OVER THE ENSUING days Katherine politely weathered Adele's repeated attempts to convince her to try at least one more time with Catriona. Despite her efforts, Adele's pleas fell on deaf ears. In response to her attempts, Katherine steered the conversation back to Adele, and her time as a governess in both Australia and England.
When she wasn't drawing Adele into conversation regarding her times as a governess, Katherine deferred to discussions involving Adele's imminent departure, and her plans on returning to England. Strangely enough, Adele was evasive with her, preferring not to disclose her travel plans. Even on the second day of their stay, when she'd left Katherine at the hotel under the auspices of a visit to the booking office, Adele made only passing references to her business at the office on her return. Katherine ceased quizzing her on the topic, assuming Adele had an aversion to long journeys.
In Katherine's remaining days in the country Adele couldn't do enough for her. After questioning her on her attire for the journey and finding it lacking, she had taken her shopping at the David Jones Emporium, politely but firmly refusing any payment from Katherine.
Visiting the gardens of the Domain, they strolled in the imposing crenellated shadows of Government House, talking about every topic possible except Catriona. Adele shared with Katherine tales of her more private life, and Katherine was reassured by her words that she was not alone. Within London society, relationships like the one she and Catriona had shared were, if not common, at least present. Despite her reassurances, Katherine only had thoughts for the company of one other woman----Catriona.
When they weren't taking in the sights of Sydney, both were content to spend their evening hours at the hotel, taking tea in the parlour prior to retiring early for bed.
AFTER A PERIOD of interminable waiting, the day of Katherine's departure finally arrived.
Katherine woke very early and gazed at the form in the other bed. She was relieved Adele wasn't yet awake. She'd been a godsend over these past few days, but now Katherine needed some time to herself.
Her thoughts drifted to her sea journey. She knew once she stepped on the ship she'd never return to Australia and Catriona, and she silently grieved at the thought. Would she ever find anyone who moved her like Catriona did? In all honesty she doubted she'd ever again experience such depth of emotion. At least if she could secure a position as a governess, then she'd have some joy in her life. Katherine quietly dressed for the long journey ahead.
Later in the morning Katherine was on her way, accompanied by Adele. "You know I could have made this trip myself."
Adele glanced out the window of the cab at two well-dressed women in close conversation and then returned her gaze to Katherine. "I'm well aware of that, but what sort of friend would I be to allow you to commence such a long journey without being there to say goodbye?"
Katherine tilted toward Adele when the cab entered the shipyard. Righting herself, she saw the three masts and extensive rigging of what could only have been the Elizabeth. All of a sudden her departure was all too real. Using every last ounce of her composure, Katherine paid and thanked the driver and he took up a position on the cab rank.
Katherine and Adele made their way through the crowd to the booking office. They hadn't gone far when a rather burly porter approached them.
Doffing his cap he introduced himself. "Afternoon, ladies. Are you travelling on the Elizabeth this fine afternoon?"
Adele graciously nodded. "I'm not, but my friend here is one of the passengers. Could you please arrange for her luggage to be stowed on board?"
Once again doffing his cap in obeisance, he took the cases from Adele and Katherine.
Katherine looked around. "Oh no, I left my book on the seat of the cab. Adele, I'll go back for it before our driver gets another fare. I'll meet you at the booking office." Without a backward glance Katherine made her way into the throng of people.
AFTER PAYING THE porter a hasty gratuity to ensure Katherine's entire belongings made their way aboard, Adele walked to the booking office. Stepping through the door she looked across the room and straight into the eyes of a woman she would continue to love all her life. In front of her was Catriona, dressed as she so often was in moleskins and a sky blue shirt.
A surprised Catriona closed the distance between them. "Adele, what are you doing here? I thought you'd be on your way by now."
Grabbing Catriona's arm, Adele guided her outside and away from the prying ears of Mr. Jamieson. "What am I doing here? Who cares what I'm doing here? Did you get the telegram I sent you?"
"What telegram? I didn't receive any telegram. What are you talking about?"
"I sent you one five days ago, telling you to come at once if you wanted any chance of a relationship between you and Katherine." Adele paused at Catriona's look of surprise. "I can't believe you let her walk out without trying to stop her. Shame on you! Didn't I teach you better manners than that? And you should think yourself lucky I happened to be in this yard the day Katherine booked her passage. God knows where she would've ended staying. As it is, she's been sharing a room with me at Petty's Family Hotel for the last seven days."
Adele didn't think it possible that anyone could look as incredulous as Catriona did.
"Petty's on church Hill? My God, I've been there for the past few days, working out a plan to get her to return with me to Gleneagle. I was banking on speaking with her today when she came to board."
Catriona struck herself on the side of the leg. "If I'd spent more time in the parlour rather than moping in my room, this might've been resolved by now."
"You've got one last chance to convince her to stay. Be patient, but persistent. I honestly believe she wants to stay but she needs to hear it from you. And in a manner which doesn't resemble you talking to one of your blessed cattle. And above all, she loves you, don't forget that."
UNABLE TO CONTROL herself, Catriona closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around the somewhat startled woman. "Thank you. You don't know how much I wanted to hear those words. I honestly think today signals a new beginning for us."
"Yes, I've no doubt it does," came the cold voice from behind them.
Catriona opened her eyes and stared at Katherine's rigid form.
Breaking away from their embrace, Adele also turned to see Katherine's barely controlled ire.
Katherine pointed an accusing finger at Adele. "You! After all I told you about Catriona and me, this is how you pay me back? So that's why you've been so evasive about your travel arrangements. And your surreptitious trip to the booking office. You weren't confirming your trip, you were canceling it!"
"That's not it at all," Adele said. "The times I left you were not to go to the booking office, although this proved a convenient excuse. I went to the General Post Office to telegraph Catriona. There's a reasonable explanation for what you just saw and heard--"
Katherine cut her off. "I'm sure there is. With me out of the way you could return to Catriona. I'm sure today does signal a new beginning for you both. However, it'll definitely be one without me in it."
Turning on her heel, Katherine ran back into the crowd and toward the waiting ship.
CATRIONA WAS STUNNED into stillness by the vehemence of Katherine's words.
Adele laughed. "Oh God, Catriona, she's a fine one. Go after her before it's too late. Tell her what that was about and what you mean to her. Now, go!" She pushed a shocked Catriona in the direction of Katherine's retreating back.
Galvanised into action, Catriona took after the woman she wanted to share the rest of her life with. If she physically had to restrain Katherine and carry her from the ship, she resolved she would, if not for anything else than to give each of them one more chance.
She cursed when her headway was impeded by men and livestock travelling in the same direction. She arrived at the gangplank in time to see Katherine move to the other side of the ship.
Reaching the gangplank, her progress was halted by a slightly built porter. She tried to move around him and fa
iled.
"Excuse me, sir. Can I see your ticket?"
"I don't have a ticket. But I do need to speak to someone on this vessel. It'll only take a minute and then I'll happily get off and you can be on your way." Again the man in front of her blocked her passage.
"I'm sorry, sir, but without a ticket you can't board the ship. How do I know you're not a stowaway?"
"You don't know I'm not a stowaway either. But there's something you should know. If you value your life you'll let me embark this vessel. I must speak to the lady who just boarded. I'm going up there, come hell or high water." With one mighty shove, Catriona pushed the man aside and ran up gangway.
Closing the distance between the two of them, she managed to call out Katherine's name but she was yet again halted, this time by two extremely well-built sailors.
"Where are you going then? Do you think you can thump people and hop on a ship at a whim? If you're not a paying passenger then you're an attempted stowaway. We hand your type over to the constabulary."
Catriona wrestled to break free from the vice-like grips of the two men holding her. "Don't be absurd! All I want to do is have a few quiet words with her." Catriona inclined her head in the direction of Katherine's shocked features.
The older of the two men looked to where Catriona had motioned and then back at her. "Strangely enough, she doesn't look like she wants to talk to you. What sort of man are you, accosting fine ladies in such a manner..."
Catriona brought her booted heel down on the foot of the vile smelling man, causing him to yell in pain and loosen his grip.
"You bastard, I'll make you sorry for that!"
Before she could get any closer to Katherine, Catriona's stomach was impaled on the hand of the angry man. Doubling over in pain with stars dancing in her head, the last thing Catriona heard when she was soundly hit across the head was Katherine screaming her name.
LINGERING ON THE periphery of consciousness, Catriona was vaguely aware of her head being cradled in Katherine's lap. Through barely open eyes, she could just make out a heated conversation between an angry Katherine and a somewhat contrite sailor. Adele's voice was also there, calming the angry woman.
"I'm sorry, miss. With her dressed the way she was and all--I thought she was a man aiming to do no good. I'd never have hit her if I knew she was a woman." He stopped and gulped at Katherine seething features. "After all, how could anyone tell?" he defiantly protested. "Women shouldn't dress like that. It's not natural."
"What's not natural about it? She's a grazier, for heaven's sake!" Katherine looked at the tied back hair of the sailor in front of her. "And what about your pigtail--is that natural? I thought only girls wore pigtails."
Seeing his look of dismay, Katherine calmed down. "I know sailors have worn their hair like that for many years. How she's dressed is the way farmers have dressed for many years. Just as hair in your eyes would hinder your ability to do your job, so would her wearing a dress in her line of work. I thank you both for coming to my defence. Just don't be so eager in the future to jump to conclusions." Katherine stopped when yet another man entered the scene.
He consulted his fob watch and then tucked it back in the folds of his vest. "By my reckoning, it's now three fifty five, and this ship sails at four o'clock sharp. If you're staying, then stay. If you're not, then leave my ship or I will have you thrown off, female or otherwise."
Before she could take issue with the man's tone, the crowd around them quickly dissipated leaving Adele, Katherine, and Catriona. Feeling the weight of Catriona shift in her lap, Katherine lovingly looked down into Catriona's face as she fully opened her eyes.
"I love you, Katherine, and I don't want you to leave. I'm sorry I acted like I did when you left. I didn't handle the situation at all well. We'll work through this, I promise." Taking Katherine's hand in her own, Catriona placed a delicate kiss in her palm.
"Come home with me, please."
She looked down on Catriona's pleading eyes. "I'm already home, my love. Wherever you are, be it Gleneagle, a shack, or the deck of a ship, as long as I'm with you I'll always be home."
Epilogue
The scandal of Katherine's return took the better part of a month to die down. Its dissipation was aided through the advent of an even greater scandal. As it so unfolded, Miss Greystone had done more than go riding on the fateful day she'd made her shocking discovery. Six weeks after Katherine's initial departure, Miss Greystone developed a bulge consistent with someone expecting a child. While the Greystone family hung their heads in shame, the poorer families of the district quietly rejoiced.
So great was the ignominy felt by Mrs. Greystone, she packed up herself and her daughter and left for Sydney and an extended trip to the continent till Elsbeth's size was reduced. Without her outspoken and waspish presence, the remainder of the ladies' committee lost their momentum. They became content to busy themselves with discrete, select tea parties, leaving the rest of the town and, in particular, Catriona and Katherine to their own devices.
Almost three months passed when Catriona held a dinner party, inviting Susan, Me Lin, William, and Robert. The dinner held even greater significance. Instead of an English-style meal, Me Lin treated the group to a traditional Chinese repast of sweet and spicy oriental dishes, surprising even Susan with her culinary skill. Robert and William had become regular visitors to Catriona and Katherine's home, and had on more than one occasion spent the night. Sometimes Catriona couldn't help but shake her head at the greater freedom of men compared to women.
Almost five months passed since Katherine's initial departure when the postmaster received a letter from Ireland addressed to Sister Flynn. A tireless supporter of the work of the ladies' committee, he elected to redirect the letter to who he felt was a more appropriate recipient--Father Cleary. The father sourly smiled when he read the contents of the letter which first mentioned how sorry the Mother Superior was about Sister Flynn's decision. Given the Mother Superior wasn't in the habit of tying people to something they didn't want to be associated with, she told Katherine she'd honour her resolution to leave the convent. The Mother Superior praised Katherine's choice to remain in the district and advised her that when the convent had saved enough money, she would send another nun to the town.
At the nine-month mark the new nun arrived. Unlike Katherine, both the ladies' committee and Father Cleary afforded the new sister a distinguished reception at the train station, before she was whisked off to the home of Mrs. Monteith. Sister Gordon was a woman in the twilight of her years who was very taken by the welcome she'd received. In return she was quite content to spend the better part of her days regaling the ladies with stories of the Mother Country.
With Sister Gordon's time dominated by such matters, hardly any time remained for her to care for the less fortunate families of the district. As Susan had correctly surmised, it didn't take long for the poorer families to come to grips with the somewhat bohemian relationship shared between Catriona and Katherine. After some initial misgivings and, at the prompting of the influential Connor clan, families within the community accepted Katherine's teaching of their children. As the years passed, and more children found doors opened to them by virtue of the education this fine woman had provided, they couldn't help but wonder what had been the major issue in the first place.
As time went on, the town accepted the two eccentric women who lived outside of town. Unlike the ladies' committee, which eventually petered into obscurity, their love for each other grew, and they spent the rest of their lives in blissful peace surrounded by true friends.
About the Author
Helen currently lives in Tasmania, Australia, with her partner, Kate, and their two cats. When not working, she enjoys writing, reading, bushwalking, civilised camping and the occasional (well frequent) glass of red wine. When she isn't occupied with work and other such matters, she and Kate can be found in the backyard of their home, nestled in the foothills of Mount Wellington, being employed as playthings for their
cats.
Other By Helen Macpherson
Colder Than Ice
Allison Shaunessy is a woman on the edge. As an archaeologist with the Flinders Museum of Australasian Exploration, she and her team are racing against time to secure funding for an unprecedented excavation in Antarctica. Despite her best attempts, she despairs when she falls short of her financial goal.
In America, Michela DeGrasse, a psychologist with the International Space Research Institute, is involved with studying the interaction of humans in extreme environments. When Michela learns of the possibility of the Antarctic research, she attempts to join Allison's expedition but is met with resistance. Only the fact that she is able to provide the needed funding allows Michela to join the expedition to continue her studies.
Allison and Michela instantly clash regarding the focus of the expedition and who should lead the team. They settle into a grudging working relationship that gradually deepens into a fragile friendship, but what they find at the expedition site defies all expectations. With hardship, extreme cold, and rivalry standing in their way, will the two women see past their own stubbornness long enough to allow their friendship to develop any further?
ISBN 978-1-932300-29-1
Love's Redemption
Ten years ago talented Lauren Wheatley was on the verge of golfing greatness. As the world's number one amateur, she stood on the cusp of entry to the women's professional tour. However in a quirk of fate, she imploded in spectacular fashion, during a tournament that would have signaled her immediate entry into the professional ranks. She walked away and never played professional golf again.
And Those Who Trespass Against Us Page 32
