Mahina
Page 14
Still, beggars can’t be choosers, Damon thought.
*~*~*~*
CHAPTER 27 - THURSDAY ISLAND 1882
John and Robert Jennings stood in the drawing room, looking through the window down at the harbour. Eight schooners had anchored near Jennings’ old luggers, taking nearly six months for the finance to be approved; the schooners located and refitted; and for the government to allocate a licence for each vessel. Davis had kept them updated on the progress, reassuring them that all was on track. All the time, Jennings’ financial resources were strained like a piano string waiting to snap.
It was agreed that John would skipper one of the vessels. John had two other friends he’d met while travelling aboard the merchant ship who were competent masters, capable and willing to skipper two more of the schooners and were also willing to dive. Jennings himself would take the last vessel.
An instructor had been brought up from Brisbane with the vessels to demonstrate the new equipment and its safe operation. The instructor would show them how to suit up correctly and how to moderate the air pressure within the suit.
“The demonstration is scheduled for the morning,” Jennings said, turning from the window to face his son.
*~*~*~*
Elizabeth didn’t know what to make of this new intruder into her visits with Aunty. She had set off from home one morning on her usual path around the back of the island with a head full of questions for Aunty and suddenly, he was there. The appearance of the man had shocked Elizabeth and she forgot her questions. His silly sense of humour had seemingly kept Merinda and Aunty amused, but she couldn’t warm to him. Philip... she didn’t like Patch as a name, was handsome enough, but she just was not interested. She had enough trouble with the continuous stares of Davis, without another litigious male to contend with and right in her refuge, too.
Merinda had asked what she thought of Patch. Elizabeth’s frown was deep enough to answer Merinda’s question and she’d let the subject go.
*~*~*~*
Elaine walked quietly into the drawing room. The two men didn’t notice her enter while they were staring down at the vessels, their backs to the drawing room door. She had heard Robert’s comment to their son and her question startled them both.
“What demonstration, Robert?” she demanded.
Jennings spun around at the sound of her voice. He couldn’t keep it from the woman he loved any longer and he didn’t want to. John excused himself and closed the drawing room doors on his way out, as Elaine sat next to Robert on the chaise lounge. Jennings spent the next thirty minutes outlining the whole deal, not leaving anything out. Elaine’s face became flushed and he could see the burden pushing her slender shoulders down.
She looked into Jennings’ tired eyes. “Are you going to be involved with diving too, Robert?” Elaine worried.
“This new technique is relatively complex and requires some knowledge of mechanical apparatus. The new act that came in last year requires the diver to be licensed and there are penalties for any serious injuries. Any time a diver decides to move on, it has to be registered with the customs office and operations will stop until the government adjusts its records in Brisbane. Similarly, if there is a death or serious accident, we could have to suspend operations while the customs officers investigate. That could take months while that happens.”
“And you have conscripted John into this venture, too,” her voice quavered.
“I need people I can trust, otherwise we will lose everything,” Jennings replied, his voice flat.
“Trust?!... What of Davis? You met this man only a few months ago. How do you know he is not planning your demise? You entrusted our entire future on someone we do not know and you could not speak of any of this to me... your wife?” Elaine rebuked.
“I am sorry, Elaine. My intentions were honourable, only to keep from burdening the ones I love the most,” Jennings replied defensively.
Tears began to stream down Elaine’s face. It wasn’t the burden of the venture, but the lack of faith in her personal strength to stand by her husband, when he most needed her. Jennings kneeled in front of his wife, realising the treachery of his decision. In trying to protect her, he had only injured her deeper than any protection. He took Elaine into his arms while she cried.
*~*~*~*
John’s searching green-grey eyes kept sentinel over the harbour from the drawing room, expecting to see the telltale signs of a small steamer arrive at any moment.
Coal fire smoke wafted above the southern end of the island above the village, a few miles out to sea. His heart raced and the butterflies in his stomach began chasing each other, using his stomach walls to rebound off. He grabbed up his coat, checked his appearance in the entry hall mirror and ran the mile and a half to the dock. It had been nearly five months since their last meeting and John was eager.
The passengers began disembarking and John searched every person who left the vessel, then the prettiest face of all came into view. After five months, his heart raced at the sight.
Cecilia searched around the dock looking for the object of her heart. Her eyes settled on John and he could see her eyes light up with her infectious smile. She began to wave at him, hardly restraining herself from running down the people in front of her on the gangway to meet his embrace, her white cotton dress trailing daintily behind her and a parasol above her head. Three more steps and she was in his arms. He twirled her around and around, making a spectacle amongst the people watching. They didn’t care; their worlds were together again like dynamite and fire.
Cecilia was a well bred, twenty five year old lady. Her face was pretty; deep blue eyes framed with finely sculptured features and bordered by curly blonde locks. More than one gentleman had tried to capture her attention on the seven day journey and looked away disappointed, as the object of her aloofness became evident.
Cecilia walked beside John as they made their way towards the Jennings’ house. She had her arm tucked into his and they chatted like children. The fierce pride showed in John’s face as he led Cecilia onto the path leading up to the house. He put her bag down and opened the door for her, then picked her bag up again and walked inside, announcing their arrival from the entry hall.
“Mother? Father?”
Elaine and Robert came to the entry hall and John proudly proclaimed, ”This is my fiancée, Miss Cecilia Long.”
*~*~*~*
Elizabeth noticed the adoring way Patch treated Aunty and on occasion, she had passed by unnoticed while Patch talked and joked with the elderly people in the village, treating them with kindness and respect. She made sure he did not see her, so she could see the real man, without his humorous guard up. He offered to help them with their chores and show any kindness wherever he could. He spoke openly about his faith and the elderly lapped up his words. Elizabeth could see that this man, Jesus, meant a lot to him. She wasn’t sure if she believed what Aunty, Merinda’s parents and even Merinda said about him.
Aunty’s eyes twinkled as Patch spoke about Elizabeth. “I just don’t think she likes me, Aunty. I don’t know what I have done to make her distrust me so much.”
“You like Elizabeth, don’t you, child?” Aunty pondered.
“Yes, she is a beautiful woman,” Patch lamented.
“Elizabeth is tussling with big issues at the moment, child. Our Father God is working in the deep places of her heart. She needs Father’s wisdom at present, not romance,” Aunty counselled.
Patch just huffed. “I certainly don’t want to stand in Father’s way.”
Aunty’s brow creased. “There is another man who seeks favour with Elizabeth, but his intentions are not in Elizabeth’s best interests. He has already caused her great distress and agony.”
Aunty went on to explain about Davis’ improper advances to Elizabeth and before she finished, she saw a cloud pass over Patch’s face as he contemplated the wrongs set upon Elizabeth.
It was time, Aunty thought.
*~*~*~*
Patch didn’t sleep particularly well that night. Aunty’s words, ‘He has already caused her great distress and agony’, kept echoing in his mind. When he finally did drop off to sleep, he dreamed of Elizabeth’s frightened face and then her trying to escape a faceless fiend.
He awoke with a start and sat upright on his mat. It was still dark outside, the only noise, the tempo of Aunty’s gentle snore.
This has got to stop, Patch decided. Elizabeth should not be in fear of any man. He suddenly realised that his concern for Elizabeth was tinged with indignation at Davis’ behaviour. Patch’s protective mechanism was in full swing, even if Elizabeth did not care for him.
When Patch awoke the next time, it was morning. He asked Aunty about Davis’ whereabouts and she told Patch that Davis lodged at the Colonial Inn.
“You not going to do anything foolish, are you, child?” Aunty added with concern.
“A gentleman does not act this way toward a lady and someone needs to point that out to Davis,” Patch replied indignantly.
*~*~*~*
It was still quite early when Patch walked the short distance to the Colonial Inn. He was dressed in his best genteel finery, making sure he had gloves. Upon arriving, he enquired at the desk as to Davis’ room and made his way to his door. He knocked loudly on the door and waited for a response.
Davis opened the door, eyed Patch impatiently and curtly demanded, “Yes?!”
“My name is Philip Belgrade, sir. As gentlemen, I have come to importune gentlemanly conduct upon your personage, regarding Miss Elizabeth Jennings.” Patch being taller than Davis, had a superior vantage point to drive home his point. “I am requesting that you re-evaluate your behaviour and respond in a manner toward Miss Jennings, befitting a gentleman.”
Davis, forgetting his facade, blinked. Stunned, it took a while to comprehend what Patch had just said. As the speech finally sank in, Davis became furious.
“Who do you think you are, lecturing me on Elizabeth Jennings?!”
Patch, unmoving, was prepared for the tirade. “I have already told you who I am,” Patch retorted. He removed his glove in front of Davis and slapped Davis’ face.
Davis became even more furious when he realised he had just been challenged to a duel. “You are challenging me to a duel in today’s age?! People just don’t do that anymore,” Davis protested incredulously.
“I have already done so, sir, or are you ignorant to the ways of gentlemen?” Patch retorted. “I doubt the choice of weapons on this small island will be great, so I suggest fists,” Patch added calmly.
The stunned look on Davis’ face said it all.
“Are you going to be a brave gentleman and accept my challenge, or are you going to bravely decline?” Patch challenged.
Davis quickly summed up his options, stepped backwards and slammed the door to his lodgings in Patch’s face.
“Just as I thought,” Patch said to himself, turning to walk away.
*~*~*~*
A service trolley was parked in the alcove of an empty room, just out of view. A stunned and joyful Tameka danced on the spot.
She had heard every word.
*~*~*~*
Elizabeth had responded to Davis’ wanton stare just the way he had anticipated. He used fear like a weapon and now he had her where he wanted. Jennings would have no option but to see things from his point of view, now they were partners. Elizabeth would eventually fall under his power and she would learn to love him.
Or else.
Davis’ story would be cold and simple. Philip Belgrade was a jealous admirer of Elizabeth and intended to do away with Davis. Davis fought back and sent Belgrade running, a story he would tell the constabulary as well. Being a gentleman, he wanted to be lenient on Belgrade and not press charges. That would make him the hero and give him the sympathy from amongst his peers as being a kind and fair person.
It was his word against Belgrade’s anyway.
They would believe him.
*~*~*~*
The demonstration went ahead as scheduled. Jennings noticed Davis’ face was a pasty, white colour as if he had had a shock.
“Are you alright, Davis?” Jennings asked.
Davis just waved him off. “I will tell you an interesting story after our business.”
*~*~*~*
All parties met on the dock. Each prospective diver took turns in suiting up. They were a bit dubious about the powder the instructor produced for them to wear on their arms and legs, but once they tried pulling the rubber hands and feet of the suit over their own, without the slippery powder, it soon became evident that the powder was needed.
Next, the helmet was screwed down onto the canvas suit, forming an airtight seal. The helmet was made of brass and had a clear window in the front, to enable the diver to see. An airline protruded from the back of the helmet, feeding fresh air from the hand-driven air pump sitting on the deck of the schooner, down through the airline to the suit of the diver below. The air pressure in the suit had to be balanced, to suit the pressure of the water at the depth that the diver was working. This was done through a pressure regulator valve attached to the helmet that the diver controlled. If the setting was too high and the suit had too much pressure in it, the diver suit blew up like a balloon and floated to the surface. If it was too low, the diver would find it difficult to move on the bottom. A small handle on the pressure valve made it quick and easy to adjust.
Then the heavy, lead shoes were fitted over the rubber feet of the suit and fixed in place by large ties. This allowed the diver to walk along the bottom.
*~*~*~*
Maritime Law required ship’s masters to keep a ship’s log. This log detailed all parts of the voyage including times and dates of any happenings aboard ship, major or minor, allowing the authorities a written account of any accidents or incidents. The log had to be detailed and accurate.
John decided to keep a day to day journal of his life, as good practice for keeping an accurate ship’s log. His thoughts were, if he did not have a ship for a few months, he would still remain in the discipline of keeping a log. He had kept an accurate personal journal for six months now.
*~*~*~*
Jennings was furious when Davis told him his story. What kind of company was Elizabeth keeping?
Elizabeth was as shocked and angry as Jennings was. She didn’t like Davis, but to cowardly attack the man in a jealous frenzy...? She didn’t know Philip well, but the way he stared at her the first day they met, made her feel angrier.
“I don’t want you going into the village until this thing is cleared up, Elizabeth,” Jennings fumed.
Elizabeth did not dispute her father’s decision, but a pang of pain hit her when she realized she could not see the people she loved. Her heart became heavy when she thought about her dear Aunty Rosa.
“Can Merinda still visit me here, Father?” Elizabeth pleaded.
“Of course. I doubt whether she has any hand in this,” Jennings relented.
*~*~*~*
Patch walked slowly back to the village. He could not shake the feeling that he had done something wrong, even though the innocent intent of his adventure was to release Elizabeth from fear. The Holy Spirit indwelling him was alarmed at his behaviour. Patch walked up to Aunty’s hut and found her sitting on the porch.
Seeing his worried look Aunty said, “Come sit with me, child, and tell me about your trouble.”
Patch explained the whole thing to Aunty, word for word.
Aunty’s eyebrows rose at his confession. “Do you think that is what Jesus would do, child?” she asked.
Patch lowered his head, realising the impact of what he had just done. “No, Aunty, I don’t,” Patch said miserably.
“What do you think Jesus would want you to do now, child?” Aunty asked.
*~*~*~*
CHAPTER 29 - THURSDAY ISLAND 1882
Cecilia curtsied to Elaine and Robert Jennings, “
I am honoured to make your acquaintances.”
It wasn’t long before the four people were seated in the drawing room, as the maids buzzed in and out with afternoon tea. Elaine and Robert sat across the room, opposite Cecilia and John.
Elaine enquired, “What do your parents do, Cecilia?”
“My friends and family call me Sissy. Cecilia is not a trifle of a word and I am anxious to be at ease around John’s family, if I may be so bold. My father is in the printing trade, Mrs Jennings.”
Robert and Elaine smiled a knowing look to each other and took Sissy to their hearts. John had chosen well.
“You must call me Elaine, or Mother, whichever comes easiest, considering you are soon to be married,” Elaine invited.
“If we may beg your indulgences, Mother, Father…” John said, taking a sideways glance at Sissy, “on the subject of our marriage. We are eager to be together and after securing permission from Sissy’s parents, on proviso of your own agreement, we would like to have our wedding here, within the house, two weeks hence.”
Elaine stunned, turned to Robert.
Robert, looking concerned, thought a while and then answered, “I have but one condition, John. I ask you to remember our new enterprise and your commitment to be an integral player in the success of the venture.”
“I am fully committed to the venture, Father, and Sissy has already agreed to make Thursday Island her home,” John replied.
“Then let the plans begin,” Jennings announced cheerfully.
There was quite a commotion going on in the drawing room, as hugs and pleasantries were exchanged. Elizabeth, drawn to the commotion from another part of the house, entered the drawing room, her eyes falling upon John and Sissy entangled in an embrace. John, noticing Elizabeth’s arrival, drew her to himself and hugged his sister, twirling her around. Sissy laughed, as she realised that this was the Elizabeth she had heard so much about from John. When Elizabeth’s feet landed back on the ground again, Sissy curtsied to Elizabeth.