Authors: Téa Cooper
“Richard.” Aunt Emily reached out and patted her husband’s hand soothingly. “You know you love every single one of us and you wouldn’t have us any other way.”
“Yes my dear.” He lifted his head and his eyes crinkled in pleasure as he looked at Lily.
“All we can do is hope the Governor is prepared to see him and his knowledge, maps and measurements are of some use to the colony. I believe he may be in luck, with all the talk of opening up northern New South Wales and the proposal for the Great Northern Railway. We will have to just wait and see.”
And with that Lily had to be satisfied. She felt her chest expand and a feeling of lightheadedness. Her hand lifted to her mouth as she attempted to stifle a yawn but her aunt was far and away too observant to let it pass.
“Bedtime, my dear, and I suspect a comfortable bed and some pillows will see you asleep in no time.”
* * * *
Lily sat up and looked around her in horror. The sun streaming in through the fine lawn curtains told her it was long past dawn and the time the horses should have been loaded. She reached her hand out to the pot of tea and floral cup on the small tray on the bedside table. It was cold to her touch. She scampered from the bed searching for her riding breeches, cursing roundly at their apparent disappearance as she threw the checked silk taffeta dress over her head and shook her hair back fumbling frantically with the mass of intricate buttons. Clasping a pair of slippers in her hands she ran down the stairs barefooted.
“Good morning, Lily.”
She ignored her aunt’s greeting and panic laced her chest tighter than the hurriedly fastened buttons of her unaccustomed dress. “The horses. Are we too late? They should have been loaded hours ago.”
“Sssh. Be calm. Put your slippers on and come with me.” Her aunt led her through the open door and out to the garden pointing to the ship moored at the quay, the final inventories being checked, gangplanks stored and sailors swarming up the rigging to prepare the sails.
“It’s done. You were sleeping so soundly and I hadn’t the heart to disturb you. Will, Jem and Bonnie helped. Everything is in order.”
“Tom?” She looked enquiringly at her aunt who shook her head slowly an expression of disappointment on her face.
“Tom didn’t return from the Governor’s last night. This was delivered this morning.”
She picked up the folded paper her aunt offered, walked to the garden seat and sank down.
“I’ll leave you to read it. Come inside when you are ready and tell me what it says.”
With shaking hands she unfolded the scrap of paper the patter of her heart reverberating in her throat.
Lily
My apologies for being unable to assist you this morning. I have agreed to remain under guard and I will be taken to Cockatoo Island to await the Governor’s pleasure. He will debate my situation tomorrow with his advisors and I must provide evidence to an enquiry. I ask you to honor your commitment and provide Will and Jem with horses to enable them to leave Sydney. I do not wish them to be penalized by my decision.
I hope it is in your heart to think well of me.
Until we meet again I remain yours truly
Thomas Roscomon.
She wiped the tears away from her eyes and looked out across the harbor, the beauty of the day and the sparkling water making a mockery of the darkness shrouding her heart. Why hadn’t he allowed her to go with him? She folded the piece of paper over and over until it was small enough to tuck in the bodice of her dress. What if the authorities decided to hold him for trial? Even an enquiry could take weeks, months, even years. She shuddered at the miserable thought. Why, oh why hadn’t they simply returned to the Common? Suddenly she was no longer sure that Wordsworth and the horses were as important to her as she had thought. Wasn’t Tom and the love she had for him worth more than any stud stallion, no matter how well bred?
Her aunt’s hand on her shoulder broke her reverie.
“Is it bad news?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. He is being sent to Cockatoo Island, the Governor will discuss the matter tomorrow. Until then we know nothing. He wants me to make sure Will and Jem get horses and leave Sydney as soon as possible. I don’t think he’s holding out much hope.” Lily clamped her back teeth together and she closed her eyes holding back the tears
“Bonnie is here. She wants to talk with you. Are you able?”
Lily nodded her agreement and wiped her eyes with shaking fingertips. “Yes I’d like to see her,” she said as her aunt left the room with a calm, measured step.
“Bonnie,” Lily sobbed as the familiar arms wrapped around her. “He’s turned–”
“I’ve heard Lily. I am so terribly sorry.”
“It’s all my fault.” Lily’s words came out in a rush tumbling all over one another in her attempt to make sense of Tom’s note. “I should have stopped him from coming to Sydney. What if he is forced to stand trial? Cockatoo Island is dreadful. What if he is sent to Macquarie Harbor or worse Norfolk Island or–” Her voice caught as fresh tears streamed down her face “–or hung?” She gulped back her tears and her voice rose an octave to an uncharacteristic squeak.
“What are you going to do?” Bonnie asked putting her arms around Lily’s quaking shoulders.
“I don’t know. What I can do? Stay here and wait and see what happens.”
“I think not,” her aunt interrupted as she returned. “I’ve spoken to your uncle and he is already collating information. He knows of several people who he believes will speak in Tom’s favor. I think it would be best if you returned to Wordsworth.”
“No. I’m not going. I’m staying here. The last thing I want to do is see my father and watch him gloat.” She shuddered. “George will be there. I am staying in Sydney until we have an answer. That is if you will have me?” She looked at her aunt’s face beseechingly.
“Bonnie, what of you? What will you do? Return to Wordsworth?” Her aunt asked. “Your mother must be frantic. You are very welcome to stay here, of course.”
“Thank you, but no.” Bonnie pulled Lily closer and touched her gently on the cheek wiping away a tear. “I came to say goodbye.” She looked almost apologetic as Lily lifted her head and stared at her. “Will and Jem are returning to the Common and if you will be so kind as to provide me with a horse too, I intend go with them.”
Lily lips lifted in a small smile as her arm went around her friend. A week ago she would have counseled against it. Now all she could feel was a painful stab of jealousy. She forced herself to concentrate and share her friend’s obvious delight knowing how happy she would be if she had been brave enough to suggest the same option. “Oh, Bonnie. Of course you can have a horse, and anything else you need if you are sure it is what you want to do.”
“Yes, Lily. It is what I want; it’s what we both want.” Bonnie’s eyes were bright and her face turned a pretty pink. “Will has asked me to marry him. We will return to the Common and await Tom’s verdict and when he is cleared we will marry and settle in Wollombi.”
Lily wiped away her tears and smiled buoyed by Bonnie’s conviction that Tom would be cleared. “Oh Bonnie. I am so happy for you.” She wished she could be as positive of the outcome of Tom’s situation as Bonnie. At least there would be one happy ending in all of this tragedy. “When are you leaving?”
“As soon as possible, if you can provide me with a horse. Will and Jem don’t want to spend any more time than necessary in Sydney and once word gets out about how Tom…” She paused and wrinkled her mouth.
“Has handed himself in.” Lily finished for her. “You’re right. You need to leave as soon as possible. I’ll let you know the moment I hear anything.” She accepted one last hug and patted her friend on the shoulder. “Take care and good luck.”
If only she had the courage to give up everything for love. She had left it too late and her dreams of running Wordsworth had intervened. Why couldn’t she have just said to Tom what was in her heart, what she wanted to say? Fresh tears splashed down her cheeks as she watched Bonnie walk down the path with a skip in her step. She murmured the words etched in her heart, the words she hadn’t had the courage to say to Tom.
I will go wherever you want me to go as long as we are together.
****
Tom sat in the long boat watching the muscled arms of the six convicts as they drew the oars through the sparkling waters of Sydney Harbor heading for Cockatoo Island. The convicts’ years of heavy manual labor made light of the trip, but Tom shuddered at the thought of what lay ahead. The sun beat down on the top of his head and he tilted his face upward wondering when he would next feel its warmth and see the vast cobalt sky.
Cockatoo Island rose up in front of them; the convict built stone barracks dominating the small rocky outcrop in the very middle of the harbor. Even from a distance he could see the prisoners shackled by leg irons–some of them waist deep in the water lugging the stones and chiseling the steps to complete the newly designed dock. A project of the Governor’s, they said. He grinned–it appeared the Governor was keen on a number of projects for the colony. He could only hope he would be equally interested in what he had to offer. He patted his pocket and his stomach lurched for a moment as he remembered he was no longer carrying his papers and maps, they had been delivered to Lily’s uncle, and once Jem and Will collected everything from The Settler’s Arms, they would hand it too, lock, stock and barrel, over for safe keeping, insurance in case his incarceration stretched on or the important documents were stolen.
The new colony liked to make use of its islands–perfect prisons to reduce the risk of escape. His horror of Norfolk Island hadn’t diminished and the reputation of the brutality on Sarah Island isolated in the middle of Macquarie Harbor did little to contradict his fears. The hellhole that was Cockatoo Island was probably the best of a bad bunch.
He gazed around, debating the possibility of escape. Lily would definitely be game. He undoubtedly had one advantage in that he was a strong swimmer, however, the prospect of the notoriously shark-infested waters of Sydney Harbor made his blood run cold and he’d need someone waiting on the shore with a fast horse if he made it that far.
What he wouldn’t give for Lily to be waiting on the foreshore with Nero and that lovely gray remount leaving all this pain and anguish behind them. The picture of them riding off together firmed his resolve. Lily was worth more to him than the loss of a few days freedom, he had to stay positive and when the Governor saw what he had to offer he had no doubt he would receive a pardon. Information and knowledge were a valuable currency.
The long boat bumped against the stone wharf and he was bundled unceremoniously ashore to the sandstone guardhouse hoping against hope his stay would be a short one.
****
Not long past sunrise the following day after a sleepless night incarcerated in a smelly vermin infested cell with a group of angry inmates, Tom answered as his name was called from the muster roll. He fell in line only to be removed and escorted to a room in the officers’ barracks where the Water Police Magistrate greeted him and his interrogation began.
Hour after hour, question after question Tom painfully described his background, how he had come to leave England, his qualifications, and his employment by the Surveyor General’s Office, the routes they had taken and the terrain they had crossed. Once his testimony had been heard he was returned to the barracks and the interminable wait began.
Chapter 10
“Lily, as much as your uncle and I love having you here, I do think it is time you returned to Wordsworth.”
Lily groaned and shook her head slowly. A perpetual headache had plagued her for the last week and it surged with renewed force through her temples. She reached to the back of the chair for support. “I can’t leave Sydney, not yet not until I know…” The pathetic sound of her voice made her stop mid-sentence. Her incapacity and weakness disgusted her but it seemed the sun had left her universe and everything was cloaked in a dull gray mist.
“These things take time, darling, and there is nothing you can do here. You need to return. Your father needs you.”
A puff of air escaped from between Lily’s lips at the mention of her father. Any commitment she owed him had been buried somewhere around the Windsor racetrack.
“And if he doesn’t need you, the property does, your horses do. Whatever the outcome you have a business to run and it is nearly Christmas. You must face your father, sort out your differences and come to some financial arrangement. If you don’t, you stand to lose Wordsworth.”