Destiny's Path (21 page)

‘Weren’t we lucky to find Leo? I don’t know what I’d do without him.’

‘He was lucky to find you. Pack what you need for the night. I’ll ride over to tell Conn. Some of them will want to attend the burial, I’m sure.’

She did as he asked and nearly fell into Cassandra’s arms when they got to Reece’s farm, able at last to weep and accept comfort.

The next morning Conn decided to go out with Bram to inspect the Perth shops and work out what sort of goods it might be profitable to bring into the country. First they checked on Nancy, however.

She was a different person this morning, now that she was clean and wearing decent clothes. Her hair was straight, a soft brown in colour, shining clean now and tied back with a ribbon. Her eyes were grey – honest eyes, Bram thought. She looked first at him. ‘I don’t know how to thank you for this. Once I find work again . . .’

‘What was your work?’

She flushed. ‘I was working as a maid. Only my employer was – he . . .’ Her voice trailed away and she flushed in embarrassment. ‘When I wouldn’t let him into my bed, he got his wife to dismiss me. I didn’t have references or anywhere to stay, and though I tried to find work, ladies were suspicious of me – and I refused to work for a man on his own. I think my employer had told people I was a thief, because usually it’s easy for maids to get other jobs. I fell ill and then . . . I had to sell some of my things.’

After studying her, Conn asked, ‘Would you work for me and my mother?’

‘Can I meet her first?’

‘We live a full day’s ride to the south in the country.’

As she hesitated, Bram said softly, ‘You can trust Conn Largan with your life, and you’ll like his mother, I promise you. I know it’s hard to trust two strangers, but the landlady knows Mr Largan and his mother, so you can ask her about them, can’t you?’

Her face cleared and she nodded. ‘Yes. Thank you, sir. I’d like to work for you and I promise you won’t regret hiring me.’

‘Come and have breakfast, then,’ Bram said.

She looked at him in shock. ‘It wouldn’t be proper for me to eat with you.’

‘You’re supposed to be my cousin, so I can’t leave you to eat in the kitchen on your own, now can I?’

She ate very little and when they pressed her, said she couldn’t fit any more food in, so Conn went to ask the landlady’s advice about feeding up his new maid and she promised to keep an eye on the young woman while they were out.

‘How will we get her back to Galway House?’ Bram asked later as they left their lodgings to go exploring the city.

‘She’ll have to ride pillion.’

‘I doubt she’s strong enough for a day’s riding, and it’s asking a lot of the horses.’

Conn frowned. ‘I think she’ll have to try. It’s the only way. We can take it in turns to have her ride behind us. I’m not being heartless, but I need to get back to my mother as quickly as possible. I don’t like leaving her alone with Kathleen.’

The two men tramped the streets, listening to people and going in and out of shops. At one stage they found a small horse sale taking place on a bit of vacant land, so of course Conn had to stop and inspect the animals being offered. He frowned at most of them. ‘Poor devils have been used hard,’ he muttered to Bram.

But in one corner he found a couple of mares which he felt had promise. ‘These look like they’ll grow up to be strong workers.’

‘They’ll not be pretty looking.’

‘That doesn’t matter. I don’t breed for show.’

Bram grinned. He might try to help people in distress, but Conn couldn’t pass a good horse without stopping and if he said these mares had promise, then Bram was sure they were worth looking at. He’d have said they were only average himself, but he’d worked in the stables of landed gentry and their horses were for show and riding, so were a different type of animal. ‘How will you be getting them back to the farm?’

Conn stood frowning for a minute or two, then slapped one hand against the palm of the other. ‘I’ll buy a small cart and tie these two behind it. The horse you’re riding will pull it, and your
cousin
can ride in the cart. Afterwards, you can use the cart in your new business – we could make it my first investment.’

‘Done. But we’ll choose the cart carefully. I’ll want it to be sturdy, though of course I can refurbish it myself.’

Conn nodded and looked at the sky. ‘It doesn’t look like rain, so if we have to camp rough overnight, so be it. We need a few more blankets at Galway House anyway so I’ll buy some.

‘After I’ve seen the Bishop we’ll spend the rest of the day getting some extra provisions. Might as well take advantage of being here to choose them for ourselves rather than ordering them through our local shop. You get better quality that way.’

Just before two o’clock Conn presented himself at the Archbishop’s Palace, a splendid building by Perth standards. He’d changed into his clean shirt and spruced himself up but felt apprehensive. He hated facing strangers as an ex-convict.

He was kept waiting for fifteen minutes, then shown in by the secretary, a man of middle years and quiet appearance.

After the formalities had been got through, the Bishop said, ‘I believe you’re an ex-convict, Mr Largan.’

‘Yes. But I was innocent and I’m prepared to swear that on the Bible.’

The Bishop raised his eyebrows. ‘The law doesn’t think so.’

Conn shrugged. ‘I can only tell the truth, your grace.’

‘Well, whether you’re innocent or not, you’re still one of my flock and entitled to my help if you need it. My secretary says it’s about an annulment. Kindly tell me the details.’

When Conn had finished the Bishop sat lost in thought for a few moments then sighed. ‘It’s a lengthy business, an annulment, unless you have useful connections in the church.’

‘I don’t. Not now, anyway.’

‘And your wife? I gather she’s not in agreement about this.’

‘No. She’s a strange woman, so rigid she can’t cope with changes in her life. She knows she needs someone to look after her and now that all the others who might have helped her are dead or far away, she insists she’s staying with me.’

‘It would look better if she were not living with you.’

‘I know. I intend to seek somewhere for her to live in Perth.’

‘Let us know when she’s settled and I’ll see that someone calls on her and welcomes her to our flock.’

Conn walked out feeling better than he’d expected to. The Bishop hadn’t been exactly encouraging, but he hadn’t been discouraging either. Unfortunately, it was going to take a long time to get his annulment – if he got it. Nothing was certain. He couldn’t ask Maia to wait for years for him. It wouldn’t be fair.

He went back to the lodging house and found Bram waiting for him, sitting chatting to Nancy.

Bram waved to him. ‘I’ve found us a small cart. The horses are safe in the livery stables, waiting for you and I’ve arranged for us to leave at first light.’

‘Thank you. You always were efficient.’ He smiled at Nancy. ‘You’re looking much better today.’

She nodded. ‘I was healthy till I – couldn’t earn my living and got soaked to the skin once too often.’

‘That’s good. Now, we’d better get to work, Bram. Since we’ve only a few hours of the day left to buy things for my mother and for Galway House, we’d better make a start. Tomorrow’s going to be a long, hard day’s travel.’

12

M
aia happened to look out of the window as a cart and a man on horseback leading two young horses turned into the drive of Galway House. She’d recognise Conn anywhere. ‘They’re here!’ she called.

She would normally have rushed to the door to greet them, but she met Kathleen in the corridor, so held back to let her go first.

‘Get about your work!’ Kathleen snapped. ‘It’s not for such as you to greet your master.’

‘I need to tell him about Francis.’

‘It’s for me to do that. I’m his wife.’

Before anyone could stop her, she’d walked outside and said bluntly, ‘Your friend Francis Southerham died yesterday. The funeral is tomorrow.’

Conn stared at her, thinking once again how oddly she behaved once she was away from the life she’d been trained in from birth. Then what she’d said sank in. Francis was dead!

Maia had come to the door. ‘Leo rode over to tell us yesterday afternoon. We’re all feeling sad and worried about Livia.’

Kathleen made an angry noise and shoved Maia backwards so forcefully that she stumbled and fell. ‘I told you to get on with your work. You’re a servant. You shouldn’t join your betters like this.’

Conn pushed his wife aside and helped Maia get up. ‘Are you all right?’

‘Yes . . . sir.’

‘Maia! Could you help me, please?’ Mrs Largan had intervened several times to stop Kathleen picking on the maid. This time she was too late to prevent Conn betraying his feelings for Maia.

There was dead silence for a moment or two, then Kathleen said coldly, ‘I will not live in the same house as your whore. She must leave.’

‘She isn’t my whore.’

‘She is! I can tell how you feel for her. But you’re married to me, and I’m
not
going to let you get rid of me.’

One hand pressed against her mouth, Maia ran to take refuge in her bedroom. After a quick glance at her mistress, Xanthe followed.

Mrs Largan went into the kitchen and sat down, pressing one hand against her chest, breathing shallowly and looking upset.

Conn came to join her, followed by his glowering wife. ‘Are you all right, mother?’

‘I shall be in a minute or two.’

Ignoring Kathleen completely, he beckoned to Nancy to join them. ‘I’ve brought you a new maid, mother. This is Nancy. Bram found her in trouble in Perth. She’d lost her place after being ill, but she’s getting better now and—’

‘Can you find no one better than
her
?’ Kathleen demanded. ‘Anyone can see she’s still ill and look at her clothes! They’re all crumpled and worn. She’s probably diseased if you found her on the street. Papa Largan said we should always choose country girls for maids and get them young.’

Conn rounded on her. ‘
Will you be quiet? Can you do nothing but cause trouble?
’

She picked up the nearest object, a cup, and hurled it and its contents at him, then ran outside, sobbing.

‘I’ll – um, wait in the hall.’ Nancy made for the door and stood in the corridor.

Conn brushed the drops of tea from his shirt and rubbed his forehead which had started aching again. Then he took a deep breath and turned to his mother. ‘I’ve got to find Kathleen somewhere else to live. This can’t go on. Will you check if Maia is all right? I’d better not—’

‘Her sister is with her. Give them a few minutes. Oh, Conn darling, you betray yourself every time you look at Maia. No wife would want to stay in the same house as the woman you love.’

‘I can’t help it.’

‘Since you aren’t free to marry her, it’s not fair to Maia, either.’

‘When was love ever fair?’ Or life, he thought sadly.

‘Nonetheless.’ His mother squeezed his hand once. ‘You should go to Francis’s burial tomorrow, and take Maia and Xanthe with you. They’ll want to say goodbye properly. The new girl – Nancy, did you say she was called? – can help me.’

‘Kathleen’s good at holding grudges. I doubt she’ll let go of this one. I’m worried about Maia’s safety.’

‘I can’t manage without her at the moment.’ She looked at him, biting her lower lip, then confessed, ‘I’ve been feeling very tired lately. I doubt I’ll last much longer.’

He stared at her in dismay and dropped into the chair next to her, taking her hand. ‘Are you feeling that bad?’

She shrugged. ‘Yes. I get short of breath and very tired. And I’ve been in pain for such a long time. You shouldn’t grieve for me, darling boy. I’m so glad I came to Australia. I’ve had some wonderful times with you here.’

Conn pulled her close, realising how much weight she’d lost. Her body felt frail and skeletal almost. Whey hadn’t he noticed that before? He didn’t want to believe what she was telling him, but she wasn’t prone to exaggerating.
Please God, let her be spared for a while yet
, he prayed.

What would he do without her to keep him company, to lift his spirits and console him when people treated him like a criminal?

The kitchen door banged open and Kathleen came rushing out of the house, sobbing loudly. She headed for the stables, ignoring the three men.

‘She always goes to the horses when she’s upset,’ Sean said. ‘She’s a poor lost soul, that one. I said at the time no good would come from forcing him to marry her. Wicked, it was, and not fair to her, either.’

Ronan started to unload the cart. After peering into the kitchen and seeing Conn and his mother in earnest discussion – on an unhappy topic, if his friend’s expression was anything to go by – he left the boxes of goods on the back veranda until it was safe to interrupt and went to stand with Bram and Sean.

The three men studied the mares with an expert eye as they explored the small pen they’d been put into.