Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [83]
The following morning after Conrad had left for the foreshore camp, Olivia set out for Tyndall’s house. She had spent a restless night and needed to talk to Tyndall and vent her feelings.
Tyndall’s house sat on pillars, its peaked, sloping roof giving the rooms high ceilings. Split cane blinds were tied around the verandah that encircled the house. Drooping poinciana and frangipani trees scattered tangerine and cream blossoms on the dry grass by the front path. Olivia stood for a moment by the row of trees outside the fence, then closed the gate with a purposeful click and marched to the front door. She called out at the open door and eventually a plump Chinese man shuffled out, wiping his hands on a cloth and peering at her myopically. She asked to see the master and he turned and disappeared without a word.
She could hear Tyndall grilling the cook about just who was at the door and in exasperation he came down the hall demanding, ‘Who’s there?’
‘It’s me, Captain Tyndall, I want to talk to you.’
Tyndall arrived at the door looking surprised. He wore cotton trousers and only his undershirt. A towel was slung over one shoulder and his hair was damp. Apologising for his appearance, he led her along the verandah to a comfortable chair and excused himself. He called for cold lemon drinks and returned a few minutes later buttoning his shirt.
‘I suppose I know why you’re here. So?’
‘What is the situation, Captain Tyndall, and how are you going to resolve it?’
‘Resolve what? I thought we had it all settled.’
‘Just what is the situation between you and Niah, exactly?’
‘It’s pretty straightforward, I guess. We’re lovers. She’s moving in here. I’ll find something to keep her busy, she’s a bright thing, learns fast.’
‘I’ll bet,’ Olivia snapped. ‘Really, it’s disgraceful. How could you? It’s not fair to the girl, nor to Conrad and me. There is no future in this, I thought you were better than … ’ she struggled with the words, ‘ … than those other womanisers who have secret native mistresses.’
‘Is that what’s bothering you? Her colour? You had no trouble accepting Aborigines as friends when they helped you.’
‘It’s not just that. She’s so young! She sees you as a means of staying here and being cared for.’ Olivia was getting angry at Tyndall’s questioning and complacency.
An edge crept into Tyndall’s voice. ‘What’s wrong with that? In other cultures Niah would be married by now. I thought you were a bit more progressive in your thinking than this. You sound like the ladies at the Residence teas.’
Olivia hesitated for a moment. She had developed an acceptance of the Aborigines which was considered unconventional. She had prided herself on these views and on being a bit of a rebel in local society. So why should she mind so much that Tyndall was also flaunting the rules of white society?
Before she could answer Tyndall went on with rising anger, ‘Don’t be a hypocrite, Olivia! You think it’s all very well to hold those views so long as they don’t impinge on your nice little home life. You’re just jealous of a girl who is brown, has no education and is culturally different. I thought you were better than that!’
‘Leave me out of this! It involves all of us! Especially the girl! She’s a simple girl and you seduced her—not just physically but by offering her security and false promises. She doesn’t understand and just what is to become of her?’
‘Do you really care, Olivia? Or is it just appearances you care about?’ he shouted.
‘Of course I care! And I care about you, John! Moving her in with you is madness.’ Olivia, too, was shouting.
‘You’re jealous, Olivia. Pure and simple as that. Leave us be and let the future take care of itself. And you might look at your own feelings while you’re about it and stop judging others by standards you only think you uphold.’
‘You might also question your own motives, John Tyndall,’ she retorted, getting to her feet and brushing past the bewildered Chinese cook who was holding