The Worst Country in the World by Patsy Trench

Author:Patsy Trench
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prefab Publications

Chapter 23

1809: Jemima

In 1809 a young man called Robert Jenkins arrived in the colony on Atalanta. He was from Gloucestershire, well educated, a good rider and hunter, of impeccable stock. He was acting as agent for a London merchant called William Wilson, who owned the ship he arrived on. He had a splendid future ahead of him and he was the perfect match for Jemima Pitt.

Then a few months after he arrived Jenkins’s employer went bankrupt, leaving Jenkins, in his own words, ‘almost penniless and in a state of mind not at all enviable’. Out of the window along with his finances went all hope of marrying Jemima.

~

‘Jemima, there is someone I want you to meet,’ said Thomas.

Jemima turned from the stove upon which she had been preparing the family supper.

Since the weddings of her two sisters she had kept house for her mother and unmarried brother at Bronte. She cooked for them and kept the larder filled, she handled the books and still found time to help out on the farm when things were busy. She was showing herself to be a hard-working, capable and alarmingly self-sufficient woman, but in 1809 she was twenty-six and still no nearer finding a husband.

It was not for want of offers. In 1809 there were still around four men to every woman in New South Wales, and a woman of Jemima’s resourcefulness (and wealth) would have been much sought after. But she was still smarting from the recent and sudden ending of her relationship with Robert Jenkins and had, to Thomas’s consternation, stubbornly refused to show any interest in any man since.

‘His name is Austin Forrest,’ said Tom. ‘He was a captain with the East India Company but he’s been working for Robert Campbell for the past few years, captaining his trading ships between Calcutta and here. Wilshire has done business with him, and now apparently he has decided to settle in the colony.’

Jemima sat down opposite Tom and began eating.

‘Did you hear me?’

‘How are you to know whether this one is suitable?’ she asked.

‘Don’t be difficult, Jem. Look – I only did it for the best. Jenkins was not a good prospect, you know as well as I do.’

‘It was through no fault of his own, you know as well as I do.’

‘I am not passing judgment on him, I am asking you – urging you to forget him and move on. You are after all ...’ he hesitated.

‘... not getting any younger.’ Jemima looked up at her brother as she chewed. ‘You are absolutely right dear brother, as always. What did you say his name was?’

‘Austin Forrest, Captain with the East India Company. He has acquired huge amounts of land here – ’

‘What colour are his eyes?’ asked Jemima.

‘ – most of Governor Hunter’s old properties. He is a man of considerable means. And I can’t see what the colour of his eyes has to do with anything.’

‘Age?’

‘I’ve no idea. He is mature, that I do know.’

‘Demeanour?’

Tom frowned in irritation. ‘Look, I don’t recall.

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