Dorothy Eden (16 page)

The bird-bath which Eugenia had found at the blacksmith’s in Parramatta—it had been discarded by immigrants whose dray was already overloaded—was just tolerated by Peabody.

‘For them blasted crows!’ he said.

‘No, when the garden has grown the small birds will come. I have seen them in the garden at Government House. Wrens and fantails, and finches with wonderful colours.’

‘You’ll get them big greedy wood pigeons, too,’ Peabody said gloomily. ‘And kookaburras and galahs deafening you.’

Eugenia ignored his pessimism, saying dreamily, ‘I can hardly imagine when all this will be a bower of flowers and trees and birds.’

Then the immense lonely distances would be hidden, she thought privately. But all Peabody could say was that it would take too long for everything to grow the way she imagined it.

‘You’re like the master,’ Peabody grumbled. ‘Always talking of his wines maturing. He’s going to live to drink his fifty-year-old brandy, he says. Laid down his first year at Yarrabee. That’s a long time to wait. And you waiting for your garden to look like an English one.’

The shut-in look came over the leathery face.

‘Blasted country,’ he said, shuffling away.

That was when the foolish surly fellow distressed Eugenia. He constantly struck that sad lonely chord in her own self. But she would overcome her homesickness. She was determined to.

M
RS ASHBURTON HAD LOST
a shawl, and a small tapestry bag containing various necessities such as rice powder, gloves, handkerchiefs, and smelling salts, and two fans.

She couldn’t imagine where she had mislaid these articles, but Eugenia was not to allow this misfortune to upset the weekend. The only problem was that Mrs Ashburton could not possibly go down to dinner without carrying a fan, or venture outdoors without gloves. She was also inclined to grow faint if she knew there were no smelling salts available. And if one could only see her complexion without the aid of a little clever disguise in the way of a touch of rouge and powder!

It was the history of the journey from England to Australia all over again. But now Eugenia found it endearing rather than irritating. She was so happy to have the house full of people. It was immensely exciting, her first house party. She said eagerly, ‘I am sure your bag will be recovered. In the meantime, I can provide you with all the missing articles. Do tell me if you like your room. I don’t believe you have looked at a thing.’

‘Oh, yes, I’ve seen that you have a grand house. And this room is very nice. Very nice.’ The lady’s agitated gaze was turned perfunctorily on the room. She didn’t appear to notice Eugenia’s prettiest patchwork quilt on the bed, or the meticulous equipment of the dressing table from silver-backed mirror to pincushion. ‘Which way does the window face? I can’t endure to be woken by the early morning sun.’ Then she realized her rudeness, and gave one of her wide warm smiles. ‘Come and give me a kiss, Eugenia, bless your heart. I think you have a lovely home, and you’re looking quite bonny. You have a good colour.’

Folded to Mrs Ashburton’s ample crackling bosom, Eugenia protested. ‘That’s only because I’m so excited. I usually go pale in the heat. I look like a peeled potato. But now it’s cooler, and I’m in excellent health. And
so
happy to have you here.’

‘I’m happy to see you, too, my dear. I’ve missed you. What’s more, my son is finding his old mother a trouble and a bore. I declare it’s too bad. All he can say is that he wants to go exploring into the interior. And this may be for a matter of months, or even years. I have no patience with him. Bringing me on this long journey to live all by myself in Sydney. I could have done that in Cheltenham, and much more happily, I tell him. Well, that’s the thoughtlessness of youth. And I must say it’s a pity no one told us of the prevalence of flies in this country. A very persistent insect.’

‘Mrs Ashburton, I must go and look after my other guests. Will you rest for an hour? I’ll tell Mrs Jarvis to bring your tea upstairs. We don’t dine until eight.’

‘Mrs Jarvis? Is that woman still here?’

‘Indeed she is. She is an excellent servant. I couldn’t do without her. Are you prejudiced because she was a convict?’

‘I declare, Eugenia Massingham! That might have been your husband talking. No, I am not prejudiced because she was a convict. I merely thought she might find country life too tedious.’

‘If you are implying she is pining for the life of the streets you are very much mistaken. She is an agreeable and refined woman.’

Mrs Ashburton pouted and puffed, and patted at her wadded grey hair.

‘Well, well, I daresay. You are so young and innocent, Eugenia. I expect you are going to be one of these good women who helps fallen women. For my part, I find them simply tiresome and would happily leave them lying in the gutter.’

Eugenia laughed merrily. ‘Dear Mrs Ashburton! I really have missed you so much.’

‘That’s nice, my dear. But why? With your good-looking husband I scarcely thought you would have time for a thought for your friends.’

The airiness of Mrs Ashburton’s voice was not to be misunderstood. She had a clever way of prying into people’s secrets. Eugenia answered with perfect good humour.

‘Gilbert insists on my leading such a lady’s life that I have a great deal of time for my friends. I sometimes wonder how time went by so quickly in England when I did no more than I do now. But I warn you I have a great many activities planned for this weekend. We are going to play cards and have music after dinner this evening. Tomorrow we are to have a picnic at the lake. It’s five miles away, and I haven’t yet been there. But there are the famous black swans to be seen, and it will be cool by the water. The gentlemen will take their fishing rods. Then on Sunday we will all go to church, and in the evening some friends from Parramatta are coming out for a cold supper. On Monday my husband wants to show the men over his property. They will take their guns and hope to shoot some kangaroos that raided the vineyard the other morning. So we women will sit on the verandah and sew and talk, and in the evening I thought it would be amusing to roll back the rugs in the drawing-room and dance a little. You remember how we used to do this on board ship?’

She paused, and said anxiously, ‘How does all this sound to you? I do want to be a good hostess.’

Mrs Ashburton said in her dry manner, ‘Don’t worry, my lamb, you’ll please your husband.’

There was just a few minutes to see that Bess and Marion were comfortably settled before it was time to dress for dinner.

While Eugenia was doing so, Gilbert came in.

Apart from a formal greeting, in front of the newly arrived guests, they had not spoken since Gilbert’s return.

Now he was anxious to kiss her lovingly and comment on her appearance. He seemed to be in the highest spirits.

‘How have you been while I have been away? Dull?’

‘I have hardly had time. We’ve all been so busy preparing for this weekend. Oh, I engaged another maid temporarily. She will wait on table so that Mrs Jarvis is free to remain in the kitchen. Her name is Ellen and she seems brighter than Phoebe.’

‘Splendid. Keep her permanently, if she suits.’

‘Gilbert, you are too generous to me. Isn’t that extravagant?’

‘Don’t worry about extravagance. I had a successful trip with more orders than I could fill. Next year, with more vines bearing, I’ll be able to increase output. I must get Yarrabee wine established before those fellows on the Hunter River get ahead of me. But I didn’t come back to talk business to my wife. Where’s Jane? Isn’t she helping you to dress?’

‘I’ve sent her to Mrs Ashburton. She has already unpacked for the other ladies.’

Gilbert laid his lips on the back of her neck.

‘Then you must allow your husband to help you.’

‘You putting up my hair!’ She had to laugh merrily, the thought was so amusing, but she wished he would leave her to dress quietly. The pleasant spacious room always seemed too small when he was in it.

‘You’re charming when you laugh,’ he said. ‘Is it true that you didn’t miss me at all?’

‘Why, of course I did.

‘And you were not too afraid at nights?’

‘Oh, I have got over that silly childish nervousness. I am sure you will be glad to hear it.’

‘Yes, I am glad to hear it. But not altogether. I like protecting you.’

Eugenia looked at his too bright eyes.

‘Gilbert, have you been sampling the wine for dinner?’

‘Do I seem intoxicated? Then it must be your effect on me. Supposing I were to help you to undress instead of dress?’

She took a step backwards.

‘Oh, no! There isn’t time.’

‘There should always be time for love.’

‘But at six o’clock in the evening when we have a house full of guests! Truly, you are absurd.’

She kept her voice light and friendly, so that it was unreasonable that the fire should go out of his eyes in that way. As if he could have expected her to be tumbled on the bed at such an inconvenient time.

She tried to make amends.

‘I had intended to wear this gown. What do you think?’

He looked at the pale grey silk abstractedly, and then told her to put it on, so that he could judge better. When she had done this and pinned up her heavy dark hair, he ordered her to walk in front of him, then to sit down with the wide skirt spreading gracefully about her.

Now he was no longer looking at her as a lover, but critically, as if she were to walk on to a stage, before an audience.

‘Yes. I like that,’ he said at last. ‘I must buy you some jewellery.’

‘Oh, no, Gilbert. Get your vineyard established first. I have my pearls, and my little fob watch. That’s enough.’

‘It’s far from enough. Besides, I would like you to wear my jewels. But in the meantime you look very well.’

The waist of the silk dress seemed to have grown a little too tight. It was uncomfortable. She wondered if she could sit through dinner in it, maintaining the elegance Gilbert so admired. She had a feeling of despair as she realized that she preferred this discomfort to the time later tonight when she unhooked and unbuttoned herself and waited for that over-brilliant look to come back to her husband’s eyes.

It was cooler tonight. There was even a hint of frost in the air which seemed to be a minor miracle. The dining table, set with silver and crystal which gleamed in the candlelight, would have done credit to a fine London dining-room. Mr Wentworth looked particularly handsome in his dinner jacket. His friend, Mr Blaxland, had a stubborn weather-beaten face that did not lend itself to meticulous dressing. Doctor Noakes wore a jacket that was unashamedly shiny with age, but Edmund Kelly was natty, and Gilbert looked smoothed down and unfamiliar in his formal clothes.

The ladies had put on a brave show, especially Mrs Ashburton in a lavender gown with many layers of lace and her usual slipping cashmere shawl. Mrs Wentworth was elegant but unobtrusive, Marion Noakes just on the verge of dowdiness, and dear Bess Kelly too plump for her bright blue satin.

The conversation was animated. At first it was entirely congratulatory as the appointments of Yarrabee were discussed. An oasis, a miracle, a remarkable piece of admirable extravagance.

‘Even if you are running before you can walk, Massingham,’ said Mr Wentworth, ‘I maintain you have done right. This kind of thing will encourage the better type of settler to Australia. I hope you are writing letters to England describing your home, Mrs Massingham.’

‘Writing letters! She never stops. Do you, my love?’

‘I miss my sisters, I confess,’ Eugenia said. ‘And there is so much to tell them. Sarah wants to know about houses and clothes, and Milly, who is still in the schoolroom, about the strange animals. Papa about the social system—’

‘You mean the convicts?’ said Marion Noakes in her caustic voice.

‘Not at all,’ Gilbert replied quickly. ‘Eugenia has nothing whatever to do with that unfortunate side of the colony.’

‘A side that is scarcely unfortunate for you, my dear fellow.’ Mr Wentworth’s voice was bland. ‘Where would Yarrabee be without them?’

‘I agree. I merely meant that as far as my wife is concerned they don’t exist. I have asked her never to go near their quarters. Especially after her experience on our wedding night.’

‘We heard all about that, Eugenia,’ Bess Kelly said admiringly. ‘I declare I could never have done what you did. Gilbert said you were nearly killed.’

‘And to think we worried about her being such a novice.’ Eugenia had noticed lately that Marion Noakes’ cynicism was softened when directed at her. ‘There was no need to. Was there, Gilbert? You got a wife with steel in her.’

‘Shouldn’t expect Gilbert to choose any other kind. You ought to know him better than that, my dear.’ Philip Noakes raised his glass. ‘Vintage or nothing, eh, Massingham? Let’s drink to our hostess.’

Eugenia was embarrassed that her lips trembled when she tried to smile. She was delighted and flattered that these, her new friends, all approved of her. They must never know, no one must ever know, of her foolish nervousness of the dark, and her terrible divided emotions about the convicts, one part of her hating and resenting the element of danger they represented, the other full of a profound pity for them.

For this reason she had obeyed Gilbert and had not gone near their quarters.

But now Marion was saying, ‘By keeping away from them, can you really pretend they aren’t there?’

‘No. Not altogether,’ she answered. ‘But they are well-treated here.’ It was true. There had never been any outcry, or disturbance in that forbidden area beyond the stables and cowsheds. At least, not to her knowledge. Only the spilt glass of milk when one of them had dared to set foot in the kitchen.

‘Better treated than they deserve to be, the brutes,’ Mrs Ashburton said comfortably. ‘Eugenia, can you possibly tell me how this syllabub is made, or must I seek information from the kitchen?’

‘From the kitchen, I am afraid. I am quite useless as a cook.’

‘My wife has more important things to do,’ Gilbert interposed, ‘such as entertaining us to some music after dinner.’