Golden Hope (64 page)

‘Forgive me, Clytie,' Doc said with real concern. ‘In all this drama I neglected to tell you something of real importance. Now I know that Noni blocked Bracken's letter to Sonny Janzen, before I leave I shall assure him of Sister Bracken's verbal confession to Adelaide – to me. I can only trust he will accept the word of a gentleman – or
otherwise,
as the case may be. I truly hope the end result will lead to your happiness, Clytie.'

Clytie felt her heart filled to overflowing and was on the point of reaching out to hug him. All three were startled by a series of loud knocks at the front of the house. This was followed by an extraordinary sound – a drum beat.

They hurried out onto the veranda, Doc self-conscious of being barefooted, in his dressing-robe and a little unsteady on his feet.

Boxes of vegetables were piled cheek to jowl from one end to the other – the accepted Hoffnung tribute in lieu of unpaid bills.
The front garden was packed with townsfolk. Behind them in full military-style uniform stood the band of the Salvation Army.

Sergeant Mangles stepped forward to present Doc with a long scroll.

‘Doc, this is the town's petition to the Victorian State Government demanding that Counsellor Twyman be removed from office – and banned from acting as Coroner.'

The police officer's mouth twitched beneath his bristly moustache. He added confidentially, ‘In effect, Doc, this means Twyman's rotten plot has backfired on him.
He's
the one I'm happy to run out of town.'

‘We are all of us of one mind,' Tom Yeoman affirmed. ‘We want you to remain in Hoffnung – you and Miss Adelaide. And take care of us all just like you've always done.'

Holy Maude had the final word. ‘And Doc, we refuse to take no for an answer.' She turned to the crowd. ‘Ain't that right, folks?'

There was a roar of assent.

The band struck up on cue and the crowd burst into a ragged rendition of
Waltzing Matilda
, stumbling over the new words but putting their heart and soul into its verses.

Finch nudged Doc. ‘They're expecting you to say a few words, Doc. Don't let them down!'

Although seemingly bereft of speech, Doc Hundey finally found his voice. ‘I can fight a man like Twyman – but how can I fight the whole bang lot of you?'

The people of Hoffnung had spoken. They broke into three rousing cheers.

It was late when Clytie and Finch slipped away, after unpacking Doc's luggage, unharnessing his cart and returning the horse to the stables.

Warmed by Doc's whisky, they made their way back to the Priest's house in silence.

Clytie's thoughts revolved around the Jantzens and whatever crisis the future would bring to a head. Finch appeared to be equally preoccupied.

‘I know I should be happy, Finch, but I feel I've lost Adelaide, my best friend.'

‘No, you haven't. She's still there – inside Doc.'

They did not notice when Shadow stopped and refused to continue. Neither she nor Finch saw the reason. Rom Delaney was smoking a cigar as he watched them, half hidden by the night shadows of the bush.

The Jantzen buggy stood waiting for Clytie outside the Priest's house, its harnessed horse as well-trained as a cavalry steed. In contrast, the driver looked slightly out of place, less stylish in Rom's hand-me-down-clothes. But the scarlet scarf knotted at his throat and the angle of his slouch hat gave him a rakish, adventurous air, reminiscent of the old sepia portraits of bushrangers.

He could easily be a reincarnation of one of the Kelly Gang.

It was an odd thought because Finch did not seem to fit into any moral code – neither a rebel nor a conformist.
I don't feel as if I'll ever really know him – no wonder I don't trust him.

His eyes kept flicking back to the house, as if restless to get things over and done with.

Clytie let the lace curtain fall back into place. She checked her appearance in the mirror, secured the hatpin into the straw boater and added a ribbon to the single fat braid that hung to her waist. The grey crescent shadows under her eyes betrayed her sleepless night.

‘You look like death warmed up,' she told the girl in the mirror. ‘Have a little courage – what's the worst that can happen?
Nothing
!'

The flippant words were no help. She didn't dare think of the outcome of today's ‘command performance', the meeting arranged by Finch at Jantzen House.

With a show of independence she waved aside Finch's proffered hand.

‘I'm not helpless, thank you. I've performed on the high wire since I was seven, so a step up into a buggy is child's play.'

‘If you say so,' Finch said with a shrug and drove off at a cracking pace.

‘I'm sorry, Finch. I'm a bundle of nerves. I've had nightmares all night – seeing that woman Bracken, her body swinging over the baby's grave. I still can't believe what she did. What did I ever do to harm her?'

‘I know it's hard to believe. But in the twisted way she looked at the world, she thought she was doing you all a favour. Solving all your problems.'

‘She must have been crazy.'

‘In the end she was. Adelaide knew it.' He hastily corrected himself. ‘That is, Doc knew it.' Finch hesitated as if trying to avoid Rom's name. ‘We all knew it.'

‘Everyone except me,' Clytie said bitterly. ‘Why was I kept in the dark? No doubt because Bracken was a town institution and ran the hospital like clockwork.'

‘Her career was her sole reason for living. Knowing she could never win the love of the one man she wanted – Doc,' Finch said gently.

Clytie refused to back down. ‘You could have told me.'

‘Please understand, Clytie, we couldn't risk hurting you any more than you had been. We suspected the truth but there was no shred of proof without Bracken's confession. In the end the combined pressure from all sides unhinged her mind. Agnes Mary Bracken was an ardent Catholic yet she denied herself a Christian burial, rather than be exposed and face public humiliation. Her status as a nurse was all she had.'

‘You sound as if you pity her. Don't ask
me
to forgive her!'

‘I don't. But who am I to condemn anyone for the bad choices they make on the spur of the moment? I've broken more of God's laws than I care to name – struth!'

He flung an arm across Clytie's chest to anchor her in the seat.

‘Hold on!' he ordered, veering the buggy sharply to the left to avoid the King Brown snake that was slithering across the rocks warmed by the sun.

Clytie remained silent for the remainder of the journey.
Which of God's laws does he mean? Thou Shalt not kill? Thou Shalt not commit Adultery? Or all ten of them?

•  •  •

There was an unusual buzz of activity surrounding Jantzen House that was evident the moment the building came in sight. Servants were rushing about, armed with boxes, scattering in zigzag patterns between the house and stables.

The sun was already high, its heat causing Clytie's one decent blouse to stick to her skin. Sweat ran down the back of her neck and between her breasts, and her hands were clammy inside their gloves.

Finch sensed her discomfort and handed her his handkerchief.

Clytie sighed. ‘I've never fitted into the genteel category of “Men sweat, ladies perspire”. Is my nose shiny? Is my hair all right?' she stammered.

‘You're perfect,' Finch said casually, dabbing the end of his scarf to mop her forehead. ‘Who are you trying to impress? Noni Jantzen?'

‘You must be joking. But I
am
worried. Supposing
he
doesn't like me?'

Finch gripped her hand. ‘The baby? Don't be silly. Who could help loving you, Clytie?'

To counteract his last words, his tone turned brisk. ‘Come on, hop down. I haven't got all day. I have to work for the man, remember?'

They were ushered to a fashionable Lutyens garden seat on the side veranda that was shaded by bougainvillea vines. Sunlight dappled their faces and played shadow games on the flagstone floor.

Sonny greeted them, walking erect with some effort. He waved aside his wife's attempts to take his arm to bolster him.

Noni was dressed formally as if for an appearance in court, a jacket buttoned over her tightly laced gown, an abundance of gold chains spilling down the white Belgian lace of her blouse.

‘Thank you both for coming,' Sonny said gently. ‘I appreciate how painful this visit must be for you, Clytie.'

‘Miss Hart is not the only one,' Noni snapped.

‘Be that as it may, my dear, there is no point in resurrecting the ugly past that Sister Bracken bequeathed to us all. We must come to terms with whatever we can salvage for the future – for little Maxie's sake.'

‘It is kind of you to allow me see him,' Clytie said hopefully.

‘Don't thank me, it was no choice of mine,' Noni answered sharply.

Clytie noticed that despite her biting words, Noni's eyes were ringed with tell-tale shadows that were an echo of her own.

Finch filled the breach. ‘I have not spoken to Clytie about your plans and suggestions, Mr Jantzen. I thought it best for her to hear them directly from you.'

Before Sonny could respond, Noni's voice rose in anger.

‘I don't know what business this is of yours, Finch. You're nothing but an employee who acts above his station and –'.

Sonny cut off her words. ‘Noni, I must ask you to restrain yourself. Finch is not only a valued employee, he has proved himself my friend.
I trust his judgement above all men. If this conversation is too upsetting for you, I suggest you take your leave and retire to your room.'

Sonny's soft words invited no argument.

‘I have no need to rest, thank you. I just want to see this whole wretched business over and done with as quickly as possible.'

‘As we all do, Mrs Jantzen,' Finch said quietly.

Sonny turned to focus on Clytie and Finch as they sat side by side on the edge of their seat.

‘This tragic error of judgement was none of our making. We are all in a sense its victims. But there is no one more important than little Maximilian George Peter Jantzen. The gift of this child – and I say gift advisedly – is the best thing that ever happened to me. He is sunshine in human form. I love him dearly and I want only what's best for his future happiness, please believe me.'

Clytie's lips were dry.
When will this farce come to an end? It's clear they will never give him up. All I can hope for is to see him occasionally – under supervision.

Sonny was overcome by a fit of coughing, but waved aside Noni's attempts to aid him as they moved indoors. Seated on a padded sofa, Sonny's breath was laboured.

‘I must ask you, Finch, to speak on my behalf for a few minutes.' He looked meaningfully at his wife. ‘Finch is party to all my future plans and decisions, my dear.'

Noni looked hostile, humiliated. Clytie also felt a wave of anger at having been excluded.

Finch took over with alacrity, aiming his words primarily at Clytie but remembering to include the Jantzens.

‘Dr Hundey has arranged for Mr Jantzen to be treated by one of the world's finest physicians in a newly built sanatorium in Switzerland. The Schatzalp offers the best possible record for its patients' recovery but the treatment may well take several years. Mrs Jantzen has chosen to travel with him. Their ship sails from Melbourne next month.'

‘It is my wish to travel to the Swiss Alps with a nursemaid for Maximilian or else leave him in her care at our St Kilda mansion until my husband's recovery,' Noni said, trying to control the tremor in her voice.

Sonny cast his wife a swift glance. ‘My decision is irrevocable, m'dear. I trust Dr Hundey's judgement implicitly concerning Max's welfare. The
man
has no cause to lie to me.'

This was an unmistakeable reference to Noni's duplicity in concealing Sister Bracken's letter.

Sonny turned to Clytie and Finch as if eager to reassure them. ‘It will be quite an adventure – even if it proves to be my last. The Schatzalp is the height of luxury with floor heating, an elevator and alpine botanical gardens. I'll be rubbing shoulders with European nobility, famous artists and musicians. Only the very best people get T.B.,' he said, his eyes twinkling.

Finch grinned in appreciation as Sonny's bravado continued.

‘Doc says the treatment is unorthodox but effective. To take advantage of the alpine altitude, guests lie for hours outdoors in the sun.'

Sonny added in a mock tone of
sotto voce
, ‘I understand I shall spend some nights sleeping in the cow shed. This is said to be beneficial treatment due to the cows' flatulence. If that doesn't cure me, nothing will!'

Caught off guard, Finch and Clytie joined in his outburst of boyish laughter until a coughing attack overcame him.

Clytie had learned enough from Doc about the chances of recovery from advanced tuberculosis to know that Sonny faced an uphill battle. She held her breath, looking from one face to another, then fixed her eyes on Finch.
For God's sake tell me what's going on! What is happening to Max?'

Finch was quick to read her thoughts. ‘Mr Jantzen has made a very brave decision due to his deep love for Max. He invites you to visit the boy daily before he sails for Europe. This means you will spend time alone with the child, free to bathe and dress him, feed him and play games with him, in order to give Max time to feel comfortable with you.' He deferred to Sonny, ‘At least that is my understanding, Sir.'

Sonny gave a nod of resignation. ‘I wish to make the transition as easy as possible. Following our departure you are free to take Max home to live with you so he can grow up in the care of his true mother. Finch is in the process of arranging the documents for what will be a legally binding
private
adoption if this is what you wish, Clytie.'