Next morning, Daniel set off for Tiger Pass. Weeks had passed since he’d left Luke and the cubs in the hidden valley.
‘Belle’s engagement party is soon,’ Elizabeth said. ‘What will happen if you’re delayed?’
‘That’s exactly why I’m going now, Lizzie. Three days to get there, a couple of days to gauge how the tigers are getting on, and another three days back. I’ll be home in plenty of time.’
She took hold of his hands. ‘I don’t want you going by yourself.’
‘Lizzie, I must. The way to the pass is a secret known only to me, and now to Luke.’
‘You’re getting too old for traipsing around the wilderness alone. What if you have an accident on the way? I couldn’t bear it. Take Davey along, otherwise I shall be sick with worry the whole time you’re away.’
‘Very well, if it eases your mind. With a bit of luck we’ll bring Luke back with us.’
‘No.’
‘Why ever not? If the cubs are hunting independently and seem settled . . .’
‘You know of Luke’s infatuation with Belle. It might be hard for him to return on the very eve of her engagement to Edward.’
‘I had a word with the boy, Lizzie. He agreed to forget about all that nonsense.’
‘Maybe so,’ said Elizabeth. ‘But could you please keep him away for Belle’s birthday weekend, just in case? I do so want it all to go well.’
‘All right then, mother hen.’ He kissed her on top of her head. ‘Luke can remain at the pass a little longer.’
At mid-morning, Daniel and Davey started up the hill behind the house. Elizabeth waved them goodbye, but Belle was nowhere in sight. She’d begged her father to let her come.
‘With your engagement so close? Your mother would never allow it.’
‘Absolutely not,’ said Elizabeth.
‘Then bring Luke back for me. I want him here for my birthday. I must have him here.’ She seemed close to tears.
‘And have him abandon the cubs? No, Luke will be home soon enough. Now run along and let me finish packing.’
Daniel shot his wife a worried look. ‘Perhaps you’re right after all, Lizzie, to keep those two apart a while longer.’
After Daniel left, Elizabeth called for the buggy and Harrison drove her to the miners’ school to brief her assistant teachers. They’d need to manage by themselves for a while. Right now Belle required her undivided attention.
Elizabeth’s business there lasted until the end of the school day. As she stood on the rickety verandah with the teacher, seeing off the children, a scruffy little dog ran up to her. It looked familiar. Of course, Angus’s dog. Molly, his common-law widow, earned a few shillings babysitting children while their mothers worked as servants in wealthier homes. Here she came now, trudging down the hill after the little dog. Apart from sending a hamper of goods to tide Molly over after the funeral, Elizabeth hadn’t spared her a thought since. The poor woman’s hollow eyes caused Elizabeth some guilt.
‘How are you, Molly?’
‘Well enough, thank you, ma’am.’
A little boy ran up to her and she absent-mindedly tousled his hair. A teacher led two grubby little girls over and Molly took their hands.
‘I hear you’ve found yourself a new job, Molly,’ said the teacher.
‘That’s right.’ The children wriggled free from Molly’s grasp and ran off. ‘I start next week.’
Harrison drew the buggy to a halt outside the schoolhouse and Elizabeth stepped inside. ‘Thank you, Harrison. Canterbury Downs.’
Molly watched the sleek buggy drive away. That’s how Adam was living now, high on the hog. Yet she couldn’t even afford a pittance of rent. Left Angus to die, he did, like a rat in a trap, then ingratiated himself with every bigwig in town. How she despised him. She couldn’t wait to get away from this town. Perhaps at Canterbury Downs she might earn enough money for a move to Hobart. Her dream of being a shopkeeper was still very much alive. So preoccupied was she with her thoughts that one of her small charges wandered off and was almost skittled by the wheel of a heavy cart.
‘Keep your brats off the road!’ The driver brandished a whip at the fallen child. ‘Did you hear me, whore?’
Another woman rushed over to pluck the wailing child from the dust as the cart thundered on. Molly looked on without interest. She started to climb the hill with Scruffy and the children in tow. Tonight she’d start packing up the cottage. There was nothing left for her there.
When Elizabeth arrived at Canterbury Downs, Jane Abbott welcomed her with a warm embrace. ‘Thank God you’ve come, Elizabeth. We’ve so little time and so much to do. Ada’s here to help plan guest accommodation. She’s kindly arranged for Isabelle and Grace to make a brief trip to Hobart for the fitting of their gowns. If that suits you, of course, dear Elizabeth.’
‘That’s perfect.’ The further away Belle was from home the better. It might give her daughter a little perspective on things.
The women spent the day organising guest lists and menus. They decided the party should be in the style of a ball: a lavish dinner, followed by dancing. The important visitors would stay at the Abbott home, with any overflow divided between Binburra and the neighbouring Mitchell estate.
By dinnertime the invitations were dispatched to the Hobart printer. Elizabeth inspected the grand ballroom – an impressive space with a sprung oak-panelled floor and massive chandeliers of German crystal. Servants were using beeswax to polish the floorboards into a brilliant shine. Elizabeth found herself caught up in the excitement. After all, whatever the circumstances, this was Belle’s one and only engagement party.
‘Is the piano well tuned?’ she asked. ‘And we’ll need a violin, a cello and at least one cornet, don’t you think?’
They moved off to the dining room, Belle’s pregnancy remaining the great unmentioned.