The Cedar Cutter (40 page)

‘Why, I was positively fighting off suitors, my dance card full to the brim. I had the most delightful evening at the Governor's. I didn't even notice how quickly the time passed. Gideon was most put out when he finally arrived that I hadn't saved the last dance for him. He became positively attentive. You have, in a few masterful strokes of your needle, revolutionised my life, my confidence, and I doubt I'll ever be able to thank you enough. Ask Grace. She will vouch for what I say. And her dress. Oh!' She clasped her hands to her heart. ‘It brought the house down. We have a list of people begging us to put you in contact with them. Both Grace and I are tempted to refuse and keep you all to ourselves. Would that be too awful? Too selfish?' She giggled inanely and preened in front of the mirror over the mantelpiece.

Lady Alice might very well change her mind when she heard about Roisin's reputation and Jane's antics last night. Roisin clutched the stopper in her hand, the silver edges cutting into her palm, anchoring her to this strange reality. While Carrick languished in gaol accused of murder, likely to hang, here she was discussing the merits of corsets and commissions. ‘Lady Alice, I must speak with Mrs Winchester, or better still her husband. Are they available?'

‘Why I'm sure they are. Shall I ring for tea for you? You still look a little peaky.' She reached out and pulled the velvet sash hidden behind a swathe of curtains.

Would that she could hide so easily.

‘Oh, dear. I don't know where the girl is. That is one of the downsides of living in the country. I don't know how I'm going to manage. Gideon has his heart set on building up the property. I believe it is most suitable. Unlike Wollombi, the Yarramalong is just a few hours by cutter from Sydney. So much closer. Gideon will be able to fulfil his political functions, and of course we will need to maintain a Sydney house as well. Listen to me gossiping on like this. It doesn't seem that anyone is answering my call. I shall go and find Grace for you and rustle up some refreshments. The staff are usually far more attentive.' In a cloud of lily-of-the-valley, the newly corseted Lady Alice Dankworth swept from the room.

Roisin slumped into the chair. Gone was the mousey, downtrodden woman and in her place this vivacious, captivating stranger. What had she done? Lady Alice was hardly recognisable. Had a simple corset caused this, or was it more? Surely Dankworth must have told her about his plans for Ruan. He could hardly bring a child, his son, into their household without even mentioning it to his wife.

She let the air trickle slowly between her lips. She hadn't even thought how she'd tell Mrs Winchester. How to convince her that Carrick was not responsible for the overseer's death. Dankworth could have dropped the stopper at any time. One of the natives could have stolen it. How foolish. Old Pella had said he'd seen him, but Old Pella could barely see beyond the end of his own nose and besides, at the time, Dankworth was in Sydney attending the Governor's Ball with Lady Alice. He couldn't have been in the Yarramalong. The trip back to Wollombi alone would have taken him hours, even on horseback and thence to Sydney. He'd never have made it to the Governor's in time to escort Lady Alice to the ball …

Blood thundered in her ears. Only he hadn't been at the ball. He'd arrived late, barely in time for the last dance.

Roisin shot to her feet and paced across the thick carpet. He hadn't and what had Lady Alice said—
So much closer to Sydney, a matter of hours by cutter from Wyong.

In the midst of her panic she almost missed Mrs Winchester's arrival.

‘I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Lady Alice said you were unwell. You seem positively heated. I do hope it is not a fever. Come sit down here with me.' Mrs Winchester patted the window seat. ‘This morning mist can compromise the lungs. I recommend not venturing out until it has lifted. Did I tell you yesterday what a success my dress was? I have some wonderful plans for a spring wardrobe. I was hoping to call in and see you soon.'

She could not stand another moment of this social chitchat. She had to cut straight to the point. ‘Mrs Winchester I'm here to discuss once more the matter of Carrick O'Connor and his arrest.'

‘Of course, my dear, of course. I haven't had time to bring up the subject with Mr Winchester as yet. He has been so busy and I do feel Gideon should have the opportunity to speak. Lady Alice is such a frail thing and I'd hate to shatter her newfound confidence.'

‘I would like to speak with Mr Winchester. A new matter has come to light and I believe it may impinge on the case.'

‘Shouldn't this new evidence be brought up in the courtroom? That is the proper place for it. The hearing has been postponed until tomorrow, I believe.'

Tomorrow would be too late. She needed to speak to Mr Winchester before Carrick's hearing. ‘There's more to this than I think Mr Winchester is aware. I believe it would be better dealt with outside the court. It concerns Mr Dankworth and Carrick O'Connor.'

Mrs Winchester tipped her head to one side and frowned. ‘Oh. I see. Well?'

‘I'm not sure if you are aware of the fact that Carrick O'Connor and Gideon Dankworth are not unknown to each other.'

Mrs Winchester's frown deepened and she sat down with a thump. ‘Continue.'

‘Carrick O'Connor bears a brand, on his shoulder, inflicted by Dankworth.'

‘A brand? Don't be ridiculous. Men are not branded. That is for animals.'

She'd ignore Mrs Winchester's expression of ridicule. Not be browbeaten as she had yesterday. ‘Not only that, Dankworth was responsible for Carrick's transportation from Ireland.'

Mrs Winchester's head snapped up.

That had got her attention. So she knew something of Dankworth's origins. ‘They have a long-standing feud. Dankworth torched the house in which Carrick's wife and child were seeking refuge and then accused Carrick of inciting riot. That's why he was transported, as a political prisoner.'

‘Oh no. I don't … I can't believe …'

‘Dankworth saw Carrick with Ruan and believed he'd prevent him from taking Ruan, claiming him.'

‘What nonsense. I fail to see how that may incriminate Gideon. Why would he want to see Carrick imprisoned again if the man has served his sentence? It seems we have two entirely unrelated incidents here. You are maligning the poor man, Roisin. I didn't imagine that would be the case. Why, if everyone in Australia harped back to their origins the country would barely function.'

‘Dankworth told me I had to make a decision between my lover and my son.'

‘Carrick O'Connor is your lover?'

She forced the flush beneath the collar of her green jacket and stared Mrs Winchester straight in the eye. ‘I hope he will be my husband one day soon.' If he survived his trial and returned from Ireland.

‘I still fail to see how the two are connected. Why would Gideon want Mr O'Connor to hang? What has he to gain from this?'

‘I don't know. I only know Carrick did not kill the overseer and there is a witness who saw Dankworth commit the crime.'

‘Oh.' Mrs Winchester's shoulders drooped and she slouched back against the chair. ‘This puts a completely different view on the proceedings. I must call Mr Winchester. Who is this person? Where are they?'

‘He is a native called Old Pella.'

‘A native.' She gave a tight laugh. ‘Well that's of no use.' She dismissed the possibility that a native could offer anything of value with a wave of her hand. ‘He can't give evidence. Surely you know that. Natives are not permitted. Being heathens they can't take an oath. Whatever he claims, his words are worthless.'

Roisin swallowed her scream of frustration. Would she be stalled at every turn? No wonder Old Pella said he couldn't help. ‘I also have this.' Roisin drew the stopper from her pocket. ‘Old Pella found it at the base of the tree next to the body, after he had witnessed the shooting.'

Mrs Winchester sank back in the chair, peering down at her palm, the colour seeping from her face.

‘It belongs to Dankworth. It has his initials as the crest. The same as those on the head of his cane.'

‘I'm aware of that.' Mrs Winchester seemed to rally somewhat. ‘However, this doesn't prove anything. It could have been found anywhere.'

‘But it wasn't.'

‘I think you better talk to Mr Winchester. Even though a native can't give evidence in a court of law, I'm sure Mr Winchester would, of course, be interested in talking to the man, unofficially. I'm certain there must be some simple explanation.'

Yes, there was. Roisin was in no doubt now that Gideon Dankworth had killed the overseer deliberately to prevent Carrick from claiming Ruan.

‘There's a very simple explanation.'

Mrs Winchester's mouth dropped open. Roisin turned to the windows that led onto the flagstone verandah.

Lady Alice stood before them, tears streaking her face, clutching a scrap of white linen and dabbing uselessly at her swollen eyes. ‘I hold myself entirely responsible.'

‘My dear.' Mrs Winchester rose and led her to a chair. ‘Now, now, please don't distress yourself, this is nothing of your making.'

Lady Alice pushed Mrs Winchester away, and gave one more swipe to her reddened face, trying hard to regain control. ‘I can do no more than apologise to you, Roisin.' She dropped her head into her hands and rocked back and forth, keening like some bereaved wife, while Mrs Winchester patted her back and made soothing noises. ‘I must ask you to believe me when I say,' she lifted her face and dabbed at her eyes, ‘I had no knowledge I'd in any way be hurting you. You have shown me nothing but kindness and understanding. You have given me back my self-esteem and my self-worth and no matter what the cost, I can't see you suffer.'

A fresh bout of sobbing ensued. Roisin wanted to grab the woman and shake the story from her. She clamped her teeth and dragged in a deep breath.

‘Believe me when I say I didn't know that this mad, foolish plan of Gideon's would come to anything. I have been so very wrong.' Lady Alice shooed away Mrs Winchester's hands and moved in front of the fire, determination etching her flushed face.

‘I have no doubt that Gideon is behind this situation. His hand is written all over it. Roisin is right, it does go back to Ireland. Gideon Dankworth was my father's agent. My father owned several estates in Ireland, he was what the Irish termed an absentee landlord. He sold much of the food produced on the land to England. When the Famine came and times got bad it left the estate impoverished. The tenant farmers could not afford to pay their taxes or even support themselves. Gideon oversaw the clearing of the land. The removal of the tenants.

‘Papa was not a cruel man and he was shocked and horrified by what Gideon had done in his name. Even though several of the tenants were accused and sentenced for burning their own homes and inciting riot, rumours were rife. Papa dispatched Gideon to Australia to escape the furore.'

Roisin's mind swirled as the pieces fell into place. Carrick was one of those transported for insurgency. It explained his relationship with Dankworth. It didn't explain why Dankworth would want Ruan. Why he suddenly, after six years cared whether he had a son and wanted to claim him. She sank down onto the chair by the window and waited to see if Lady Alice could offer any further explanation.

‘Gideon returned to England, he courted me and I was taken in by him. He was a link to the past, a past that had been snatched from me by my father's illness, and I was no longer young. I'm under no illusion now that he married me for my father's money, for his estates. He could never inherit the title that would pass to our son and so would all the lands, on the condition I bore a son. That is where I failed. When Papa died my cousin inherited everything. Gideon didn't care what happened to me, I was of no use to him, and he returned to Australia. Then out of the blue he sent for me. He'd discovered some impoverished woman had given birth to his son and he thought to claim him and thus challenge my cousin's right to the title and estates. No one would know if the boy was mine. He simply had to ensure my compliance.'

‘My dear, I'm certain you exaggerate. All marriages are difficult. I am sure …'

Lady Alice raised her hand to silence Mrs Winchester. ‘If it hadn't been for my vanity, my desire to make Gideon want me, I'd never have come to you and asked for your assistance with my dress. Gideon would never have found you, never found Ruan.'

Roisin felt the weight ease from her shoulders. At least now she knew why he had pursued her, been so insistent about claiming Ruan.

‘Oh, my dear.' Mrs Winchester dropped her head into her hands. ‘I am so sorry. Would you believe me if I told you I knew none of this? It is I who have failed you.'

‘Carrick? What about Carrick?' Roisin screeched the words. None of this would help Carrick.

Lady Alice sat down next to her and took her hand. ‘You do not understand how obsessed Gideon is. When he discovered you and Ruan, he was determined to take the boy, not have him slip through his fingers as he had in Sydney. He spent days watching you, watching Carrick, waiting for the moment when he could spirit him away.'

She'd known all along someone was watching, but she had put it down to Old Pella and relaxed her guard. Dankworth wouldn't stop now. ‘Where is Dankworth?' Her skin turned clammy and her stomach roiled. ‘Where is he?'

Mrs Winchester turned to Lady Alice, who lifted her shoulders. ‘I don't know. He was here this morning, said he would ride and then return for breakfast before he attends the hearing.'

Roisin jumped to her feet. ‘I must go. I must go now. Ruan is alone with Jane.'

‘I'm sure you have nothing to fear, Roisin. Gideon is a gentleman, he wouldn't do anything foolish.'

‘Go. Go now,' Lady Alice said. ‘I'll speak with Mr Winchester on your behalf. Go and find your son. I pray to God he is safe.'