24

Two days later, Chilton was buried quickly and quietly in an unmarked grave. No one attended the funeral, except Bram, who had said he wasn’t going, then changed his mind because he couldn’t bear to think of Chilton making that last journey on his own.

He went to the ice works afterwards to make sure Fergus had everything he needed to get the machinery going, but he had no desire to interfere in that side of things, any more than Fergus had shown an interest in the paperwork. His brother was too busy sorting out the pipes and tubes and other equipment at the ice works.

Fergus seemed to be going through every single pipe, connection and piece of apparatus. And he was whistling happily as he worked. A very tuneful whistle, too.

He looked up to say, ‘I’ll get round to your floor tomorrow, if that’s all right. I just had to see what was needed here.’

‘The floor can wait. The ice can’t.’

‘Good.’ Do you want to go through Chilton’s papers with me later, Fergus lad? They’re in a proper old mess.’

‘I’m better with machinery. But Cara says she’ll look through them for us, if we like. Do you mind if she helps? She’s itching to do something. She says if Isabella can help you, she can help me.’

‘She’s welcome to go through them. She can always ask if she’s puzzled about something. My Isabella would be the best one for her to ask, though.’ He grinned. ‘Some men would think we’re mad letting women into our businesses. But Isabella’s far better than I am with figures, and she loves that silk shop of hers. Why waste that ability on her sweeping the floor?’

He looked across the room. ‘I see Pa’s still working here.’

‘I’m not paying him much, but it means a lot to him.’

Bram heard the defensive note in his brother’s voice. ‘It’s good for a man to have work.’

‘He’s a demon at cleaning up. Ma’s training, I expect.’ Fergus chuckled. ‘He’s brought Sean with him too, just till the lads start school next week. Pa says boys aren’t meant to be idle.’

‘If Pa gets tired, tell him he doesn’t need to work at all. I’d be happy to give him a roof over his head and food on the table for as long as he needs it.’

Fergus tensed. ‘I won’t let him work himself to death, but he’s quite strong for his age. Anyway, I’m the one paying him, so you don’t have to worry about your money.’

Bram smiled, daring to give his brother a mock thump with a clenched fist. ‘It’s not that at all, you eejit. But Pa’s getting on now, so he’ll need to find an easier job. I’d have done the same as you, found him a job, made one up, if necessary.’

‘That’s all right, then.’

‘Is everything all right? I mean, between us?’

Fergus didn’t pretend not to understand. ‘Yes. You and I, we’ve sorted ourselves out.’

‘Good. Look, one of my sellers’ husbands knows about gardening and he’d be happy to show Pa what’s needed with the different plants they grow here – though some of the old plants from back home grow here, too, of course. I can take Pa over to Tom’s tomorrow afternoon, if you like, and they can have a chat.’

‘That’d be wonderful. I was wondering what jobs to find for him after this. Robbie’s all the help I’ll need for the time being once the place has been cleaned up, but I’ll keep Sean occupied when he’s not at school, teach him a few things. You’re never too young to learn. Um … what do you intend to do with the big shed at the back?’

‘I hadn’t even thought about it. Isn’t it used for storing spare machinery or something?’

‘No. It’s full of rubbish. We need to go through that together. You may be able to sell some of the stuff. After all, you own these buildings and their contents now.’

We own it. I held a mortgage on the place, so it’s come to me.’

‘I agreed to a share in the business, but not in the buildings. That wouldn’t be fair.’

‘Says who?’ Bram waved one hand in dismissal. ‘They’re tumble-down places and we should probably knock down the lot.’ He waited, then added slyly, ‘Unless you can think of anything to do with them, in which case they’re yours.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes, I am.’

‘Isabella won’t mind?’

‘She’s happy for us to work together. She didn’t get angry at me, didn’t even pretend to scold me when I told her about keeping the ice works going.’

‘That’s all right, then. Actually, the big shed isn’t as bad as it looks. It wouldn’t take much to make it waterproof again and it’s bigger than you’d guess from outside. And there’s a smaller one next to it. I was thinking … They make houses out of wood here, and I’m good with wood. I might be able to turn that shed into a house, do it bit by bit, myself … with guidance from someone who knows more than I do about such things, perhaps. And I could convert the little shed too, for Ma and Pa.’

‘Mitchell Nash would be happy to advise you, yes, and sell you the extra wood you’ll need. He’s doing some building work these days, as well as selling timber.’

‘Do you know everyone in Fremantle?’

Bram grinned. ‘I know a lot of people. The nicer ones, anyway.’

‘Well, we’re going to need somewhere to live, so if that would be all right with you, I’d like to try to make a home of the back part.’

Bram shrugged. ‘What would I do with an old shed? Show me what’s in it, though.’

They picked their way into the shed, going right to the back, where they even found some piles of old lumber.

Fergus looked up, considering the shape of the place. ‘If I could make the roof just a little bit higher at that side, we could build bedrooms up there.’

Bram slapped his back. ‘Do what you want. Won’t you need more wood than this, though? I could—’

Fergus watched Bram open his mouth, and knew his brother was going to offer to buy the wood. He got in first, saying firmly, ‘We’ll do it ourselves when we can afford it. We’ve all slept together before, and we can do it again for as long as necessary.’

Bram held up his hands, fingers spread out in a placatory gesture. ‘All right. But if you need anything, you’ll ask?’

‘If I have to.’

‘You haven’t forgotten Maura and Hugh are bringing their lot round for tea tonight?’

‘Oh, hell, I had! Good thing you reminded me, Bram. I’m getting filthy. I’ll have to have a good wash after I finish here.’

‘I’ll get back to the Bazaar, then. I have to work out the best way of storing the cargo in the new shed, move stuff around ready for it. Adam and Ismay are due back next week and then we’ll be busy for a few days. After that we’ll hold a big family party, eh? Won’t Ismay be surprised to see you here?’

‘I’m looking forward to seeing her again. It’s been grand to catch up with the others. It’s lovely to see Maura so happy with Hugh.’

‘It was lovely to hear you singing with him. You have a wonderful voice, Fergus.’

‘Most of us Deagans are good at singing.’ He grinned. ‘Except you! Promise me you’ll not try to join in again.’

Bram rolled his eyes, but he knew he couldn’t sing. He didn’t mind. No one could do everything.

Fergus looked round the big shed with a proprietorial air. ‘I’ll start drawing up plans for this place as soon as I’ve had time to sort out what wood we’ve got. The machinery has to come first. I think I can not only get the ice works going again, but working better than before.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘I’m fairly sure, barring accidents. I keep telling you: I do understand machinery.’

Bram blew his nose loudly, then blew it again, blinking his eyes. ‘That’ll be grand. Just … grand. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.’

Fergus patted his shoulder, then returned to the pipes.

‘I’d better get back to work now, as well,’ Bram said.

As he turned to leave, Fergus caught his arm. ‘Just one more thing. Later on, I’d like to look into more modern ways of making ice. There’s a fellow on the other side of Australia who’s taken out a patent on a better way of doing it. Livia and Rémi are going to find out about him for me. His name’s James Harrison. We could maybe write to him, find out more about what he’s doing and if it’s practical, pay him to use his process.’

‘Don’t you think we’d better walk before we run?’

Fergus laughed confidently. ‘I don’t mean this minute, or even this year. But I’m a big believer in thinking ahead. You can make more profit with modern methods and machinery. And we could maybe set up an ice works in Perth, too, once we’ve got the process sorted out and— What’s the matter?’

Bram couldn’t hold back the laughter. ‘When it comes down to it, you’re as bad as me. If we don’t watch out, we’ll have you getting rich. You’ll probably invent some machinery that makes a lot of money.’

Fergus smiled and shrugged, but he rather liked the idea of that. Not yet, but in the future. For Cara and the children.

He felt so happy, confident too.

He’d been doubtful about coming to Australia, but he wasn’t doubtful any more. It was the best thing he’d ever done. Just as marrying Cara had been the right thing to do.

Ah, he was a lucky fellow, he was so.

While Bram was sorting out the ice works, Livia spent a lot of time getting to know Rémi better. The more she chatted to him, the more she liked him. Even Orla and Rhoda had come round.

They spent wonderful evenings together, talking about anything and everything. The world, the future of Australia, the chances of opening their own bookshop once Mr Deeping sold his.

‘Maybe we can buy his stock,’ Rémi said. ‘And I have a lot of books.’

‘We’d have to find somewhere to rent, and houses aren’t cheap in Perth.’

‘In Fremantle, then,’ he said recklessly. ‘As long as we’re together. And it’s been at least an hour since you kissed me, woman.’

‘It’s your turn to kiss me,’ she said provocatively.

So he did.

She had never thought to be so happy with a man again. Or to trust a man about money. The more she talked to him, the more she saw how frugally Rémi was thinking and planning.

‘Years of practice,’ he admitted ruefully when she asked about this. ‘My uncle took most of my wages to pay off my parents’ debt to him.’

‘He must be a mean fellow to treat a relative like that.’

‘He is.’

She travelled up to Perth twice more to help Mr Deeping, going on her own, leaving Rémi to make plans and wander round Fremantle, looking at possible sites for a bookshop.

She wasn’t sure they’d have the money, but he was quite prepared to risk all he had in the venture.

One evening she looked across the table at him and said, ‘We’d better start adding my money to the total.’

He looked at her in shock. ‘No, no! I know how important that money is to you.’

‘Not as important as you are. And anyway, I’ve got to know you better. You’re not like Francis, not a rash man, thank goodness.’

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. ‘Thank you. Your trust means a lot to me.’

The next time she made plans to go to the shop in Perth, Livia asked Rémi to go with her. She didn’t know why, she just had a feeling she’d need him. Such fancies weren’t usual with her but he seemed happy to accompany her, whatever the reason.

She knew Rémi was still fretting that he hadn’t been able to buy the bookshop. It’d have been perfect for them. But as she’d found, life was rarely perfect.

And at least they’d found one another. That was so wonderful.

When they got to the shop, they found it locked, the blinds still pulled down in the windows. Livia was concerned. ‘Mr Deeping usually opens up well before this time.’

‘Do you have a key?’

‘No.’

‘We could go round the back and see if he’s hidden a spare key anywhere. People often do.’

The back yard was in a mess, even though the tenants in the rear part of the house were supposed to keep it tidy.

A woman came out to see what they were doing. ‘No, I haven’t seen Mr Deeping this morning. It’s not like him not to open the shop, I must say. Wait a minute. I have a key to his back door.’

When they went inside, Livia called out, ‘Mr Deeping? Are you all right?’

There was no answer.

‘I’m not going upstairs to look,’ the tenant declared. ‘He might have dropped dead. I can’t abide dead bodies. I’ll be in my house if you need anything else.’

Livia took a deep breath. ‘I’d better go up and check.’

Rémi moved ahead of her, barring her way with one arm. ‘I’ll go up first, in case he’s not in a fit state to see you.’

She waited at the foot of the stairs and a minute later, Rémi called down. ‘Can you come up, Livia?’

When she reached the landing, he took her hand and said gently, ‘He’s dead. Must have passed away during the night. Are you all right about dead bodies? He looks very peaceful.’

‘Death is something most people are used to by my age. Anyway, I’d like to see him, to say goodbye. He is – he was such a dear old fellow.’

As Rémi had said, Mr Deeping looked very peaceful. His spectacles were still perched on his nose and his book had fallen on to the floor, still open at the page he’d been reading. He looked mildly surprised, but not as if he’d suffered any pain.

‘Who do we send for?’ Rémi asked.

‘I know who his lawyer is. Shall I go and find him?’

‘I’ll come with you. Mr Deeping doesn’t need me now.’

‘Thank you, Rémi. You’re a great comfort to me.’

They told the tenant what had happened and asked her not to let anyone else in, then walked down the hill, holding hands shamelessly like two children.

The lawyer stared at them in shock. ‘Dead? But I only saw him a couple of days ago. My goodness! The poor man didn’t even get a chance to spend his final months with his favourite books. He was telling me how much he was looking forward to that.’

‘Had he signed a contract to sell the place? Do we have to contact somebody about it?’

‘No, he’s not signed anything yet. The fellow who wants to buy it is in the country and Mr Deeping said there was no hurry. Indeed, in the circumstances, that’s probably a good thing.’

‘Circumstances? What circumstances?’

‘I can’t talk about that until I’ve confirmed that he is indeed dead. I’ll walk back with you and send my clerk for the doctor.’

When he stood by the bed, the lawyer nodded. ‘No doubt in my mind that he died peacefully. We all wish for that sort of ending, do we not?’

With the doctor’s confirmation that everything had happened naturally, the lawyer asked his clerk to make the funeral arrangements they’d already discussed with Mr Deeping.

He then turned to Livia. ‘Do you have time to come to my office? Mr Deeping has named you as his heir, you see.’ She looked at him in surprise. ‘Me?’

‘You didn’t know?’

‘No.’

‘Well, he only changed his will this week, but he said he was going to mention it to you. He left you all the money remaining after he’d passed away. Of course, he expected to need much of it to care for himself during the next year or two, which is why he’d decided to sell. But as he hadn’t sold when he died, or even given a firm agreement to sell, that option is up to you now and— Mrs Southerham? Are you all right?’

For the first time in her life, Livia had fainted.

Rémi had seen her eyes roll up and recognised the signs, so had been quick enough to catch her. The lawyer gestured to the sofa at one side of his room and they laid her gently on it.

When she came to a few moments later, she asked the lawyer, ‘Did I dream it, or has Mr Deeping really left me the bookshop?’

‘You didn’t dream it. He’s left his entire estate to you, Mrs Southerham. Said his nephew in Sydney hadn’t even bothered to write for the past two years, so it might as well go to someone who had cared about him.’

She sat up, not daring yet to stand, but turning to Rémi automatically. He was looking rather solemn and she knew him well enough by now to guess why, but she didn’t say anything about that. She turned to the lawyer. ‘I’d like to go home now. Can I leave the funeral arrangements to your clerk?’

‘Yes, of course. But you’ll come back for the funeral and then sign the papers for me? And perhaps you ought to come to Perth tomorrow to take care of the shop. Are you going to run it or sell it?’

‘Run it.’ She stood up and Rémi was there to offer his arm.

As they walked slowly down to the ferry, she said, ‘This means we can get married quite soon.’

He stopped walking. ‘How can we do that? Everyone will think I’m a fortune hunter.’

She gave him a fond glance. ‘I shall know that you’re not, which is the only thing that matters to me. Anyway, you told me you had a lot of books. If you were happy to, you could add some of them to the stock, make a contribution to the business that way, as well as helping me run it.’

‘It … still doesn’t seem fair.’

‘Of course it is. There’s just one condition I’m going to make about marrying you, that you never make financial decisions about our money without consulting me.’

He swallowed hard. ‘Do you really trust me enough to marry me? We haven’t known each other very long.’

‘Were you lying when you said you’d fallen in love with me?’

‘No, of course not. You know I wasn’t.’

‘Then what’s to stop us? And of course I trust you, you fool, or I wouldn’t even be considering marriage.’

So he stopped walking, took both her hands in his and said solemnly, ‘Then I swear by all that’s in me to love and cherish you all the days of my life, Livia.’

She looked up at him misty-eyed, greatly touched by his words. ‘I shall do the same for you, Rémi – all the days of my life. I like that phrase, don’t you?’

‘I do.’ He bent to kiss her cheek very gently, then the corners of his lips started to curl up and she waited, knowing he’d found something humorous in the situation. Didn’t he always?

‘What have you thought of now, Rémi Newland?’ she demanded when he didn’t share it with her immediately.

‘I can’t wait to tell Orla and Rhoda. On the way back, let’s see who can correctly guess what they’ll say.’

‘And what penalty will the loser pay?’

‘A kiss.’

‘That seems a very fair punishment to me.’ She chuckled, then shook her head. ‘I shouldn’t be laughing when poor Mr Deeping is lying dead.’

‘I think he’d enjoy the joke.’

As it turned out, neither of them won the bet, because neither of them had guessed how delighted and approving the two maids would be.

So they agreed to each pay the required penalty once they were alone.

‘And we’ll marry as soon as we can by special licence,’ he said. ‘I don’t think I can wait much longer, you see.’

‘I’ll tell Bram and everyone tomorrow. Tonight I just want to sit quietly with you, my darling.’

Livia and Rémi’s wedding was postponed just a little, at Bram’s request.

‘Who can deny Bram anything when he’s so happy?’ Livia said in excuse to her fiancé.

‘A few days here or there won’t matter. But my lodgings at the bookshop aren’t nearly as comfortable as your house was. And I’m very impatient to make you mine.’

‘Orla and Rhoda were adamant. It wouldn’t look right, you living with me once we were engaged to be married. Anyway, it’s giving us time to clear out Mr Deeping’s quarters and get the tenants out of the back part of the building.’

‘Your maids are thrilled that they’ll have a little house to themselves.’

She gave him a mischievous smile. ‘I’m thrilled to have them staying next door. Once we’re sharing a bed, I shall prefer to be truly alone.’ She watched his breath catch in his throat. Well, hers did too, every time she thought of having a loving husband again – in bed, in her daily life, in sickness and in health.