And Those Who Trespass Against Us (41 page)

"No, sir, not that I can recall."

"The person I'm looking for is a nun. Would it be possible for you could keep an eye out for her? She's a friend of the family. I missed saying goodbye to her when she left." Catriona reached into her pocket and pulled out a roll of notes. "I know a man such as you must be too busy to look for someone as specific as a nun. I'm certainly willing to cover any inconvenience this may cause."

"Yes, it is a busy job," he replied, as he greedily held out his hand. "But I know what it's like when you don't get to say goodbye before family sail overseas. I tell you what. The
Elizabeth
sails at four o'clock on the afternoon of the fourteenth. If you return here before the ship sails, I'll let you know if there have been any such passengers."

Catriona uttered her thanks as she handed over what she thought was an adequate sum to cover any 'inconvenience' caused. "I'm going to remain in Sydney at least until the ship sails. Could you recommend a place where I might stay?"

"There are a number of taverns about the town which would be more than suitable for you. The Princess Royal on Hunter Street is one of the more reputable establishments."

Catriona shook her head, as she recalled one previous visit to Sydney, when she'd boarded there.

"Of course it can become rowdy once the sun goes down. Possibly a hotel would be more to your liking? Then might I recommend the Petty's Family Hotel? It's on church hill. Any driver will be able to take you there."

She thanked the man and left the office, wondering when Katherine was going to book a passage home. Maybe she'd been side tracked. If that were the case, then Catriona's last chance would be on the day the boat was sailing, which was seven days away. How was she to occupy her time until then?

She made her way to Petty's Family establishment where, tired and bedraggled, she booked herself a room for the week and ordered a well-deserved bath. Busy with signing the register, she didn't see the two women she'd nearly crashed into at the shipping yards cross the reception room and leave the hotel.

KATHERINE FOLLOWED ADELE and the waiter as they weaved around the other seated diners, finally arriving at a quiet corner of the tearoom. Taking a seat, Adele ordered for them both. She waited until the waiter was a safe distance away. "Pardon my audacity, Katherine, but what's going on?"

Katherine looked down at her tightly clasped hands, wondering where to begin. "Catriona told me about you and her." The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

Adele's brow twitched, as if her composed exterior had been slightly breached. Casting her eyes in the direction of the other diners and seeing they were ensconced in their own conversations, she returned her gaze to Katherine. "If she told you then that could naturally only mean one thing. Do you and Catriona share a similar relationship?"

Katherine's blushed furiously. "Yes, we did," she replied quietly, her face downcast. She jumped at the soft feel of Adele's hand on her own.

"You needn't be worried. I'm not about to leave in disgust. That would be a bit hypocritical, don't you think?" Katherine nodded. "I sensed something between the two of you. And the night of the dinner-- I'm terribly sorry I walked in on you. I assure you, my actions were unintentional."

Adele searched Katherine's face. "Pardon my bluntness, but what are you doing in Sydney? You don't have to answer me if you don't want to, but were Catriona's feelings for you not the same as you felt for her? Was it all too much for you?"

Katherine looked at Adele. How could she tell her that in Catriona's arms she'd finally felt at home. Yet, despite feeling so, she'd left her? "No, it wasn't too much, and the feeling was mutual." She laughed ruefully. "After a number of false starts we finally admitted our feelings for each other. My decision to leave the convent was the next obvious step, so I approached Father Cleary." Adele's eyes widened. "Rest assured, I didn't tell him the
whole
story, regarding my leaving the Order. I told him I was no longer comfortable continuing my religious calling." Katherine paused when the waiter returned with a plate of sandwiches and refreshments.

Satisfied the man was at a respectable distance, Adele looked at Katherine. "Is that why you're returning to Ireland, to get dispensation to leave the convent?"

Katherine couldn't stop the tears welling in her eyes. "That's not exactly the truth, although it's one thing I'll see to on my return. We were caught by the young Greystone girl, kissing on the way to town." She paused at Adele's quiet gasp.

Katherine dabbed her eyes. "I know it was a foolish indiscretion, and given the day again we'd have never let it happen. But it did. I'm sure you can imagine the reaction of the ladies' committee. I truly believe if they could have organised it, they would've seen to our lynching. Instead they settled for me leaving town."

"What did Catriona do through all of this? She doesn't strike me as someone who'd take such treatment lying down."

"She wouldn't if she'd been given the choice. If you could have seen the reaction of the father, you would've understood what I had to do. Catriona's livelihood relies on her receiving a good price for her crop and her cattle. That was unlikely to occur if I remained. I couldn't bear to see her and the farm waste away because of me. I didn't want her to carry the simmering resentment which might have arisen from her being made an outcast. So I decided to leave. I knew Catriona would never ask me to go. And, if I stayed, I don't think she would have managed to keep the farm."

"Did she try to stop you?"

Katherine sadly smiled. "At first she did, when I tried to explain why I was doing what I was doing. But as it came closer to my departure, she acted like she didn't care anymore. She stopped speaking to me and refused to take me to the station. On my last day I barely managed to get any words from her at all." She paused then quietly added, "I think she was glad to see me gone."

ADELE SAT BACK in her chair. She had dealt with her stubborn charge often enough to recognise a defence mechanism when she saw it. As a teenager, withdrawing into herself had been Catriona's way in dealing with pain. Feigning indifference had caused many a frustrating time when she'd been her governess. "Are you telling me she made no move to tell you to stay?" Katherine nodded. "Do you love her?"

Silent tears fell down Katherine's face. "Yes." She again reached into the folds of her dress for a handkerchief.

"Believe me when I tell you she loves you, and the last thing she'd have wanted was for you to leave. Go back, Katherine. Tell her you love her, and be damned with what the townsfolk say or do. If you feel half as much for her as what she does for you, there'll be no issue with your return."

"How can you say that? You weren't there. You didn't see how she acted on the final day. And what about the farm? If I return I doubt the townsfolk's position on our relationship will have changed. And what if she doesn't take me back? I've barely enough funds as it is. I'm sorry, Adele. As much as this hurts, and believe me when I tell you it's like a suppurating wound, I can't go back. It's best I return to Ireland. In time, Catriona's life will go on. As days pass, her memories of me will fade, along with the pain she's currently suffering. It's for the best."

"I don't think so, Katherine. I really don't." Sensing closure to their discussion, at least for the moment, Adele took a sip from her now lukewarm tea.

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!"