Mary's Guardian by Carol Preston Read Free Book Online Page B

prettiness that was hidden under the streaky grime of her face, framed by her mop of wet, springy hair. It wasn’t hard for him to still see the ten-year-old child he’d once hidden in the dark corners of Lincoln.
    ‘So why aren’t you ravaging me, then?’ she said, full of cheek. ‘It seems it’s all everyone else is interested in. I’ve had to fight off more than one in these past couple of hours. Am I too ugly for you, eh?’ Her face had creased into a frown.
    It was William’s turn to laugh. ‘Not at all, Mary. But it hardly seems a fitting way to greet an old friend.’
    Her eyebrows rose and William could see she was unsure whether to believe him. It was a long time since their last meeting. William had always treated her kindly in those early days in Lincoln and he was sure she’d trusted him then. But ten years in an English prison could change any man, drain any kindness from him. William knew he’d have to earn Mary’s trust all over again.
    ‘I’m glad you’re here, Mary,’ he said. ‘I hope we can make the most of this chance.’
    ‘Chance!’ Mary was bemused. ‘You’re here to be punished, ya daft man. You’ve been dumped on the far side of the world.’ She cast her eyes about behind the tents and pinched her nose. ‘Brought to the wilderness, that’s what it is.’ She shuddered. ‘There were men black as pitch on the rocks when we got out of the boats. Throwin’ spears into the water they were, and comin’ up with fish. They didn’t seem a bit interested in us but I’d die of fright to come face to face with one in that bush land.’
    ‘I suspect it would take more than that for you to die of fright, Mary Groves,’ he said, feigning timidity. ‘You’d not let any man, black or white, scare you off, from what I remember.’
    ‘Well, that was a long time ago. The years in between have been rough. And you? How can you be so hopeful now?’
    ‘We’re on new ground, Mary. A fresh start. It’s what we make of it now that counts. That’s what I think. Look out there. There’s land to be tilled, homes to be built. Families will be raised here. If we have a mind we’ll make it a good place.’
    Mary grinned, shaking her head. ‘Yeah, an’ some of the families are bein’ started right now with all the bumpin’ and grindin’ that’s happenin’. She popped her head around the corner of the tent and saw bodies still rolling in the grass; still oblivious to the pelting rain, the streaks of lightning and the pounding of the thunder. She watched the sky for a few moments before turning back to William. ‘Was you proposin’ to me then, Will?’ Her eyes danced with mischief.
    ‘Perhaps I was, Mary.’ William said, and then blushed at his own words, which caught him by surprise.
    The next morning Governor Phillip had soldiers march around the campsite thumping kettle drums and pipes to round up the badly hung-over men and women who were scattered about on the ground, many not even having made it into a tent for the night. Once all the convicts, soldiers, mariners and their wives and children were assembled, he began a stinging lecture on the evils of promiscuity.
    ‘And let me assure you men,’ he paused and raised his hand in the air to emphasise his sternness, ‘from here on in, if any of you are found in the tent of a woman not your wife, you’ll surely be shot. And what’s more, if you’re caught stealing anything, you’ll be hanged. If the behaviour witnessed in the past twenty-four hours is an indication of your character then I despair that you are indeed the worst of incorrigibles and I’ll not hesitate to treat you with the most severe punishments in order to induce you to the possibility of becoming a worthwhile colony of people. Generally, the rule here will be: if you are idle you’ll not eat. Men and women alike will be called on to work to their capabilities in order to make this community comfortable and productive. To that end you’ll all be employed