Daring Masquerade (30 page)

"I serviced his friends as well. He charged them, but kept all the money."

"Didn't you have anywhere to go, anyone you could turn to?"

"No."

"You poor thing." Impulsively, she took Ruby's hand and gave it a squeeze.

No matter how hard done by you think you are, there's always someone worse off.

"When I turned fifteen, I ran away. If I was going to make money by opening my legs," she said crudely, "I was going to keep it all."

"How awful."

"It wasn't so bad once I started working for myself. Some of the men kept coming back, treated me good, too."

"How do you stop from having a baby, I always wondered about that? Do the men do something?"

Ruby laughed. "Men do something? Most of them don't give a bugger if they give you a bastard."

"Tell me. What can they do? I asked Ross once but he wouldn't tell me."

"There's a rubber sheath they can put over themselves. It's called a French letter."

She could not believe she was discussing such things. Could scarcely believe she was in jail, either.

"Ugh."

"Yeah, well most men don't like them much either, or they can withdraw just before the come."

Harry exhaled a shocked breath. "I don't want to hear anymore."

Ruby grinned, and Harry realized the other girl enjoyed shocking her.

"If you want to look after yourself, there are some doctors you can go to. They'll give you something you can insert to act as a barrier before you let a man take you. Lots of rich women use them. It's only the bloody poor women who have lots of babies if you ever noticed. You can make one these things yourself out of beeswax."

Harry was relieved when one of the guards told her to shut up and get on with the work. No wonder Ross acted embarrassed when she asked him.

Well, at least she knew how to stop him giving her a baby every time. She wouldn't mind having twenty babies, if only he would come home safely from France and hold her in his arms again.

Maybe he was already dead.

The color must have faded from her face, because Ruby tapped her cheek.

"What's wrong? Don't faint on me."

"I've been thinking about Ross. Maybe he's already dead." Her eyes filled with tears. "He could be dead and I wouldn't know."

"The government notify you if something happens."

"I know. The minister brought the telegram about Gil, my brother, being wounded. But I'm in jail, would they tell me here? "

"Don't know, probably. Anyway, didn't you say his uncle lives on a farm with you?"

"Yes, I mean Jack would get a message to me, wouldn't he?" She scrubbed the tears away with the back of her hand.

"You know he would."

"They mightn't pass it on to me," Harry wailed.

"Course they would. Matron would enjoy giving you a message like that, vicious old bitch."

Ruby was right, Matron would enjoy passing on a message that would cause someone terrible grief. Thank goodness she was such a cruel, vicious woman. The very fact she hadn't asked to see her meant Ross was safe—for the moment, at least.

Oh, Ross, what's to become of me?

Later in the day a guard marched up to her. "You have a visitor." Without saying anything else she escorted Harry into Matron's office where a distinguished, slightly stooped man waited. He wore a black suit, his crisp white linen the finest money could buy, and the way Matron fawned over him, he must hold some important position.

"Here's Mrs. Calvert now, sir."

"Good afternoon, I'm Judge Renshaw."

"Oh, Judge." Harry's lips trembled. "Thank you so much for coming."

"I'd like some privacy with Mrs. Calvert. Thank you, Matron, for your understanding."

"Certainly, sir. Could I bring you some tea?"

"Thank you, Matron, but no, unless Mrs. Calvert wants some."

"No thank you." Harry nearly said yes, knowing full well Matron would have to use her best tea set because of the judge, but would hate letting a mere prisoner use it.

The judge did not speak until they were alone.

"I'm sorry I didn't get to see you sooner, Harriet. I may call you that?"

"Of course. Did Elsie tell you what happened?"

"Yes, I spoke to Jack Calvert as well. This whole situation is a disgrace."

"Can you get me out of this horrible place?"

"I think so, my dear. Unfortunately, it might take a couple of days. Are they treating you humanely?"

"Yes, I suppose so. I don't think I would have survived except for one of the other prisoners, Ruby. She befriended me. Most of the other women hate me. They think I'm a traitor." Tears trickled down her cheeks and the judge handed her a neatly folded handkerchief.

"You've been very brave. Hold on for a little while longer. My brother is a personal friend of Billy Hughes."

"The Prime Minister?" she squeaked

"Yes. Don't worry, he'll be hearing about this outrage. I've also got a friend in Cabinet. I've already spoken to him. Don't be surprised if you read about one or two politicians resigning suddenly for family reasons or ill health over the next few days."

"Judge Renshaw, I've been so frightened. I know I shouldn't have gone to the mill and said those things, but I wanted to save Devil's Ridge. Ross would be devastated if he got back from France and found it destroyed."

"You lacked judgment going to the mill, but you showed great courage fighting for what you believed in. No one should condemn you for that. You're feeling all right, my dear?" He patted her hand. "Jack told me about the baby. Do you want to see a doctor?"

"No, not now, if I'm getting out. I want to go back to Devil's Ridge and wait for Ross to come home. Is that too much to ask? I want him to come home. He's done his bit. It isn't fair. He got wounded at Gallipoli. He lost Eric. I lost my brother Gil because of what the war did to him. Haven't we given enough?"

"Yes, it does seem unfair, some families giving everything to the war effort, others doing very little."

"I know. Ross told me about your other son being killed, I'm sorry."

"Thank you." Sadness filled his eyes and his shoulders slumped. "I still have one son left, and I wouldn't have him if it hadn't been for Eric. I'll never be able to repay the debt I owe him or his family."

"You're helping me, that's enough."

"Oh no, Harriet. I would have helped you anyway."

"Would you?"

"Yes. You might think it strange, but I don't like injustice." Life momentarily stirred in his eyes, and she saw the man he must once have been before the tragic loss of his son.

"What Bromley and his cronies did to you was an absolute disgrace. To think he nearly got away with it sickens me."

"Will anything happen to him?"

"Not in this life, anyway, he's been too cunning. Paid others to do his dirty work. There's no way of proving his involvement; he made sure of that. He won't be cutting down any more virgin forest, though. Yesterday the government revoked his license."

"Everyone will blame me for having the mill closed."

"It's been taken over by a group of businessmen. They'll be cutting plantation timber so it should remain open for a while, but who knows after the war. If they extend the railway they'll be able to get timber from further afield, which will make the mill viable for many years to come. I have to go my dear, I'm due in court in twenty minutes." He glanced at his pocket watch. "I'll be in touch as soon as the paper work is processed and this ghastly mistake rectified. I'll let Matron know that you're innocent of any wrong doing, and I know she'll spread the word." He smiled grimly. "Have no fear of that."

"Thank you. I'll never forget what you've done for me."

He chuckled. "I haven't done anything yet."

"Yes, you have." Impulsively she threw her arms around his neck. "You've given me hope."

The guards' behavior instantly changed once the judge departed. Even some of the other women looked slightly shamefaced. Ruby remained the same though, and Harry knew she owed the prostitute a great debt.

"This is all the money I have." She thrust the notes and coins Andrew had given her into Ruby's pocket. "This isn't enough to repay you for what you did for me. I only wish I had more."

"It's plenty. I didn't do much. Funny, you know, I'll miss you, Harry. You're probably the closest thing I ever had to a woman friend. Had plenty of men though." She gave a loud bark of laughter.

"To be honest, I know it sounds awful, but I couldn't invite you to Devil's Ridge to stay, Ross and Jack would have a seizure. They wouldn't understand what you did for me, but if you ever need money, contact me. I'll always help you. Drop me a line anyway now and again, if you like."

"Not me. Can't write properly. I won't forget you, but you won't ever see or hear from me again. I'm glad we were friends. I enjoyed it while it lasted. You go back to your farm and produce some nice babies. Don't worry about me, I'll be right. Hope to open my own establishment one day, and then I'll employ others to look after all but my special customers."

"Ruby!"

"It will be high class. The authorities don't bother about high-class bordellos because too many of their own kind frequent them. It's the poor ones they go after."

"Couldn't you do something else?"

"What? I don't know anything else."

"Run a hotel or something."

"Once a harlot, always a harlot," she said in a sing-song voice. "I don't mind the work now I can pick and choose which men I have."

Harry couldn't think of an answer to that statement.

"I could send you some decent soap and things if you thought they would pass them on."

"The money you gave me will see me through, I haven't got much longer to serve. Anything decent you send gets stolen. Bloody guards are bigger thieves than the women in here. Bloody funny, don't you think?"

"No, it's disgraceful. Things are primitive enough. Surely it's not too much to expect parcels to be handed over without having things stolen out of them."

"Yeah, and they think we're bloody criminals. They're dirty sods the whole lot of them."

Chapter Fifteen

Two days after Judge Renshaw's visit, Harry became a free woman. She would never forget that terrible place. The moment she stepped beyond the bluestone walls of the prison, the smell of the sweet, fresh air washed over her, soothing, cleansing. The judge had arranged for his own personal motorcar and chauffeur to take her home.

Elsie sat in the back unable to stop smiling. What a difference now she was out from under Mrs. White's iron first. Now she could relax, free from the fear the housekeeper always raised in her. As they headed towards Devil's Ridge, the two girls hugged each other.

"The judge apologizes for not seeing you back home in person, but he's tied up with a complicated case, Mrs. Calvert," the chauffeur explained, his features impassive.

What must he think, picking up a strange woman from prison?

They stopped at about the halfway mark for a picnic lunch packed by Judge Renshaw's housekeeper. Cold chicken, lettuce and cucumber sandwiches, kept fresh in a damp cloth, and hard-boiled eggs and apple tart. All washed down with lemonade. Harry wolfed the food down.

The closer they came to Devil's Ridge, the more excited she became.

"I feared I'd never see this place again." She clutched Elsie's hand.

The numerous timber wagons had rutted the road, but the springs in the car cushioned the impact. Giant gum trees along the roadside grew so tall a person would have to tilt their head back to see the topmost branches. Some of the trunks were so wide even a man could not wrap his arms around them.

They arrived home. Smoke trailed from the chimney and drifted on the crisp clean air. Jack and Mrs. Bates waited on the verandah, but Jack hurried towards them as the car pulled up in the front yard. Harry jumped out and hurled herself into the old man's arms.

"I never thought I'd survive to see Devil's Ridge again," she blubbered.

"Of course you would, you're a gutsy little fighter. You wouldn't let the likes of Bromley beat you," he said gruffly, blinking the moisture away from his eyes. "Now, who do we have here?"

He raised his head and smiled at Elsie who nervously hovered on the pathway with her battered case.

"I am rude. Elsie, meet Jack." Harry made the introductions. "This is Patrick, Judge Renshaw's chauffeur. Come in for some tea."

"Or a beer?" Jack offered.

"Nothing, thank you. I'd like to start back straight away. I'll take a break along the road somewhere. Don't want to be driving round the countryside when it gets dark."

As soon as the car drove off, Harry left Jack to carry Elsie's case and charged towards the homestead. Her heart constricted. Mrs. Bates looked old and vulnerable as she waited on the verandah.

"Oh, Miss Harry. Welcome home, I missed you." She sniffed. "Those evil people will be punished by God one day."

"I hope they rot in hell." Jack returned to the verandah. "What sort of welcome is this, Irma? The girls are panting for a drink."

"Is this Elsie?" The housekeeper turned her attention to the other girl who stood silently a couple of feet away. "Welcome to Devil's Ridge. I'm Mrs. Bates. Jack told me what you did for Miss Harry. I've given you the best guest bedroom."

"Oh no, Mrs. Bates, I couldn't. I've come here to work."

"You're my friend first, worker second," Harry insisted. "We want you to have it. When the war ends and you and Ted get married, there's a cottage here you could have if he wanted to work here. That would be all right, wouldn't it, Jack?"

"Of course. Now come along, ladies, it's time for afternoon tea."

Elsie surveyed everything with interest when Harry showed her around the homestead. Tears filled her eyes when she saw the large, airy bedroom that would be hers from now on.

"It's lovely, Harriet."

"Call me Harry, please, everyone here does."

"All right, Harry. I've never stayed anywhere this posh before."

"I felt like that when I first arrived, too. You get used to it quickly, though." She laughed and gave her friend a hug.