Where Seagulls Soar (38 page)

‘She’s an independent young woman, but a courageous one. I do hope she accepts your proposal.’

‘Either way, I intend to keep my property in London. You and your sons are welcome to reside in my house, and there’s a perfectly good church school nearby for the younger boys. I
attended it myself. I shall make you an allowance, which you can use as you see fit, and all the household bills can be handed to my accountant. There will be no conditions attached to this offer,
and in all household matters you can act on my behalf.’

A smile lit her face. ‘I’ll be for ever indebted to you.’

‘As I will be to you for your help. Because of it, Joanna’s son was restored safely to her.’

‘Thank you. I accept.’

That arranged, Seth turned his mind to Joanna. He’d received an invitation to spend a few days with Thaddeus and Charlotte Scott.

We’re going to spend Christmas day with the Lind family, and Tilda has asked me to extend an invitation for yourself and your
niece to do the same
, Charlotte had
written.

That he’d found approval with Joanna’s grandmother and friends was not lost on Seth.

He and Kate travelled down the week before, spending the extra time doing some shopping. Seth consulted with Kate as he carefully selected gifts.

It was cold, and a few snowflakes drifted down from the sky. Her nose pressed against the glass of the shop window, Kate looked sweet in her warm blue coat and fur-trimmed bonnet. There was a
permanent smile on her face, and she’d been the essence of good behaviour for her hosts.

He said, ‘What do you think we should give Joanna for Christmas?’

‘She said she needs some sheep.’

Seth smiled at the thought. ‘That’s not a very good idea, Kate. They’d stink the carriage out and their feet would go through the tissue paper they were wrapped in.’

Kate giggled.

‘I’d prefer something more personal. What about that gold locket, there?’

‘But Joanna has all those jewels she gave you to sell.’

‘Those belonged to her mother and I intend to give them back at the appropriate time.’

She slid him a smile. ‘I like that little brooch with pretty stones on. Uncle Seth . . .?’

He cocked an eyebrow. ‘What is it, Kate, my love?’

‘Will we marry Joanna?’

Kate had a strong romantic streak. ‘I don’t think this is something we should discuss now. What will you buy Joanna?’

‘That little beaded bag with the butterflies on we saw in the other shop, I expect.’ She gazed sideways at him, her face wearing a sweetly serious expression, refusing to be put off.
‘If you marry Joanna, can I call her Mother?’

‘With her permission.’

She scooped in a deep breath. ‘So, can I call you Papa, instead of Uncle Seth? It will be the best Christmas present ever.’

Surprised, he gazed down at her, warmed by the simple request. ‘If it pleases you, Kate, I’d be very proud to be known as your papa.’

‘Thank you . . .
Papa
.’

‘My pleasure,
Daughter
.’

As they exchanged a grin, Seth knew exactly what to inscribe on the brooch with the pretty stones he intended to buy for Kate.

Joanna had efficiently necked the turkey she’d been fattening up for Christmas.

It had met its fate without fuss the week before. Placing its neck under a broom handle with her feet at either side. Joanna had tucked its body under her arm and given it a quick jerk to break
it. Its insides then drawn, Joanna plucked the bird of its feathers and hung it by its feet, allowing the blood to drain into a bucket. The procedure had left the meat white and deliciously
tender.

Now it was in Tilda’s oven, the skin turning a crispy brown while Joanna basted sizzling lard over it. The kitchen was warm, pots steamed on the range and the house smelled of Christmas
pudding.

Irene and Lydia took turns minding the children, alternating their task with setting the dining-room table. Holly and mistletoe decorated the house, and gifts had been piled high on a table.
Leonard had arrived with his family earlier.

Tilda was taking a rest. She was large and ungainly now. Joanna thought her friend had mistaken the date, and the baby might come earlier than expected. But they could only wait and see.

She closed the oven door and straightened up from her task, pushing a stray strand of hair back from her face as she did so. Her heart gave a leap as she heard David talking to someone. Then her
grandmother and Thaddeus came through to greet her. They exchanged smiles, Christmas wishes and hugs.

Behind them came Seth, his hair ruffled by the wind. She hadn’t really expected to see him, though she’d placed a present for him on the table, one of her most treasured possessions,
a book of poetry Richard Lind had signed and presented her with on her eighteenth birthday. And for Kate there was a book and some paints.

The hubbub of other people around them faded. Her feelings for Seth crowded in on her. Was it obvious to everyone in the smile of pleasure she gave at seeing him? ‘I didn’t know you
were coming.’

‘I didn’t know you’d be here, but I hoped.’ Their glances joined, and they remembered being together.

Joanna smoothed her apron down over her skirt, then patted her hair. She was hot and flustered from the oven. Why couldn’t he have arrived after she’d tidied herself up?

Her smile was uncertain as she murmured, ‘Seth. I look so untidy.’

‘So you do.’ He gave a slow, intimate smile. ‘I’ve missed you.’

‘And I’ve missed you.’

Thaddeus looked from one to the other, grinned, then steered Charlotte into the other room.

Kate came in and was scooped up in Joanna’s arms, where she received a kiss and a long cuddle before being set on her feet again. ‘Hello, Miss Mischief.’

Self-importantly, Kate stated, ‘My papa has something important he wishes to say to you.’

Seth pointed to the door. ‘I’m not doing this with you looking on. Shoo!’

‘Doing what?’ she said when Kate skipped off, grinning from ear to ear.

Seth crossed to her in two strides, took her face between his palms and gazed into her eyes. ‘Joanna, it would make me the happiest man alive if you would marry me.’

‘Of all the times and places to propose,’ she grumbled, staggered by the simplicity of his declaration and the deadly timing, just when she was rushed off her feet and was likely to
accept, just to get him out from underfoot. She grinned, knowing she would have accepted wherever the proposal had taken place.

‘I want you to know that I love you, and Toby. I’ll be a good father to him.’

‘Thank you, Seth. I believe you will.’

‘You’ll have me then?’

She remembered the plans she’d made for her future – that they’d all made.

‘There’s something I should tell you. First, I want to remain here on Portland until Tilda’s baby is born. And . . .’

He placed a finger over her mouth. ‘Shush, woman. I know, and there’s something you need to know before you say anything else. I’ve bought the
Joanna Rose
, and I
intend to run her from Melbourne, so if you decide to wed me, that’s where we’ll be living.’

So, Seth had known her plans all the time and he’d arranged this surprise for her. How thoughtful a man he was. She smiled and whispered, ‘Damn you and your tricks, Seth Adams, I
adore you.’

He kissed her then, a tender yet insidious caress that weakened her at the knees – a kiss that was abandoned only when they heard giggles and saw Grace and Kate gazing at them from the
doorway.

At the end of January Tilda gave birth to her son. It had been a long, hard birth and Tilda was exhausted.

‘Look how beautiful he is, Tilda,’ Joanna said, taking the squalling infant from the midwife after the doctor had departed, and placing the child in Tilda’s arms.

A tired smile lit Tilda’s face as she cuddled him close. As she began talking soothingly to her son he settled against her breast, his complaints about his painful birth fading into a few
protest noises before he fell asleep. By the time he woke up he would have forgotten all about it.

Then began the admiration ritual as the midwife made Tilda comfortable.

‘Look at his tiny fingers. You can see the light through them.’

‘He has your hair, Tilda.’

‘David’s ears.’

The boy was inspected from head to toe, exclaimed over while Tilda fell in love with her handsome son. Tears in her eyes, she suddenly said, ‘He resembles my uncle, Joseph Rushmore. We
could use his name, and David’s uncle’s name. Joseph Richard Lind. Do you think David will agree.’

‘He will agree to anything you want. Joseph and Anna Rushmore will be so proud when I tell them.’

‘You still visit their graves then, even knowing they stole you from your real folk?’

‘They loved me and I loved them. They’re always in my heart, so nothing will ever change that, Tilda. I must go and tell them I’m leaving soon.’

‘I wish we were going to Melbourne with you, Joanna. I’m going to miss you. It would have been nice for our children to grow up supporting each other, as we did.’

Joanna kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll miss you too, my dearest friend. But it will be a few weeks before we leave, so you’ll be well and truly over the birth by then.’ Her
glance went to the midwife, who’d bundled the soiled sheets together and was about to depart. ‘Leave those in the outhouse, Mrs Scrivens. I’ll soak and boil them, then hang them
on the line to dry.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Adams.’

Mrs Adams? A big grin appeared on Joanna’s face at the contentment she felt. David had performed the ceremony just a week before. Seth, who still had loose ends to tie up, had gone back to
London afterwards, gazing with awe at the shopping list she’d presented him with, and leaving Kate in her charge. Joanna wouldn’t see him again until he returned with the ship to pick
them up.

She found David downstairs in the sitting room. He was reading a letter and smiling to himself.

‘You can go up and see your wife and son now, David. He’s a fine boy. Congratulations.’

‘I have some news for Tilda, but I’ll tell you first, Joanna. I’ve been offered the appointment of headmaster at a new Anglican school in Melbourne. Not only that, but the
Church has made me a good offer for this house. With Tilda’s permission, I intend to accept it.’

Throwing her arms around him she hugged him tight. ‘Oh, David. I’m so happy for you. Tilda married such a wonderful man and I’m so pleased that we won’t live
apart.’

‘Thank you, Joanna, my dear.’ She sensed the excitement in David when he kissed her cheek. ‘You know, I was given no choice in the profession I trained for. On the whole,
I’ve been contented, but I’m looking forward with eagerness to the adventure of pastures new.’

‘You’ll make a wonderful headmaster, and I shall send Toby to be educated by you. I’ll try and teach him some manners before then, though.’

David looked gratified by the thought.

‘Now, you must go and take a look at your new son before Tilda goes to sleep. She’s totally exhausted. And don’t you worry about anything. One of us will visit every day until
Tilda decides she’s well enough to kick us out. And Grace can come over to play with Kate and Toby every day. That will keep them all occupied and leave you free to go about your business,
for you’ll have plenty to do if you’re coming to Melbourne.’

It was at the end of April when the
Joanna Rose
put into Portland. There was a soft breeze blowing showers across the sky, and the daffodils had turned the landscape
to gold.

A steamer was waiting to take them and their luggage to the ship. Joanna could see Thaddeus and Charlotte, who had boarded in London.

Irene and Lydia talked in excited voices and waved furiously to Oliver, who looked totally at home pacing about the deck and issuing orders while he tried to hide his grin.

James Stark had decided not to join them, after all, but would stay in London and help Henry Wetherall conduct the business of the Seagull Shipping Company.

Leonard was there to see them off. Invited to go with them, he too had decided to stay behind, saying simply, ‘Kirsty doesn’t want to be parted from her folks.’ Now, Joanna
handed him the key to the Rushmore cottage. ‘This is for you, Leonard. The cottage will bring you in some rent. Or you can sell it.’

‘But it’s yours, Joanna.’

‘I was never a Rushmore, you know that. But I loved Joseph and Anna, and they gave me a good, loving home. This time I’m not coming back, but I don’t want to think of their
hearth and home standing empty and neglected, so I’m placing it in your trust.’

She gazed at Seth. ‘My heart lies elsewhere now. I must live my own life.’

Seth came forward with a smile on his face to help his family safely on board. Their eyes met, and clung. ‘I’ve missed you,’ he said and hugged her tight.

The only furniture Joanna had brought with her was the cradle she’d floated ashore in. She had a feeling she’d need it once Joseph Lind had grown too big for it.

A flag was run up the mast, and unfolded into the breeze. It was a silver-winged gull flying against a background of midnight blue. The last time Joanna had seen that design it had been on
Tilda’s workbench.

Seth slipped an arm around her waist as they gazed up at it. He whispered. ‘For you, Joanna, my love, the Seagull Shipping Company. Tilda designed the company flag for me, and I hope it
will remind you of the people who made, shaped and loved you.’

How lucky she’d been to have such a man fall in love with her, and to love in return. ‘Thank you, Seth. I know it always will.’

As the shadows lengthened, the ship became a hive of activity.

They sailed away into the soft golden haze of evening. Gradually, the sun dropped below the horizon and the mist rose to veil the isle of Portland.

Joanna stood alone at the railing, watching her past life retreat. She thought of the Rushmore cottage, the home of two loving people who’d raised their foundling child with a simple and
honest dignity, the way they knew best. As long as it stood, that cottage would always retain the cherished memory of what had been before.