Sentence of Marriage (26 page)

Amy hung back while Jimmy exchanged a few words with her brothers, who assured him they did not need his help dealing with the horses. She and Jimmy walked towards the house as slowly as they could, talking in low voices.

‘I don’t think your cousin likes me very much,’ Jimmy said. ‘That was quite a look she gave me tonight!’

‘Take no notice of Lizzie—she’s always been a sort of mother hen to me, and now she’s getting the same way with Frank. She doesn’t like to see anyone upset him, that’s all. You and Frank seemed to get on all right after that.’

‘Mmm, he seems a decent sort of fellow, even if he hasn’t got much to say for himself. I must say I’ve always thought blushing suited pretty girls better than grown men, but I’m sure he has a heart of gold. He and Lizzie will make a fine match.’

‘They will if Lizzie has any say in it!’

‘From what I’ve seen of Lizzie so far, she’ll have a big say in it.’ A morepork, the small native owl, hooted softly from the trees; Jimmy looked around, then moved closer to Amy. ‘Susannah seemed to have quite a good time tonight—and she gave me a bit of peace for a change.’

‘That’s why Pa said you could come down this summer, you know, so you could cheer Susannah up a bit. I’m taking up a lot of your time now, I hope she won’t get too upset about it.’

‘Now don’t start that again, Amy—I’m allowed to enjoy myself while I’m here as well as wait on Susannah, aren’t I?’

‘Of course you are.’ She smiled up at him. Under cover of the dim night he took her hand and held it until they had reached the house.

*

Christmas Day fell on a Tuesday, which Amy knew would throw the rest of the week into disarray with ironing moved one day out of place. She finished making her presents very early on Christmas morning by lamplight, since Monday had been devoted to washing and sewing was, of course, forbidden on Sunday. The purse she was making for Susannah had taken the most time, but she was determined to give Susannah something beautiful.

After the service, which saw the little church full to overflowing, the family returned home to a large meal. They lingered over their roast lamb and vegetables, followed by hot plum pudding with cream, until well into the afternoon, when the heat of the kitchen drove them out to the verandah to drink tea. Susannah went off to the bedroom to settle Thomas for his afternoon sleep and to feed George before putting him back in his cradle. She returned with a long, thin package wrapped in tissue paper.

‘Here’s your present, dear,’ she said, passing the package to Amy before taking her seat again. ‘It’s from your father and I.’

‘Your ma chose it, though—it was her idea,’ Jack put in.

‘Thank you.’ Amy smiled at them both, and wondered what it might be. The previous year they had given her some coral beads, the sort little girls wore, and to add injury to insult the string was too short to go around her neck comfortably. The beads had lain discarded in the back of a drawer ever since. She hoped she would not have to make too much of a show of pleasure this year.

She gave a gasp as she opened the parcel. ‘A parasol! It’s beautiful—I’ve never had such a lovely thing!’ She carefully opened out the parasol, running her fingers along the handle from the mother-of-pearl hook all the way up the smooth wooden stick. The cloth was cream satin, with bands of pale lemon silk and a fringe of the same lemon colour. Amy twirled the parasol, making the fringe fly out prettily, then she placed it reverently on her chair, impulsively rushed over to Susannah and flung her arms around her stepmother’s neck. ‘Thank you,’ she said, planting a kiss on Susannah’s cheek. She stood back, suddenly shy.

‘I… I’m glad you like it.’ Susannah looked a little dazed. She recovered herself and added in something closer to her usual tone, ‘I like you to look smart when you come out with us—it reflects on me when you’re untidy.’

Jack beamed at them both. ‘That was a good present you picked, Susannah,’ he said, and Amy embraced him, too.

She darted off to her bedroom to fetch her gifts for the others. ‘They’re nothing much, just things I made myself.’ She handed small parcels to the men first; they opened them to reveal handkerchiefs she had made from fine cotton, each with the initial of the recipient embroidered in one corner. ‘So many “Js”,’—you nearly got a “J” too, Harry, I realised just in time.’ Then she handed Susannah her package. ‘I hope you like it,’ she said anxiously.

Susannah gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, then opened the parcel. ‘Oh,’ she said in surprise. She carefully lifted the purse from its wrapping. It was of bronze satin (scraps Amy had begged from one of Edie’s dresses, though she had no intention of telling Susannah that), and Amy had used soft-coloured silk threads to embroider delicate leafy stems twining around tiny flowers. She had made a carrying band for the purse out of mauve ribbon left over from a bonnet she had helped Lizzie alter. ‘Oh, Amy, this is really rather nice. And you made it yourself? It must have taken you a long time. Thank you, dear.’ Susannah offered Amy her cheek, and Amy brushed her own against it.

Jimmy produced a pair of gloves for Susannah, bought in Auckland before he left, which she exclaimed over delightedly. He turned to Amy. ‘I… ah… I haven’t got you a real present, Amy. I thought you might like these, though.’ He handed her a small tin of toffees.

‘Oh,’ Amy said, trying unsuccessfully to look pleased. ‘Thank you, I’m sure they’ll be very nice.’ She sat silent while the others chatted around her, then excused herself as soon as she politely could and went off to her room, where she sat on her bed.
Lollies—just as though I’m a baby. He does think I’m just a little girl. I thought he liked me. He even held my hand. He must have thought I needed minding, like a baby
.

There was a soft tap on her door; she looked up to see Jimmy standing in the doorway. He put his finger to his lips and beckoned her. ‘Do you want something?’ she asked, her voice cool.

‘Yes,’ he said quietly. ‘Come for a walk with me.’

‘No, thank you. I don’t want to.’

‘Come on, Amy, don’t be difficult. Susannah wanted to come with me, and I had to make her think I was just going out to… you know. If she hears us talking she’ll make a fuss.’

Amy was too used to doing what she was told to argue. She went with Jimmy down the passage and through the kitchen to the back door.

She was determined to be aloof. When Jimmy made to help her climb down from the first fence she pushed his hands away. They walked side-by-side in silence until they were around the hill and out of sight of the house. Jimmy stopped abruptly and stepped in front of her. Amy looked at the ground until he put his hand on her chin and forced her to look up into his face.

‘I’ve hurt you, haven’t I? I’m sorry, little one—I should have warned you, but I didn’t think of it in time. Don’t you see—I couldn’t give you something special in front of everyone.’ He grinned at her. ‘Your father and Susannah think you’re too young for men—I don’t think it’s the right time to let them know they’re wrong, so I’ve got to pretend I haven’t noticed you’ve…’ his eyes flicked to her chest briefly, then returned to her face ‘grown up… either. But I have.’ His smile was replaced for a moment by a more earnest expression that sent a shiver through Amy.

Jimmy took hold of her hand, then reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out a small box. He placed it on Amy’s palm and closed her fingers around it. ‘How could you think I wouldn’t have a real present for you?’ he said, the slightest hint of reproach in his voice.

‘I… I’m sorry, I was silly and thoughtless.’

‘No, you weren’t. You’re never thoughtless. Aren’t you going to see what’s in it?’ He let go of her hand.

Amy lifted the lid of the box. Lying on a bed of white velvet was a gold brooch in the shape of a letter ‘A’. She touched it in disbelief, and looked up at Jimmy with wide eyes. ‘For me? It’s gold! I’ve never had anything gold before. Oh, it must have cost you a lot of money.’

Jimmy shrugged. ‘Father’s still paying my allowance into the bank while I’m down here. And I can’t think of anything I’d rather spend money on than making you happy. You like it?’

‘I love it!’ Her face dropped. ‘What’ll I tell Susannah about it, though?’

‘Don’t tell her anything. I’m afraid you won’t be able to show anyone—at least not for a while. Can’t you wear it somewhere no one will see it?’

Amy nodded. ‘I can wear it under my dress. I’ll wear it every day.’ She gave him a radiant smile.

‘Could you put it on now, just for a minute, so I can see it?’

‘Of course.’ She tried to fasten the brooch at the front of her collar, but it was awkward without a mirror. Her fingers fumbled with the catch.

‘Let me.’ Jimmy took the brooch and pinned it deftly, but when it was done instead of dropping his hands he slid them on to her shoulders. He leaned towards her till his face was only a few inches from hers and caressed her shoulders with his fingers. ‘Don’t I get a thank-you?’ he asked, looking into her uptilted face.

Amy opened her mouth, but before she could get any words out Jimmy’s mouth was on hers, and she gave a little mew of surprise. He raised his head and smiled down at her.

‘I’m afraid we’d better go back now,’ he said, letting his hands drop from her shoulders. ‘They’ll miss us soon. Happy Christmas, little one.’

‘It’s the best Christmas I’ve ever had.’ Amy took off the brooch, slipped her hand into his and walked back to the house at his side, clutching her brooch in a blissful dream.

December 1883 – January 1884

Amy woke next morning with the brief softness of Jimmy's lips on hers still fresh in her memory.

When she looked out her bedroom window she saw that this year the weather was not going to allow the Boxing Day start to haymaking that was tradition in the valley. There was no rain falling, but the sky was overcast, not the clear blue her father always insisted on before he would allow the hay to be cut. Unless they could be sure of four or five sunny days in a row, there was a risk of producing piles of rotting grass instead of sweet-smelling hay.

Amy went out to an empty kitchen to start making breakfast. While she was sawing slices of bacon she heard the passage door open, and she turned an eager face to see Jimmy entering.

‘I hoped it would be you,’ she said. He strode across the room and stood smiling down at her, then he bent and gave her a kiss so gentle she could only just feel the tickle of his moustache on her lips. The noise of a baby crying came faintly down the passage, Jimmy took a step backwards, and they both turned guiltily at the noise.

‘Not very private in here, is it?’ Jimmy said ruefully. ‘I don’t suppose there’s any chance of disappearing for a while after breakfast?’

‘Not really. We’ve got to do the ironing, that’ll take all day. It might rain later, too, so no one would believe you wanted me to take you for a walk and show you some more of the farm.’

‘Mmm. I suppose that means we’ll all be stuck inside. There’s not a lot to do here when it rains. Ah, well,’ he sighed, ‘I’ll do my duty and talk to my sister. Are you wearing your present?’ he added with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Where is it?’

Amy smiled shyly at him. ‘It’s here.’ She pointed to the place between her breasts where she had pinned the brooch to her chemise.

‘I’ll have to take your word for that, won’t I?’ Jimmy said, his eyes dancing.

The sky soon broke into drizzle and occasional downpours. Amy and Susannah spent the day ironing, an exercise that did not normally put Susannah in the best of tempers, but Jimmy sat in the kitchen with them for much of the time, feeding Susannah’s insatiable desire for news of Auckland.

The weather showed no sign of improving over the next few days. Jimmy joined Amy in the dairy on Friday morning, but she could tell from his restlessness as he wandered around the room that he was tired of being trapped inside so much.

‘What would you do if you were home and it got rainy like this?’ she asked as she formed the butter into pats.

‘Oh, there’s always something to do. Visit people, maybe go to the theatre.’

‘The theatre! Do you go there much?’

‘Quite a lot. I went to a Shakespeare play a couple of months ago, it was… what was it? That one with the girl and her old father stuck on a island—do you know anything about Shakespeare?’ he asked, looking at Amy doubtfully.

‘That’s
The Tempest
,’ said Amy. ‘
 
“I might call him a thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble.” That’s what Miranda says when she first sees Ferdinand, because she’s never seen anyone like…’ She trailed off, seeing Jimmy’s surprised expression.
I hope he doesn’t think I’m showing off
.

‘There’s more to you than meets the eye,’ he said. ‘So you’re keen on plays, are you? Where on earth do you manage to see them?’

‘I’ve never been to a play,’ she admitted. ‘I just read them sometimes.’

‘Do you think you’d like to see one?’

‘I’d love it.’ For a few moments Amy was so lost in contemplation that she forgot to work the butter. ‘But they don’t ever come to little places like Ruatane, and I never go anywhere else.’ She gave him a sad smile.