The Venables story
The Journey
The day of the 1st of September dawned bright and clear, the leaves on the trees were turning a golden colour, Margot turned over under her covers, still innocent, still young and full of hopes and dreams for the future. Her pretty romantic head was filled with a master plan and the 1st of September was the day she was going to put it into action.

When Margot awoke she sat up in bed, for a moment wondering what the intense sense of excitement could possibly be, then she remembered, it was the day she and her love Stephan Venables were running away to Australia to make a great fortune. She lay back in her bed again and sighed, as a small child she had dreams of a big white wedding with her parents and brother looking on lovingly, but alas it could not be, she recalled the day, two weeks ago when she and Stephan had confronted her parents with their love for one another. Stephan had arrived at the door, with a bunch of flowers for Margot and together they waited in anticipation, like two young children, to be summoned into her fathers study.

‘Come in Margot…I’ve just finished a letter…now what can I do for you?’ asked James Senior, not looking up from his work. 
‘Papa, Father, this is Stephan.’ Said Margot excitedly, fully expecting her father to welcome the young man with pen arms, ‘We have been courting…’ she began, but paused when she met her fathers eyes, he looked up for the first time and caught sight of Stephan. Stephan was tall and thin, wearing a blue suit with braces, a blue top hat (that he had failed to take off) and a red bow tie. James drew himself up to his full height, putting himself at least a head above the younger man. ‘You’ve been courting my daughter have you, without permission from me?’ asked James, knowing the answer and clearly attempting to keep his temper.
‘Yes sir, I love Margot and want to marry her, will you give us your blessing?’ declared Stephan, showing a lot more courage than sense for it was evident Margot’s father was going to do nothing of the kind.
‘Will I give you my blessing? Certainly not sir! Get out! Get out of my house you young scoundrel and have nothing to do with my daughter again!’ he bellowed causing his wife to run gracefully from her parlour. James paid no heed to his now sobbing daughter or his stunned wife as he lead the younger man out of the house, hissing finally, ‘Don’t come near my family again young man or I shall have you arrested.’ Stephan’s final words as he left the house were, ‘You know what we have to do Margot!’ she heard and she knew and now they were putting plan be into action and eloping. 

Margot spent the first week after in floods of tears, she appealed to her mother who simply informed her that she must obey her father. She begged her father to allow their love but he simply told her that his judgement remained the same. She asked Jem (her brother) to bless their love but even as a younger boy he saw the uselessness of Stephan and refused to give Margot his blessing before he went back to school. Never did Margot disclose their plans, she only wrote them a letter, the night before our story opens, for them to find.

It felt very little time to the young couple that they arrived at Southampton where their voyage awaited them. The scene frightened Margot who was a gentle quiet girl from a nice home, she didn’t like the beggars and drunks shouting and leering at her, the noise from the dirty fishermen alarmed her and suddenly it all seemed so real, their ship was in harbour and there were many young couples saying goodbye to their parents and loved ones. The realisation that Margot would never see her father again was nearly too much and tears threatened to roll down her cheeks and she so wanted to go home, apologise and marry whoever they felt fitting for her. However the bracing treatment from a fiancé stopped all that, 
‘Alright, old girl, here we are, this guy is going to wed us!’ declared Stephan, not reading the anxiety on Margot’s young face and not feeling it at all, for her was so sure of the arrangements, so sure of his powers that the journey and the life thereafter didn’t worry him. 
‘Yep you two youngsters, I’m gonna marry you, sign here and here…’ the young pair did as they were bayed and signed their life’s away. The handed over money in exchanged for a certificate which Stephan rolled up and tucked into his pocket, he took the arm of his new wife and they boarded the ship. 

Not once over the long voyage did Margot complain or voice her misgivings, even when Stephan marched them into a small abode where they would have to sleep for the entire journey. She didn’t tell Stephan she didn’t want to sleep in the same bed as him, nor did she complain about the mouse droppings that littered the floor of their second-class cabin; Stephan viewed the whole thing as part of their great adventure and so Margot took it all stoically. 

The days passed slowly aboard the great ship and soon a big storm blew up making Margot actually sea sick and very frightened, despite all that Stephan kept on about their futures and remained as excited and confident as before, Margot didn’t have the heart to bring him down to earth and draw his attention to the fact she felt, sick, dirty and very unhappy. Margot was thankful when the voyage was coming to an end and her spirits lifted when they saw their new country in the distance, the ocean was a beautiful colour and the sun was warming and uplifting, the excitement returned to her heart and she was happy again. Stephan put an arm around her slim waist and kissed her on top of her head, ‘We have arrived darling, isn’t it wonderful?’ he whispered.

The young pair left their ship with their little luggage, ‘Now keep close by me, we must get a stage from somewhere!’ he grabbed her arm, held onto his hat and ran as fast as he could with Margot on his heels.
‘Hello! You there! Have you any horses?’ asked Stephan of a scary dirty looking man who stared glassily at Margot.
‘Yah!’ he replied still looking at Margot, you stared back, hoping to stare him out. 
‘Oh, gee, that’s grand, give us a couple will you!’ said Stephan, clearly proud he had found them some transport. 
The mans glassy eyes snapped away from the pretty young face of Margot who was back in her muslin frock and looked no more than 15. 
‘I certainly will sir, but I dare say you have nothing to trade!’ said the man more coherently than before. 
‘Yes sir, I have this!’ shouted Stephan, pulling the pretty necklace from around Margot’s neck. Margot groaned, she loved that necklace; it was the last thing her father had given her. However she resigned herself to the fact that Stephan was her husband so he must obey him. The necklace brought them two horses and reigns, much to the joy of Stephan, who told Margot to get of the smaller one and together they trotted off into the distance. 
The day was drawing to an end by the time they had cleared from the noise and bustle of the port and the heat of the Australian sunshine was failing. Margot was feeling tired an week for they had been travelling for a long time, thankfully Stephan spotted how weary his wife was, ‘Look here Margot, an Inn, we can stop here.’ He jumped off his horse and lifted Margot off hers for she was too sore to attempt the jump herself. The tied up their horses on a stump, specially for the purpose and knocked on the door of the Inn, it was opened by a red faced man of about forty years old,
‘What can I do you for?’ he asked eyeing the pair quizzically.
‘Good evening there sir, we was just hoping you could give us a room for the night.’ Said Stephan.
‘That I can’t do sir, unless you gotta enough money to pay for the bridal suit, and it don’t look like ya have,’ drawled the Inn keeper in the Australian accent they were becoming accustomed to.
‘No sir, I have no currency just yes, but we have things we can trade, if you will sir.’ Replied Stephan  earnestly.
‘I do no tradin, I have to make a living you see!’ declared the man, but just as he was closing to door on them and as Margot felt she might collapse with exhaustion a fat brisk woman as red faced as the man came bustling through.’
‘What ‘n earth are you doing, standing at the door! Kitty’s ill again, I tell you this heat is too much for her frail constitution!’ shouted the woman to the man who was clearly her husband. Her eyes softened when she saw Margot who looked as frail and young as her daughter Kitty.
‘Your not turning theses folks away are you! This kid looks near to death!’ she declared pushing open the door and pulling the young couple in.
‘But Dora, they have nothing with which to pay us!’ shouted the man in exasperation.

That morning bath of warm water was placed in their room along with two bars of soap, Margot thankfully stripped out of her dirty frock and slipped into the water, she had a good long soak, washing herself and her hair to remove all traces of their grimy journey, she dressed in a clean outfit she had managed to bring with her and allowed Stephan to use the water. She felt strong and refreshed again and ready for anything life was going to throw at her. She hadn’t realised it but the three months they had been travelling had enabled young Margot to grow up considerably, she was no longer the excited child she had been in September but a woman, who had realised it wasn’t going to be a romantic story.

When her husband was washed and dressed he said, ‘We need to make some money so we can rent our place when we get there.’ Said Stephan, looking eagerly at his fragile wife. 
‘How do you suppose we can go about that then?’ Margot asked coolly.
‘I’m not sure, I think we could hang about here, that women, Dora has taken a liking to you, she’s offered me work. What do you think?’ he asked.
‘Well, that’s alright then, I’ll see if I can coach Dora’s young girl in, music or French or something, when we have enough money we can go out to our homestead.’ Margot said, with more independence and self assurance than she felt. 
‘Alrighty!’ yelled Stephan dancing around in glee, making Margot cringe, she was used to gentle softly spoken men like her father and Jem. 
 

Thats it so far!

They had celebrated the New Year with Dora, Kitty, Isaac as well as all the guests at the Inn, they had watched the entrance of 1920, but now April was coming to an end so it was time they moved on to their new home. Tears were shed by all parties at the young couples departure but Margot and Stephan were happy to be really beginning their new life. Margot had enough money to buy household items and food for some months, Stephan had enough money to by farm equipment and seeds for orange trees. So when they arrived at the farm they were happy and optimistic.

The next two months went like clock work, Stephan built them a bed, a table and various other household items as well as planting the Orange trees in great rows. Margot had created pretty little gingham curtains and matching table cloths and napkins as well as cushions for the chairs, it looked like being a happy little home. During those two months they would often sit in the evenings talking with one another about everything and nothing, they were still very much in love. 

So the days went by in marital bliss and by the end of  June all the trees were planted and the fields ploughed, they had enlisted the help of local farmers in the cultivation of wheat and the care of cattle. By the end of July they had a nice herd of animals and Stephan had learnt how to care for them, Margot was successfully cultivating a large wheat crop much to the surprise of the surrounding farmers, most new comers left within short time, unable to learn how to farm but it seemed the couple had green fingers.

Soon the harvesting of both farms was done and the men had planned to sell off the wheat and the oranges the next day. They had also milked the cows of both family’s and Jessie and Margot had plans to take the milk into the centre of Brisbane to try and sell it. Their plans were laid and the next morning Jessie, Margot and little Euwan hitched up the horse and cart belonging to the McFarland, loaded up the cart with big pails of cows milk and set off. The two men set off a little later on horse back and loaded the great sacks of wheat onto them. They They had a long treck right up to North Queens land where the big sugar plantations were and to all the little farms on the way. The pair chattered animatedly and the older man filled Stephan’s head with new ideas for the future, Stephan decided he would order in great loads of expensive wood and create and sell beautiful furniture, the older man had no intention of spoiling Stephan’s dreams with tales of woe, for once, he had been 25 and had similar ambitions.  All the way Stephan hatched the plan in his head and presented it to his wife on return. 

Their first child was born in the August of 1925 and Margot insisted he be called James after her father, but be known as Jimmy. Jimmy was a sturdy little soul and he blossomed in the costal climate of Australia and soon he was toddling about after his father, who was so proud of his baby son. 

Everyday Margot looked around her and everyday she counted her blessings, they weren’t millionaires but they had a lot more than most. The furniture business kept them in clothes and food while the wheat and milk did not. Margot was thankful she had such a wonderful husband. 

Two more children followed Jimmy, they had a little girl in 1928 who was named after Margot herself and her mother, but the little girl became known as Daisy and following her was little Steve in 1930. They even had enough money to arrange for a nurse to help with the children called Nurse Rickards who Margot struck up a firm friendship with. The women travelled from her nice Brisbane home everyday to care for the three farmers children, this help freed Margot to milk cows and varnish her husbands furniture. 

Margot was proud of her three small children and everything was going well until a fateful morning in December 1930.
Stephan came to Margot as she was feeding the children breakfast, admiring their sturdy constitutions, he had a very grave look upon his normally excited, boyish little face.
‘Margot we have to leave!’ he said, normally Margot would have taken the terrible news as a joke but not this day for Stephan was exceedingly grave.
‘Stephan, what do you mean?’ she asked coldly.
‘We have no money darling, nothing, the furniture business has failed, someone set up a great big company in Brisbane…’ he trailed off.
‘Well, what about our savings and the money from the farm, that can’t all be gone!’ demanded Margot, cursing herself for not taking an interest in the finances. 
‘Oh Margot, it is, and its my fault! I’m rubbish with money, our outgoings have been more than our income for months, I’ve eaten into our savings!’ he cried, tears rolling down his cheeks. Suddenly Margot realised her father was right, Stephan was a very weak, very pathetic silly man and her love for him died that day. 
‘Well! I dare say you have a plan! You always do!’ said Margot briskly, ignoring her husbands tears. 
He brightened as she spoke, ‘Why yes, I do, I’m taking you and the kids north to the sugar plantations.’
‘Are you indeed? Well I’d better wire the nurse from the post office. When do we leave?’
‘Umm, just leave the nurse a note…we leave now…they want the rent!’ replied her ashamed husband.
‘YOU MEAN TO TELL ME WE HAVE TO RUN! AGAIN!’ bellowed Margot.
‘Yes dear, now pack the children’s clothes and a bit of food and we’ll be off!’ ordered Stephan with a jollity that enraged Margot, but she did as she was told and the five of them left, Steve a babe in arms and the other two not much more.
 

Two years passed, with many rows about money and the children’s health. Margot was intensely worried for her two boys for the sheer heat of   North Queens land was too much for them and they gradually became frailer and more ill looking. Stephan could not help Margot in the home for he was working, and he failed to rejoice when in 1932 Francis was born. Margot cried herself to sleep every night for her lost youth, for her marriage and for her sick little children, her tears were justifiable for in the terrible conditions her eldest child wasted away. Jimmy died. He had only reached the age of eleven and he couldn’t bare the heat and dirt. Jimmy had been looking ill almost since they arrived at the plantation and one day in January 1934, when Margot was pregnant with their fifth child Jimmy called to her in the night, 
Mama, Mama!’ he cried, calling Margot straight to his bedside.
‘Yes darling,’ she said, ‘I’m here sweetheart, kissing her son on his head.’
‘Mama, I don’t feel very well Mama,’ he cried, tears rolling down his cheeks, he could feel the sense of impending doom, but he didn’t understand. Margot did, very well and she held her son in her arms and watched him slip away from her. Life left his body and he was at peace.

They buried him the next day.

Two weeks later little Primula Mary was born, she was a fragile little baby and Margot could see no hope for her survival and she told her husband so, 
‘Stephan, let us leave here, let us go to my brother, we have lost little Jimmy, I do not want to loose another of my children!’ she begged and begged Stephan to let them leave, but he refused, apparently convinced they would have a big break and become rich. 

The burial took place the very next day but it was not a poignant affair for they were very poor and he not respected so Margot took her two remaining children and left. She took the steamer around the coast to Brisbane, when they disembarked Margot knew what she was going to do. 
‘Do you remember that lovely nurse we had years ago Daisy?’
‘But yes mama, I do!’ declared the little wise child.
‘Well we are going to her, after that perhaps we can make a new start in Brisbane.’
‘Oh goody!’
And so they did, Margot found the house with relief, knocked on the door, set her baby down and promptly fainted. The events of the last few years had taken all the strength out of the naturally delicate woman, but thankfully the nurse was in, she put the children and Margot to bed with great efficiency and kindness. When Margot was stronger she allowed Margot to pour out the terrible details of her ordeal. 

(i just have the end to write now!)

I know I've seen a short fiction somewhere (maybe THe Chaletian, or maybe it's one of the other sites) but this is good too - I like the way you've taken things and expanded on their troubles :-)

Now for the end... (waiting in anticipation)

I'll do the end in a sec!

The nurse quailed at the story, it was worse than anything that had ever happened to her, alas the nurse caught the flu and could care for Margot no longer, instead the roles were reversed and Margot cared for the nurse, but her inexperienced eye didn’t notice the development of pneumonia and the nurse died leaving Margot a long letter, which gave her some money and instructions to go to her brother. Margot did as she was told, her strength had returned and she was now beginning to grieve for her little sons, yet she kept strong for her two little daughters and got them safely to the great ship that was to be their salvation.

*

The crossing was a long one but Margot had a little more money and the seas were more calm so the journey was much less terrible than it had been 18 years before. Daisy visibly improved in the sea air but young Primula remained as fragile and delicate as ever. Margot knew what they had to do, after a long voyage across the ocean they landed in France where it was easy for Margot in her pretty fluent French to get them rooms for a night and train tickets for the next day. Margot heaved a sigh of relief when she reached their room at the hotel, the beds were clean, the food was nourishing and Margot new their troubles were over, but she was wrong.

The next morning Margot awoke to find that the heavens had opened at it was raining hard but, alas, she had to catch the train, she had to get her fragile daughter out of the wet climate and the train was the only way she had. After a quick continental breakfast they boarded the train and successfully found their compartment, the train set off at speed and Margot knew she would soon be in Innsbruck, with her brother who would surely forgive her. The train stopped in Paris and then at Basle but the three remained on board, Margot too exhausted to move, it was all she could do to make sure the children were fed and watered. When they reached Innsbruck it suddenly hit Margot that she didn’t know where her brother was and that she couldn’t speak a word of German apart from, hello, goodbye, please and thank you, yet as a tribute to the independence she had gained over the 18 years of her marriage she found a little café called the Karl Prince Karl and got her little daughters some lunch.

That evening she booked the three of them in a little quaint hotel called the Anich and asked them of Dr James Russell, 
‘Madame, Do you speak English?’ she asked, slowly aware she was behaving like an ignorant tourist, but she simply had no German. The pretty maid replied smiling,’ I have no English!’ and left, leaving Margot to despair. 

The next morning saw the three of them on a hunt for Jem once again, Margot was exhausted from carrying her baby daughter and worrying about all their futures so she felt she must sit down or collapse. Indeed Margot sat down on a stump that signalled how many miles a traveller had come, Margot laughed at the irony for she had travelled over 2000 miles and the little sign said twenty, she thought she would never complain at a little journey again! Just as she thought of giving up, Daisy’s ears pricked up and she ran off much to Margot’s alarm,
‘Daisy, Daisy! Come here!’ she cried over and over, just as she began to panic Daisy returned with two grown up girls following her. 
 

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