Beyond the Sunset Read online

  Dot looked at her in surprise. ‘That must have been very lonely.’ Then she clapped one hand to her mouth. ‘Sorry, miss. I didn’t mean to be impertinent.’

  ‘You weren’t. You were just showing you understood.’

  She didn’t tell the maid, but the other reason she’d be eating downstairs was to make sure Harry didn’t try to get at her maid again. Once the new door was fitted, Dot should be safe enough. Alice decided not to go for a walk this afternoon either, because Harry must be aware of her habits, the way he was forever watching her out of the shop window.

  From the living-room window upstairs, she saw Mr Dawson coming back along the street a short time later, but he went into the shop this time. It was fully fifteen minutes before Dot announced him and the poor man looked like a bird with its feathers ruffled.

  He didn’t waste his time on greetings. ‘Prebble claims not to have a key to the attic door, and it opens quite easily now. He could have got up there by the back stairs, though.’

  ‘But he must have a key. Who else could have locked it?’

  ‘He says it’s never locked but it sticks sometimes.’ Mr Dawson smiled. ‘It’ll stick very firmly once we have the lock changed and a bolt added. The locksmith will be here shortly, by the way.’

  The workmen arrived just then and Mr Dawson went down to show them exactly what was wanted. They made a great deal of noise but it had been agreed that they’d not leave that night until the door was in place and able to be secured. She told Dot to make them cups of tea at regular intervals and to give them ham sandwiches at teatime.

  ‘Do I buy the ham from the shop?’

  ‘No, I will.’

  Mr Dawson came round after he finished for the day and found the men still hard at work.

  ‘Beautiful woodwork,’ he told the foreman.

  ‘The young fellow next door doesn’t seem to think so. He says it’s shoddy workmanship. He’s complained about the noise too, says it upsets his customers.’

  ‘Let him complain. He’s not the owner of this shop.’

  Mr Dawson left to get his evening meal, but asked permission to come back afterwards. ‘I want to be here when the men finish.’

  ‘I’d be happy to have your company,’ Alice said. And she found it was true in more ways than one. When he returned they chatted comfortably together as the noise continued below and she enjoyed the evening, in spite of the reason for his presence.

  Not until ten o’clock did the foreman ask to see them.

  ‘I’ve finished, Mr Dawson.’

  ‘You’ve done well.’

  ‘It’ll look better when it’s fully varnished. The first coat will be dry by morning.’

  The clerk frowned. ‘Oh, dear! That’ll mean leaving the door open to dry.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘We’ll have to find someone to stay here while it’s being varnished, then. I’m not leaving Miss Blair and Dot unprotected.’

  The foreman looked at him in astonishment. ‘But it’s an inside door. They’ll be quite safe.’

  ‘Keep this between ourselves, if you please, but they’ve had intruders more than once. I’ll get someone to stay here. I know a good man who’s out of work and will welcome a few extra shillings.’

  He went back to tell Alice she was safe for the night and gave her a set of keys. ‘You’re the only one with a key to the new door, except for us. My employer and I will keep ours very safe, I promise you. And since you’ve had the other locks in the house changed and a bolt fitted on the attic and maid’s bedroom door, you should both feel secure.’

  ‘I can’t thank you enough.’

  When he’d left, Dot came out of the kitchen to look at the new door that blocked the way into the shop. ‘I feel better already, miss. I’m still taking a poker to bed, though.’

  ‘Do whatever you like.’ Alice yawned as she went up to her own room. But though she didn’t take a poker with her, she did bolt the door from the inside and wedge a chair under the door handle.

  It would be a while before she felt safe again at night, she knew.

  8

  Like all the passengers, Zachary felt very excited on April the 10th when the Captain announced that the ship was nearing the coast of Western Australia. People stayed up on deck all day, feeling disappointed when there was no sign of land by nightfall.

  Even the remaining animals, those brought out as breeding stock, seemed to know that the voyage was ending. They were restless, the pig grunting in its crate and the sheep bleating and edging to and fro, as far as the poor things could in such small, crowded areas.

  Zachary woke very early the next morning and managed to get out of the cabin without waking Leo, who was a sound sleeper. When he went to the ship’s rail, he saw a low-lying mass ahead of them, looking like a dark smear on the horizon.

  ‘That’s Rottnest Island at last,’ a voice said and he turned to see the doctor standing nearby.

  ‘Oh, yes. It was mentioned in the Clara’s Weekly Journal a few weeks ago.’ He frowned, trying to remember what had been said.

  ‘Rottnest is a penal station for the blackfellows,’ the doctor went on. ‘They will keep stealing sheep and spearing cattle.’

  It looked a bleak place to Zachary, low-lying scrubby land, and he couldn’t help feeling sorry for anyone imprisoned there. One of the more sympathetic passengers had told him the natives didn’t have the same ideas about ownership of livestock and couldn’t really understand the legal niceties which decreed they should be banished to Rottnest merely for taking food. If that was true, it seemed rather unfair, like asking him to obey orders given in a foreign language he didn’t understand a word of.

  They stood at the rail for a few more moments then he said, ‘I can’t believe the journey’s over at last.’

  ‘Not quite. We have to wait for a pilot to take us in. Even then, we’ll have another wait before we can disembark by small boat, because the ship won’t be tying up at a wharf. The water isn’t deep enough. They really ought to do something about improving Fremantle harbour.’

  ‘I shall just be glad to get back on dry land, however we reach it.’

  ‘You’ll feel strange at first, as if the ground is still moving beneath you like the deck does.’ The doctor hesitated then said, ‘The Captain has asked me to sound you out about doing us a favour.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘I know you have urgent business here, but could you stay behind till we see whether anyone comes to meet Leo? We’re worried about what’s going to happen to him. He may have been raised a gentleman, but he’s slow-witted and not at all fit to fend for himself. If I’d realised what he was like, I’d never have allowed him on board unaccompanied.’

  ‘And if no one does come to meet him?’

  ‘We’ll have no choice but to report his presence to the Governor, who may decide he’ll be safer locked away for his own protection.’

  ‘He’d hate that. He loves being out of doors.’

  ‘He’d hate to be beaten and bullied too, not to mention having his money and possessions stolen and going hungry. You know as well as I do that there are some people who prey on those weaker than themselves.’ He waited, head cocked on one side.

  ‘Oh, very well. I’ll stay behind – for a day or two only. I can’t spare any more time than that.’

  ‘Thank you. As a partial recompense, the Captain said he would help you find out about getting a passage back to England. He’ll be able to discover that much more easily than you would. As he told you before, you may have to go to Albany, on the south coast, if no ships are due to call at Fremantle. Mail ships call there every month or two and even though they don’t go to England, you could take passage on one to Point de Galle in Ceylon. You’d easily find a suitable ship there and go back to England via Suez and Gibraltar. Galle is a coaling station for the Bombay, Singapore and China trade, and is a very busy port.’

  ‘It hadn’t even occurred to me that it’d be so difficult to get back to England – nor to
the lawyer who sent me.’

  ‘Yes. People joke about the ends of the earth, but I think the Swan River Colony really is one of the most isolated outposts Britain has. The other Australian colonies are much busier places. I’d not want to settle here.’

  Nothing happened for a week or two and Zachary’s wages were delivered by one of the shopmen on his way home. Hallie was just beginning to hope that Harry had tired of tormenting her when she met him in the park one Sunday. She’d cut through it on her way to visit a friend, as she often did.

  She looked round in fear but he’d chosen his moment well and there was no one else in sight.

  He grasped her arm so that she couldn’t get away, his fingers digging in so hard that it hurt.

  ‘It wasn’t very friendly of you to avoid me, Hallie.’

  ‘I’d gone out to the back. You came earlier that week.’

  ‘Does that mean you’re going to be more friendly in future?’

  She couldn’t think what to answer.

  ‘I want a kiss next time . . . and after that, we’ll see what happens.’

  She wanted to say no, but she didn’t dare. He was hurting her and smiling at her and she felt like a rabbit in a trap.

  With a laugh he let go of her and took his hat off, bowing slightly. ‘Nice to have met you again, Miss Carr.’

  As he walked away, she saw two women staring at them and could tell that they thought she’d been meeting him secretly. She wanted to shout that she hadn’t, that she hated him, but she didn’t dare do that, either. All she could do was hurry home, forgetting her errands, to her mother’s surprise.

  Zachary watched the other cabin passengers disembark in small groups, some of the women making a fuss about the difficulties of getting down into the boat that would take them to shore. He felt impatient to get started on his mission, but one look at Leo, standing beside him staring across the water to the town of Fremantle with that slightly vacant stare, and he knew he couldn’t leave the poor lad on his own. He might look big and strong, but he was too gentle for his own good, and even cringed away from the children on the ship, some of whom had tried to torment him until the ship’s doctor had put a stop to it.

  By the following morning Zachary was feeling impatient. What would he do if no one came to collect Leo? Take him along in the hunt for the sisters? It wouldn’t be right to use their money for that. If he did, he’d have to pay it back – and with what?

  A short time later a small boat came out to the ship and a man yelled up, ‘My name’s Sayrson. I’m looking for Leopold Hutton.’

  ‘He’s here,’ one of the officers called back.

  ‘Is he ready to leave?’

  ‘No. He needs to get his things together and the Captain wants to see anyone asking for him.’

  ‘I’d better come on board, then.’

  Zachary had been listening to this and studying the burly man. For some reason, he took an instant dislike to the newcomer, who heaved himself on to the deck grumbling audibly. The man might be well dressed but he looked brutal. There was no other word to describe his expression.

  Leo, who had moved to the rail at the sound of his own name, took one look at Sayrson and moved closer to Zachary.

  ‘This is Leo,’ the officer said.

  ‘Ah.’ Sayrson studied him, nodding. ‘You look a strong young chap. Your father has asked me to look after you and find you a job.’

  ‘My father’s dead.’

  ‘Your stepfather, then.’ Sayrson ran his eyes up and down Leo, as if he were a horse he was thinking of buying, and his smile became positively gloating as he stepped forward. ‘He says you’re a good worker.’

  Leo backed away from him. ‘I don’t like you. I’m not going with you.’

  Sayrson’s smile vanished and he said in a harsh voice, ‘You’ll do as you’re told, young man. Now, jump to it. Go and fetch your bags.’

  ‘Where will you be taking him?’ Zachary asked.

  ‘What’s that to do with you?’

  ‘I’ve grown fond of him on the voyage. I’m concerned for his welfare.’

  ‘Well, you don’t need to be. I feed my workers well.’

  ‘What sort of work will he be doing?’

  ‘Physical work. What else is he capable of?’

  Zachary could find no answer to that. ‘So you’re a relative?’

  ‘Not me. Do I look the sort who’d breed an idiot? But I know his stepfather and have agreed to take charge of the lad this end. Better he stays with me than goes in there.’ He pointed to a large building constructed of limestone blocks that looked well on its way to being finished.

  Zachary looked at it in puzzlement.

  Sayrson laughed uproariously. ‘It’s the new Lunatic Asylum. Now, this is my authorisation.’ He held out a letter.

  The officer standing beside Zachary took it and read it quickly, then handed it back. ‘Very well, sir. I’ll inform the Captain and have Leo’s trunk fetched.’

  ‘I’m not going with him.’ Leo tried to back away, but could move no further.

  ‘You’ve no choice, lad,’ the officer said. ‘Ah, Captain. This is Mr Sayrson, who’s come for Leo. Mr Carr is a bit concerned.’

  The Captain read the letter and turned to Zachary. ‘This gentleman has the authority.’

  ‘Leo can come with me instead. I’ll look after him.’

  Sayrson laughed. ‘Why should I let him go with you when I’ve work for him? Besides, his stepfather gave him into my care, not yours. I’ve given him my word and I intend to keep it. Now, I’ve put up with your interference for long enough. Mind your own business, young man.’

  Zachary could only watch helplessly as a strong sailor was recruited to help force Leo down to the boat, which rocked so wildly because of his struggles that Sayrson cuffed him about the ears. Although Leo was just as big as he was, he cringed back and sat hunched up, looking as if he was crying. He was like an overgrown child, really, and as helpless as a child when it came to managing his life. How could the mother Leo spoke of with such love have allowed this to be arranged?

  Had she known exactly what was to happen? Zachary doubted it.

  Another sailor carried Leo’s portmanteau down, then the boat cast off.

  ‘I don’t like the looks of that man,’ Zachary commented.

  ‘Nor do I, but there was nothing I could do except let him go,’ the Captain said. ‘The Governor won’t see the need to intervene if there’s someone responsible for him, because he’d be a charge on the authorities otherwise.’

  It’d be a long time before Zachary forgot Leo’s pleading and unhappy face growing smaller and smaller as the boat was rowed to the shore.

  ‘Could you come to my cabin in quarter of an hour, Mr Carr?’

  ‘Yes, Captain.’

  He stood by the rail, looking across at Fremantle, which had a population of just over two thousand souls, according to articles in the ship’s newspaper. Perth wasn’t much larger, apparently, at just over three thousand. Surely in such small towns it’d not be hard to find the Blake sisters?

  How would they feel when they found they’d been left what seemed to Zachary a small fortune? Would they take an interest in the shop? Or would they leave everything to a manager? They might even sell it. He didn’t know them well enough to hazard a guess.

  He knew Harry only too well, though. The longer Zachary was away from his former colleague, the more certain he became that he’d have difficulty settling down to work under him.

  He’d grown more confident in this new life, felt more sure of himself, something he hadn’t expected. People said travel broadened the mind, but it did more than that – much more. It taught you a lot about yourself in comparison to others.

  The first time Alice went to tea with the Dawsons, she was slightly nervous. They were, after all, strangers. But they made her so welcome she really enjoyed the visit.

  ‘Perhaps you could come to tea with me next time?’ she suggested as she got ready to leave.

&
nbsp; ‘We’d be delighted,’ Judith Dawson said. ‘As long as my health permits. It’s up and down, so I never know from one day to the next whether I’ll be wheezing and unable to talk without coughing and spluttering, or whether I’ll be able to breathe more easily.’

  Ralph walked home with Alice.

  ‘I like your sister.’

  ‘So do I. But her health isn’t good and I fear for her sometimes when she can’t breathe.’

  ‘Has she always been like this?’

  ‘She’s always been delicate, but she never complains.’

  They walked slowly, chatting comfortably. The better she got to know Ralph, the more Alice liked him.

  Did he like her in that same way? It was hard to tell, hard to hope, too, for a woman like her.

  Alice invited Ralph and his sister to tea the following Sunday, but when the door knocker went, Dot showed only Ralph up to the parlour.

  ‘My sister sends her apologies. She’s having a bad day.’

  ‘I’m so sorry.’

  ‘I am too. I was looking forward to continuing our discussion about books.’

  Alice hesitated. Should she? Would it cause talk to entertain him on her own? Oh, let it! ‘Would you like to join me for a while? It seems a pity to waste the scones and cake.’

  He beamed at her. ‘I’d love to. Judith is sleeping now and probably won’t wake for an hour or two. Our maid will send a lad to fetch me if I’m needed. She’s very reliable. You’re sure I’ll not be putting you to any trouble?’

  ‘On the contrary. It gets a bit lonely at times here.’

  Two hours had passed before either of them realised it.

  ‘I shouldn’t have stayed so long.’ He stood up.

  She walked down to the door with him. ‘I’m glad you did. I feel much more cheerful for some company.’

  ‘No more troubles during the night?’

  ‘None at all.’

  ‘And Prebble has been very quiet, doing what he was asked and not going beyond his remit. I still can’t trust him, though.’