Ghost Gum Valley (72 page)

Isabel tackled the problem head on. ‘I'll deliver the stores today with Davey.'

Bridget resisted the idea. ‘I have strict instructions you are not to visit the site.'

‘Rules need to be bent when occasion demands, Bridget. I need you to tell me if my father-in-law orders you to go to the priest hole with him. You know what happens there?'

‘I do. Sure and I can be delivering what Elise did,' Bridget said coldly. ‘So what if the Master does take pleasure from pain? I know when to stop. I won't be killing him.'

Although the words were said with contempt Isabel sensed the underlying anxiety.

‘I understand it's difficult for you to defy your master's orders and reject money—'

‘It is not being the money! I'm not a common whore, ye know! The master promised he'd be recommending me for my ticket. Free to choose me own boss and earn wages. That's one step closer to joining me Mam in Van Diemen's Land – if she's still alive when she's finished her fourteen years.'

Isabel knew Bridget and her mother had been transported for the same crime, rolling a drunk in her grandmother's shanty in Dublin, but she was stunned by the pain in Bridget's voice.

‘I promise I'll do what I can to help you win your ticket, but you must warn me about the priest hole.'

She searched for words to soften Bridget's resolve. ‘Long ago he made a terrible mistake that caused his wife's death. Your master has lost his way to God. No priest can give him absolution. He punishes himself for his guilt.'

Isabel saw Bridget begin to waver and pressed her advantage.

‘Garnet Gamble's pardon didn't make him a free man. For all his wealth he's never been free in his mind. Yet freedom is what lies at the heart of this country. If it doesn't break your spirit or kill you, it gives you a second chance.'

‘A pretty speech coming from a lady of Quality who came free.'

Isabel chose to ignore the insolence. ‘You think I don't know what guilt is? This is
my
second chance.' She stopped herself in time.

The girl's face was blank. Isabel finally lost her temper.

‘For pity's sake, Bridget, you don't have to
like
Garnet Gamble,
but can't you find it in your heart to help me set the poor man free from his demons?'

Bridget finally gave a nod of assent. ‘I will,' she said.

Isabel rode in single file behind Davey towards Mingaletta, seated on the gentle mare that Davey had saddled for her despite his unease about defying Marmaduke's explicit orders.

In her pocket was the letter from Aunt Elisabeth from Sydney Town.

As they drew closer to the orchestrated sounds of hammers, sawing timber, pick-axes and the different accents of male voices, Isabel was reminded of the tangled plot of
A Servant to Two Masters
. Like the play's wily servant, Trufaldino, Isabel felt trapped in the similar role she had agreed to play – being the ally to two masters – though in her case both her masters were Marmaduke. One Marmaduke was kind, patient, warm and loving. The other was obstinate, demanding, melancholic and had a foul temper. God only knew which mood she would find him in today when she confronted him about Aunt Elisabeth's letter.

I can't allow the threat of bushrangers stop me joining Rose Alba and Aunt Elisabeth. Bolters will be part of this landscape as long as The System is in force. Marmaduke wants to protect me but I can't live life marooned in a safe house afraid to travel the highway to Sydney Town.

When Isabel caught sight of Marmaduke before he saw her, she dismounted and led the mare to the building site on foot.

‘I'm a Greek bearing gifts!' she called out, counting on her husband's pride to conceal his annoyance at her forbidden arrival.

Marmaduke stood outlined against the sun, balanced precariously on a half-timbered section of roof. He made no response, so Isabel turned the full force of her nervous smile on the only other person in sight, a young lad whose head rose like a mushroom from a hole between the floorboards.

‘Could you help Davey unpack the saddlebags, lad? Bridget and the three Marys have cooked a large amount of fine food to heat up in your camp oven.'

Murmurs of approval followed when a number of bodies swung easily down from the rafters. The men were so busy unloading
Davey's saddlebags and getting the campfire going for their meal that they were well out of earshot.

Isabel squinted up at Marmaduke and tried to sound playful.

‘If Queenie's special Summer Puddings won't tempt you down off your high horse, Marmaduke, what will?'

In two moves he swung down effortlessly to her side. If the glance he gave her body held any trace of desire it was well concealed. Isabel felt deflated.

It's not fair. The puffier and pudgier I grow the leaner and browner he is. He hasn't shaved for days but he's so handsome I could race him off to bed as soon as look at him. Oh dear, this babe's making me so lusty, I'm dangerous.

Marmaduke took a swig of water, wiped his sweaty face with the back of his hand and tried to sound casual. ‘You all right?'

‘Never better. I've also brought you clean clothes, towels and your special sandalwood soap. And Garnet sent you a couple of bottles of Hunter Valley red wine from a new vintner he says is the best yet.'

‘Tell Garnet to bounce 'em right back in his cellar. I'm not here to party. Time enough to celebrate when the roof's finished and the building is ready to be locked.'

‘Marmaduke, there are serious things I need to tell you face to face.'

‘I made it clear all visits from you were
verboten
. Your reason for defying me had better be good.' He added quickly, ‘You haven't been bleeding?'

‘I'm fine. Queenie says she's never seen an expectant mother in a ruder state of health. I'm eating like a horse, sleeping like a babe, full of energy. And if I hold my breath I can still fit into most of my clothes. But there's one thing I can't control. I laugh or cry at the most unpredictable moments. And...and I miss you like crazy.'

There was no one else close enough to overhear but Isabel whispered it anyway. ‘Our bed is far too big without you, darling.'

The response she was counting on was not forthcoming so she added, ‘My temper flares like a rocket, so stand warned.'

‘Tell me something new,' he said mildly.

Isabel handed him a wicker basket and drew him to a secluded corner of the bush where she quickly spread out a picnic.

Sprawled in the shade of a Bloodwood tree, Marmaduke tilted his hat to shield his eyes from the sun. Or was it to disguise his thoughts?

At last, overcome by hunger and curiosity he began to poke around in the bundles of food wrapped in fine cotton squares. He ate and drank without comment until Isabel snapped.

‘Have you taken a vow of silence?'

‘You want to tell me why you're really here, soldier? A tour of inspection? Or a report back to Garnet from his latest informer?'

She was stung by the word used contemptuously about those who betrayed bolters.

‘That's unfair. I wanted to find out what was taking so long to build my new home. Why you are still sulking?'

Let's hope that draws blood...oh my God, Vesuvius is going to blow its top!

He sat bolt upright. ‘Sulking! You haven't the remotest idea, have you? In the space of one day I discovered my whole existence is a flaming lie. Nothing is real. Not my name, my age, my birth. Everyone I loved or hated is the reverse of what I believed. My mother wasn't exactly the perfect lady. The rapist I killed in a duel wasn't a villain but my true father who lived and died by his own code of honour. And I'm not Garnet Gamble's son and heir. So who am I? A cuckoo in the nest who's forced to share Garnet's name and the boundary line of Mingaletta with a manipulative bastard I never want to set eyes on again!'

Marmaduke had run out of steam but not of anger. ‘I thought
you
'd understand what it feels like to have your whole childhood gutted.'

Marmaduke lay back and jammed this hat back over his eyes. Isabel sat with her arms wrapped around her knees to disguise her trembling limbs.

Well, that certainly did the trick. The boil is lanced. What do I say now?

‘Thank you for sharing your feelings. I'm sorry I inferred you were a sulky little boy. I can imagine your shock. But now you've had time to think it through you must see there's a big difference between us.'

‘Yeah,' he said, ‘you're the one who's pregnant.'

I know you're hurting but you're not going to deflect me. I'm not leaving without saying what I came to say.

‘You hated being Garnet's son but now you're shocked to find he isn't your father by blood. I'm truly sorry you had a miserable childhood and that you were caught in the middle of a family war. So was I. But there's a big difference between us. You had four people – your mother, Queenie and two fathers – who all loved you and wanted you. I was an orphan taken in under sufferance. I'd have felt blessed to have just
one
person I could count on to love and protect me.'

Marmaduke took his time to answer. ‘Well, you do now, soldier.'

Her heart leapt. His words sounded tender but his rage was far from exhausted.

She tried again. ‘One positive thing came out of all this. You were afraid to become a father in case Garnet's illness was hereditary. That's one fear removed. But I believe Garnet will be a devoted grandfather and—'

‘Hey! Don't think you can sweet talk me into waving an olive branch. Garnet's years of manipulation are over. I'll never enter his damned mansion again as long as I live!'

‘Manipulation? What a hypocrite you are! Rose Alba arrived in Port Jackson weeks ago, yet I'm the last to know! What gave you the right to keep us apart?'

Isabel was breathless with anger. Marmaduke waited for her to cool down.

‘Quarantine. The kid's been out of bounds, that's why. Next question?'

Isabel gasped in fright. ‘
Quarantine?
What's wrong with Rose Alba, is she all right? She's so fragile. And my aunt? Why didn't you tell me? I would have rushed to Sydney!'

‘That's why I didn't tell you! Quarantine laws are strict. All you could do was wave your handkerchief from across the street. I've had them both under the care of Dr Bland and paid women to nurse them at the Princess Alexandrina. If you'd come within coo-ee of their sick room you'd have copped their fever and dropped your foal too early for it to survive. Then you'd have blamed me for my not wanting it!'

He eyed the curve of her belly. ‘Well, you're half right. I didn't want it to begin with, but I'm not taking any chances of losing
you.
It's taken me a whole flaming year to break you in as a wife. I wouldn't be caught dead marrying you again for all the diamonds in King Solomon's mines!'

That said, Marmaduke lay back and jerked the brim of his hat back over his eyes.

Isabel digested his words. ‘I suspect there was a Currency compliment buried in there somewhere. You still haven't told me how soon I can go to Sydney to see them.'

‘You can't!' he said firmly. ‘When I tried to take you to Sydney to put you under Doc Bland's care until the birth, you went off like a firecracker! Wanted Queenie to deliver the goods here at Mingaletta. Now you've gone and put paid to the surprise I'd planned for you.'

‘What surprise?'

‘I've been breaking my neck to finish this place so Thomas can drive them down here with Edwin. If you behave yourself you'll see Rose Alba and your Aunty by sundown Friday.'

‘In a week? Oh, darling, I'm truly sorry I misjudged you.' Isabel raised his hand to her lips and covered it with kisses.

Marmaduke gave a half-cocked smile. ‘Hey, fair crack of the whip. Most of these blokes haven't had their paws on a woman in years. Don't want to get them too excited.'

Isabel looked at him with love, his image shimmering through the film of her tears.

Marmaduke shook his head. ‘There are times I really regret teaching you how to cry.'

‘Don't. That was the most wonderful night of my life.'

‘Yeah?' Marmaduke ruefully rubbed the stubble on his chin and his voice was as soft and dark as if they were in bed. ‘Lady, that was just for starters. I've got a lot more tricks up my sleeve.'

He pulled her to her feet. ‘Come on. Seeing as you're here I'd better give you a quick look at the place. It's bigger than the original plans.'

Isabel followed him through the skeleton of the house, exclaiming with admiration over those rooms which had four walls, and the remaining shells that only had windows anchored in place between the beams. She responded to his plans with eager questions, feeling moved by his offhand pride and his anxiety to please her.