Beyond Innocence by Joanna Lloyd Page B

want to be useful and I want to understand how things work.”
    “Hmm, are you sure?”
    She nodded.
    “Very well, but this has to work both ways.”
    “I’m not sure what you mean,” she said frowning.
    “I have married you and made you part of my household without question of who you are or how you came to be here. You owe me something, Electra.”
    She lowered her eyes, nodding slowly. “You’re right, of course. Although my sentencing is a matter of public record.”
    “Yes, I could consult the governor’s records but I don’t believe that’s the truth. The truth is what I am asking for.” He had no doubt that her status as a transported convict was not a simple matter. She needed to trust him, and making comments like he had the day before would not be helpful.
    She hesitated. “I’m not sure I’m ready to talk about it. Give me time, William. Perhaps you can tell me about your proposal over dinner for now.”
    He agreed, knowing he would have to take it slowly, but determined to satisfy his curiosity before too long.
    Shi Liang proudly served dishes of hot steaming vegetables from his garden, marinated kangaroo meat, and fragrant rice. He seemed to have forgiven Electra for breaching his domain and bobbed his head happily as she complimented each dish. William poured generous amounts of his homemade wine and saw the tension and uncertainty of the last few days slip from her shoulders.
    “Shi Liang seems quite happy with me this evening. Was it something you said to him?” she asked.
    William had a mouthful that he finished before answering. “Not exactly. He heard what you said to Annabel Cameron, who won’t even drink from a cup if he has touched it. I swear he laughed hysterically for half an hour in the kitchen and told me later you could do anything you want in the house from now on.”
    She looked pleased and prompted him again about his proposal to the governor. He held up his glass, admiring the golden clarity of the liquid.
    “How do you find the wine?”
    “William, it’s very nice but I don’t know how that — ”
    “Bear with me, Electra. My proposal is about the wine,” he said, settling back in his chair.
    “You see, grape vines were brought to the colony on the first fleet but have never been more than a small crop, grown mostly for personal consumption. My proposal is to produce a fine grade wine, not only for the colony, but in commercial quantities to export back to England.”
    “Goodness. That’s ambitious,” she said.
    “Yes, but not unrealistic. I believe the more products we can produce for export, the more economically viable this country becomes. Our wool will become the finest in the world, and I think our wine production can be just as good.”
    “And what did you need from the governor?”
    He smiled, surprised and delighted that a woman would show an interest in such matters. “My proposal requested his assistance with access to more suitable land and market contacts in England.”
    “I admit to knowing nothing about how things work here, but you say you presented your case well. How could they make a judgment on the feasibility of your proposal based on who you marry?”
    “Huh! The English class system is alive and well in our little colony. Also the governor’s advisors see me as a bit of a renegade and don’t always agree with my methods. There is a lot of jealousy and resentment in a small settlement like this. If they can find a reason to refuse me, they will do so.”
    “So they would jeopardize the economy of the country out of jealousy?”
    “Oh no, they’re smarter than that. My ideas will be given to someone else to develop.”
    “But that’s outrageous! Well, there’s nothing else for it. We’ll just have to change their minds,” she said, slapping the table with her napkin.
    William laughed at her indignation and felt more than a little comforted by her declaration of solidarity. It seemed there was an astute mind behind her