The Opal Seekers: A thrilling Australian saga of bravery and determination by Patricia Shaw

Author:Patricia Shaw [Shaw, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780755389551
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2011-10-26T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The mistress of Fairlea Station smothered a scream of delight when she received Vern’s mail. When she opened the telegram. How clever of Brodie! He was coming back! Ostensibly to see Vern, but she could read between the lines.

She was so excited she could hardly think straight, her head swimming with all sorts of plans, wonderful plans. She didn’t care about the money he owed her. She now had control of Vern’s bank accounts and investments, so a few hundred to Brodie didn’t matter. Christiana hadn’t even tried to hold on to the power of attorney once they were back at Fairlea, but Vivien knew that was only because she’d known she’d lose.

‘Marvellous!’ she laughed. Christiana must be furious. She hadn’t been out to Fairlea but wrote to Vern every week, long, dreary letters that Vivien didn’t even show him in case they caused a flicker in his dim brain. She wanted him to forget all about that cranky old woman and those silly games she was always suggesting. He was best left alone. Sometimes Elvie took him on a picnic and Vivien went along on those jaunts, boring though they were, to be seen as the caring wife.

She wondered if she should tell the housekeeper that Mr Court would be visiting her husband shortly . . . pave the way. But then she decided against it. The Holloways didn’t have to confide in their staff.

Brodie here. With her! She luxuriated in daydreams of the joys ahead. He could stay in the house and spend every night in her bed. Vivien giggled. It will be his turn to come to my room!

But what about his wife and family?

She shrugged. He still loved her, of that she was sure, or he wouldn’t be on his way to Fairlea. If Brodie had a wife in tow, and he cared about the woman, then he wouldn’t have bothered to reply to her letter.

‘Thank God I wrote to him!’ she crowed. ‘At least I can prepare for him.’

But how? They’d still be restricted here at Fairlea, having to be circumspect outside the house, and inside, too, with Elvie hovering about. Maybe she should send the housekeeper away. Give her a holiday.

No, she said to herself. I won’t saddle myself with chores. I need her to cook for us. We’ll have splendid meals. And she can keep Vern out of the way.

Out of the way, she pondered. She ought to divorce Vern but it probably wasn’t possible. Besides, that meant handing back control of his assets to Christiana. Fat chance, she thought. I’d be lucky to get a penny a week out of the old witch.

A better idea would be to sell Fairlea Station. Get rid of it. Then she could take Vern and move to Brisbane, or even further afield where no one knew them. But she’d never shake Christiana. As it was, she kept asking for Vern to come and stay with her, requests that Vivien steadfastly ignored. Sooner or later the famous Christiana Holloway would be on her doorstep, whether here or as far away as they went.

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