Gypsy Lullaby

By Mazi McBurnie

It is 1893 in Australia when a girl is dropped off at a boarding house with nothing but a few days of rent money, a locket that states her name is Adelaide, and a plain brown dress. Without any memory of how she arrived, the girl soon learns she has been drugged, starved, and birthed a baby two days earlier. Now Adelaide is left with more questions than answers as she wonders if she has a family and whether she will ever know her baby.

After it is decided that Adelaide will become a wet nurse for the son of the wealthy James Billington whose wife has just died during childbirth, she carries out her duties and even has a passionate encounter with her boss until his son suddenly dies. But just as Adelaide returns to the boarding house to work, tragedy strikes and leads her in a different direction that includes an arranged marriage and an unexpected pregnancy. As life is created and other lives end, Adelaide is led down an unpredictable path where she learns of her secret past, finds true love, and valiantly struggles to achieve her dreams.

Gypsy Lullaby is a tale of tragedy, mystery, and love as a girl embarks on a coming-of-age journey that she hopes will lead her to the truth and the happiness she deserves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: May 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504302791

Mazi McBurnie

This is the eighth novel by this author. Mazi is a 75 yr old woman who loves to write about strong female characters. She cares for her husband who has Parkinson,s disease and her family of one dog, Albert and three Birman cats. She lives in the country area outside of Melbourne.

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Copyright © 2016 Mazi Mcburnie.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Certain characters in this work are historical figures, and certain events portrayed did take place. However, this is a work of fiction. All of the other characters, names, and events as well as all places, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

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ISBN: 978-1-5043-0278-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-0279-1 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 05/25/2016

CONTENTS

Introduction

Family Tree

Chapter 1    Parramatta 1893

Chapter 2    James Billington

Chapter 3    Jamie

Chapter 4    Mrs Boxer

Chapter 5    Mrs Croft

Chapter 6    England

Chapter 7    The Preacher

Chapter 8    Return To Australia

Chapter 9    Youngtown

Chapter 10    The Gypsy Story

Chapter 11    The Pick Family

Chapter 12    A Baby

Chapter 13    A Tragedy

Chapter 14    The Bombay Family

Chapter 15    The Miracle

Chapter 16    The Boarding House

Chapter 17    Trust

Epilogue

The Gypsy Lullaby

This book is

dedicated to my three grandchildren

Ruby J, Chloe Bear and Amalia Grace.

To my aunt Roberta Mecoles (Byfield), with gratitude

for sharing the story of Fillis and Delli

INTRODUCTION

Gypsy Lullaby is a story that came to me in part from my aunt Roberta Mecoles when I was writing my family history. For the most part, the story of Fillis Adelaide and Delli is based on true events. Delli was my great-grandmother, and Fillis Adelaide was my grandmother.

Although the gypsy story is part of my family history, most of Gypsy Lullaby is fiction. When writing this book, I felt I was inside the story looking out, feeling what Delli and Fillis felt all those years ago.

I have loved every moment of writing this book and hope you enjoy reading it as well.

FAMILY TREE

CHAPTER 1

PARRAMATTA 1893

L ying on a bed in the semi-dark room, she could just make out the flower patterns on the worn curtains as the sun attempted to rise. She could barely discern the pattern on the clean but faded quilt. The bed’s comfortable, she thought, grateful that the large net covering allowed her to avoid mosquitoes.

Where am I? She wondered what strange pain was gripping her chest. She touched her breasts; they felt hot and wet, as if a bucket of water had been dropped on her. Or, she mused, is the roof leaking? What’s my name?

She tried to stand, but a dizzy spell forced her back onto the old four-poster bed. She felt weak, frightened, and incredibly tired. After a while, she stood again, a little stronger this time. The room was now filled with a muted half-light through the faded window; she was able to make out a cupboard, dresser, and washstand in the corner.

The dresser was bare except for a beautiful silver locket. She took the locket gently in her hand and opened it. Inside was a photo of a beautiful dark-eyed, dark-haired woman holding a baby. The inscription read, I’ll love you always, Adelaide. The baby had the same dark eyes and hair as the woman in the photograph.

Am I this baby? she wondered. Am I Adelaide? Or is that the beautiful woman’s name? Her mind tried to sort out the meaning of the words in the inscription. If I’m the baby in this photo, someone loved me in the past.

A soft knock on the door diverted her attention from the locket. A shy young woman of about seventeen years entered the room. The girl had untidy mousy hair, a softly freckled face, and a pinny dragging down her leg. Hello, she said. My name’s Cora. You all right, love?

Where am I? she asked.

Why, you be at Mrs. Croft’s boarding house in Parramatta. You came in late last night by coach. They just dropped you off at the front steps, Cora said. Can’t you remember?

No, I replied. I can’t remember much. I feel so weary and dizzy, and my chest hurts something awful.

Let me have a look-see, love, said Cora. Why you are all wet? Let me go get Mrs. Croft. With that, Cora flew out of the room as if being chased by a herd of elephants.

Shortly afterwards, there was another bang on the door and a large woman with reddish hair and a ruddy complexion entered the room, followed by Cora. I am Mrs. Croft, owner of this establishment! she shouted.

I am not deaf, madam, she replied, perhaps a bit curtly. I’m just dizzy and weary, and I don’t know my name or why I’m here.

Mrs. Croft advanced farther into the room. She enveloped her with a large body and skirt with many petticoats. You came in here late last night, she said. A coachman dropped you off with an envelope with some money, enough for your board—for a week anyway. You had no luggage, just the plain brown dress hanging in the corner, so I put you in my daughter’s nightgown. There was nothing written on the envelope.

When she moaned in pain, Mrs. Croft said, Here, let me have a look at you. I know a thing or two about doctoring. Mrs. Croft pulled back the sheet and let out a shriek. Core blimey! she uttered. That looks pretty bad.

What does?

Well, I’m no doc, but I reckon you might have just given birth and that mess on your chest is baby’s milk and a bit of blood, Mrs. Croft announced in an authoritative voice. Cora! she shouted to the young maid. Go get Doc Eames—and tell him to come quick. Cora ran from the room.

Did you say I’ve given birth? she asked quietly, almost under her breath.

Yeah, love, looks like it to me. What do you remember?

I remember a lot of pain and riding a bumpy road in a coach. I think there were some other people in the coach, but that’s about all. There’s a locket on my dresser with the name Adelaide, but I’m not sure if that’s me. I remember feeling very sleepy.

Well, Adelaide it is, then, love. You have to have a name; it’s as good as any, said Mrs. Croft.

A loud banging announced the arrival of Doc Eames, an elderly but kindly looking gentleman with a long beard. Let’s have a look at you, young lady, he said as he pulled the bedclothes off Adelaide. As he gently eased the nightdress over her head, he tried not to pull on the gown too hard, as some of it was stuck to her body because of the milk.

Well, my dear, Dr. Eames said, you appear to have a lot of milk. I’m thinking that you gave birth a day or two ago. I believe an infection might be present too, so we need to clean you up and bind these breasts until we can find the baby. He looked towards the mistress of the house. Mrs. Croft, a word? They moved to the corner of the room where they clearly thought that she couldn’t hear them.

Whispering softly, Dr. Eames confided to Mrs. Croft that the young woman had indeed given birth within the last couple of days. She’s in a weakened, almost emaciated state, he said with pity in his voice. In spite of that, I believe that with good care and food, she should be able to recover. Mrs. Croft, do you think you could care for her for a few days until she is strong again? I feel that she has been drugged as well as starved. Who would do such a thing to a lovely young girl?

Dr. Eames had seen many awful things since coming to Australia, but he had never seen a person as starved as