`Charles, what a pleasure it is to meet you. Five years ago we had the honor of selecting you for service with Stonehouse's in Australia. Now we have the satisfaction of seeing you return to England as second in command of the entire company. My congratulations.'
Charles gripped the outstretched hand and shook it firmly. `Thank you for the confidence your firm showed in me Mr Fairweather.'
Fairweather waved the formality aside. `Please Charles, call me Percival.' Fairweather drew a small silver timepiece from his waistcoat and studied it. `Now, it's almost midday. If you're ready to attend to business, may I suggest we take lunch at my club. It will give us the opportunity to discuss informally what has been done so far in relation to the purchase and manning of the ships on the Clyde. And also, I can outline a number of important matters which will require your attention while you are here in England.'
`By all means Percival. After the long voyage I'm anxious to start work right away.'
Fairweather returned the timepiece to his pocket.
`Incidentally, I've made arrangements for you to use the facilities at my club during your stay, including theﾁmember's residence, if you wish.'
`Why thank you,' Charles said gratefully. `That's very kind of you.'
`Good, then let's be off.' Fairweather walked toward the door. `The sooner we get started, the sooner you will be able to return to the Australian sunshine and your lovely wife.' Charles looked surprised. `Do you know Catherine?'
Fairweather took his hat and coat from a coat-rack and opened the office door. `Oh, my word, yes.We had the pleasure of her company many times when she was attending finishing school here in England with my wife's niece Vivian.'
The Imperial Club was an imposing old world structure just off The Strand. The large member's lounge was walled entirely in solid oak, with each panel proudly displaying a magnificently carved coat of arms. The floor was covered from wall to wall by a plum-red carpet and a large number of deep, comfortable looking, brown leather chairs were scattered over it.
Fairweather waved Charles into one of the chairs and sat down opposite him across a small circular table. A steward brought sherry. He poured two glasses then left, leaving the decanter on the table between them.
Fairweather took a sip from his glass and leaned back in his chair. He made a steeple out of his hands and rubbed his fingertips together thoughtfully.
`Charles. We have selected what we think are suitable masters and engineers for the two new vessels, and they are presently on retainer at Greenock on the Clyde, pending you're final agreement on the terms of their engagement.'
`And the vessels Percival, are they ready for delivery?'
`I understand most of the shipbuilders sea-trials have already been carried out. The remainder will have to be undertaken by your own masters and engineers when you arrive in Greenock.'
`And the refrigeration equipment?'
`Working very well—so we are told. But once again you will have to satisfy yourself that the equipment is acceptable before completing the purchase and taking formal delivery of the ships.I have arranged for an engineering firm in Greenock to assist you in that regard.'
`Excellent Percival. Now looking ahead, what about the sale of meat shipments from Queensland, and the banking arrangements for the proceeds?'
`Mr Moser's instructions were quite clear. We have arranged for all shipments to be sold immediately on arrival from Queensland. They will go to the highest bidder at public auction. The funds will be deposited into a special Stonehouse account which Mr Moser said you would establish during your visit here. I will personally administer the account, under strict trust conditions, which will provide for the first disbursements of any funds to be made to Stonehouse's for freight. Second financial priority will, with your approval, be for payment of our agents fees, and lastly, payment is to be made to the meat producers in Queensland. All the necessary documentation to set all this in train has already been drawn, and awaits only your signature to go into effect.'
`You seem to have thought of everything Percival,' Charles said appreciatively. `It looks like things will run very smoothly for me during my visit.'
Percival Fairweather smiled politely. As they rose to go to the dining room he said: `Why thank you Charles. If that is the case, then it would seem we are just doing the job Stonehouse's are entitled to expect of us as their London agent.'
*
During the days that followed, Charles worked long and hard. British registration and insurance of the vessels had to be finalized. Credit facilities had to be arranged with ship's chandlers and a host of other suppliers, including the owners of steamer coaling stations along the Suez Canal shipping route to Australia. In addition, there was the usual multitude of important details requiring attention, when such a large financial outlay as the purchase of ships was being made.
Charles was glad he had taken up Fairweather's offer to stay at the Imperial Club which was central to almost everything in London. But he still found himself pressed for time. In a way, he was glad the passage of time had dimmed the few old friendships he once had in England, making time consuming personal visits unnecessary.
Two weeks passed before Charles was able to see his way clear to go to Scotland, where he expected to spend at least the best part of a month before returning to London. He booked a first class ticket on the next available train, leaving London the following Sunday afternoon. Percival Fairweather insisted Charles spend Saturday at his family home in Belgravia. Charles was happy to accept his offer.
By Saturday morning, the overcast sky which had persisted since Charles arrived in London, had given way to a clear blue sky, and taken the last grey day of March with it. When Percival Fairweather's driver arrived at the Imperial Club at mid-morning, the April sun was quite warm, and Charles chose to ride with the carriage top down.
It was about three miles to Belgravia: along the Strand, down through Whitehall, then Westminster, and on to fashionable Belgravia. Charles had never seen London in such style before, and he wondered if he ever would again.
Charles arrived at Fairweather's prestigious Belgravia mansion in time to take lunch with Fairweather and his wife, a charming grey haired woman who soon made Charles feel completely relaxed and at home. The light meal of delicate sandwiches and thinly sliced fruit cake was served with tea from a silver trolley in the drawing room.
`It's so nice to speak with someone who is actually from Australia, Charles,' Mrs Fairweather said. `I hope you don't mind, but I have invited my niece Vivian to join us for dinner this evening. Her father, my brother Leonard, is Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University.He is also a patron of the Exeter Hall Society—perhaps you may have heard of it?'
`I can't say I have Mrs Fairweather,' Charles said, taking another tiny sandwich from the silver trolley.
'It's an organization of academics, intellectuals, and various reform groups. It champions the causes of the under-privileged and persecuted throughout the British Empire,' Madge Fairweather explained. `Since the death of Vivian's husband in the Sudan some years ago, she has devoted a great deal of her time to the Exeter Hall Society. Her hard work has recently been rewarded.
She has been selected to travel to Australia under the Society's auspices. It's a great honor for her, and I know she is determined to show a good account of herself in Australia, to warrant the confidence that has been placed in her. I'm sure she will have a hundred and one questions to ask you about Queensland.'
Charles smiled politely. `And I will attempt to answer each and every one of them Mrs Fairweather.'
After lunch, Madge Fairweather excused herself. Charles and Percival moved to the library, where they spent the afternoon in comfortable, fireside easy-chairs, discussing a wide range of topics.
Later, Charles went upstairs to dress for dinner. When he returned to the library, he found a young woman in a dark-blue dress in front of the fire-place. She stood with her back towards him. When he entered the room she turned around and
smiled warmly. She was a natural beauty, with a graceful figure, and an open uncomplicated face. She had big brown eyes set wide apart, full lips, and long dark hair which reached down well below her shoulders. Charles took her to be three or four years younger than himself.
`I...' she began.
`Pease excuse me,' Charles said at the same time, `I thought I would find Percival here.'
`Uncle Percy must still be dressing for dinner.' She crossed the room towards him. `I'm Vivian Stokes, you must be Charles.' She held out her hand. `I went to finishing school with your wife Catherine.'
Charles took the outstretched hand in his. It was soft and warm. He shook it very gently and said, `So Percival told me. I must say it certainly is a pleasure to meet a friend of Catherine's so far away from home.'
`I'm afraid I can't pretend that Catherine and I were always friends,' she said cautiously. `But I do know that we tried very hard to be.'
Charles looked into the big brown eyes. He wondered how anyone, if given the chance, could not be friends with such a lovely girl.
At that moment Percival Fairweather appeared at the library door. He was dressed in an immaculate dinner-jacket, complemented by a cummerbund bearing the regimental colors of the Light Brigade.
Vivian smiled and appraised Fairweather. `You look marvelous Uncle Percy, simply marvelous.'
Fairweather patted the regimental sash. `I wasn't always a boring old businessman my dear. I did have my day you know.' He turned to Charles. `Please forgive me, Charles, I see you two have had to introduce yourselves'
Before Charles could speak Vivian said, `It's quite all right Uncle.' She busied herself adjusting Fairweather's tie. `We've managed very well without you.' She stood back and inspected her handiwork. `Yes, that's better. Now, I think we should join Auntie Madge in the drawing room. She sent me here to see where everyone was.'
They moved to the drawing room where Charles and Fairweather took a pre-dinner drink, and the ladies sipped a sweet, fruit punch, while everyone made pleasant conversation.
It was later, in the dining-room, during a superbly prepared and presented seven course meal, that the conversation turned to Australia. Vivian was sitting directly across the table from Charles.
`I understand you are here to take delivery of new vessels for the Stonehouse Shipping Company Charles,' Vivian said. `What kind of ships are they?'
`Thirty five hundred ton steamships with auxiliary sail,' Charles answered with a tinge of pride, `and fitted with refrigeration equipment for the transportation of frozen meat from Queensland to England.'
Vivian looked impressed. `And what other types of vessels does your company have?'
Mainly cargo and passenger steamers operating in coastal waters.'
`Then sail has finally given way to steam in Australia also?'
`Oh no, not entirely,' Charles said quickly. `We still have a number of very useful smaller sailing vessels, mainly schooners and a couple of brigantines.'
Vivian's next question took Charles completely by surprise. `Does the Stonehouse Shipping Company have any ships engaged in the South Seas labor-trade?
Well...,' Charles hesitated for a moment and noticed Fairweather cast his wife a cautioning look. `As a matter of fact we do.'
Madge Fairweather intervened quickly, `Now Vivian,' she said gently. `The Stonehouse Shipping Company and Charles are clients of your father's, and their views on certain matters may well differ from those of the Exeter Hall Society.'
`Oh please forgive me,' Vivian said at once. `It's just that it's so exciting to have first hand information on an issue that we at the Society feel so strongly about.'
`What issue?' Charles asked.
`The ending of the unconscionable South Seas labor- trade,' Vivian replied. `The Exeter Hall Society was instrumental in having the British Government repudiate Queensland's unlawful annexation of New Guinea. Since then, we have pressed, and with some success, for the establishment of Protectorates in all the islands of Melanesia. And we strongly supported Premier Samuel Griffith, both morally and financially, when he campaigned for election in Queensland on a platform of abolition. Unfortunately, the Society now believes the Pacific Islander's Act he introduced, may well be stayed, and the labor-trade will be allowed to continue beyond 1890. That is why I have been asked to go to Queensland, and report first hand, on the situation there.'
Charles noticed Vivian's lovely face took on more color as she spoke. It was clear her heart was in her convictions. `When are you embarking on your voyage to Queensland?' he asked.
`In mid-May aboard the steamer Southern Star. ﾁ
`Does Catherine know you are coming?'ﾁ
`No. I haven't written.'ﾁ
`But you will visit us of course.'
`I expect so.'
Charles knew then, that he would be disappointed if she didn't.
*
Charles arrived in Glasgow late on Monday evening, where he stayed overnight before taking anothertrain for the short journey to Greenock early the next morning. When he arrived at Greenock, he went directly from the railway station to an small, but comfortable inn, where he was shown to a well appointed room overlooking the Firth of Clyde.
Charles wasted no time in sending for the ship's masters and engineers which Fairweather and Fox had selected and conditionally engaged. As he had expected, he found them entirely to his satisfaction, and formalized their terms of engagement without delay.
*
The sign at the entrance to the MacMillan yard read:
SHIPBUILDERS TO THE WORLD SINCE 1720
Stewart MacMillan, the short, stocky owner of the shipyard, proudly showed Charles over both vessels, which were identical in every respect. When Charles asked him if he was satisfied that the ships were ready for delivery, the Scot replied:
`As ready as any we've built over the last hundred and sixty eight years, Mr WorthingtonJones. Have your masters conduct whatever sea-trials you wish, but I can assure you, your vessels are ready to be commissioned. All they require now are worthy names, which they can carry with pride across the oceans of the world.'
*
Just over a month later, Charles stood in the heather on the banks of the Clyde, on a cool, windy May morning. He watched the sister ships SS Catherine and SS Clare each proudly flying the Stonehouse Shipping Company pennant, steam out through white caps toward the open sea, bound for Queensland. The next time he would see them, would be when they steamed up the muddy Brisbane River, half a world away.
Ragged, wind driven, white clouds scudded low over Charles' head as he turned and walked back to the inn. He was glad his visit to his native Britain was almost over. During the past few weeks, he had found himself missing his adopted, sun-drenched land of Australia, more and more with each passing day. Late the next day he would be back in London. Two days after that, he would board a fast passenger steamer, which would put him in Brisbane at least three or four weeks before the new Stonehouse freighters.
Charles was looking forward eagerly to the long voyage back to Queensland. He knew he would enjoy the journey. He had been assured of that, the moment his application for a berth aboard the SS Southern Star carrying Vivian Stokes to Australia, had been accepted.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The prosperity of Jarrah knew no bounds, as the boom in the colony continued to defy economic reality. The yard now employed well over a hundred people, but still could barely keep up with the demand for bricks.
Over six months had passed since Kiri and Sky had vanished and Ben had all but given up hope of ever seeing them again. Ben lived with his anguish every minute of every day. From the very beginning, it had always been not knowing what had happened to them, that had been the hardest thing to cope with.
But with the passage of time, the angry hurt and bewilderment that at first had consumed him, gradually gave way to a brooding sense of loneliness and despair, which hung constantly over his heart and mind. Ben was thankful the demands made by the busy brickyar
d provided some escape from his despondency, by providing an avenue of release for his suppressed emotions, that at times threatened to tear him apart.
Ben stood on the jetty enjoying the midday winter sun. He was watching a river barge laden with bricks maneuver away from the jetty, when he noticed a small craft in mid-stream. As it approached thewharf,he could see it was a spit-and-polish naval launch manned by a dozen or more sailors.
When the launch came alongside, two crewmen jumped smartly onto the jetty with fore and aft lines. They quickly made the vessel fast, then lowered a small gangplank. As Ben walked down the wharf towards the launch, an officer wearing a smart white uniform stepped ashore carrying a long wooden box under his arm.
`Mr Luk,' the officer called out. `What a pleasure it is to see you again.'
Ben smiled as he recognized the fair-haired, blue-eyed visitor. `Lieutenant Lord Clive Waverley, the pleasure is entirely mine. Tell me, what brings the Navy here to Jarrah today?' Clive Waverley clasped Ben's hand and grinned. `It's Captain Waverley now Ben. But
never mind that. Today I'm just a fellow making a personal visit to an old friend—the Navy
has merely provided the means.'
The two men made their way up to the house. Half way up the hill, Waverley stopped and
looked around him. `I see you have built something far bigger and better from the pile of
ashes we stood in the last time I was here. It would seem the world is at last treating you more
kindly Ben.'
`Things are rarely as they appear in this life my friend,' Ben said solemnly, and as they
continued on toward the house he told Waverly of Kiri's disappearance. Waverley listened to
Ben's story in dismay, clearly saddened by the news, and the deep grief it caused his friend. Mrs Llewellyn was pleased to have such a special guest at Jarrah and at once set about
preparing a somewhat more elaborate lunch than she would otherwise have served. Clive Waverley laid the long wooden box he had carried up from the launch, on the
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