panicking, she appealed to Jonathan. ‘I jes brung the wine, sir, like you said. I don’ know nuthin else!’
‘Put the tray over there,’ he told her sharply, ‘before you drop it.’
She did so.
‘Come here,’ Jonathan said.
She obeyed him, trembling.
‘How long were you outside the door?’
‘I just arrived, sir,’ she wailed, tears beginning.
Jonathan thought she was probably telling the truth. Even if she had overheard them she was too stupid to make anything of it. ‘Very well, Rosina,’ he said, ‘you may go.’
‘Just a minute.’ Thornton’s eyes were on the girl. ‘Look at me,’ he instructed. She did so, petrified. ‘Tha knows who I am?’
She gulped. ‘Yessir.’
‘Then tha knows what happens to them as crosses me.’ His eyes remained fixed on hers as he waited for her answer.
‘Yessir,’ she whispered.
He nodded slowly. ‘Keep it in mind, tha’ll not go far wrong.’
She scuttled out, pulling the door shut behind her.
Thornton looked at Jonathan questioningly. ‘What does tha reckon?’
‘I don’t think she heard anything.’
‘We needs to be sure.’
‘Even if she did hear it’s her word against ours. Who will believe her? Besides, there’s nothing we can do about it, is there?’
Thornton bared his teeth. ‘I can do plenty, believe me. Give her to me, I’ll make sure she says nowt.’
Jonathan thought of Elizabeth’s reaction to such an idea. ‘That’s out of the question.’
Thornton studied him through narrowed eyes. ‘It’s thy neck, too, remember.’
Jonathan forced a laugh. ‘I’m not likely to forget, I assure you.’
‘Make sure tha don’t.’
After Thornton had left Jonathan thought more about what had happened and eventually sent for Rosina again.
Tearful but defiant, she still denied having overheard anything of the conversation.
‘Mr Thornton suggested I should send you to work for him,’ Jonathan said casually.
He was gratified by the look of terror with which she greeted the suggestion. ‘Don’ do that, sir, for Gawd’s sake,’ she whispered, ‘I didn’ hear nuthin, honest.’
‘We’ll say no more about it, then.’ He watched her over the rim of his glass as he drank the last of his madeira. ‘Of course, if I hear any rumours I’ll know where they came from, won’t I?’
He let her go, satisfied he had frightened her enough to ensure she kept her mouth shut, and joined Elizabeth in her room overlooking the river.
‘Have you got rid of him?’ she asked.
He heard disapproval in her voice and reacted to it at once. ‘He’s an astute businessman. We’re lucky to have him on our side.’
She shook her head. ‘No,’ she said, ‘he is an evil man. I feel it more and more every time I see him. Greed is like a lust feeding on him. We shall get nothing but sorrow, associating with a man like Ira Thornton.’
He raised his eyebrows. Elizabeth was a lot more outspoken than most wives but even she seldom expressed herself so forcibly.
‘My dear, with the greatest of respect, that is nonsense.’
‘What did he want?’ she asked.
‘Business.’
‘What sort of business?’
He did not answer.
‘I see,’ she said bitterly. ‘That sort of business.’
‘And what is that supposed to mean?’
‘Business that is too secret or shameful to discuss with your wife.’
He frowned. ‘Are you ashamed of me?’
She put her hand on his arm. ‘I never have been, my dear. Never. But since you got involved with that man –’
‘You think you may be?’
She did not answer: which was answer enough.
‘I am trying to build up a fortune,’ he said angrily. ‘I will not be shackled by your petty scruples.’
‘I don’t think they are petty,’ she told him, ‘but it’s not scruples I am most concerned about.’
‘What, then?’
Elizabeth knew she was on dangerous ground. ‘My dear,’ she said gently, feeling her way, ‘surely you can see that too close an association with a man like Ira Thornton can only reflect on us?’
The small green eyes narrowed. ‘In what way?’
‘Society thinks little of a man who is reputed to own most of the brothels in the colony.’
She could not say it but what she meant was that society, which had had a problem with Jonathan from the first, would never accept him whil
e he remained associated with Ira Thornton, ex-convict and whoremaster.
Jonathan frowned. ‘We have nothing to do with that side of his business.’
‘People don’t know that,’ she pointed out. ‘Besides, it is the man rather than the business that is damaging to us.’
‘I am using him as long as necessary,’ Jonathan said. ‘When I feel we can manage without him I shall of course drop him.’
She did not believe him. ‘And today’s business?’ she prompted gently.
Jonathan slammed his right fist into the open palm of his left hand. ‘I will not be interrogated like this!’
His sudden rage shocked her. They had always worked out their few disagreements by discussion; it was the first time she could remember that he had shouted at her in such a way. It reinforced her concern – whatever it was Jonathan had been discussing with Thornton must be troubling him enormously for him to react like this – but she knew that for the moment there was no point in saying more. She had made her protest, that would have to be enough. ‘Whatever you say, my dear,’ she said.
He left her, then, thankful she knew nothing of their plans with Orville Jones.
*
A few days later military duties took Jonathan northwards to the Hawkesbury River.
‘Mr Hagwood expects to be away for two weeks,’ Elizabeth told Rosina. ‘I think I may take the opportunity of taking the children to visit friends in Sydney. Will you be able to manage for a few days by yourself?’
She was examining one of her dresses as she spoke – she saw with displeasure that a thread had pulled on the bodice – and when she received no reply looked up in time to surprise a look of terror on Rosina’s face. ‘Why, girl, whatever is the matter?’
‘Please don’t leave me ’ere, mum.’
Elizabeth laughed, puzzled. ‘Of course you must stay. We must have someone to look after the house while I’m away.’ She wondered if it was the responsibility that was frightening her. ‘You won’t be alone. The other servants will be here to help you if you need them.’
‘They won’t be no good.’
Elizabeth saw that Rosina was nearly in tears. She frowned, perplexed. ‘Come here,’ she said gently. ‘Tell me what’s troubling you.’
Rosina did not move, the scared look still on her face.
Elizabeth was not in the habit of having her servants disobey her. ‘Come here at once,’ she said more sharply.
Rosina dragged herself over, head hanging, expression woebegone.
‘Now, explain what is frightening you.’
Silence.
‘Rosina …’
‘Oh mum,’ the girl wailed. ‘’e told me I wasn’t to say nuthin.’
‘He? Who said it?’
‘Mr ’agwood, mum. ’e said if I spoke a word to anyone he’d send me to that Thornton.’
Momentarily Elizabeth was shocked; then she told herself it was nonsense. Jonathan would never have said such a thing. Rosina had misunderstood him, that was all.
‘Mr Hagwood never meant you shouldn’t tell me,’ she said. Rosina looked doubtful but Elizabeth managed somehow to hide her impatience. ‘How can I help you if I don’t know what the trouble is?’
For a moment Rosina still said nothing, then the dam broke. ‘Mr ’agwood told me to bring them some wine, mum. When I got back ’im and that Thornton was talking. I never meant to ’ear what they was sayin’.’ Tears in earnest, now. ‘I never, mum –’
‘Tell me what you think you heard.’
‘They was talking about Mr Tremain, mum.’
‘Which one? The captain?’
Rosina’s lank hair swung as she shook her head. ‘The one what’s gone sealin’.’
‘What about him?’
‘They said they was … goin’ to send Captain Jones after ’im. They said … Mr Tremain mightn’t be comin’ back.’
‘What?’ It was worse than anything she had imagined. Rosina has misunderstood what they said, Elizabeth told herself again. For the sake of her sanity she hung on to that thought: Rosina has misunderstood. They stared at each other. ‘You must have misheard them,’ she said.
Rosina looked away. ‘If you say so, mum.’
‘Mr Hagwood would never say such a thing. You hear me? Never!’ Elizabeth’s voice was shrill, for all her efforts. I must keep control, she told herself. ‘What exactly did Mr Hagwood say to you?’
‘’e didn’t say nuthin, mum, not then. It was Mr Thornton what spoke to me.’
‘Tell me what he said.’ She is making it up, Elizabeth told herself. For some reason she is trying to cause trouble. ‘Tell me!’
She watched Rosina’s face, seeing her remember what had happened.
‘’e asked if I knew who ’e was. I said yes and ’e said I must know what ’appened to them as got on the wrong side of ’im.’
‘And?’
‘Mr ’agwood told me to go. But afterwards ’e spoke to me again.’
‘Who did?’
‘Mr ’agwood, mum. Said ’e was thinkin’ o’ sendin’ me to work for Mr Thornton.’ Renewed wails. ‘I don’ wanner go, mum –’
‘Be silent.’ Elizabeth stemmed the flow. ‘Nobody is sending you anywhere. You were right to tell me, Rosina. But not a word to anyone else.’
‘Oh no, mum,’ Rosina said hastily, ‘not a word.’
‘Because if you did I might be unable to protect you from Mr Thornton. You understand me?’
After Rosina had left her Elizabeth sat and looked out of the window, trying to come to grips with what she had learned. Fully in control now, she considered calmly what she must do.
She had known Rosina for almost three years. Not once had she caught her out in an important lie. There was no reason for her to have made up this story even if she had the imagination to do so. Could the girl have misunderstood what she had heard? Elizabeth did not think so. Rosina’s description of what had happened had been too detailed for that. It also explained why Jonathan had flown into such a rage when Elizabeth had questioned him about his business with Thornton.
Thornton must have trapped him into it, Elizabeth thought. She had always resented the influence the ex-convict had over Jonathan, fearing the social damage the association might cause, but for the sake of domestic peace had done nothing about it. What she had heard today, though, went far beyond social considerations. I cannot ignore it, she thought. If Jonathan had been there she would have spoken to him, however angry it might have made him, but Jonathan was out of reach. If she were going to do anything it would have to be on her own initiative.
*
Gough Tremain was in his office at Corps Headquarters in Sydney when an orderly came to tell him that Mrs Hagwood was waiting to see him.
He stood as the man brought Elizabeth to him. ‘My dear life, Elizabeth, this is a pleasant surprise.’ He grinned, at ease with her as with all women. ‘What would that husband of yours say if he knew we were meeting like this, eh?’
She did not return his smile. ‘Gough,’ she said, ‘forgive me coming here but I didn’t know who else to turn to. I need your advice. Urgently.’
His expression changed. He indicated a chair. ‘Tell me what’s the problem.’
‘It may not be a problem at all. Just a bit of tattletale I picked up from my maid.’ She laughed unconvincingly. ‘I’m probably wasting your time.’
‘Tell me, anyway.’
She did so, baldly, as she had heard it from Rosina. When she had finished she looked at Gough to see his reaction but his swarthy face in its frame of dark hair revealed nothing.
‘Do you believe it, Elizabeth?’
His voice was surprisingly gentle. She saw he understood how difficult it had been for her to come to him and say what she had: the realisation made her so grateful she had to fight back her tears. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I do.’
He nodded briefly. ‘So do I.’ He raised his voice. ‘Orderly!’
The man came running. ‘Sir?’
‘Give the duty
sergeant my compliments and ask him if Orion’s still in harbour. If she is, make sure she doesn’t leave until I’ve spoken to her master. If she’s gone already, ask him where she’s headed. And hurry, man!’
They sat facing each other across the desk, Gough’s big fingers drumming restlessly on its scarred surface, until the man returned.
‘Well?’
‘Sergeant English says Orion left harbour three hours ago, sir.’
‘Headed where?’
‘Canton.’
‘Which may or may not be the truth.’ Gough pondered. ‘Get back to your post, lad. Elizabeth, you’ll have to excuse me. I have a call to make.’
‘Not on the governor?’
Gough looked at her, seeing how much it had cost her to ask the question. ‘No, Elizabeth. Not the governor. Our friend Ira Thornton.’
‘Why Thornton? Surely he’ll deny any knowledge of this?’
‘Of course he’ll deny it. But he is the only man with the authority to recall Orion now she’s sailed.’
‘Do you think he will?’
‘If I frighten him enough.’
‘I don’t think that Thornton is easily frightened,’ she said dubiously.
Gough grinned at her for the first time since she had told him the story and she saw how strong and ruthless he was. ‘I’m good at frightening people. You can wait here for me,’ he said, ‘or if you can tell me where I can get hold of you –’
‘There’ll be no need for that. I’m coming with you.’
‘If you do that there’s no way I can keep it from Jonathan,’ he warned.
Her chin lifted. ‘I do not wish it kept from Jonathan.’
He would have liked to tell her how much he admired her courage but there was no time for pleasantries. ‘Shall we go, then?’
*
They met with Thornton in his office at the wharf. Sunlight kindled bright colours in the Turkey rugs that lay on the floor and the air smelt pleasantly of spices. If the merchant was displeased to see them his hatchet face gave no sign of it.
‘Mrs ’agwood, Captain Tremain, what a pleasure. Sit you down. Can I offer you chocolate? No?’ He sat back in his chair and tapped his teeth with a quill pen as he looked from one of them to the other. ‘What can I do for you then?’
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