Ghost Gum Valley Read Free

Emancipist’s son can ever break the class barrier or marry into their mob. This penal colony’s invented more levels of society in forty-five years than Europe chalked up in ten centuries.’
    Slipping into legal questioning mode, Edwin made seemingly casual enquiries about whether Marmaduke had returned to the Colony ‘heart whole’.
    â€˜While you were away were you never tempted to ask for a lady’s hand in marriage?’
    â€˜Hey, what do you take me for – a prize idiot?’ Marmaduke said lightly. ‘Once was more than enough. Being left high and dry at the altar at nineteen was the only chance any female will ever get to trap me in matrimony.’
    Edwin said quietly, ‘The bride wasn’t worth a broken heart, old chap. I hope you realise that now.’
    â€˜I had a lucky escape,’ Marmaduke said a shade too quickly. ‘You were the best possible best man, mate. But there’s no chance we’ll front up for a repeat performance.’
    â€˜I trust you haven’t foresworn the fair sex,’ Edwin asked anxiously.
    â€˜Not a snowflake’s chance in hell. I’m no misogynist. But maybe because I’m totally discreet I enjoy my fair share of “women of a certain age” as the gallant French say. Virgins are safe around me, mate. Voltaire said it in a nutshell. “It’s one of the superstitions of the human mind to have imagined that virginity could be a virtue.” I’ll second that!’
    â€˜But you are young, Marmaduke, one day you may want to have children.’
    Marmaduke sliced his hand through the air with the finality of a guillotine.
    â€˜Hold your horses, Edwin. You’re so anxious to see me settled you’d marry me off to a bearded lady in a circus. Let me make itclear. There’s no way I’m ever going to breed, Edwin. The Gamble dynasty began with Garnet and ends with me !’
    Clearly troubled, Edwin gave a sigh of resignation best suited to an old man.
    Marmaduke added casually, ‘While we’re on the subject, has Father’s mental imbalance increased in my absence?’
    â€˜He’s still in control of his empire, axing financial advisors in his customary style. He’s expended large sums of money – with no known objective.’
    Marmaduke shrugged and turned to the subject uppermost on his mind. ‘Let’s get down to brass tacks. Taking rightful possession of Mother’s land means more to me than inheriting a gold mountain. I’ll honour the promise I made when I was sixteen.’ The words said in anguish on his mother’s deathbed were now quoted coolly. ‘“I give you my solemn oath, Mother. I shall reclaim your land, become master of Mingaletta. And make Garnet Gamble pay for everything he did to you”.’
    Marmaduke’s stare was intended as a silent challenge.
    Edwin returned his gaze. ‘I see. Miranda Gamble’s Will did more than bequeath you her property. She left you a legacy of revenge against your father.’
    Marmaduke shrugged. ‘I’ve discovered that hatred is an emotion easier to sustain than love. Where do I sign my name to the transfer deeds, mate?’
    â€˜I regret to say, Marmaduke, it’s not quite as simple as that. It is only in recent weeks that your father agreed to hand over your Mother’s last Will and Testament. There is an irregularity. Please read it then we shall discuss ways to deal with it.’
    The document was written on parchment yellowed with age. Marmaduke read it quickly the first time then evaluated every word on the second reading.
    â€˜It’s as clear as a bell. I am to take possession of Mingaletta on my marriage or my twenty-fifth birthday, whichever comes first. Mother left several items of family jewellery and a sum of money to my childhood nanny, Queenie, whom she describes here as “my faithful friend and servant whom I love as my sister”. She