Her father’s face turned a vivid shade of red. She hadn’t seen him this angry before and wondered if she’d pushed him too far. It was time someone told him the truth.
“She is my daughter and will do as I say. Understand?”
She sighed, wiped her mouth with her napkin and placed it on her plate, her appetite suddenly gone. Her head throbbed and she wanted to go to sleep and forget this whole awful mess for at least one night.
Papa’s cantankerous attitude took its toll on the whole household. It was one thing for her to step up and challenge him but saw no reason why Gertie couldn’t have the life she wanted. They both didn’t need to be at his beck and call.
“Papa, let’s not have this discussion now. I’m tired, you’re tired. How about discuss it with her in the morning. We don’t go to Sydney for another week anyway, so we have time to talk things over. Alright?”
He muttered and shot Gertie a disparaging look over the table, making her squirm and send desperate glances at her sister and cousin. She hated being in the spot light and had difficulty dealing with Papa when he acted up.
“Good idea, tomorrow sounds like the ideal time to discuss it. Do you mind if I stay the night, Uncle? We can talk over breakfast about the new project I’ve been asked to design. I’m rather excited about it, actually. The council want to build a new office building in Newcastle and they like my work.”
Papa focused on Ernest, his mind grappling with the situation before he spoke. “Really? How very interesting.” He wiped his mouth with his serviette and smiled at his daughters, his earlier outburst already forgotten. When he noticed the wine-soaked tablecloth, he frowned. “Who knocked over my wine? Carter, clean this mess up.”
He stood up, pushed back his chair. “I think I’ll go and have a quick nightcap in my study. Join me, Ernest?”
“Of course, Uncle.”
Once Papa had been settled in his room, she met Ernest and Gertie in the. “He’s getting out of hand. You have to go now, Gertie. I’m sorry, but if you don’t leave, he’ll never let you go.” She gazed into the flames. “Ernest, can you take Gertie to catch the early train in Singleton? I can tell Papa once you’re on your way. I’ll say it was my idea and I’ll deal with the aftermath. I might have to call in the doctors and the lawyer earlier than I thought, but I do think the time has come to get this settled once and for all.”
“You can’t deal with this on your own, Wilz. I’ll drop Gertie off at the train and then come back in case you need help. I don’t mind, you know that.” He rested a hand on her shoulder, squeezing when she tried to protest.
“Do you really think I should go? I hate to leave you with him when he’s like this.”
Her heart swelled with love for the younger girl. She had to get her away before Papa became violent. He’d shown indications before and according to Mama, he’d struck her once when she couldn’t calm him down. “No, my love, you must go. It’s the only way. He’ll stew over it and no doubt blame me but then he’ll forget. He always does, you know that. And I don’t need you to come back, Ernest. I have the staff here – they’re used to his ways now. You have your own business to attend to.”
“If you’re sure,” Gertie said.
“Of course I’m sure. It’s what you’ve always wanted and I know you’ll make a great nurse. Go and do your duty to your country and don’t forget to write to me.” She sat back and glanced at the roaring flames. “Once he settles down, he’ll look forward to your letters as much as I will.”
The next morning Wilz stood in the driveway watching as the car disappeared, Gertie waving out of the back window in the pale light. “Do you think that was the wisest decision, Miss?” Carter stood at the front steps watching the tail lights heading down the driveway. “The master won’t be happy.”
“It was the only choice. She has to have her own life. The way he’s going, he could be dangerous and I wanted her out of the way before that happens.” Once the car vanished from sight she stepped back inside the house. “I’m going to have a bite to eat in the kitchen and then head out, get an early start. Tell Papa nothing. I’ll deal with him when I come back later today.”
“Yes, Miss.”
When she arrived back at the house later in the afternoon, a torrent of verbal abuse met her. She could hear the cursing from outside the kitchen garden when she hurried up from the shed. It wasn’t unexpected, but still, she’d hoped he would have got over it by now. She pushed through the kitchen and shook her head at the cook, when a loud crash made her cringe. It would seem that Papa hadn’t taken the news of Gertie’s departure well.
She hurried up the stairs to his study. “Papa, really. You need to calm down. You’re upsetting the staff with your tantrums.”
He moved from his position by the fireplace and glared at her over the broken vase, water pooling on the floor and the roses strewn over the carpet. “I don’t give a fig about the staff. I want to know who decided it was a good idea to allow my daughter leave the house when I expressly said she was to remain here?”
She folded her hands in front of her, raised her chin to meet his fiery gaze. “I did.”
“You? How dare you disobey me!” He stalked toward her, malicious intent in his eyes.
All the suppressed annoyance built up in her chest. “How dare I? How dare you dictate to her like
