Going Home (9 page)

Meg and Joe were ill at ease at the hotel, unused to such luxury and attention, but Ralph and Peggy were very merry and on the photographs they were smiling into the camera, whilst Joe and Meg looked as if they were carved from stone.

They were photographed with Joe seated and dressed in an unaccustomed frock coat and narrow trousers, with a cravat at his neck and holding a pair of gloves in his hands. Meg in a dark red silk dress stood beside him in a sideways position to show off the padded bustle in her pleated and tucked long-trained skirt, the close-fitting bodice boned to emphasize her neat waist and trimmed with lace frills on the shoulders and wrists. Her still dark, unruly hair had been caught in a chignon with a dainty beribboned hat set on top of her head.

‘Ma, how elegant you look!’ Ralph exclaimed when he saw her. ‘You outdo all the ladies of Sydney.’

‘But it’s not me, is it?’ she laughed, though a flush on her cheeks showed how pleased she was at his compliment. ‘And Emily won’t know me.’

‘Well, no doubt they will have changed too,’ Joe said and gazed at his wife admiringly. ‘We’re all older and living a different life.’ Then he said with a sheepish grin, ‘I reckon you’ll have to get some use out of those clothes, Meg. Maybe we’ll take some time off and do a bit of travelling.’

‘Now?’ Ralph blurted out. ‘But I’m going away! Who’ll look after the station?’

‘Oh, onny for a few days!’ Joe exclaimed. ‘And Benne will keep an eye on things. I didn’t mean longer than a week.’

Meg smiled at her son and husband. It was enough. A concession such as this from Joe was a great step forward.

The day of departure was scorching hot and Meg wore a new muslin gown and a large hat to wave goodbye to Ralph from the quayside. Daisy and Benne were there to see Jack off, and Captain Boyle escorted his wife and daughter on board though he didn’t wait to see the ship sail. He ignored Joe who returned the compliment by staring straight through him, though Meg felt his eyes linger over her and he gave her a slight bow as he passed.

Joe took her arm and led her to the waiting trap. ‘I’ll buy you something a bit smarter than this, Meg,’ he said. ‘A barouche maybe, something more fitting for my lady wife.’ A gleam
came into his eyes. ‘And that’ll give Captain Boyle summat else to lust after.’

Meg held her hand to her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun and looked down at the shimmering waters of the harbour as they climbed the hill. The sight of the ship had revived so many memories. ‘Will he come back, Joe?’ she said softly. ‘I’m so afraid that he won’t.’

‘Don’t worry, Ma,’ Peggy interrupted. ‘He’ll be back.’

Joe said nothing for a moment, then he too turned his head to see the ship as it headed towards the harbour mouth. ‘I don’t know, Meg. It’s fate. He might. He might not. It all depends on what and who he finds.’

‘
ALONE, MR HAWKINS?
Where is your servant?’ Phoebe and her mother stopped their perambulating around the deck when they saw Ralph leaning on the ship rail.

‘Sick, Miss Boyle.’ Ralph grinned. ‘As soon as we hauled anchor. He’s flat out on his bunk moaning and groaning.’

‘Sick as a dog, I am,’ Jack had said when Ralph went to look for him.

‘But we’re not out of harbour yet.’ Ralph laughed. ‘You can’t be sick!’

‘I can and I am,’ Jack groaned from his bunk. ‘Just go away and leave me.’

Ralph opened the cabin door. ‘No lunch then? No lamb cutlet or steamed pudding?’

Jack had picked up a book and thrown it at him. ‘Get out, I’m dying.’

‘He’ll be all right when we reach open sea and are under sail,’ Mrs Boyle said. ‘I remember I was the same when I left Portsmouth to come to Australia.’

‘Are you a good sailor, Miss Boyle?’ Ralph turned his attention to Phoebe. ‘Have you much experience?’

‘None whatsoever, and for heaven’s sake stop calling me Miss Boyle. No, my father was never willing to take us to sea with him.’

‘My husband didn’t believe in mixing his professional life with his family life,’ Mrs Boyle said hastily with a warning glance at Phoebe. ‘And yes, I think whilst we are on board for this long voyage we could perhaps drop some formality, though I must confess I do not know how to behave towards your friend Jack. Of course he is not your servant!’

‘Indeed not, ma’am. He is more than my equal. More intelligent, more of a gentleman than I could ever hope to be, but please don’t tell him I said so, Mrs Boyle,’ he insisted, ‘or I shall never live it down.’

‘I wonder if I have something to relieve his suffering?’ Mrs Boyle said thoughtfully. ‘I know I have sal volatile, but I don’t think that would be effective. If you will excuse me I will have a look in my medicine box.’

‘I’ll go, Mama,’ Phoebe offered.

‘No, no! You won’t be able to find it. I know exactly where it is. I will only be a moment.’

She scurried away and Phoebe leaned on the rail at the side of Ralph. ‘Amazing!’ she said.

‘What is?’ Ralph turned to look at her. She was very close and the effect made him feel quite heady.

‘Mama. How she’s changed within just a few hours of leaving home. Leaving me alone with a man – agreeing to using your first name! We’re travelling alone, you know. Father wouldn’t agree to us bringing a maid. He said he wasn’t going to pay the extra fare and that he was the one who needed looking after whilst we were away enjoying ourselves. Mother has never been without a servant in the whole of her life, yet she seems to be revelling in the freedom.’

‘She is a charming lady,’ Ralph said softly, ‘and you obviously favour her.’

Phoebe looked at him frankly. She seemed to be amused by his remark. ‘Don’t be misled, Ralph. I don’t have my mother’s charm, only her looks. I’m more likely to have inherited my father’s tenacity.’ She turned and looked down into the churning water. ‘Believe me, Ralph. I’m very clever at getting what I want.’

He leant forward so that his lips were near her cheek. ‘So am I,’ he whispered, but pulled away quickly when he saw Mrs Boyle heading back down the deck towards them.

‘I almost kissed her, Jack,’ he said later, when he took in the oil of peppermint that Mrs Boyle had supplied. ‘And she didn’t take offence. I can’t believe my nerve. I must have been mad!’

‘She didn’t object?’ Jack sat up and leant against the bulkhead.

Ralph shook his head. ‘I don’t think so,’ then added truthfully, ‘she seemed to be rather amused.’

The first half of the voyage passed pleasantly enough and when the weather was suitable the young people played skittles on deck whilst the older travellers played chess. Ralph and Jack entertained everyone when they demonstrated Aborigine wrestling, and some of the crew members requested a turn, but none could out-throw Jack. He was undoubtedly the champion and whereas some of the crew had previously treated him in a surly manner, this was now tinged with some respect. He behaved impeccably, being neither subservient nor proud. Every evening he dressed immaculately for dinner, even though he ate alone in his cabin, and crew and passengers were obviously nonplussed over his standing.

‘He is a charming person,’ Mrs Boyle commented to Phoebe as they undressed for bed. They shared a cabin, another of Captain Boyle’s savings. Ralph had offered to let them have his and he would share with Jack but Mrs Boyle would not hear of it. ‘Such fine manners. I wonder where he learned them?’

‘From his parents, I suppose.’ Phoebe stood in her underdrawers and stretched her arms, touching the ceiling with her fingertips. ‘Schooling doesn’t necessarily teach manners as we well know.’ She gave a cynical laugh ‘Father always said he had wasted his money in sending me to the School for Young Ladies in Parramatta!’

‘You know that I have to look out for a suitable husband for you whilst we are in England?’ Her
mother climbed awkwardly into her bunk. ‘Your father insists.’

Phoebe slipped her nightshift over her head. ‘I don’t wish to marry, Mama, but if I did,’ she said in that determined manner which her mother knew so well, ‘I would choose a husband for myself.’

‘Elizabeth,’ Amelia said to Miss Fielding a week before Christmas, ‘I have something to ask you – two things in fact.’

Elizabeth Fielding looked up from her sewing. There were only the two fee-paying pupils attending school at the moment and they had left early. Amelia was travelling home the next day. ‘Yes?’

‘Would you and Harriet come to Holderness and spend Christmas with me and my family? I would so like you to and I have already asked Mama and she said they would be delighted if you would come.’

Elizabeth flushed with pleasure. ‘That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to us. How very kind. But, but we can’t, I’m afraid,’ she said regretfully. ‘The expense of the journey you know, and besides we always entertain a friend of Harriet’s, and his father. They would be so disappointed if they were not able to come.’

‘Oh,’ Amelia said. ‘Oh, what a pity. I was so looking forward to it. This friend of Harriet’s,’ she continued, ‘is he a suitor?’

‘He would be if he had any money.’ Elizabeth
lowered her voice. ‘Thomas is a clerk for a manufacturing confectioner. He doesn’t earn a very big salary and he has to keep his father as well as himself.’ She sighed. ‘I’m afraid Harriet will have to wait a long time for the married state. Mr Thacker is unable to work, but is otherwise set for a long life.’

‘Poor Harriet,’ Amelia murmured as she thought of Harriet’s youth slipping by. For herself she was not worried. With no gentleman that she was fond of and her new-found independence firmly in her grasp she was quite happy with her solitary state.

‘And the other thing?’ Elizabeth’s voice intruded into her thoughts.

‘Er – oh, yes!’ Amelia smiled and sat down next to her. ‘If you would like me to, I will continue after Christmas. Kieran and Moira are reading quite nicely. Kieran said that he will leave to start work, but that his younger brother will come. So encouraging,’ she said enthusiastically, ‘that the two children have persuaded Eamon to come to school.’

‘Oh, I’m so pleased,’ Elizabeth’s face lit up with happiness. ‘So very pleased.’

‘Just one thing though Elizabeth. I hate to inconvenience my aunt unduly and although she doesn’t complain that her coachman has to bring me in and out each day, I thought how much more satisfactory it would be if I lived nearer.’

‘But that would mean you taking lodgings
in York and I’m sure your parents wouldn’t approve, and also,’ Elizabeth added, ‘you would be out of pocket, my dear, your salary would hardly cover extra living expenses.’

‘That is why I have a suggestion to make and I do hope you and Harriet will approve.’ Amelia pointed up to the ceiling. ‘You remember that day when there was a leak in the roof and I went up to investigate?’

Elizabeth nodded but looked puzzled.

‘Well, I didn’t realize that there was another room up there.’

‘A room!’ Elizabeth exclaimed. ‘It’s barely a cupboard. You’re surely not suggesting that you live up there!’

‘I am. It is small I agree, but I need little space just for sleeping. I can have a truckle bed brought from home and a small chest of drawers, perhaps a rug for the floor. I shall need no more than that.’

‘But you will freeze under the roof, there’s no fireplace up there!’

‘I don’t feel the cold,’ Amelia insisted. ‘Please say that I can try it. If it is not convenient then I will give it up and go back to my aunt’s house.’

She saw the hesitation on her companion’s face. Elizabeth, she knew, would not want anyone to be inconvenienced for her sake, and Amelia’s aunt had been more than generous to them already.

‘I will keep myself of course, if I might have
the use of the kitchen.’ Which will be amusing to say the least, she mused, as I am no cook. I will have to take lessons in the kitchen whilst I am at home.

So it was agreed and Amelia set out on her train journey the following day. She had posted a letter to her parents in time for them to meet her at Hull railway station but not soon enough for them to arrange for someone to accompany her from York. She had sent Nancy home some weeks before, for she had no need for a maid and besides, the girl was unused to having so much time on her hands.

Her uncle saw her off at the station and made sure she joined a ladies-only compartment. ‘Goodbye, Amelia. It’s been very nice having you with us, your aunt has enjoyed your company I know. We shall see you again soon, I expect?’

‘Indeed you will, Uncle.’ How very kind they are, she thought, and waved to him as with a great spurt of steam the train pulled out of the station.

‘Amelia! You have travelled alone!’ Her father wasn’t cross, just startled as she alighted without a companion.

‘I have had a very good journey, Papa, and two very pleasant travelling companions. Two ladies who have been all the way to India and back on their own! Travelling from York to Hull was no hardship, I assure you, after hearing of their adventures.’

She took his arm as he led her out towards
the carriage. ‘I told them of Mama being transported to Australia when she was young,’ she said. ‘They were most intrigued.’

‘I’m not sure that your mother would approve of your telling her story to strangers,’ her father objected.

‘It was because they were strangers that I did,’ she explained. ‘They have lived such adventurous lives that I knew they would be interested. I don’t tell everyone! Not the two Miss Fieldings for instance, they live such quiet genteel lives that I think they might be shocked!’

It was dark when they arrived home and the house was lit with lamps and candles and roaring fires in all the rooms. ‘It’s so good to be home, Mama!’ Amelia hugged her mother and all her family in turn. ‘I didn’t realize how much I was missing you all and how lucky I am to have all of you.’

‘It’s good to have you home, Amelia. We’ve missed you too.’ Her mother’s cheeks were flushed a soft pink, pleased to have all of her brood under her roof once more. ‘Now we can really think about Christmas. Did the Miss Fieldings agree to come?’ she added.

Amelia shook her head. ‘They had to decline, although I think they would have liked to come. They always entertain friends at Christmas. Perhaps they would come at Easter. I would like to repay their kindness; they’re such good people, Mama, always thinking of others, especially the poor children. It would be nice for them to be
cosseted; they live such frugal lives, yet they don’t complain.’