The Spoils of Sin by Rebecca Tope Page A

location.’
    â€˜And yet?’ interrupted Fanny impatiently. ‘Where is the disadvantage? What more are you trying to say?’
    â€˜What indeed? Perhaps it is all clear and simple, after all. I broke the habit of many years, and it was hard. Walking in here, and catching the perfumes of your business, the soft silks and satins, reminds me powerfully of what I have given up. Now if I catch the eye of passing men, it is to no avail. I cling to these foolish garments from old habit, knowing I must discard them and clothe myself in the drabs of an ageing woman. Many would say I have just made the greatest mistake in a life that has been misdirected from the first.’
    â€˜You are handsome yet,’ said Carola. ‘Why give up so soon?’
    â€˜Why indeed? Just as the world is gripped by gold fever and there are fortunes being made at this very moment.’
    â€˜Which you have seen for yourself,’ said Carola eagerly.
    â€˜I have seen it, in all its fantastical madness.’ The woman fumbled in a velvet reticule and brought forth a shining yellow nugget. ‘I keep this to remind me. It was the first time I was paid in crude ore. Feel it for yourself.’ She handed it to the girl. Carola hefted it in the palm of her hand, then stroked it with a fingertip. ‘Is it not beautiful,’ Marybelle sighed. ‘Of all the bounties and wonders of this world, gold is the greatest. It comes pure and shining from the ground, and lends itself to being worked as mankind wishes. I have sat close to a group of prospectors, as they converse around their fires at night, and listened to their tales of discovery. They are drunk on the magic of it, as well as on the spirits they buy with it. They are like little children on Christmas morning.’ She sighed again. ‘But they will quickly turn into red-eyed monsters, frantic with greed. They will fight amongst themselves, and turn brutal. The gold will one day all be gone, and they will be left staring about in bewilderment. I did not wish to witness that day – which might come sooner than anybody thinks. I have amassed my own little fortune, and now I leave the younger ones to exploit the prospectors.’
    Fanny tried to imagine the scenes, with little success. She understood the rudiments of how was gold discovered and what had to be done to extract it from the ground. She knew that ordinary people really were permitted to simply find it and keep it for themselves, like picking wild berries and mushrooms. But still she could not believe it was real. Her impression of California was coloured by images of unruly Mexicans, arrogant politicians and uncomfortably hot weather. Californians were bullies, gamblers, drunks and now, it seemed, profiteers. They were greedy and selfish, forcing all Oregon commerce to pass through their hands. On all sides there was a perpetual exasperation with their southern neighbours, born of a continuing dependence. If everyone in California were to become rich with gold, that would only render them all the more unsavoury.
    â€˜You chose wisely,’ she told Marybelle. ‘As we made the same choice, way back in Missouri. My father never doubted that the Oregon Trail offered the finest future for us all and he was right.’
    Marybelle shook her head ruefully. ‘You know the things they say about the Oregon families? Dull unambitious farmers, taking few risks and recreating the homelands of England and Germany. Those with any character turned south towards a brighter bigger life.’
    â€˜Like the Donner Party from our wagon train,’ said Fanny. ‘Only to perish in the snow.’
    â€˜You knew them?’ Marybelle’s eyes widened. ‘I have just this past week been reading again of their tragedy, in an old journal. It does not bear thinking of, those poor people.’
    â€˜My sister was friendly with the Reed girl for a little while. It was many months before we heard what