A Mother's Shame by Rosie Goodwin

Author:Rosie Goodwin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781472104991
Publisher: Constable & Robinson
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

The next morning following a hearty breakfast Mr Preston arranged for the same open-backed trap that had delivered them to his home to take them all to the port, and so at last the party of four began the final leg of their sea journey on the Dolphin. None of them was too keen to leave terra firma again, but feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep and knowing that this voyage would be nowhere near as long as the first, they all endured it cheerfully.

‘Oh my, would you just look at that.’ Kitty clapped her hands with delight as the boat approached Port Arthur. Lush green hills covered in an array of colourful plants and flowers towered above them and Kitty was sure she had never seen anything quite so pretty. The boat they had travelled on was smaller than the Northern Lights and the crossing from Hobson’s Bay to Port Arthur had been calm and pleasant.

Once the boat was anchored, they were rowed ashore and their luggage was unloaded onto the jetty by a ruddy-faced seaman. Josh gave him a handsome tip that sent the sailor scuttling off to find transport for them. Meanwhile other sailors continued to unload great barrels of rum and flour, livestock and any number of goods from the ship’s hold. Isabelle was looking enchanting in a loose satin dress of sapphire blue that she had purchased from the emporium in Liverpool, and she was receiving more than a few admiring glances, despite her condition. However, she seemed oblivious to them as she stared dreamily up into the hills. She wore a fringed shawl about her shoulders in a lighter shade of blue and her magnificent hair was tied back with a matching ribbon. Kitty and Maria had also gone to great lengths to look their best to meet Josh and Isabelle’s uncle and were neatly turned out in their finest, although they were plainly dressed compared to their mistress.

‘Ah, here we are,’ Josh said after a while as an open-backed carriage pulled by two tired-looking horses trotted towards them. ‘It won’t be long now, ladies, and you’ll get to meet the rebel of Mama’s family.’

Maria would have liked to ask him what he meant, but knowing that it was not her place she remained silent as Josh helped them all up onto the seats. The luggage was strapped to the back, and then after being given directions, the driver climbed into the seat and they set off slowly up the steep hill leaving the pretty little port with its cerulean blue seas behind them.

On the way Josh pointed out different plants and flowers, and Kitty listened enthralled.

‘That is a cactus plant over there – look. It thrives here because of the warm dry climate.’

Kitty studied the prickly green leaves and the vivid pink trumpet-like flowers.

‘And that there is funnel, and over there are wild orchids. Those on that side are wax flowers, very common here, as are those Blue Gum and Golden Wattle trees.

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