Hearts of Gold by Janet Woods Page B

set Hercules free and walk off into the desert to die. You brought a gift into my life. I might not have dug much in the way of riches from the earth, but you certainly brought gold into my heart and that enriched it. But you were more in despair than I, so you became my burden as well as my joy. I’ll expect you to keep the promises you have made. You owe me that, sweet Sarry. Don’t worry that I might carry out my earlier intent, since you have taught me to live.
    Your friendship has always meant much to me. Your loving friend,
    John Kern
    Tears filled her eyes and she said fiercely, ‘If Mr John doesn’t come back I shall find some way of going back to Australia, and I’ll look after him and it’ll be like it always was.’
    ‘No, Sarette. It can never be the same for either of you. John has much on his conscience, and he is a man who walks his path alone. You owe him a debt that he’ll expect you to honour.’
    Sarette was overtaken by a sudden chill. ‘D’you think I’ll ever see him again?’
    ‘It’s possible, but not probable. Sometimes it’s easier to put things in writing instead of say them out loud, and John was never glib. The letter was meant for you and he has said goodbye in the only way he knew.’
    ‘Reading the letter has made me feel sad, and he has not said goodbye, else he would have said it face to face.’
    ‘He has said much to commend you. It’s obvious that he loved you.’
    ‘Like a daughter.’
    ‘Which was all you ever could be to him. John was never shallow, and you were privileged to occupy a special place in his heart, my dear.
    Sarette was overtaken by a yawn.
    ‘It’s polite to cover your mouth with your hand when you yawn.’
    She giggled through her tears. ‘Am I to be corrected at every turn? Sometimes yawns take you by surprise and fly away before you can prevent them. You don’t have time to be polite.’
    ‘And was it one of those yawns?’
    ‘Yes. I do beg your pardon. Mr John used to tell me that the crows would fly into my mouth and pluck out my teeth if I didn’t cover them.’
    Mrs Lawrence gave a soft laugh and placed the hairbrush on the dressing table. ‘Into bed now, else you’ll be tired tomorrow, when we will have much shopping to do.’ She picked up the candle. ‘Goodnight, Sarette.’
    ‘Goodnight, Mrs Lawrence. Thank you for having me. I’ll try and improve myself. I promise.’
    ‘I’m sure you will, my dear.’
    ‘And Mr John will come. You’ll see.’
    ‘Goodnight, dear.’ The door closed behind her.
    Sarette’s pillow and sheets smelled of soap and sunshine. The moon rose higher. It gazed at her through the window and the lace curtain gently drifted in a current of air. Odd to think that while she had the moon at her feet John would have the sun at his head.
    ‘Here I am, Mr John, lying in a bed so fine that I feel like a cuckoo in a linnet’s nest,’ she whispered, and smiled when she thought she heard him chuckle.
    Ignatious Grimble was perturbed.
    The next morning he summoned Gerald to his study, handed over the wad of papers Sarette Maitland had given him, then went to look out of the window, leaving his son to read them undisturbed while he sipped his coffee.
    He rejoined his son ten minutes later. ‘It’s not John Kern’s way to do something like this but it’s definitely John’s handwriting,’ Ignatious told him, knowing he had Gerald’s complete confidence.
    ‘His instructions couldn’t be clearer.’
    ‘We should check that the witnesses to his signature are who they say they are.’
    ‘You mean one of us should travel to Australia? We’re looking at six months.’
    ‘I was thinking that we should send Edgar. He yearns for adventure and it will take his mind off that innkeeper’s widow he’s enamoured with. He could check on John’s whereabouts at the same time.’
    Gerald smiled. ‘Ah, so that’s it. You want to get Edgar out of the widow’s arms. What if the whole thing is an elaborate hoax by Miss