Luke spent the week getting to know the girls. He’d never seen Belle in a maternal role before and it opened his eyes. The pampered, carefree girl he’d known long ago had grown into a wise, mature woman and a loving, devoted mother. What a pleasure it would have been to have taken that journey with her. To have seen her grow into motherhood, with Robbie and the girls. Mingled with his happiness was a profound understanding of all he’d lost.
The day after they arrived, Luke presented Anne and Clara with a present. It had taken a while to track down Bear’s puppies, but in the end he’d found a litter of direct descendants, and purchased a fine male. Bruno was meant for Robbie. The pair of females from a different lineage were for the girls.
However, it was Belle who seemed the most delighted when he released the jet black trio of joyful pups onto the lawn. They each wore a different colour collar to tell them apart. ‘How old are they?’
‘Ten weeks. Bruno already weighs twenty-five pounds,’ he said. ‘You can name the girls.’
‘They’re beautiful.’ Belle clapped her hands like a delighted child. ‘If I half-close my eyes, I can imagine these are Sasha’s babies and we’re young again and back at Binburra.’
Anne sat down and the shaggy puppies piled on top of her. ‘Help, help.’
Belle and Clara went laughing to the rescue. However, it seemed Anne didn’t want rescuing. ‘I’m calling this one Crusoe, after the dog in that book you read us, Mama.’
Clara frowned. ‘You can’t. That dog in the book is a boy.’
‘It doesn’t matter. Does it matter, Colonel?’
‘Not at all,’ said Luke.
Clara struggled to pick up the pink-collared pup. ‘I’m naming this one Princess Irene like in The Princess and the Goblin. Do you think it’s a good name, Mama?’
‘The best.’
‘Can we take them with us when we go to Papa’s house on Saturday?’
Crusoe was burying Anne’s shoe in a bed of petunias, showering soil behind her. Bruno was busy demolishing a cane garden chair and Princess Irene was using the verandah as a toilet. Together they were a three-puppy demolition crew.
‘What an excellent idea,’ said Luke.
On Saturday Luke waited anxiously for Edward to come, hoping to exchange a few words with Robbie. He was on tenterhooks to discover what the boy knew. But when Edward arrived, Robbie wasn’t in the car.
‘I told him,’ said Edward. ‘He knows you’re his father. It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done.’
‘How did he take it?’
‘Pretty hard, but Robbie has a generous spirit. He forgave me.’
‘Will he forgive me?’ asked Luke.
‘I don’t know.’
Luke studied him, his expression, his manner. He looked healthier, stronger. ‘You still chasing the dragon?’
Edward shook his head. ‘I’m not even drinking. It’s bloody impossible at times, but Robbie’s not going back to Scotch College. He wants to live at home with me. It’s the least I can do for him, considering . . . I want to set a better example.’
‘You should know,’ said Luke, struggling to get the words out. ‘That I appreciate what you’ve done for my son.’
Edward nodded an acknowledgement.
The three puppies ran out on leads, dragging the girls behind them. ‘We have to make room for Bruno and Crusoe and Princess Irene,’ said Anne. ‘Bruno’s for Robbie.’
Edward looked on doubtfully as Clara dragged the pups aboard. ‘I’ll have to get a bigger car.’
Belle came outside with the girls’ bags.
‘Can’t the servants do that?’ asked Edward.
‘We don’t have servants at Coomalong,’ said Anne. ‘We do things for ourselves, even cook. It’s fun. When we get home, I’m going to bake you and the puppies some bread.’
‘Mrs Tibbs might have something to say about that,’ said Edward, as he jumped out to help Belle with the bags.
‘Are you all right?’ Belle asked him.
‘I will be.’ Edward climbed up beside Clara, surrounded by a sea of puppies. ‘Can I have the girls until Sunday? It’s Aunt Hilda’s birthday party.’
‘Certainly,’ said Belle. ‘We’re going on a short trip anyway. I’ll telephone you when we get back.’
Edward started to ask where she was going, but didn’t finish the question. Instead he saluted her. ‘Goodbye, Belle.’ He honked the horn as they drove away.
‘He told Robbie that I’m his father,’ said Luke.
Belle took his hand. ‘That was good of Edward. Brave. You don’t know how much he loves that boy.’
Luke kicked at the ground. ‘I’m beginning to realise.’
‘Cheer up.’ Belle pulled him towards the house. ‘Let’s go to Binburra and walk to Tiger Pass. Do you know I’ve never been?’