Beyond Innocence (20 page)

“Getting involved in this could mean social and political suicide. Every small step forward for the farm is dependent on favours and popularity. This will affect everyone here and I’ve got to say, I’m loath to jump into this.”

“He’s a human being, and about to be hanged for something he may not have done. I know what it is to be innocent of a crime and I will do this alone if I have to,” said Electra.

William frowned, given little choice. “All I can think to do is appeal to the governor to give him a proper trial like any other member of the colony. I can try to find someone who will defend him, but we’ll have to accept the final outcome.”

“Surely the child will say he didn’t hurt her,” said Electra.

“Aye, she may do for now but by the time her parents have finished with the bairn, she’ll be believin’ what they believe,” answered Callum.

Yaraay wept quietly while they spoke and Electra put her arm around the woman’s shoulders, surprised that Yaraay’s semi-nakedness no longer made her uncomfortable, although it was a relief to see she had tied a small skirt of possum skin over her lower regions. However, Shelagh seemed to have trouble keeping her eyes averted from Yaraay’s bare breasts. The two men directed most of their attention to Billy.

William explained to Billy that he would go to the governor’s residence immediately. He would then head to the courthouse in Sydney Town to make inquiries as to Bulanggi’s welfare.

“I come too, boss,” said Billy.

“That’s a brave offer but I think I’ll achieve more on my own. Come back before lunch tomorrow. I should be back,” said William, putting a reassuring hand on Billy’s shoulder.

As Billy and Yaraay turned to go, Yaraay grabbed Electra’s hand and placed it against her cheek. She asked Billy a question and turned back to Electra, still holding her hand, and said, “Ecca sista.”These simple words brought tears to Electra’s eyes. With a deep sense of gratitude and privilege, she watched the two natives walk out of the yard and jog across the near paddock until they were out of sight.

• • •

The wind whipped William’s coat around his body as he rode to the governor’s residence in Parramatta. He had no idea if Bulanggi was guilty or not and was risking his reputation based on his wife’s instinct. It would have been highly preferable to have simply not become involved in the whole matter. No opinion would have been necessary, nor would he have had to challenge the actions of the New South Wales Corps. Well, it was too late to consider what he would have done, he thought as he rounded the curved roadway toward the governor’s residence.

A groom ran to take his horse and in answer to his question, informed him the governor had gone to Sydney Town on business. William took back the reins, turned his horse, and rode for town.

The stallion, quite used to the journey between Parramatta and Sydney Town, needed little assistance from its rider. This left William with time to ruminate on his contemptible treatment of Electra the night before.

To think he had before him, naked and vulnerable, a woman of inestimable beauty and unexplored passion. And instead of appreciating her like a rare jewel, he treated her like a common whore. He worked his jaw, angry at his despicable behaviour. The image of her untamed curls around her breast aroused him once more and he shifted, uncomfortable on the saddle. “Well, Radcliffe, you fool, enjoy the picture because the real thing will never be yours again,” he muttered. He recalled the passion his touch ignited, rising in her from some deep untapped well. Until his overpowering need to punish her stamped it out. How does a man apologize for such behaviour? Damn, how had she faced him earlier and even brought herself to speak to him? But she had. She also trusted he would act honourably with the native, Bulanggi. He would certainly try. In all honesty, he could not say whether he was doing it for Bulanggi or for her.

The sun sat low in the sky when he rode down the main street of Sydney Town. He decided his visit to the governor could wait until he ensured Bulanggi was unharmed. As he neared the courthouse, loud, agitated voices reached his ears. This was followed by the unmistakable crack of a rock hitting the side of the building.

His feet had barely touched the ground when he was bombarded by demands of support to “hang the black bastard now.” Fools, the lot of them. To convict a man as guilty based on the colour of his skin. He caught the feral gleam in the eyes of the surrounding men and thought better of voicing his opinion. He would be no help to Bulanggi dead.

He unhooked a bag from his saddle and, taking the stairs in two strides, marched through the door — into the muzzle of a musket.

“Good heavens, Tunbridge. What are you about? That thing could go off,” said William, pushing the barrel aside.

“Oh, it’s you, Mr. Radcliffe,” said the man, relief clear on his face. “I can’t be too careful you see, they want to lynch the black mongrel and I’ve been told to see they don’t. Although it’s as much as he deserves.”

“We don’t know what he deserves, sergeant. Perhaps opinions should be reserved until he gets a chance to speak for himself.”

The sergeant shifted uneasily as realization dawned. William did not necessarily share his views on the prisoner.

“Now I’d like to see the prisoner, if you’d be so good as to unlock the cell.”

The sergeant sucked in air through his teeth. “Well sir, I’m not sure as how that would be in order. The captain said the cell was not to be unlocked for the prisoner’s safety.”

“For God’s sake, sergeant, I’m on my way to see the governor and can’t report on the man’s welfare unless I’ve seen him for myself.” He had only bent the truth a little.

“Ah, for the governor. Why didn’t you say so? Follow me sir.” The sergeant went through a door, down a hall, and stopped outside a small, cramped room with iron bars on the door. Inserting the large key into the lock, he entered the room and viciously kicked the huddled form in the corner. William reached over and gripped the sergeant’s arm. The man paled, grunting with the effort of trying to wrench his arm free.

William’s eyes narrowed as he brought his face inches from the sergeant’s. “If you touch him again, I will not be so kind.”

The sergeant spat on the floor and left the room, rubbing his bruised arm. Bulanggi gazed sightlessly at William, terror preventing recognition. Blood congealed under his nose and his left eye was swollen shut. William squatted on the floor next to him, waiting silently for Bulanggi to stop trembling and focus on his face. After some minutes, Bulanggi seemed to realize William had not come to hurt him and carefully raised his head.

“Masta William,” he whispered. “Why you come?”

William slipped the bag from his shoulder. He retrieved a small container of water and offered it to Bulanggi. The man drank thirstily, nodding in gratitude as he handed the container back.

“Billy came. He told us what happened. I will speak to the governor. You can tell them what happened.”

Bulanggi shook his head. “I black fella. They hang.”

William stood and handed the water container to Bulanggi. “I will go now and see the governor. You keep that,” he nodded at the water container and reached into his bag, handing him some bread and two apples. Bulanggi tried to stand to shake William’s hand but buckled over clutching his stomach, and fell back onto the floor. William placed his hand on Bulanggi’s shoulder and gritted his teeth as he left the cell.

He could not bring himself to even speak to the sergeant as he left the courthouse. Safer this way, for the man in any case. With any luck, he would find the governor before he sat for his evening meal. Otherwise, the discussion would have to wait for the morning.

• • •

The doorman ushered William into the large house where Governor Macquarie stayed on his trips to Sydney.

“William, lad, it’s grand to see ye again. What brings ye in such a fevered hurry to ma door at this hour?” He gestured with an empty glass and, at William’s nod, poured a generous splash of whisky into it.

“It’s the Purnell matter, sir. I need to speak with you urgently if I may.”

“Abominable situation. Utterly unthinkable,” he said shaking his head. “A parent’s greatest fear, but if ye’ve information, speak your piece.”

The governor gestured to a chair and they both sat.

William swirled the amber liquid in his glass as he chose his words. “I have reason to believe the situation is not as the Purnells allege.”

The governor raised one eyebrow and indicated for him to continue.

“My wife has some acquaintance with the prisoner’s wife and the other women at his camp.”

“Mmm, why am I no’ surprised at that? Mrs. Radcliffe lives by her own rules it would seem,” he said, with an amused glint in his eyes.

William sighed. “Yes, I believe you may be right about that. The thing is, sir, the women and one of my workers, Billy, have given us another equally plausible story.”

“The man is to be hanged, William. If ye have proof o’ his innocence ye’d best share it and quickly.”

Excluding no detail, William related the story as Billy had told it. He explained Bulanggi had two children of his own and had been described as a kind and gentle father. In conclusion, he informed the governor of the violence already perpetrated on the prisoner and the probability of more to come.

The governor heaved a loud sigh and shook his head. “We’ll be damned if we hang him and damned if we dinna. If he hangs and he’s innocent, the blacks will take their revenge wherever they can. If he doesna’ hang, guilty or innocent, the Purnells and their supporters will take their own vigilante action and he’ll die anyway.”

“What about the child? She’s old enough to know what happened. Is there some way she can be gently questioned without the parents influence? She’s all we’ve got, sir, there are no more witnesses.”

The governor shrugged. “Charles Purnell states the child has agreed the man touched her where he shouldna.”

“I would like to ask two things of you, sir.”

“Go ahead,William, I canna guarantee you’ll like ma answers though.”

William nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll ask anyway. The prisoner is being mistreated by the sergeant in charge and has already been injured by the soldiers who made the arrest. I would ask that you ensure he is not further harmed unless his guilt is confirmed.”

“Aye, I can certainly do that.”

“The second thing is that you follow through on your policy of equal treatment for all inhabitants of the colony.” Before the governor could respond, William continued. “By that I mean that the man gets a fair trial and you allow me to organize a defence for him.”

“Take care what ye ask of me, William. Ma enemies already gain support in England. A decision like this could tip the balance and end ma governance.”

“It pains me to put you in this position, sir. However, I can but appeal to your sense of justice and will accept whatever decision you make.” William sat back in his chair, knowing he had said all he dared to the governor.

Macquarie sighed, rubbing his hand across his cheek. “Let me think on’t lad. I will have an answer for ye come morning. Meanwhile I will ensure the prisoner is safe.” He reached for the decanter and refilled his glass, offering the same to William. “Now if we’re done, how about staying for dinner and we can discuss more pleasant subjects. Your bonnie wife for instance,” he said, smiling.

William thanked him but declined, saying he would return first thing in the morning for the governor’s answer. There was a man versed in matters of law he wanted to visit before nightfall.

• • •

Electra ate her evening meal with Callum and Shelagh, who had come at her invitation to the big house. The lighthearted gaiety of their normal encounters was missing as they explored every option for saving Bulanggi’s life.

They parted reluctantly, knowing any discussion held little relevance until they knew the outcome of William’s visit to the governor. With sleep eluding her, Electra settled on the veranda, wrapped in a large woolen shawl, and gazed up at the sky. It was a clear night and she could see a scatter of stars William had described as the Southern Cross. She felt a sense of displacement at not seeing the Pole Star or the outline of the Bear. Not even the sky was familiar in this land. There was a dim half moon, one side a hazy, jagged line, but bright enough to sit without a lamp.

As she sat in the half dark of the moonlit veranda, Electra knew she had finally run out of distractions to avoid the thorny subject of her relationship with William.

Despite Shelagh’s explanation for William’s conduct, anger still simmered in her blood at his offensive assumptions two nights ago. The gall of him to think she had been the captain’s mistress. And worse, to think it gave him leave to be callous and rough with her. She took a deep breath to settle the churning in her stomach and lifted her eyes to the vast night sky. If she was honest with herself, despite his rough and selfish treatment, William’s touch had not been abhorrent. Quite the opposite.

The memory of his dark blue eyes hungrily devouring her naked body, sent shivers up her spine. She recalled the moment he had urgently ripped off his own clothes. And the sight of his firm, broad shoulders and his nut-brown chest with a patch of soft golden hair glowing in the candle light. The way his body tapered to the slim waist and below it … She felt the heat in her cheeks at the unmistakable evidence of his arousal. She sighed, unable to deny that his determined possession of her and her passionate response was more exciting than anything she could have imagined. In fact, it had been a revelation to find that the touch of a man she cared for bore no resemblance to her uncle’s furtive fumbling.

However, the emotions William stirred in her did not erase the fact that he did not trust or respect her. More importantly, he did not love her. There were just too many obstacles for this ever to be a real marriage and she had no doubt William would agree. When she first accepted his offer of marriage, she had not envisaged the possibility of loving him. For her, it was no longer a marriage of convenience. So how could she stay when he did not feel the same?