“Of course,” he replied, “my Sarah and I care much for children—we’ll ensure she’s well taken care of.”
At that moment, Mr. Townson entered the room, peering closely at Darcy and Elizabeth. He was already acquainted with Mr. Garby. “Mr. Darcy, welcome to Varro Ville. Have you brought the girl? Of course, Mrs. Byrne will have taken care of her.”
His abrupt manner surprised Elizabeth, but she recalled her father recounting that many men of science were focused on the corporeal and had little skill for dealing with people.
“Mr. Townson, before we continue, there are some conditions associated with Maria Mitchell’s employment,” said Elizabeth. “None are onerous, but I would prefer we have a common accord.”
He stared at her for a few moments, thendirected his attention to Darcy. “My understanding, sir, is you are a Doctor of Laws from Trinity. My degree, the equivalent thereof, is from Göttingen. What say you to that?”
“I would say, Mr. Townson, that you should answer my wife’s concerns about young Maria. The purpose of our visit is to ensure she’s well cared for.” Darcy looked with surprise at the gentleman. Was he deaf, and did not hear Elizabeth?
“Mrs. Byrne is responsible for her—Mrs. Darcy can address such concerns to her.”
“But are you not her employer?” persisted Darcy. “There’s the matter of the ten pounds required to be paid to the orphanage, and conditions such as clothing, free days, wages, and the like.”
Townson became agitated, and both Darcy and Elizabeth saw he would be of no use to them over the matter. As he said, Elizabeth should address such issues to Mrs. Byrne. His disinterest was peculiar; that he would trust a servant to agree the terms. She felt it best to change the topic and speak to the housekeeper later.
“My father has a copy of yourPhilosophy of Mineralogyin his library. It’s a fascinating book. Do you believe that mountains are more often those rocks left behind when the surrounding country has sunk down or eroded away, or are they raised up in some manner? What do you believe, sir, is the origin of the Blue Mountains here in New South Wales?”
Townson frowned; he pursed his lips, his features tightening. “My thought, Mr. Darcy, is that a man in your position, as judge-advocate, should have a more respectful wife.”
“Whatever do you mean, Mr. Townson?”
“Mrs. Darcy is too outspoken. I’m sure that femininity does not encompass pretence as to understanding the Science of Mineralogy. To be sure, if her speech was intended to flatter me, it has fallen on deaf ears—to mix a metaphor, on most infertileground. To parrot what her father—clearly an esteemed scholar—has said in her presence is unseemly; a vanity of which none can approve.”
Darcy looked at Elizabeth in amazement. He was about to utter a rebuke when Elizabeth subtly shook her head—clearly, Mr. Townson’s opinion of women in society had scarcely left the previous century.
“I shall retire and talk to Mrs. Byrne. Mr. Darcy, there are many issues that you wish to discuss with Mr. Townson. Good day to you, sir. I’ll take my refreshment elsewhere, as my presence may not be to your liking.” She stood, gave Townson the barest of curtseys, and exited the room. As she left, she heard him speak to Darcy.
“You need to take her in hand, Mr. Darcy, but I can see you’ve shown her the place she occupies in any respectable household. It’s well that Mrs. Darcy seeks the female company of Mrs. Byrne, a woman who shows proper respect for the superior male. But I am aDoctor, notMister, as she addressed me.” He paused. “You, sir, are the highest law officer in the land. You must take my side, for I’ve been grievously abused since I came to this country.” He stood and walked to a cabinet set against a wall. Taking a sheaf of papers, he handed one to Darcy.
“See, here’s a letter from Sir George Shee, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, with the promise of a grant of two thousand acres. But did Bligh honour it? No! And neither did Paterson, Foveaux, nor Macquarie.”
“I believe, Doctor Townson,” replied Darcy, trying to maintain his equanimity after the insult paid to Elizabeth, “that your Varro Ville allotment satisfies the intent of Shee’s instruction. Further, you received both cattle and servants from the government. What would you have me do? And if we are equal, then you must also refer to me asDoctor.”
Townson squinted at Darcy. He was accustomed to beingthe only man with a high degree in the colony. Moreover, while he had studied at the University of Göttingen, he had not sat for hisdoctor-examen. Townson possessed a fondness for amphibians of all kinds and animals in general—perhaps more so than his fellow humans, whom he constantly annoyed with his intemperate address. Nevertheless, he recognised that Darcy would not be intimidated by his academic credentials: a Doctor of Laws from Trinity was, in fact, superior to his degree from Göttingen. Further, he knew from the merchants in Sydney that Darcy had connections to the highest level of government in London, superior to those of a mereunder-secretarysuch as Shee. Reluctantly, he moved the conversation on to farming in the Minto district, the fertility of the soils, and the success he was having establishing his vineyard.
After some time had elapsed, Elizabeth rejoined them in the parlour. Darcy stood, thanked Townson for his hospitality, and gratefully exited the house. The interview had been exhausting. He now understood why Macquarie had placed Townson on his list of subversive persons who, he believed, wrote disparagingly of him to London.
“I’m determined to take the view from the top of Bunbury Curran Hill. And I believe, William, you need the exercise after your encounter with Mr.—no, Doctor—Townson!”
Mr. Garby returned to St. Andrews. Elizabeth and Darcy began the ascent unaccompanied. She kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Was he so terrible? I hardly knew whether to cry or to laugh at his attitude to women.”
“And I to his feelings of grievance against the government.” Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand, and together they climbed the steep declivity towards the summit of the hill. For Elizabeth, the experience reclaimed memories of Longbourn and Oakham Mount; for Darcy, the ascent of Masson Hill near Matlock, the seat of his uncle, the earl. They were highlygratified by the extensive view from the top of the hill over the surrounding countryside; in the distance, they could see the smoke from the chimneys of Sydney and the campfires lining the shores of Port Jackson. Afterwards, they descended to St. Andrews and partook of a simple nuncheon of cold meats, bread, and butter.
Elizabeth was disappointed that Townson was so prejudiced against women, for she had hoped for some discussion with him about the geology of the area—how the majesty of the cliffs of the Blue Mountains, which had resisted all attempts to pass them, had been formed. She recognised Varro Ville was named after the Roman polymath, Marcus Terentius Varro—that Townson saw himself as a modern incarnation of the man was clear. Certainly, he was a polymath proficient in the sciences and spoke five languages.
Perhaps, if he knew that I, a woman, was fluent in eight, she mused, he may have been overcome by a great despondency; though, I suspect, he would think my proficiency merely that of a parrot mimicking the speech of superior men.
That afternoon, they explored the tract of land lying to the southwest of St. Andrews; it was vacant and not yet surveyed. The land was, as expected, well watered and fit for both tillage and pasturage. Both Elizabeth and Darcy were impressed by the potential of the property and made the decision to request that they be allocated the block. There was much to consider because the major part of their time would be spent in Sydney—Elizabeth as matron and midwife, and Darcy in the tribunals and courts.
But settling in the district, planting roots in the colony, had a siren call that could not be ignored. They recognised the danger: to settle here would mean permanent separation from their families in England. But otherwise, their residence in New South Wales would be meaningless, aimlessly letting time passwith no direction or purpose.
Chapter 24
Baulkham Hills, October 9, 1810
Having sat to a late breakfast, Elizabeth and Darcy took leave of Mr. and Mrs. Ward, thanking them for their gracious hospitality, and set out at noon for Parramatta, where they arrived at three o'clock in the afternoon, after a pleasing ride of twenty-two miles. They went straight away to the residence of Monsieur Larra, having no desire to stay in the Government House. Their excellent guide, Mr. Garby, parted from them on the road near his own farm at Prospect.
