The only thing that had to be left to chance was the weather. But now with the early promise of a perfect day, Catherine was sure the whole affair would be a resounding success.
Catherine turned and left the battlements. She slipped silently through the tower apartment, careful not to wake Charles who still lay sleeping in his bed. Later in the morning, she would return with a small select group of friends, including Percival Fairweather who had returned to Castlecraig the previous day, and enjoy a bird's eye view of the Australian Squadron as it steamed up the Brisbane River.
*
Several miles upstream at Jarrah, Kiri had also watched the dawn breaking, after spending the entire night without sleep, and with an emptiness inside her which had left her sick to the stomach.
Mrs Llewellyn found her at first light sitting huddled in a blanket in Ben's favorite chair on the veranda, looking down over the river. When Mrs Llewellyn laid down a pot of steaming tea on the table beside her, Kiri looked up into the Welshwoman's tearful red eyes, and knew she too had found no sleep during the long night.
Kiri reached out and took Mrs Llewellyn by the hand. `Oh, Mrs Llewellyn,' she said despondently, `I have endured a good deal of pain and suffering since I was first taken from Kiriwina, but nothing compares to the anguish which has torn at my heart every minute of this terrible night.' Kiri rose to her feet. `But just before dawn I made a decision. When the carriage comes this morning, I will give up Sky to the Stonehouse family'
Kiri's words brought a flood of tears to Mrs Llewellyn's tired eyes, `But, Miss Kiri, you can't...'
`What else can I do, Mrs Llewellyn?'
`Surely Mr Luk will return soon, and...'
`And find himself dispossessed of his property, with his loved ones locked away in some pauper's prison.'
`It would not be for ever, Miss Kiri.'
`It would be if Ben Luk never came back.' Kiri wiped away a tear which rolled down her cheek, `and I have had to consider that possibility. What if something has happened to him out there in the wilderness. No, Mrs Llewellyn, without knowing if he is alive or dead, I must do what is best for everyone in the long run. I know it is what Ben Luk would want me to do.'
`But you can't trust Silas Moser, Miss Kiri. How can you know for certain he will do as he says?'
`I can't, Mrs Llewellyn. The only thing I know for certain is that if he wants to take Sky from me, and is prepared to give clear title to Jarrah in return, he is not doing it out of the goodness of his heart. There is more here than meets the eye, and I must do what I can to see that he does not trick us.'
`But what can you do, Miss Kiri?'
`I will not let Sky go to Castlecraig alone. I will go with him to see the Stonehouse woman take him in with my own eyes. And I will need a witness to all this. Someone whose word is beyond reproach.'
`But who, Miss Kiri?'
`I will take Sky to Graceville, and tell Father Bray what is happening, and ask him to accompany us to Castlecraig. He is a good man. A man of God. Remember it was he who brought the message to Ben from the Bishop of Brisbane and the Englishwoman, when Sky and I were on Kiriwina '
When Kiri had finished her tea she rose abruptly. She took a deep breath and said: `Please excuse me, Mrs Llewellyn, but I must go upstairs now, and somehow find the strength to explain what is happening to my son.'
*
The sun was high in the sky when the thunder of shore batteries at Fort Lytton announced the arrival of the Australian Squadron at the mouth of the Brisbane River. A large number of small boats laden with well-wishers scudded about the waterway as the warships, with their crews lining the foredecks, made their way upstream to moorings in the Town Reach.
Commodore Lord Clive Waverley, already in full dress uniform, stood in the bright sunlight on the bridge of HMS Katoomba as she led the squadron down though the Hamilton Reach. Ben stood beside him, looking fit, well, and immaculate, in a new black suit of clothes bought for him by one of Waverley's officers just before the ship departed Cooktown.
Ben watched as Waverley's attention was drawn to a magnificent limestone house perched high on a hill off the starboard side of the ship. `That is Castlecraig, Ben said solemnly, 'the home of the Stonehouse family. It is where your reception is being held today.'
`Glasses, please.' Waverley held out his hand. An officer wearing the uniform of a captain of the Royal marines, promptly passed Waverley a pair of binoculars. Waverley trained them on the house on the hill. He grinned as he focused the lens on the battlements of the tower.
`It would seem my officers will not be disappointed today, Ben. Already there are a lot of people up there and most of them appear to be young ladies.' The levity disappeared from Waverley's face. He turned and handed the glasses back to the marine officer.
`Captain.'
`Sir.'
`Mr Luk has urgent business to attend to as soon as we take up our mooring in the Town Reach. The moment we arrive, I want you to take the ship's launch and a detachment of marines, and escort Mr Luk to his home and anywhere else his urgent business may require him to go.'
`Yes, sir.'
`And Captain. You will follow any instructions Mr Luk may give you as if they were my own commands. Is that absolutely clear?'
*
Silas Moser's carriage arrived at Jarrah at exactly twelve o'clock. Mrs Llewellyn showed Moser and Hiscock to the drawing room. Moser walked slowly, and he appeared to be in some pain from the wound inflicted by Sky the day before.
Kiri and Father Bray were sitting at each end of a long divan when the visitors entered the room. Moser and Hiscock looked surprised to see the clergyman.
`Who may you be, sir?' Hiscock asked.
Father Bray rose to his feet. `I am Father Bray. Mrs Luk has told me she has decided to give custody of her son to Mrs Stonehouse, but in the absence of her husband, she has requested my presence here today to witness the exchange of certain documents.'
Silas Moser smirked. `And how long have members of the clergy been acting as intermediaries in private legal matters, Father?'
The grey haired Father Bray was not to be drawn. He clasped his frail hands in front of his chest and smiled generously. `Oh, since time immemorial I suppose, Mr Moser, whenever the disadvantaged and dispossessed have come to us in their hour of need.'
Moser had no rebuttal. He turned to Hiscock and nodded his head.
Hiscock opened his leather satchel and took out a sheaf of documents. He handed them to Father Bray one by one. Here is the unendorsed title-deed to this property... and Mr Luk's original promissory note for an unspecified amount... and his assignment of the brickyards book debts.'
Father Bray examined each document carefully then said, `These documents appear to be entirely in order, Mrs Luk.'
Hiscock produced another paper. `And this document gives legal custody of the boy to Mrs Stonehouse. Please have Mrs Luk sign it and we will be on our way with the lad immediately.'
`Mrs Luk will only sign when we personally see her son taken into the Stonehouse family home.'
`That's quite out of the question' Moser snapped. `Mrs Stonehouse does not enjoy good health. She is under strict doctor's orders not to allow herself to become excited in any way. Under the circumstances, any personal contact with Mrs Luk could well become highly emotional and distressing, and be extremely detrimental to her well-being.'
`I have no wish to speak with Mrs Stonehouse,' Kiri interjected quickly, `But I insist that we see my son enter the Stonehouse family home with our own eyes.'
Moser considered the demand for a moment. `Very well,' he said, `but you must both promise to respect Mrs Stonehouse's delicate condition, and not attempt any contact whatsoever. Now please fetch the boy. We must hurry. There is an important social function being held at Castlecraig today.'
`Yes, so I've heard,' Father Bray said without enthusiasm, `I understand the Bishop himself will be in attendance.'
`Then you will appreciate, Father, that I would like Mrs Stonehouse
to receive the boy before the affair gets into full swing.'
*
It had been years since Castlecraig had been the scene of so much activity. Catherine had taken absolute charge in the early hours of the morning. Since that time, she had the kitchen and domestic staff running in all directions, putting the final touches on the preparation of food and refreshments, and the provision of services for her list of some two hundred guests.
She had the reception planned down to the very last detail, and was so pleased she had been blessed with such a glorious day. Soon the guests would begin arriving. Earlier in the day she had decided that with the temperature in the low seventies, quite pleasant for the middle of winter, she would have the guests congregate in and around the marquee, where light refreshments would be served.
Later on in the afternoon, when His Excellency Sir Arthur Hunter Palmer, the Governor of Queensland, arrived with Commodore Lord Waverley and his officers, after inspecting the squadron in the Town Reach, she would have the guests move into the house, and form a reception line in Castlecraig's huge hall. Afterwards, more food, light refreshments, and also wine and spirits would be served on the terrace.
Catherine made one more quick round of the house and the marquee on the lawn to be sure everything was in readiness. Satisfied everything was to her liking, she made her way to the house to freshen up before the guests began to arrive. As she approached the house she saw her mother standing just outside the front door with Percival Fairweather. Fairweather was talking in earnest to Clare, while her mother appeared to be anxiously looking down the driveway toward the main gate.
'Mother, have you seen Charles?' Catherine asked as she brushed past them. ' I will need him very shortly. The guests will be arriving soon.'
`He's up in the tower, packing,' Clare said without taking her eyes off the driveway. `But don't worry Catherine. He said he wouldn't leave until after your reception.'
Catherine stopped dead in her tracks. `What on earth are you talking about, Mother?'
`He's leaving—going to England he says.'
Catherine looked at Fairweather suspiciously. `Are you sending him to England, Percival?'
Fairweather shook his head, but said nothing.
Catherine turned to her mother again. `Then what is happening Mother?Charles has said nothing to me of this.'
`He told me he had tried to speak with you several times Catherine,' Clare said icily. `Just as I have for the past few days. We both had things to tell you, very important things, but you simply haven't had the time to listen to anyone.'
`Oh for heaven's sake Mother, don't start now. Not today of all days.' Catherine began to hurry away then turned back and said. `Look, I promise to talk with you and Charles after the reception.'
`Yes, Catherine.' Clare seemed disinterested and continued looking down the driveway.
`What is it, Mother? Are you expecting someone special?'
`Yes.'
`Who?'
`Someone I have wanted to talk to you about. Do you have the time now?'
Catherine sighed in exasperation. `No, Mother. I do not.'
'Then it will just have to be a surprise, won't it?'
*
Large crowds of onlookers lined the river-banks when the Australian Squadron steamed into the Town Reach. After a considerable amount of skilful maneuvering all seven warships, their powerful engines now silent, lay bow on to the incoming tide, awaiting inspection by the Governor of Queensland.
Almost immediately, a launch was lowered from the Katoomba and a party of four Royal Marines clambered down into it, taking Ben's saddle, carbine, stockwhip, and gold-filled saddle-bags with them. As soon as their captain and Ben were aboard, the launch quickly moved off and headed directly for the wharf at the Custom's House.
The moment the launch came alongside, Ben leapt ashore and hurried off to the offices of Fagel, Finch and Wutherspoon on Eagle Street, leaving the marine captain idly pacing the Custom's House wharf. When he returned, over an hour later, he was beside himself with anger.
`Captain,' Ben said as he jumped aboard the launch. `We must head upstream at once. I have just wasted an hour waiting to see a man, only to be told he left his office earlier in the day to execute papers at my property at Graceville.'
Nearly another hour elapsed before the launch reached the jetty at Jarrah, Ben jumped from the launch quickly and ran up the hill to the house as fast as he could, ignoring the pain the exertion brought to his still tender shoulder. He bounded onto the veranda and burst through the front door.
`Kiri... Kiri,' Ben called out as he rushed from room to room. When there was no response and he found each room empty, Ben called out her name louder and louder. Finally he flung open the kitchen door and found Mrs Llewellyn and Christine clinging to each other inside, their faces streaming with tears.
Minutes later, Ben sat grim-faced in the bow of the launch. He held his carbine in one hand and his stockwhip in the other. He had left two marines with Mrs Llewellyn and Christine at Jarrah, with instructions to allow no-one into the house while he was away. The other two marines and their captain were with him in the launch as it powered back down the river at full speed on its way to Castlecraig.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Silas Moser's carriage made slow progress towards Castlecraig. Even several months after the great flood, many of the capital's roads were still badly in need of repair, often making travel by carriage extremely slow. Today, the huge crowds which had turned out to see the Australian Squadron only made the situation worse.
Catherine was hovering around the large crowd at the marquee, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Governor when she saw Silas Moser's carriage arrive in the driveway with its blinds drawn. Like the rest of the milling crowd, when she realized it was not part of the Governor's retinue, she resumed socializing among the guests. She didn't even notice as the carriage approached the front door of the house that her mother was once again standing in the entrance.
When the carriage came to a stop Moser got out immediately with Sky, and his driver was quick to move the carriage away from the front door toward an area set aside for the carriages of the guests.
Moser took Sky by the hand. He looked immaculate in a smart navy blue suit, polished back shoes, and white ruffled shirt. When Sky drew close to Clare, she was taken aback by a stunning familiarity in his strong young face. When his dark moist eyes looked up at her she was almost overwhelmed.
`Oh, Silas,' she gasped, `he's the image of Alexander.' She held out her hand to Sky. He took it.
`I was beginning to think you weren't coming young man,' she said happily.
Sky smiled awkwardly.
Clare turned quickly to Jenkins, `Master Skye and I will be going directly upstairs to my rooms to get acquainted. Please see to it we are not disturbed.' She turned back to Moser. `Thank you, Silas.You will be staying of course. His Excellency is expected at any moment.'
Moser shook his head. `No, I reallymust be going, Clare. I take it you have spoken to Mr Fairweather.'
`Yes, I did, just a little earlier on,' Clare said, and hurried off with Sky across the hall to the staircase.
As Moser stepped out of the house, there was a loud murmur from the crowd on the lawn when the Governor's carriage appeared in the driveway, followed by a number of other official vehicles. Moser headed quickly for his carriage. In his haste to get to his carriage he almost collided with Catherine who was hurrying into the house to organize the Governor's reception line.
`Where are you going, Silas?'
`I was just leaving.'
`Oh no, Silas. I will not allow you to insult the Governor by leaving just as he arrives. You must join everyone else in the reception line and pay your respects.'
As Moser and Catherine spoke, Hiscock took his finger away from the carriage blind, closing the small opening through which he had allowed Kiri and Father Bray to watch Clare Stonehouse take custody of Sky. But when he heard the clatter of the line of car
riages in the Governor's party, he opened it again.
The first of the carriages was open, and Kiri saw what she knew must be the Governor of Queensland and his lady. Facing them sat a uniformed naval officer. As the carriage drew closer, Kiri's heart raced when she recognized the officer as Lord Clive Waverley. Then Hiscock closed the small opening in the blind again, and the tense group in Moser's carriage just sat in silence, and in near darkness, and waited.
Hiscock was anxious for Moser to return. From time to time he opened the carriage blind just enough to see what was going on outside. The front lawn was now deserted, except for a few household staff who had come out to tidy up the marquee when the guests had gone inside the house.
Hiscock was peering out again when his attention was drawn to a group of men moving quickly up the driveway on foot. When he opened the blind a little wider, Kiri saw them also. As the men neared the house, she could see they were uniformed soldiers, except a big man dressed in black who was leading them. Suddenly, Kiri's heart jumped to her mouth. The big man in black was Ben.
Kiri moved so quickly, she was out of the carriage before anyone could stop her. In a few moments she had dodged her way around the cluster of parked carriages, and was running full pelt over the lawn with Silas Moser's driver hard on her heels.
`Ben Luk! Ben Luk!' Kiri screamed out Ben's name as she ran, laughing and crying at the same time.
As Kiri neared Ben and the marines, Moser's driver was almost upon her. Ben moved swiftly. He stepped aside just as Kiri reached him, then lunged forward and brought the butt of his carbine up sharply under the driver's chin. There was a loud crack and the driver dropped to the ground, his jaw broken, and his face covered in blood.
Kiri threw her arms around Ben's neck and clung desperately to him. Ben held her tightly for a fewmoments then released her and held her away from him so he could look into her eyes.
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