Beyond Innocence by Joanna Lloyd

gently coaxing her into the room. “Electra, allow me to introduce you to Lieutenant Henry Cameron, his wife Annabel, and Captain Roger Hollywell.” No one moved, despite William’s courteous introductions.
    He continued, undaunted. “Captain Hollywell and Lieutenant Cameron are here on the governor’s business and Mrs. Cameron was hoping for some cuttings from the gardens.”
    The heat rushed up her neck and into her face as her eyes moved slowly from one hostile face to the next. A gentle tug at the hand William held firmly, told her running away was out of the question. So with no other choice, she smiled graciously and extended her grimy hand to his guests. Mr. Hollywell looked to be a harmless, obliging sort, but Lieutenant Cameron had a suspicious countenance and cold blue eyes. The two men gingerly accepted her hand, but Mrs. Cameron simply jerked her head in acknowledgment, her lips pursed and twisted as if there was an unpleasant smell in the room.
    “Ahem, ah, I think we may have to give more thought to your proposal after all,” said Lieutenant Cameron, as he glanced sideways at his wife. “Perhaps another time, eh?”
    “Come on, Henry, it’s an excellent proposal. Everybody profits and the governor looks good at home. The decision needs to be made now or we’ll miss out,” pressed William.
    “That’s the risk we’ll have to take. What say you, Roger?”
    “William makes a good point, Henry.” The captain was about to add to his statement when he caught a withering look from the lieutenant. He changed his mind, patted William on the arm, and said instead, “We, er, had best have further discussions before a decision is made.”
    Annabel Cameron sidled past Electra and, pulling on her husband’s arm, succeeded in exiting the room. William abandoned further entreaty and handed the men their hats. Electra’s silent embarrassment dissipated in the face of such rudeness. As Annabel Cameron reached the front veranda, Electra pushed past William and stopped her with a dusty hand on her shoulder.
    “Mrs. Cameron! You forgot to get your cuttings. Come and we can do it together. I learned all about gardening in prison.”
    Annabel Cameron squeaked in terror and ran down the steps to the waiting horse and buggy. Within minutes, all three were lost in a cloud of dust.
    “Dammit! Dammit, Electra. You don’t know what you have done!” said William through clenched teeth. “In five minutes you have destroyed months of delicate negotiations. Are you trying to ruin me?”
    “Of course not. But they must not have been overly interested if they could change their minds at the sight of me,” she said indignantly, as she brushed down her skirt. “They’re obviously not worth worrying about.”
    William looked at her and shook his head. “I don’t know whether to laugh at what you said to Annabel Cameron, or weep at the failure of all my good work.”
    His face told her how important this meeting had been and she remembered her eagerness to put things right with him. “Oh dear, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I burst into your meeting looking like an unwashed convict. I’m sorry about your negotiations and I’m sorry I thought you lay with a whore, but I’m not sorry about what I said to Mrs. Cameron.”
    “You think I lay with a whore? What on earth are you talking about?”
    “I saw you. In Sydney Town. But Callum has explained to me about Molly Preston.”
    “Good God, Electra. Is that what all this nonsense has been about? I thought you had taken leave of your senses when I collected you from Mrs. Grenville’s shop. Why on earth did you not just ask me about it? More to the point, why would you care?”
    The heat rushed into her cheeks at his question, and he obviously decided not to press her further. It was a question she had not dared ask herself.
    “What would you have me do now?” she whispered.
    “The first thing that comes to mind, is a bath,” said William, his lips