Destiny's Path (14 page)

As he’d expected, Reece found his former employer sitting near his favourite horse on a sawn-off piece of tree trunk which he often used as a stool. He was shocked at how much Francis had gone downhill, even in the few days since they’d last met, and sighed at the thought of another death. They had no other near neighbours in this lonely place.

Livia had been nursing her husband devotedly for the past two years, but nature had decreed this was the way Francis Southerham should die. Even coming to a warm climate hadn’t helped him, though it had probably prolonged his life. Livia had once said she’d leave Westview Farm and start a school in Perth once her husband died. He couldn’t imagine her doing that, though. She wasn’t practical enough.

He hesitated, but it had to be said. ‘I came to tell you Kevin’s just died.’

Francis winced and Reece added hastily, ‘It was so peaceful that it was a minute or two before I realised he’d gone.’

‘I’ll probably die in agony with a coughing fit tearing my lungs apart.’

Reece sighed. Francis had been tossing remarks like that at him lately and it was hard to know how to answer them.

‘Did Kevin tell you he’s left you everything? Livia and I witnessed his will soon after we arrived. You fell on your feet there.’

‘He did mention it, but only at the very end. I didn’t realise he’d made the will so long ago. Why, he hardly knew me then! Conn has the will, apparently.’ He turned round as footsteps came towards them. ‘Good morning, Livia.’ He explained why he was there and saw her eyes flicker towards her husband.

‘I’ll come to the burial, but I think it’s a bit far for Francis to walk.’

‘And at the same time a bit too close to home.’ Her husband laughed bitterly at his own joke.

She didn’t answer, just took his hand and he clung to hers tightly.

‘We thought to bury Kevin tomorrow morning about ten, if that’s all right with you?’ Reece said. ‘We’ll have to perform the burial service ourselves. The travelling clergyman won’t be making his monthly visit to this district for another two weeks, and even then he won’t have time to ride out here to bless the grave. I’m going to ride across to Galway House now to let Conn and the twins know what’s happened.’

‘Give them our regards. I’ll walk with you to the path. I’ll be back in a minute, Francis.’

As they walked, she said, ‘Don’t take offence at how he speaks to you. He’s getting worse rapidly and that’s upsetting him. Leo had to help him walk to the stables today.’

‘It’d upset me too, if I was dying, so I’m not likely to take offence.’ Reece stopped to clasp her hand. ‘Don’t forget that we’re nearby if you need us. Any time, day or night. Just send Leo across.’

‘I know. Thank you.’

He turned just before he was out of sight to see her standing staring into the distance. She was a strong woman mentally, but it was hard to watch someone you loved die and how she found the strength to stay serene and supportive, he couldn’t imagine.

If anything happened to his wife, Reece didn’t know what he’d do. He’d lost his first wife, but hadn’t loved her nearly as much, poor lass. Marrying Cassandra was the best thing he’d ever done. They were partners in every way, sharing hopes, plans and the sheer hard work necessary to make a success in this new country. As for little Sofia, she had his heart held tight in her rosy little hands and she felt to be his daughter in every way that mattered.

Reece went home and saddled the horse, which now belonged to him, he supposed. Like Conn, Kevin had had an eye for a sound horse, and though she was rather ugly, Delilah was equally at home between the shafts or carrying a riding saddle. He patted her affectionately. He’d barely been able to ride or drive a cart when he came to Australia, but now he was confident about using either mode of transport. Today riding would be quicker.

Cassandra sent her love to her sisters, then went back to sorting out a clean nightshirt to bury Kevin in. Her child played at her feet, too young to be aware of what was happening, just knowing instinctively that she was safe.

It took Reece only an hour to ride to Galway House. He was surprised to see a stranger sitting on the veranda all alone. She was sour-faced but clearly a lady by her clothing, so he doffed his hat to her politely as he passed on his way round to the stables.

Conn was leaning on the fence having an earnest conversation with another stranger. They turned at the sound of the horse’s hooves and Conn murmured something to his companion then led him forward towards Reece.

The two friends shook hands then Conn introduced Ronan. ‘He’s brought your wife’s inheritance from Pandora. They’ve sold two of the cottages.’

Reece shook hands with the newcomer. ‘I’m glad to meet you.’ He turned back to Conn. ‘I’ve come with sad news, I’m afraid.’

‘Kevin or Francis?’

‘Kevin. He died peacefully this morning. We’re burying him tomorrow morning and wondered if you’d like to join us?’

‘I would normally, but I don’t care to leave my mother on her own at the moment.’ He hesitated then explained about his wife’s unexpected arrival and the fact that Kathleen was rather difficult to deal with.

Reece tried to hide his surprise at this news, but wasn’t sure he’d succeeded. No one had known that Conn was married. The poor fellow tended to keep himself to himself, having been snubbed many times because of being an ex-convict, but they all knew how Maia felt about him and it seemed unfair that he’d let her go on thinking he was free to love her. He became aware that Conn had said something. ‘Sorry. My mind wandered for a moment. What did you say?’

‘Xanthe and Maia may like to come to the burial,’ Conn repeated. ‘I can spare Sean to drive them across.’

‘Or I could do it,’ Ronan offered. ‘I’d like to see as much of the countryside as I can while I’m here.’

‘Aren’t you tired after your journey here?’

‘Not particularly. And I gather it’s only an hour or so away.’

‘Well, I’d certainly trust my horse to you, but you’ll probably have to sleep on the cart tonight and the weather doesn’t look very promising. There’s only a small house, you see. Kevin built it himself, as people do here.’

‘I’ve slept rough before and it’s not exactly cold, is it?’

‘No. Even in winter we rarely get frosts and never any snow, just a great deal of rain. Let’s go and tell Maia and Xanthe, and ask if they want to go. And I suppose I’d better introduce you to my wife, Reece, or she’ll take offence.’

‘Look out, here she comes,’ Ronan muttered.

Conn turned and said coolly, ‘Ah, Kathleen, there you are. We were just coming to find you to introduce a neighbouring landowner, Reece Gregory. He’s married to Xanthe and Maia’s oldest sister.’

She gave Reece a curt nod. ‘Are you another ex-convict? My husband says normal people don’t visit him.’

He stared at her in surprise at this gratuitous rudeness.

‘Kathleen, there was no need for that,’ Conn said, with a certain weariness in his tone. ‘Mr Gregory isn’t a convict.’

‘But he’s a servant’s husband. Why did you introduce him to me? Have your standards slipped so far? Fine friends you’ve made here.’ She turned and walked off.

Conn closed his eyes for a moment and the other two men exchanged pitying glances.

‘Kathleen has always been – difficult,’ Conn said after a moment or two, ‘but she seems to have got worse since I last saw her.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Let’s go and join my mother. We’ll ask the girls if they’d like to spend the night with you and Cassandra. It’s better if they’re out of the house at the moment, at least until I can find somewhere else for Kathleen to live.’

Maia’s eyes filled with tears when she heard Kevin was dead. ‘I’m so sorry. He was a lovely man. I don’t think I should leave your mother, though, Conn. I know he’d understand that.’

‘I’m sure she’ll cope without you for a day or two. Kathleen’s maid can help her if necessary.’

But Maia shook her head. ‘Your mother never mentions it, but she’s having one of her more painful times at the moment and I know exactly how to help her.’ She looked at her sister. ‘You go, Xanthe. One of us ought to. Give Cassandra my dearest love. You can sort out the things we got from England while you’re there.’

Conn looked at Maia, his eyes softening involuntarily. ‘I’m continually grateful for your care of my mother. Now, if you’ll go and pack your things, Xanthe, I’ll tell Sean to harness the small cart.’

Xanthe clicked her tongue in exasperation as she went to her room. Even the tone of his voice showed how much he cared for her sister. The pair of them seemed unable to hide their feelings. Kathleen wasn’t too stupid to have noticed – and any wife would feel angry about that, whether she loved her husband or not.

With Xanthe sitting beside him, Ronan drove the light cart slowly for the first mile or two, following Reece on horseback and getting used to the rough conditions. This meant he didn’t like to take his eyes off the road for more than a few seconds. But the gelding Conn had harnessed to the cart was a fine animal, seeming happy to be out and about, so gradually he relaxed.

After a while she said, ‘Tell me what’s happening in the world. We’re so late getting the news here. Is Lancashire recovering from the lack of cotton? Are the mills all running again? We were so glad when the war in America ended last year, though sorry to hear of poor Mr Lincoln being assassinated. I’d like to see America one day but it’s a long way to go on your own, so I probably won’t ever get there.’

He spoke for a while and she listened with great interest, asking questions and making intelligent comments.

They travelled for a few minutes in silence, then she asked suddenly, ‘Tell me about your voyage out here. Pandora didn’t tell us about hers in great detail because she was seasick and then she suffered badly from the heat, poor dear. Did you take time to visit Alexandria and Suez en route? What were they like? And did you see the new ship canal they’re building? I’ve heard it’s a marvellous thing and will make the journey to Australia and the Far East much easier.’

‘You’re a strange young woman,’ he said before he could stop himself.

‘I know. But now that I have some money I can stop pretending to be meek.’ Not that she did go that far, really, but she certainly had to keep quiet when she’d rather have spoken out.

He threw back his head and laughed.

‘What’s so amusing?’

‘Any maid less meek than you I’ve yet to meet, Xanthe Blake, so I doubt the money will make that much difference.’

‘I do my job, and do it well.’ Her voice was defensive.

‘Yes, I can see that. But I shouldn’t think you’ve ever been
meek
. Even the way you hold yourself is different from other women – you stare the world straight in the face.’ His eyes were admiring.

‘I’m polite, at least. Anyway, never mind that, tell me why you didn’t stop to see places on the way here. I thought you enjoyed travelling.’

‘After my mother died, I was too upset to go sightseeing. I was very fond of her.’

‘Oh, no! I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean to stir up your sadness.’

He sighed. ‘The thought that she’s dead continues to make me feel sad, but that’s not your fault. She was a lively woman and a good mother. I shall miss her greatly, and not just because I lived with her when I was in Ireland. Life goes on, however, and one grows more used to a loss, I suppose.’

‘You never get completely used to it. I still miss my father greatly and think of things to tell him, even though it’s years since he died.’

She laid her hand on his arm in a sympathetic gesture and he caught his breath at the picture she presented, cheeks glowing with health, eyes alight with intelligence and compassion. Did she realise how lovely she was?
She
never seemed conscious of it, but she’d be a temptation to the men she encountered if she went travelling on her own and that might put her in danger.

She certainly tempted him. Being so close to her stirred his senses. Already he wanted her and he was starting to like her too, not an emotion he usually associated with the women he bedded.

He was glad when she pointed and changed the subject. ‘The Southerhams’ farm is up that track to the left. They’ve called it Westview, for obvious reasons. Kevin’s farm is this way, to the right – no, it’s Reece and Cassandra’s now, isn’t it? He didn’t give it a name. We just say Lynch’s Farm. I wonder if they’ll change that. Oh, it’s good to be here again. I’m dying to see Cassandra and little Sofia.’

She jumped off the cart as soon as she saw her sister at the door of the farm and ran across to hug her, then pick up her niece and swing her round and round.

He watched, bemused. The fourth Blake sister was also beautiful. Pandora was the most classically perfect, Maia had a gentleness that dimmed her beauty a little until you looked more closely, Cassandra looked like the goddess of fecundity, her belly just filling with a child, and Xanthe . . . ah, she had a mind as bright and sparkling as her smile, such a dangerously attractive combination.

He reined in the horse and got down from the cart. Reece had dismounted by now and after a quick wave to his wife, he turned to his guest. ‘Do you need any help to unharness the gelding?’

Ronan grinned. ‘I’m not such a fine gentleman that I can’t deal with my own horses.’