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Authors: Deborah Challinor
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that sort of life.’ Flora held Kitty’s gaze. ‘But, of course, a number of sailors are perfectly happy with the company of other men.’
Startled, Kitty stared at her. ‘How did you know?’
Flora gave a faint smile. ‘Because when it comes to those who would rather love someone of their own sex, it takes one to know one.’
‘Oh.’ Kitty felt a blush creep across her face. She’d had no idea!
Flora laughed. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve shocked you, Kitty. I’m normally more discreet than this. And I assume Mr Bullock also is?’
Kitty wondered if Simon’s ears were burning. ‘I’ve never been aware of him pursuing a…liaison. And the others, the crew, think the world of him. I wouldn’t imagine they would if he…you know.’
‘Yes, I do,’ Flora replied.
‘Simon is just, well, Simon. A good, decent and loyal man. And a friend.’ Kitty paused, embarrassed and wondering how her next question would be received. ‘Flora, if you…well, being the way you are, how did you manage to…go with men?’
Flora drained her teacup, and placed it precisely back on its saucer. ‘Money is a great motivator, Kitty. But back to Mr Bullock—you say he left the church entirely? I must say I’m quite surprised by that.’ She thought for a moment. ‘No, actually, I’m not. He wasn’t your usual sanctimonious, self-righteous pedant, was he?’
‘No. But he hasn’t lost his faith. It just doesn’t, well, rule his life any more.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it. So, how long are you expecting to stay at Ballarat?’
‘I don’t really know. Until either Rian becomes rich beyond his wildest dreams, or he gets sick of it and gives up, I suppose.’
‘You’ll get very bored here, Kitty. There isn’t a lot to do. Unless you’re interested in fossicking?’
Kitty recalled the women and children she had seen scratching almost desperately in the dirt left behind by the miners. ‘No, I’m not. I’ll leave the prospecting to Rian and the crew.’
Flora looked thoughtful. ‘Well, you might want to consider finding yourself something to occupy your time. A small business, perhaps?’
‘Such as?’ The thought had never entered Kitty’s head.
‘There’s a bakery for sale just down the street. You could look at that.’
Kitty laughed. ‘But I don’t know how to cook! Well, not to a standard that people would be willing to pay for.’ But a spark of interest had flickered within her. ‘Pierre does, though,’ she said slowly. ‘But I don’t think we could come up with the money to buy a business. We’ve spent most of it on the claim and the mining equipment.’
‘Mmm. Well, as it happens, I’m looking for an investment. I’ve more money than I know what to do with. My business is flourishing,’ Flora said wryly.
‘You would put up the money?’ Kitty asked, astounded.
‘I would. I trust you to make a success of it. You’re an intelligent woman, Kitty, and I know you have the drive to do whatever you put your mind to.’
‘And what would you expect in return?’
‘A percentage of the profits, and when it’s time for you to move on the business would revert solely to me.’
Kitty had to admit the proposal sounded far more interesting than the prospect of sweeping Lilac Cottage’s floors and hanging out laundry for the foreseeable future. ‘It’s a generous offer, Flora. Very generous. But I would have to talk to Rian about it.’
Flora inclined her head in acquiescence. ‘Of course.’ Then she looked amused. ‘But there is the possibility that he may object to his wife engaging in the sort of work that involves getting her hands dirty. Well, floury, at least.’
Kitty recalled the many times she’d helped on the Katipo ’s deck when the weather became rough, or occasions when the schooner had had to leave port with the utmost haste. And there had been plenty of those. She smiled, almost to herself. ‘He’s not that sort of man.’
‘No, I didn’t think he would be. Otherwise
Startled, Kitty stared at her. ‘How did you know?’
Flora gave a faint smile. ‘Because when it comes to those who would rather love someone of their own sex, it takes one to know one.’
‘Oh.’ Kitty felt a blush creep across her face. She’d had no idea!
Flora laughed. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve shocked you, Kitty. I’m normally more discreet than this. And I assume Mr Bullock also is?’
Kitty wondered if Simon’s ears were burning. ‘I’ve never been aware of him pursuing a…liaison. And the others, the crew, think the world of him. I wouldn’t imagine they would if he…you know.’
‘Yes, I do,’ Flora replied.
‘Simon is just, well, Simon. A good, decent and loyal man. And a friend.’ Kitty paused, embarrassed and wondering how her next question would be received. ‘Flora, if you…well, being the way you are, how did you manage to…go with men?’
Flora drained her teacup, and placed it precisely back on its saucer. ‘Money is a great motivator, Kitty. But back to Mr Bullock—you say he left the church entirely? I must say I’m quite surprised by that.’ She thought for a moment. ‘No, actually, I’m not. He wasn’t your usual sanctimonious, self-righteous pedant, was he?’
‘No. But he hasn’t lost his faith. It just doesn’t, well, rule his life any more.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it. So, how long are you expecting to stay at Ballarat?’
‘I don’t really know. Until either Rian becomes rich beyond his wildest dreams, or he gets sick of it and gives up, I suppose.’
‘You’ll get very bored here, Kitty. There isn’t a lot to do. Unless you’re interested in fossicking?’
Kitty recalled the women and children she had seen scratching almost desperately in the dirt left behind by the miners. ‘No, I’m not. I’ll leave the prospecting to Rian and the crew.’
Flora looked thoughtful. ‘Well, you might want to consider finding yourself something to occupy your time. A small business, perhaps?’
‘Such as?’ The thought had never entered Kitty’s head.
‘There’s a bakery for sale just down the street. You could look at that.’
Kitty laughed. ‘But I don’t know how to cook! Well, not to a standard that people would be willing to pay for.’ But a spark of interest had flickered within her. ‘Pierre does, though,’ she said slowly. ‘But I don’t think we could come up with the money to buy a business. We’ve spent most of it on the claim and the mining equipment.’
‘Mmm. Well, as it happens, I’m looking for an investment. I’ve more money than I know what to do with. My business is flourishing,’ Flora said wryly.
‘You would put up the money?’ Kitty asked, astounded.
‘I would. I trust you to make a success of it. You’re an intelligent woman, Kitty, and I know you have the drive to do whatever you put your mind to.’
‘And what would you expect in return?’
‘A percentage of the profits, and when it’s time for you to move on the business would revert solely to me.’
Kitty had to admit the proposal sounded far more interesting than the prospect of sweeping Lilac Cottage’s floors and hanging out laundry for the foreseeable future. ‘It’s a generous offer, Flora. Very generous. But I would have to talk to Rian about it.’
Flora inclined her head in acquiescence. ‘Of course.’ Then she looked amused. ‘But there is the possibility that he may object to his wife engaging in the sort of work that involves getting her hands dirty. Well, floury, at least.’
Kitty recalled the many times she’d helped on the Katipo ’s deck when the weather became rough, or occasions when the schooner had had to leave port with the utmost haste. And there had been plenty of those. She smiled, almost to herself. ‘He’s not that sort of man.’
‘No, I didn’t think he would be. Otherwise
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