She smiled at him, rather wistfully. “No, Mr. Darcy, they grow accustomed to the noise and gyrations of the vessel. I suspect that, once ashore, they will be unable to settle because the floor is not constantly moving beneath them.” She stared out to sea, watching several dolphins lazily keeping pace with the ship. “I do hope they don’t come any closer, for I’m sure asailor will attempt to spear them. My father won’t let whale oil in our house because he believes they are sentient creatures, such as us, and we should learn from them the secrets of the oceans and not kill them solely to light our homes and streets.”
“Your father’s an unusual man, favouring the creatures of the sea rather than exploiting them. I hope when you receive letters from home, once we’re safe at Port Jackson, there will be good news of his recovery.” Once again, Miss Bennet gave Darcy a wistful look. “Miss Bennet, this may be improper, but you appear out of sorts—is there anything I can do to assist you?”
Miss Bennet turned fully towards him. She seemed to be growing in anger but was clearly trying her utmost to speak with composure. “I felt, sir, that your attentions to me were based on friendship, but the games played at table between Ensign Huey, Colonel O’Connell, and even yourself, at my expense, show great disrespect. I may be a single woman, sir, but the constant flirting seeking my attention is not to be borne. Just yesterday, Ensign Huey declared his admiration for me in a most inappropriate way, accosting me alone on the poop. I’m under Mr. Bent’s protection—I cannot countenance such ungentlemanly behaviour.”
She sighed and paused, as if to end the conversation, but then continued: “Pardon me if I offended. My realisation of my position aboard has taken me by surprise. Indeed, I was impressed by your manners, your assisting Isabella and Raimundo, your rescuing my reputation at the ball… but I fear I was misled.” Elizabeth burst into tears, grasped the taffrail to steady herself, and stared once again across the heaving, swollen sea. Darcy was astonished, and he looked at her with an expression of mingled incredulity and mortification.
“You have said quite enough, ma'am. I perfectly comprehend your feelings and now am only ashamed of what you endured. For myself, I’ve never disrespected you. That Imisunderstood your manner during the meals is to my dishonour. Such was thoughtless of me. You always appear so capable, so much in command of yourself and your environment. I’m in awe of your capacity to care for Henry and little Beth as your own; of your care and kindness towards the regimental wives; of your willingness to spend a significant part of your fortune to rescue Isabella from a life of drudging misery. There’s so much more I could say: I admire you, I wish…” He paused. “But, enough said. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health, that you may regain your equanimity, which gives so much joy and pleasure to those acquainted with you. I will only add, God bless you, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth stood against the rail for some time; perhaps half an hour passed before the force of the wind and chill of the morning air forced her below decks. Her feelings as she recalled his declaration were scarcely to be defined. With amazement, she first understood that he admired her:Lizzie Bennet, a young girl fleeing England, all too apt to take on responsibilities beyond her skills and station in society, to climb Table Mountain and descend displaying the utmost lack of propriety. She had persuaded herself he saw her only as an impertinent Miss, speaking barely tolerable Latin. Oh dear Romeo,I am fortune’s fool!
***
TheHindostanwas a poor sailor, and ill-equipped for so long a voyage. But together the small flotilla moved on. TheHindostansupplied theDromedarywith rum and cocoa; theDromedarysupplied theHindostanwith coal and lime juice. On board theHindostan, Miss Bennet, with the support of Captain Pasco, obliged the women to appear clean and well dressed at the regular parades appointed for them, a practice ColonelMacquarie gladly followed on theDromedary.
On the 1st of December, theDromedarysignalled that their sick list was seven and thirty soldiers, together with Captain Pritchard and Mr. Bent. In his role as commodore, Captain Pasco went on board to see the gentlemen and stayed some four hours until midday. Their condition, as later related to the passengers on theHindostan, was very serious.
Both vessels lived on salt provisions, as the sheep and pigs were all consumed. The enceinte women continued to be transferred to theHindostan; the number of children since commencing the journey had increased by ten. Although she once again added cheer and laughter to their dinner and supper, Darcy could tell Miss Bennet was worn by the constant attention the women and the Bent’s children required.
Rations were in short supply, even water was limited, but by force of her character, she convinced Captain Pasco to maintain full rations for those women in need, even though she herself was now consuming the same as the remainder of the regimental women. “How can I,” she said, speaking to Darcy as they took a turn on the quarterdeck, “look these women in the eye, cajole them to maintain a semblance of hygiene, feed their children a proper ration and not let their husbands steal it, if I don’t share their hardship? We women, sir, are made of stern stuff. I shall endure.”
On the 11th of December, the convoy was within one hundred miles of Governor King’s Island, to the north of Van Diemen’s Land. Captain Pasco, who had intended to make passage through the straits between Van Diemen’s Land and the mainland of New Holland to the north, abandoned this as the winds were against them. Both Captain Pritchard and Mr. Bent were again poorly and taken to their cots; the officers remarked that the judge-advocate looked as wan as an ensign on half pay.
Having rounded the southeastern extremity of Van Diemen’s Land, the convoy passed up the coast, and by Christmas Day, the 25th of December, they were some two and forty miles south of Port Jackson. A feast was set out on the quarterdeck of theHindostan, and the captain’s party dined with the ship’s officers, those of the regiment, and their wives. The captain gave the seamen and non-commissioned ranks and their wives an extra allowance of grog with which to celebrate the day. This indulgence was well bestowed, for though they were merry and jovial, they were perfectly quiet and orderly.
“Miss Bennet,” said Mrs. Pasco, “I’ve not met all of the regimental wives. Can you do me the honour of introducing them?”
Elizabeth turned to Mrs. Pasco. “With pleasure, ma’am.” The women were seated together at a long table, separate from the men. Elizabeth stood with Mrs. Pasco and walked beside the table, the women confined to their seats by the benches upon which they sat. Each turned and was introduced by Elizabeth. All of the officers’ wives Elizabeth knew by name; each managed a curtsey as best they could. Mrs. Pasco could not help but notice all gave Miss Bennet the utmost respect and deference. She, possibly the youngest woman on board theHindostan, was held in the highest esteem.
On the 28th of December, they made entrance to the heads of Port Jackson, but the wind was blowing a hurricane off all points of the compass, and they could proceed no further. On the 30th of December, the wind changed, and they weighed anchor, stood up the harbour, and soon after were anchored in Sydney Cove at three o’clock in the afternoon—a voyage of seven months and six days from leaving Land’s End.
Volume 2
Life In Sydney
Chapter 12
Sydney, January 1, 1810
Governor Macquarie disembarked theDromedarywith much ceremony at ten o’clock on the 1st of January in the year ‘10. The New South Wales Regiment—the 102nd Regiment of Foot—formed an open line extending from the Government Wharf to Government House. At the appointed hour, when His Excellency and Lady left the ship, a salute was fired, which was answered by the Battery at Dawes Point. The Great Seal of the Territory was displayed, at which time the troops again saluted by presenting arms, their Officers saluting, and the band playing ‘God Save the King’. A Royal Salute of 21 guns was then fired from the battery, which was answered by Royal Salutes from theHindostanandDromedary.
Darcy read the governor’s commission, that of the Lieutenant Governor Colonel O’Connell, and those of the Judges-Advocate, Mr. Ellis Bent and himself. Following a speech by the governor, which commenced with the rousing salutation ‘Fellow Citizens, and Fellow Soldiers!’—which would have done justice to the revolutionaries of France—they returned to Government House, where they now dined. At table were Colonels Macquarie, O’Connell, Foveaux, and Paterson—the last two being governors during the time of the rebellion—the Judges-Advocate, Mr. Bent and Darcy, together with the ladies who sat at the head of the table. Possibly, no more powerful group had gathered in the colony since its founding.
“My apologies, Mr. Darcy,” said Mr. Bent, “that you were required to read the governor’s commission on so little notice. I intended to carry out that duty, but my rheumatismprevented me from standing during the ceremony. To sit would be most discourteous.”
“’Tis of no account, Mr. Bent,” replied Darcy. “I’m sure the warm weather here in New Holland will rapidly relieve your discomfort. Your proclamation, as read by the governor, was very well received. In particular: ‘It is the earnest Wish of our Most Gracious King, and his Ministers, to promote the Welfare and Prosperity of this rising Colony in every way possible’. Let us hope his ministers do, indeed, wish to promote harmony, for Governor Macquarie has much to repair following the rebellion against Governor Bligh, who, I notice, isn’t present.”
“Bligh, it is rumoured, is on thePorpoisemaking merry hell at Hobart Town. Let us pray he stays there!”
Following the separation of the sexes, the men joined the ladies for coffee in the drawing-room. A rather agitated Mrs. Macquarie came up to Colonel O’Connell, who was standing with Darcy.
“Colonel… or rather, lieutenant governor,” she gave O’Connell a conspiratorial smile, “I’ve been conversing with Mrs. Paterson, who, with Mrs. King, founded the female orphanage in ‘01. She tells me the matron has run off with a ship’s captain and likely embezzled much monies. You cannot know, sir, that the orphanage is near the wharves and the Rocks, a disreputable place overflowing with the crude, coarse, and vulgar.”
“Indeed, ma'am, a great cause for concern.”
“Certainly! Without someone overseeing the place, I fear the girls will fall into prostitution and iniquity, which state disgraces the major part of the inhabitants of this colony. The girls are at risk, many of whom are eleven to fifteen years old, and could easily be debased.
Darcy spoke up. “I’m informed, colonel, the duties of lieutenant governor include trusteeship of many governmentinstitutions, including the hospital and the orphanage.” He turned to Mrs. Macquarie. “Would you have the colonel appoint a new matron?”
