Going Home (21 page)

She continued, ‘You and I, Amelia, have not been exposed to other cultures, to a different race or another totally different way of life. We have led such sheltered lives that we do not have any conception of how it would be in such a situation. I think that perhaps you should open up the discussion with Mrs Boyle or her daughter. They live in a country where there is another race. Ask their opinion, in a general
sort of way, without being too specific.’

‘I am being very foolish, am I not, Harriet?’ Amelia gave a wan smile. ‘Why should I ever think on such things? I thought I was such a sensible person.’

Harriet caught hold of her hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘You are a sensible person,’ she said gently. ‘But even sensible people can fall in love.’

But I don’t know if I am in love, Amelia pondered. My emotions play such tricks on me when he is near. Is it his manner? His looks? Or is it simply because he is different and therefore intriguing? I hope that no-one notices any difference in my behaviour towards him, I hope that
he
doesn’t notice anything untoward. I would be
mortified
if my feelings were so transparent.

Harriet started as governess the next day and as her pupil lived in York, she was able to come home in the evening. ‘I will be home in time to prepare supper, Amelia,’ she said, picking up her bag. ‘So don’t put yourself out too much.’

‘I won’t.’ Amelia opened the door to let her out. ‘I trust everything will go well and that your pupil is amiable.’

She prepared the lesson which she was to teach to Elizabeth’s pupil, who was due to arrive at nine o’clock, but by nine thirty she hadn’t arrived. I do hope that she isn’t going to stop coming, she worried. Elizabeth and Harriet will barely be able to manage their finances without
any pupils. At ten o’clock there was a knock on the door and a message was given that the child was ill and wouldn’t be coming for her lessons until the next day.

Well, she thought, Elizabeth will be home this evening, so she will be able to teach her herself tomorrow. I’m not needed after all. She busied herself around the small house, tidying books and papers, straightening pictures on the wall, and as she did so she stopped to read a framed tract, one which she had seen previously, but had not read. It was handwritten and faded, which was probably why it was in a dark corner to protect it from the light.

Someone, probably a child, had painted small blue flowers around the words, but the writing was unmistakably in an adult’s hand.

‘To my dearest daughters,’
Amelia read, and reached to lift the frame from the wall, to see it better.

‘Oh, do not think, though far away
,

Thou are forgot by me;

Oh, no, believe there’s not a day

But I’ll remember thee.

From your ever-loving mother, Rose Elizabeth Fielding.’

How sad. Amelia felt her eyes prickle with tears. So who looked after Elizabeth and Harriet as children? Elizabeth had said she was only eight when her mother died. Relatives perhaps? Though I have not heard them mention any.

She prepared lunch for herself and was about
to put on her hat to go out for a walk when there was a knock on the door. It was Ralph and Jack Mungo, who both raised their hats in greeting.

‘G’afternoon, Cousin Amelia,’ said Ralph.

‘G’day, Miss Amelia,’ Jack smiled.

‘So glad to find you in.’ Ralph appeared rather anxious. ‘Are you very busy? Is your pupil with you?’

‘No, she is ill and couldn’t come today.’ She hesitated about inviting them in. Would it be proper? She saw one of Harriet’s neighbours looking out of her window, directly towards them. ‘I was about to go out for a walk. Would you care to join me?’

They agreed that they would and she slipped back into the house for her hat and jacket, and took a basket with her for she intended to buy something for supper.

Ralph smiled when he saw the basket. ‘Are you playing at housekeeping, Amelia? Not your usual role?’

She took offence, she knew not why. ‘I may not have had much experience,’ she said sharply, ‘but I am intelligent enough to know how, should the occasion arise, as it has today.’

She saw him wince and glance at Jack who lowered his eyes. I don’t know why Cousin Ralph irritates me so, she thought vexedly. But he always seems to say the wrong thing. He is heedless and speaks as he finds, unlike Jack, who is so discriminating and mindful of the effect his observations might have.

‘I wanted to talk to you, Amelia, but perhaps today wouldn’t be a good day after all,’ Ralph began.

‘Why not?’ She sounded waspish, she realized, and tried to temper her voice with warmth. ‘It’s a sunny day, just right for pleasantries.’

She heard him give a small sigh, and then Jack broke in. ‘Might I suggest we walk by the river for a little while and then perhaps call in somewhere for coffee, there are several pleasant places to stop to eat or drink.’

‘Yes,’ she answered quickly, ‘that would be very nice.’ He is so thoughtful, so considerate, always ready to smooth out difficulties. She gave him an appreciative smile.

They chatted as they walked; generalities, of the differences in climate between Australia and England, of the food crops which grew in one country and not another and of the wildlife in Australia.

‘Your brother Roger would like to see the flora of Australia,’ Jack remarked. ‘He is so interested in all growing things.’

‘Did he say that he would?’ Amelia expressed surprise, ‘I have never heard him say that he would like to travel.’

‘Perhaps he feels his life is mapped out for him here,’ Ralph said. ‘It is sometimes expected that a son should carry on in the tradition of his father.’

‘But in that case, he would follow in our father’s footsteps and have a seagoing career,’
Amelia replied. ‘And he has never suggested that. It is our mother who runs the estate with Samuel. Papa takes an interest of course, but he is first and foremost a seaman.’

Ralph shrugged. ‘Then as eldest son, Roger must think he has to eventually take over the estate from your mother and Samuel. Joseph is too young and,’ he glanced at her and added, ‘presumably you don’t want to? You will no doubt marry well and move away from the district.’

She felt herself grow hot and she answered pertly. ‘I shall only marry
well
, cousin, when, or if, I find someone to suit me. It is not an absolute requirement!’

They came back into the main thoroughfare and Jack once again suggested they stop for coffee. They were close by the Minster and the bells were pealing; there was a small café across the street so they crossed over and took a table by the window, ordering coffee and cakes.

Amelia and Jack chatted as they waited for their order, but Ralph was silent until Jack asked quietly, ‘Are you going to discuss the issue of Scott with Miss Amelia, Ralph? Or will you wait until we are back in Holderness?’

‘I don’t know if the time is right,’ Ralph said abruptly. ‘Besides, it only affects me. No-one else.’

Amelia glanced at him. He was worried over something. Had she been rather sharp? Was his indiscreet attitude the result of the matter which
was bothering him and not really directed at her?

‘Perhaps a problem shared – ?’ she suggested.

‘I doubt if you could understand the situation, Amelia,’ he replied, adding swiftly, ‘and that does not mean to say that I consider you to be without understanding or compassion.’

He waited as the coffee was brought and poured and then continued. ‘The circumstances are rather unusual. Less than twelve months ago, I was part of a normal family life. I was a son and a brother, and then I was thrown into turmoil. I was no longer who I appeared to be. My mother was not my mother, my father was not my father and my sister was not my sister. So who am I?

‘I came to England to find out and now I think I have discoverd who I am, or at least who my father is. My mother is still an enigma.’

Amelia leaned forward eagerly. ‘You have found your father? Is this the man you have been visiting? Scott, the man you and my father went to meet?’

Ralph nodded. ‘The same.’

Amelia waited for more revelations but when none came, asked tentatively, ‘So – what are your feelings? Have you told him? Does he know he has a son?’

‘I haven’t told him.’ Ralph stirred his coffee and gazed down at the swirling liquid. ‘And whether he knows of my existence I couldn’t say. But as for my feelings towards him, on the brief
meetings I have had with him, I can honestly say that I don’t like him. I would, I think, be ashamed to call him Father. It seems to me that the man has no soul. I believe that he has sold it to the Devil.’

CAPTAIN LINTON ESCORTED
Elizabeth back to York that evening, but there was scarcely time for more than a greeting for he was anxious to get back to Holderness immediately, as the next day he was travelling to London on Navy business.

‘Thank you so much for your kindness in bringing me home, Captain Linton, and please thank Mrs Linton again most sincerely, for her compassion when I was unwell.’

‘Are you feeling better, Elizabeth?’ Amelia asked. ‘You don’t look as peaky.’

‘So much better,’ Elizabeth said gratefully. ‘I feel more relaxed in spirit as well as in health.’

‘Goodbye, then, Amelia,’ Harriet said. ‘You have been such a tonic. Do come again to visit us.’

With promises that she would, Amelia joined her father, Ralph and Jack at the carriage, and waved goodbye to the two sisters as they stood by their door.

‘How is your new position, Harriet?’ Elizabeth
took off her hat whilst her sister put the kettle on the fire.

‘I think it will do very well. Amy is a pleasant child, not given to tantrums, though she is not the brightest pupil I have taught.’ She turned to Elizabeth. ‘You look very well, the nervous strain appears to have gone from you.’

‘Yes.’ Elizabeth sat down in the chair. ‘The Linton family have a way of putting one at ease.’ She ran her fingers over her lips meditatively. ‘Such an extraordinary thing, Harriet, and I couldn’t tell you before when we were at Elmswell Manor, because I felt so unwell. But it was something which was said by Mrs Linton and Mrs Boyle which made me ill.’

‘I cannot think that they were unkind or disparaging!’ Harriet said in astonishment.

‘No! No!’ Elizabeth was quick to deny it. ‘It was what was said about Mrs Linton’s past – we didn’t know, because Amelia had never remarked on it – ’

‘That her mother had been a convict!’ Harriet finished for her. ‘I know. Amelia discussed it with me. Oh, Elizabeth.’ Harriet knelt by her sister’s chair. ‘Could we tell her of Mama? It would be such a relief to speak of it, and especially now that we know of Mr Hawkins too.’

‘Mr Hawkins?’ Elizabeth frowned. ‘What of him?’

‘You didn’t hear? Well, Mrs Linton’s brother and his wife are not Mr Hawkins’s real parents, and they too were transported.’

‘That must be Meg, of whom Mrs Linton spoke most affectionately,’ Elizabeth said thoughtfully.

‘Indeed. Amelia refers to her as Aunt Meg,’ Harriet explained. ‘But Mr Hawkins has come to England to look for his natural parents, or at least for his father, for his mother died. Please, Elizabeth,’ she begged. ‘May we speak of our own past troubles, even if only to Amelia and her mother? They would, I’m sure, be so understanding.’

Elizabeth nodded. ‘You are right, Harriet. It was such a relief when I discovered that it wasn’t only wicked people who were transported. Mrs Linton wasn’t wicked, I’m convinced of that, she is far too gentle even to have bad thoughts.’ Her lips trembled and her voice was choked as she whispered, ‘Mama wasn’t wicked either, even though they said that she was, even though
he
kept on telling us that she was.
Telling. Telling. Telling,’
she said fiercely and tears started to fall.

Harriet stroked her hand. ‘Don’t upset yourself, Elizabeth. He is the one who is wicked. We both know that, and one day he will answer for it.’

‘I wish I could say that the matter was resolved, sir,’ Ralph replied in answer to Philip Linton’s question on how his enquiries were progressing. ‘It seems most likely that Edward Scott is my father and I am not overjoyed by the revelation. But from what Henderson has said, and he
opened up considerably – the poor fellow seems to have been burdened by Scott’s dealings for many years – it would appear that Scott’s wife was with child when she was transported.

‘Everything fits,’ he said morosely, ‘the year, the trial. But what I don’t understand is why Scott didn’t plead for leniency.’

‘You need to give yourself some time to think this through,’ Philip Linton said, ‘and of course you do not have to go any further with this. You may save yourself a great deal of pain by just leaving things as they are – ’

‘I can’t, sir,’ Ralph interrupted. ‘I may open a cask of worms, but I must continue.’

Philip nodded. ‘Very well. Then you must go back to York and look at the deposition. I believe that murder cases come under a special section, but you should be able to find written evidence from the witnesses, therefore Scott’s evidence should be there also. But take time off,’ he urged. ‘See the countryside, help on the estate if you wish. There is nothing like physical work to take your mind off problems.’

‘Thank you, sir,’ Ralph was grateful. ‘I think that perhaps I will do that.’

He was out early the next morning with Roger and Samuel to look over the estate, leaving Jack to be entertained by Amelia and her mother. Mrs Boyle and Phoebe were still away.

‘May we ride out somewhere, Mrs Linton?’ Jack asked. ‘Or at least if you and Miss Amelia should care to ride I would walk.’

‘I must decline, I’m afraid,’ Emily Linton said regretfully. ‘I have a meeting planned for today with some of our tenants. They come to lunch once a month and discuss various issues or problems, if they have any. But Amelia, you would enjoy that, I think? And one of the grooms could go with you and take a spare mount for you, Jack, in case you tire of walking.’

She smiled as she spoke, remembering his father Benne and knowing that if Jack was like his father then he wouldn’t tire. Walking or running was part of the Aborigine tradition, born of long ago when they had been huntsmen, tracking for days in search of prey.