Destiny's Path (39 page)

22

R
onan took his bride and her friend home to Ardgullan House after the brief wedding, which took place in a draughty church with Hallie and a cousin of Bram, who was working as coachman and general groom, acting as witnesses. The latter drove them home and Ronan watched Xanthe chat cheerfully to her friend in the carriage. She didn’t seem in the least upset at having such a simple wedding and it occurred to him that the people among whom she’d grown up would probably have married in a similar way.

When they got home, he saw a carriage in his drive and Kieran Largan standing outside the front door. The latter turned and at the sight of Ronan smiled and waved, waiting for him to draw up.

Ronan helped the two ladies down and offered them both an arm. ‘Kieran! I’m delighted to see you. Let me introduce my wife Xanthe and her friend, Miss Carr. Ladies, this is Conn’s brother.’

The visitor blinked at them in shock. ‘You’re married?’

‘Yes. We got married today, actually.’

‘Then let me be the first to congratulate you. You’re not from round here, Mrs Maguire?’

When his wife didn’t seem to recognise her new name, Ronan replied for her. ‘Xanthe’s from Lancashire, but we met in Australia at your brother’s house.’

‘Look I’ll come over again in a day or two. Don’t let me interrupt your festivities.’

‘There are no festivities, except in our hearts.’

‘We couldn’t afford a fancy wedding,’ Xanthe said with her usual directness. ‘Why don’t you come in for a few moments, Mr Largan? You obviously want to speak to Ronan. Would it be about your brother?’

‘Er – yes. Did you know my brother Conn well in Australia?’

‘I used to work for him as his housekeeper and my sister Maia is still – um, working for him.’

Looking startled at her frankness, Kieran turned to Ronan, head on one side, to see what he wanted.

‘My wife knows everything that’s happened to your brother. Come and have a drink of wine to celebrate our marriage, then you can tell me what you came for. If there’s anything I can do to help you – or Conn – you know I will. Have you heard from him?’

‘I have, actually. He wrote a week or two after you left and the letter arrived yesterday. He sends his regards to you, hopes you’ve not found things in too bad a state.’

‘I must write and tell him we’re married. I doubt he’ll be surprised.’

Kieran looked at Xanthe, seeming a little embarrassed as he added, ‘Conn also asked me to look after your sister if anything happened to him. He says he intends to marry her as soon as his annulment comes through. I’m sorry if this news upsets you, Mrs Maguire.’

‘I prefer to know.’ Xanthe sighed. ‘And actually, it’s not a surprise. Everyone could see how much they loved one another.’

‘You can be sure that I will look after her if it’s ever needed. Conn knows that he can rely on me this time. I let our father persuade me to do nothing last time, to my shame.’

Ronan put his arm round Xanthe. ‘Maia would always find a home with us, as well.’

They sat down and he changed the subject. ‘I’ll go and find a bottle of wine. The cellars are in a dreadful state but my brother bought in some wine, so we won’t go short of that, at least.’ He came back a few minutes later rubbing his hands together to warm them. ‘Mary’s cleaning the bottle and bringing in some glasses. Brr. Those cellars are cold.’

After Kieran had proposed a toast to the newly-weds and Ronan had responded on behalf of himself and his wife, Xanthe took Hallie away and left the gentlemen to chat. ‘It seems so far away now, Australia,’ she said wistfully as she led the way into a small sitting room across the hall.

‘Do you wish you were back there?’

‘No. I think life will be more interesting here in Ireland with Ronan. I never wanted to stay in Australia. But I hate being so far away from Maia when she’s in such a difficult position. Still, Cassandra is nearby. I’d not have left my twin there on her own otherwise.’

She looked round the room thoughtfully and changed the subject. She didn’t want to dwell on her sister and Conn. ‘What do you think? This would make a nice room to sit in, except when we have guests, and it’ll cost a lot less to heat.’

Hallie followed her lead. ‘It’s a lovely room and it seems quite big enough to me. I’m amazed at how big the rooms are here and how many of them there are. It’d take a lot of people to keep it all immaculate, wouldn’t it?’

‘Far too many. I’m thinking of closing down half the house, or more even. We shan’t be using it, after all.’

Kieran watched the door close behind his neighbour’s new wife and raised his glass. ‘You’re a lucky man. She’s beautiful.’

Ronan smiled. ‘That’s the least of it. I’ve not married her for her beauty but for her courageous spirit and her intelligence. She’s a very special woman.’ He looked down at his wineglass, then said quietly, ‘We knew before we left that your brother was deeply in love with her twin sister. Maia’s gentler, but still intelligent and beautiful.’

‘He’s very eager to get this annulment through, but the Church won’t be hurried on these things.’

‘It never was a marriage with Kathleen.’

‘I was horrified when I found out that Father had persuaded him to marry her. He did it while Julia and I were on a long visit to her grandparents in England. She was very fond of them and knew they were both unwell. They left her a good legacy afterwards. If my father had still been alive, he’d have been trying to get his hands on it.’

‘I’m glad you’re in a comfortable position.’

‘I would have been even without Julia’s legacy. That’s partly why I came here. I hear you’re hard pressed.’

Ronan nodded.

‘How bad are things?’

‘I may keep Ardgullan House or I may not. I’ve offended Reginald Johnson and he’s threatened to make sure I lose the whole property.’

‘If a few thousand pounds will make the difference, I’ll be happy to lend it to you. My father worshipped money. I don’t think Conn ever realised how he’d been cheated and I didn’t know until I inherited that my father had taken most of Kathleen’s dowry.’

Ronan looked at him in shock. ‘How could he do that?’

‘He arranged it secretly with her family. They must have been bribing him to get rid of their daughter.’

‘It’s kind of you to offer to lend me the money but I couldn’t take it from you because I’d have no way of paying it back.’

‘I could wait. You’ve been a good friend to Conn and I feel my family owes you a great deal. I feel guilty about inheriting all the money. It seems as if Conn has paid for everything, and paid very dearly too, not only losing his freedom, but his profession and his whole way of life.’

‘I felt desperately sorry for him when he was sentenced,’ Ronan admitted.

‘I always knew he was innocent,’ Kieran said. ‘No wonder my mother ran away from Shilmara after Conn was transported. She must have known my father was involved. He was talking about going after her right until he died, planning it too, for all I know. He hated anyone to get the better of him.’ After another pause, Kieran asked quietly, ‘How is Conn coping with his new life? Tell me the truth, now.’

‘He’s become very quiet and withdrawn. I think he only seeks a peaceful life now, and Maia can give him that. She’s a very restful woman. Will Michael’s statement get Conn’s conviction quashed?’

‘My lawyer thinks so. But it’ll take time. Probably as long as the annulment. I’ll send Conn out some more money and explain why. I’ll feel better if I make sure he can wait for both verdicts in comfort.’ He drained his glass. ‘Well, I won’t keep you on your wedding day. Could you please ring to let them know I’ll need my carriage?’

‘Yes, of course. Oh look, Feargus is out there.’ Ronan went to the window and hauled it up, letting in a whirl of damp air. ‘Hoy, Feargus! Mr Largan needs his carriage.’

The man walking past raised one hand in acknowledgement.

Ronan turned to see Kieran grinning. ‘There’s no use standing on one’s dignity with staff who’ve worked for nothing for years and we don’t have a dozen maids to run round after us. Besides, Feargus taught me to ride. He’s more like an uncle than a head groom.’

The two men shook hands at the front door ten minutes later.

‘Don’t forget!’ Kieran called as he got into his carriage. ‘Bring your wife round to meet mine. I think she and Julia will get on well.’

After dinner, Hallie excused herself and Ronan took Xanthe into the library. He pulled a leather box out of a drawer and held it out to her. ‘These were my mother’s. I can’t offer you much, but at least some of the family jewels are still left for my bride gift to you.’

She opened the box, surprised at how many brooches, necklaces and bracelets it contained. When she looked at him, she was frowning. ‘Why haven’t you sold these when you’re so short of money?’

‘Some of them have been in the family for over a hundred years. And they aren’t particularly valuable. These brooches, for instance, have small stones, even if they’re pretty.’

‘That’s not the point. They’d be worth quite a lot of money and you need every penny.’

‘Hubert would have sold them already if he could have got his hands on them, but my mother kept them safe from him by hiding them and taking some of her favourites to Australia. I found them among her things after she died and as I knew where her hiding place was, I found the others after I got back.

‘I felt then and I still feel now that I should only use them as the very last resort. If Mr Johnson is intending to ruin me, you should keep these safe because we may have to use them to pay our fares back to Australia and start up a new life there.’

‘You think he really can ruin you, take your house away?’

Ronan’s expression became grim. ‘I’m sure he’ll try. He’s got plenty of money, not to mention a reputation for ruthlessness, so I’ll be on my guard. And I certainly behaved badly towards his daughter, so in that sense he has a right to be angry with me.’

‘I feel sorry for her. She seems very unhappy.’

‘Yes. But at the moment I’m more concerned about your happiness.’

She picked up a diamond bracelet, letting it dangle from her fingers. ‘I don’t need jewels like these to make me happy. If we sold them, wouldn’t it give us enough to pay off the debts?’

‘I don’t know, but I’m not inclined to risk everything I have. More debts keep coming to light, you see. Let’s just wait and see.’

‘Very well. I hope you have a good hiding place, because I’d worry about leaving them around.’

‘I’ll show you the family hidey-hole when we go up to bed.’ He sighed. ‘I wish I were better at figures, Xanthe. Or at business generally. I’ve led a very idle life, I’m afraid, and I’m an outdoor sort of fellow. I love riding and walking, going on exploring trips, not sitting in front of a ledger. But I will do my best – my very best – for you and for Ardgullan.’

‘I know you will. But I’m going to deal with the accounts from now on. I’m not just helping out for the moment, I’m taking over.’

He looked at her in shock. ‘You are?’

‘Yes. I’m not stupid and I’ve always been quick at arithmetic. It can’t be that hard to keep track of sums of money and to work out what there is left to spend on renovations each year.’

‘Is there nothing you won’t try?’

She beamed at him. ‘No. Well, I don’t want to try anything physically dangerous, so you won’t get me hunting, but I started to learn to ride in Australia and I’d like to continue. I’ve already discussed the present situation with Hallie and she’s offered to take charge of the house for the first week or two and do an inventory. That’ll leave you free to take over the farm and see what improvements you can make there, and work out what you can sell to give you more money. Don’t you have trees you can sell for timber or horses you can sell . . . or something?’

‘I doubt the trees here are particularly valuable. This isn’t rich land. And as for selling the horses, what would people say about that?’

‘They’d say we were being sensible, cutting our coat to suit our cloth. There has to be a way to find some money, just enough to keep us going.’

He planted a quick kiss on her cheek. ‘Does nothing ever get you down?’

‘Losing you would.’

‘I feel the same way.’ His breathing grew deeper as he pulled her closer. ‘Ah, darling, let’s stop talking about money and make our marriage real.’

He watched her nod and put the jewels carefully back into the box, then he picked it up and led his bride up the stairs. He felt happier than he had since his arrival in Ireland and it was all due to her. She made him feel anything was possible, even saving his family home. She was indomitable. That was the word for her. And he’d do his very best to be worthy of her.

Inside the bedroom she wouldn’t allow him to touch her till the jewels were safely locked away in the secret cupboard, then she moved into his arms and their troubles faded. They kissed and moved to the bed, not hurrying, because from now on they had all the time in the world to be together and love one another.

Conn arrived back at Galway House from Fremantle feeling weary in body and spirit. Leo hadn’t pestered him to chat on the journey back, not even when they were sleeping under the stars, a time when confidences were frequently exchanged. Whatever else he was slow at, Leo seemed to understand people’s feelings and needs, to sense that his companion on this journey wanted to be quiet.