In a Great Southern Land

by Mary-Anne O'Connor

  ‘Is your mistress a kind woman, Miss Eve?’

  Eve had been talking about her position and Kieran looked at the road and tried to concentrate on her words. It wasn’t ridiculously difficult; she did have that lovely voice after all.

  ‘At times, although she’s mostly preoccupied with her health, understandably.’

  Kieran nodded. She’d mentioned the woman had a poor disposition. ‘Sickly people are often that way.’

  ‘Heartsick ones are the worst,’ Dave added unhelpfully and Kieran quickly sought another question he could ask her.

  ‘Does she suffer much?’

  ‘Yes and no. She detests both the heat and the cold and she’s constantly congested but that’s because her lungs are damaged. She almost died from pneumonia as a child.’

  Kieran listened closely, marvelling that she could manage to sound captivating even when she was talking about sickness.

  ‘Arthur, that’s our overseer, is very good with her, making sure she always has a warm fire when it gets cold and helping her to the couch when she’s too weak to walk.’

  Kieran felt jealousy instantly consume him at the mention of another man’s name and Dave of course made it worse. ‘Strong fella, is he? All brawny and muscly like, from hard work on the farm?’

  ‘I suppose,’ Eve said and Kieran gritted his teeth, ‘for his age. Years at sea have weathered him though. And of course it’s harder when you only have one leg; a pirate took it in battle.’

  Dave let out an inappropriate chuckle and she looked taken aback.

  ‘You’ll have to excuse him, Miss Eve. He’s a bit worse for wear from ale today,’ Kieran apologised, fighting the awful urge to chuckle himself but mostly from relief.

  ‘A thousand apologies, Miss Eve. I was just reacting to such unexpected information and meant no harrrm.’

  ‘I suppose it must have sounded rather odd,’ she conceded, missing the pun. She was blushing again and Kieran couldn’t help but smile at how sweet she seemed.

  ‘And what of the captain himself?’

  ‘He’s often away,’ she said simply and Kieran hoped desperately that he was kind to her.

  Eve pointed down the road. ‘Here’s my turn-off. Please, don’t bother driving me up, I’m happy to walk.’

  ‘I’ll walk with you then, just in case any kangaroos happen by,’ Kieran said, seizing the chance to be alone with her.

  ‘Oh no really, I’ll be fine.’ But he was already pulling up the cart and jumping down and he figured she could hardly refuse after his subtle reminder that a second rescue had just taken place. It felt a bit underhanded but the opportunity was just too good to miss. ‘Well, I…I suppose. Just to the rise though.’

  He guessed she wasn’t keen on being seen with a man and assumptions being made about her day and he couldn’t blame her for that.

  ‘It’s a pretty place,’ he noted as they walked, nodding at the wildflowers that bordered the drive.

  ‘Chocolate lilies and milkmaids,’ she told him. ‘I’m rather fond of their names.’

  ‘Does it feel like home here?’ he asked, looking around at what seemed a pleasant farm, then he wondered if that was an appropriate question.

  Eve shrugged. ‘I’ll always be a servant so it’s not really mine to call it such, I suppose, but it’s a nice place to live. I’ve been lucky… thanks to you.’ She gave him one of her rare smiles and Kieran almost let out a gasp at how pretty the dimples made her. He was certainly staring and she dipped her chin.

  ‘I told you at the time you should be thanking yourself,’ he said, dragging his gaze away and continuing towards the house.

  ‘You’re too modest, Mr Kieran. If it weren’t for you my life would be a misery, perhaps even over. I never could have spoken up myself but you…you did that for me. A total stranger.’

  ‘You didn’t seem like a stranger,’ he said, looking across at her again.

  ‘…and yet I was.’ She stopped as they’d almost reached the rise. ‘I just wish I could repay you some day.’

  Kieran swallowed hard and took his chance even though he knew it was too soon. ‘There was some talk of a kiss should I ever see you again.’

  ‘I…I think I’ve already given you one of those.’

  He moved closer, leaning over to brush his lips against her cheek softly and she let out a shocked gasp. ‘You gave me one like this,’ he said, holding her gaze, their mouths inches apart. ‘But I was really kind of hoping for one of these.’ He took her in his arms and captured her lips properly then, before she could protest. It was warm and wondrous, the contact suddenly intimate and explosive in the light breeze, like nature herself caressed the moment. Like they’d always been here, doing this. It only lasted a few, endlessly precious seconds but it was as perfect as any kiss could be and, as he drew away it took a moment for her eyes to open, and he knew it had affected her the same way.

  ‘When can I see you again?’ he asked, pushing a strand of her hair back from her lovely face.

  ‘I don’t…think I should.’

  ‘How often do you swim at the river?’

  Her expression clouded and he suspected she felt ashamed at being decadent and ashamed for kissing him. Someone had got into her head or broken her heart somewhere along the line, he could sense it. He knew the feeling all too well, and ironically it was Eve herself who had revived his own heart. Kieran wanted to tell her that but a mask was falling now, drawing her back from him and blocking him out.

  ‘I cannot do this, Mr Clancy. I am grateful to you but I just cannot. I’m sorry,’ she added.

  ‘I didn’t kiss you because you owe me something…’

  ‘Nevertheless,’ she said, then she began to walk away.

  ‘Miss Eve,’ he called and she turned back, tears in her eyes now.

  ‘There’s no possibility that the Cartwrights would allow me a beau, Mr Clancy. You need to forget you ever saw me.’

  There was more to it than that, something far deeper was swimming in those tears, but Kieran knew he’d be wasting his time trying to find out what it was now. ‘We can meet to talk at least,’ he said instead. ‘There’s no sin in that.’

  But the shame turned to fear as he said the words and she didn’t just walk away now, she ran.

  Kieran puzzled over it all the way down the drive but it was a jubilant Dave that greeted him and his excitement was infectious.

  ‘I thought you were mad for sure, Kier, but she’s a beautiful lass, no doubting that, and a kind one too, I’d say.’

  ‘Aye, she is that,’ Kieran said, clicking the horse to go, ‘although she’s going to take some convincing.’

  ‘If ever there was a man who could win her heart it must be you, her almighty rescuer. Surely that counts for something.’

  ‘But I don’t want her to feel beholden…anyway it wouldn’t be enough,’ he said, remembering her words.

  ‘Just kiss her until she gives in. That usually does the trick.’

  Kieran sighed. ‘I just tried that and I thought she liked it but then she turned funny and ran.’

  ‘You sure you were doing it properly?’

  Kieran just gave him a look and Dave laughed. ‘Ah, I’m only teasing. I wouldn’t worry if I were you. A girl that goes swimming in the nuddy is one with fire in her blood, I’m betting. You’ll heat it up with time.’

  ‘If I can get time with her.’

  ‘You’ll find a way; after all you’ve found the girl at last,’ Dave said, punching the air. ‘You’ve found your girl, Kier! Eureka!’

  Kieran laughed too then, his earlier exuberance returning.

  ‘Now, how about a drink to celebrate?’ Dave suggested, pulling out some bottles of ale. ‘It’s not every day you strike it rich.’

  Kieran took a swig and they toasted, crying ‘Eureka!’ once more, and Kieran knew Dave was right: he would find a way to break through her shame, and her fear. He would heal Eve Richards’s heart. Two rivers, two rescues, it was quite simply fate, and the same fate w
ould surely lead them to find love, in the end.

  Twenty-Four

  The road seemed longer than usual today but Kieran forced himself onwards, hoping the heat would draw Eve down to the river again. It had only been a week since he’d found her but it felt like months and his insides fluttered with the thought that he might get to hold her again today. Kiss her and awaken that fire he hoped still lay within. Start to heal whatever was broken in her heart.

  Long hours working during the week meant he’d no time to try to see her, but it was Sunday once more, a day of rest, and a day he suspected she usually bathed in the river. It was a tantalising thought and Kieran urged his mount, more eager with each mile.

  It had been a tough week of waiting in more ways than one. Rogue hold-ups by thieves known as ‘bushrangers’ were rife and yet another gold bullion transit had been raided on Wednesday, despite a heavily armed escort. The general public’s opinion of them ranged from fear to romanticism, depending on the character of the man or the gang, with a few of the more dashing, rebellious bushrangers popularly perceived as modern-day Robin Hoods.

  From the miners’ perspective, some were esteemed for sticking it to the rich, so long as it wasn’t a fortunate miner travelling with his new-found gold; however, there was a more direct consequence that negatively impacted opinion. The thievery hit them right where it hurt most: their pocketbooks, and there was a general consensus that the high cost of licence fees would be far lower if more bullion arrived at its destination.

  Regardless of monetary repercussions, there was also the danger of being shot to be considered and it was with wary eyes that Kieran travelled along a thick section of bushland now. He was glad he’d hidden most of his gold and money back at camp.

  Other issues had been on his mind aside from Eve and goldrelated news. He’d had a letter, a sad one from home. Liam wrote to say Eileen had become withdrawn and thin these past eighteen months since the baby’s death and that he and Rory were becoming increasingly worried about her. She was usually so emotionally strong it was hard to imagine her struggling and Kieran knew he’d have to try to get to her soon and see what he could do to help her recover. She’d always been there for him and there was no question he’d be doing the same in return.

  It put more urgency on trying to win Eve’s heart; before someone else noticed a kind, beautiful and intelligent young woman lived nearby the goldfields, a place filled with thousands of mostly single, sex-starved men. Sooner or later one of them was bound to try to court her and convince the Cartwrights to let her marry or perhaps even steal her away. It made Kieran desperate just thinking about it.

  The area where he’d found her was coming into view and Kieran dismounted and walked his horse now, climbing down towards the river and looking along. She was nowhere to be seen and he swallowed his disappointment, sitting down to watch and wait for a while.

  An hour passed, then another, and Kieran knew she wasn’t coming; the memory of her actually running away from him confirmed any doubt. Well, there was more than one way to approach this, he decided, leading his horse to the road and jumping astride. Fortune favours the brave, if sometimes foolish, he imagined Liam saying. He was about to be both so he prayed today it held true.

  He’d been on her mind, she couldn’t deny it. Despite busying herself with washing, cleaning, cooking, reading and every other preoccupation she could find, that reawakening of the flesh was impossible for Eve to block out. But she’d made up her mind: she refused to be weak again, even though the hunter was a different kind of tempter this time. Perhaps even truly the kindest man on earth.

  However, Kieran Clancy was still a man, and a very handsome one, capable of clouding her mind until her body and heart ruled instead. He endangered her self-control and that endangered her new life, and even though he was the one who’d given her this fresh start she couldn’t allow him sins of the flesh in return. Even if the Cartwrights could be convinced she be allowed a beau or, more remotely, a husband, she didn’t want that power to rule her once more. She didn’t want to walk back into Eden and she didn’t want the apple.

  And never again would she take a bite.

  ‘Eve,’ Amanda called and she went to her with the tea. ‘Ah, there you are. Could you bring the smelling salts too? I feel quite faint in this heat.’ Eve put the tea tray down and went to fetch them, as she was asked to do most days. Returning to her mistress, she noted she looked particularly listless today, her complexion pale against her curly dark hair.

  ‘Would you like me to fan you, ma’am?’

  ‘Yes, I suppose you may as well. You can read to me while you’re at it.’

  Eve fetched the large bamboo fan the captain had picked up in his island travels and fanned Amanda with one hand, reading from her mistress’s favourite tome of Shakespearean sonnets with the other. It was a passage about love and Eve tried not to get lost in the beauty of the words, pushing even that temptation away.

  Let me not to the marriage of true minds

  Admit impediments. Love is not love

  Which alters when it alteration finds,

  Or bends with the remover to remove:

  O no! it is an ever-fixèd mark

  That looks on tempests and is never shaken…

  ‘How true that is,’ Amanda said, sniffing her salts. ‘A pity all men don’t take their vows as seriously.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am,’ Eve said, blanking all thought lest she engage with the sonnet’s meaning too. ‘Shall I read on…or would you prefer something else?’ she added hopefully.

  ‘No, no, continue.’

  Eve went to do so, reluctantly, but there was a knock at the door and Amanda sat up, her smelling salts falling to the floor in her excitement at having a visitor. The Cartwrights knew almost no-one in Australia and had no kin, save one elderly aunt in London, but even she had recently passed away. Amanda’s health prevented her from attempting to socialise and the delivery of goods provided her only variety of company. It was usually Barney, the Scottish delivery man from the local store, and she always told Arthur to invite him in for a chat.

  ‘Well, who can that be then? We’re no’ expecting anyone today,’ Arthur said as he came through from the kitchen to answer and the women waited to hear who it was.

  ‘Good afternoon, sir,’ an Irishman’s voice could be heard and Eve felt a heady rush of instant recognition. ‘Is this Captain Cartwright’s home?’

  ‘Aye,’ Arthur replied warily.

  ‘I wonder if I may enquire if you have a servant within by the name of Eve Richards?’

  ‘Why would ye be wanting to know?’ Arthur said.

  ‘I’m an old friend and I heard she lived near town. The name’s Kieran. Kieran Clancy.’

  ‘Arthur? Arthur, do invite the young man in,’ Amanda called out, looking over at Eve with surprise. Eve lay down the fan and book, her hands shaking with nerves at having to face Kieran again, fearing what he might say or what her mistress would make of her having her own visitor, especially a man.

  He entered the room, good-looking as can be in his Sunday best, and Amanda looked impressed.

  ‘How do you do, ma’am,’ he addressed her, taking off his cap and bowing slightly then nodding over at Eve with a smile. ‘I apologise for the intrusion but I just wanted to check in on my old friend, Miss Eve. I’m Kieran Clancy.’

  ‘How do you do, Mr Clancy. I didn’t know you had friends in Victoria, Eve,’ Amanda said, watching them both with interest. ‘Aren’t you going to say hello?’

  ‘Hello, Mr Clancy,’ Eve said, nodding at him and attempting to smile, as would be expected of an old friend.

  ‘Miss Eve,’ he said with another slight bow. ‘How good it is to see you again. I must say, you’re looking very well.’

  Eve tried not to blush but she could feel it creeping up into her cheeks. ‘Thank you, sir.’

  ‘I should think she is, with that constitution of hers. In our service over a year now and not a sniffle from the girl.’


  ‘She’s always been of hardy stock. Her family were all the same,’ Kieran told her.

  ‘Is that so? She’s never mentioned that.’

  Eve could have told him she’d never been asked about her past but it was just as well. Kieran seemed intent on making one up for her.

  ‘A long line of robust lasses and stout lads in the Richards clan; not a day of illness among the lot of them, but of course it’s probably partially due to the tonics we had in our village. My own sister Eileen made ones that could improve the health of most in no time at all.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Amanda asked, eyes round with interest. ‘Whatever did she put in them?’

  ‘Oh, all manner of marvellous things! Pigs root, truffle juice, wildflowers…’ Kieran paused to clear his throat, which seemed to be itching him. ‘Excuse me, but may I trouble you for a glass of water?’

  ‘Of course, how rude of me and please, take a seat there, Mr Kieran. Arthur, bring some water. In fact, Eve, pour the tea,’ she said, flapping at the pot. ‘Wildflowers, you say? But we’ve fields full of them right here.’

  Eve poured and Arthur went to fetch the water but he was eyeing Kieran suspiciously.

  ‘Aye, but you’ll be in no need of a tonic yourself, being such a fine, healthy-looking woman,’ Kieran said, taking a seat on the settee smoothly, his irritated throat miraculously healed.

  Amanda shook her head vigorously. ‘No, no, Mr Clancy, in fact quite the opposite, I’m afraid. I’ve been sickly most of my life. I almost died from pneumonia as a child, as a matter of fact.’

  ‘You don’t say,’ Kieran said, appearing shocked. ‘Tell me, do your lungs suffer in the heat or the cold?’

  Eve sank onto a stool nearby, watching Kieran play her mistress like a fiddle and helpless to do anything to stop it as they continued on.

  ‘Terribly! I’m feeling quite poorly today, as it happens,’ Amanda told him, leaning forward in her excitement to talk to someone about her favourite subject.

  Kieran looked at her thoughtfully. ‘I don’t suppose…oh, but that’s just daft. I’m sure a captain’s wife has the best physicians available to her night and day. What would you be wanting from our village cures.’