Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [128]
‘Ahmed, there is a small fair-haired obstacle in the way of that happening. And for me, once the trust between two people is broken, things can’t be the same. I simply can’t stay here while all this is going on. I have some pride, too, you know. And I tell you, Ahmed, that woman is trouble. Dangerous trouble.’
He nodded understandingly. ‘I no like you go away. But maybe for little time, is best. How can Ahmed help?’
‘I need two boys to help pack and move my things to the ship. I’ll arrange for the house to be locked up. Minnie will keep an eye on things and I’ll try to get Yusef settled as a houseboy elsewhere.’
‘He and Rosminah bin plannin’ to get married. Maybe he can work at Tuan Tyndall house.’
‘Yes, I’m sure he’ll have his hands full with madam-in-residence. I can’t believe she has moved into his house. Well, actually I can now, having met her.’
At the foreshore camp Ahmed passed on the news that Amy had already confronted Olivia, who was definitely planning on leaving on the steamer in two days’ time.
Tyndall kicked the nearest chair. ‘That damned woman. How dare she upset Olivia. Did you try and talk her out of going, Ahmed? Tell her we need her here for the business? I need her too, but she won’t listen to me at the moment, I’m afraid.’
‘Mem say this lady trouble. But you upset mem too, tuan. She say trust gone.’ When Tyndall stayed silent, he shook his head sadly. ‘This a bad business, tuan. Very bad.’
‘Ahmed, I swear to you, I’m going to fix this mess. God knows how. It may take time, but I will get Olivia to marry me come hell or high water.’
At sunset when Tyndall quit pottering about the luggers he had no clearer idea of how to remove Amy nor how to persuade Olivia to give up her wild idea of moving to Fremantle.
He trudged into the silent house with some trepidation, wondering where Amy was, and called the houseboy to fetch him a drink. He had thought of going to the Lugger Bar but couldn’t face the questions he knew would come his way. By now the entire town was agog with the news. Amy had made frequent stops on her morning tour of the town to make herself known to shopkeepers.
The house was ominously quiet and he called for Rosminah, but the Chinese cook appeared instead. ‘No here, tuan. Gone with mem. Help her carry up her t’ings.’
‘Mem has gone?’ Tyndall’s heart leapt. ‘Where has she gone?’
‘New house, tuan. Mem ask why such little t’ings here in rich man’s house. Rosminah tell her you move to new house after wedding.’
‘What! She’s gone to our new house?’
The cook nodded, edging backwards at the sight of Tyndall’s outrage.
Tyndall charged from the house. This was too much. She was trespassing in the home that he and Olivia had designed together and planned to move into after their wedding.
He ran without pause to the bluff and stood outside the house panting. Olivia’s trunks had been moved outside onto the verandah. Windows were open, Amy’s sea chest was by the door, open and half-emptied.
Nearly choking for air with rage and exhaustion Tyndall surged forward, bellowing for Rosminah. The girl ran out of the door, clutching one of Amy’s hats and a pair of her shoes.
‘Rosminah, drop those,’ he ordered, gasping. ‘Get home at once.’
‘Tuan, she say I must help her.’ Tears started to tumble down her cheeks.
Tyndall snatched Amy’s clothes from her and said quietly, ‘Rosminah, you are to have nothing to do with the mem. You do only what I, tuan, say. Understand? Now go home and stay there.’
‘Really, Johnny, such a fuss. You’re frightening the girl. There’s no harm in her helping me, surely. How else am I going to get settled?’ Amy appeared at the door, calm and sweetly reasonable.
Tyndall threw the hat and shoes at her feet and shouted, ‘You are not moving in here!’
‘But I’m already in, dear.