Lynette Vinet - Emerald Trilogy 02 (22 page)

Allison drifted, feeling lighter and more peaceful than a soaring dove. Dimly she felt the freezing ice upon her body, vaguely aware of the strange unintelligible sounds close to her ears. Soon she no longer felt the cold sting of the ice or heard the chanting. She was high above, among the clouds, floating away. Then she felt her mother beside her, and a feeling of love encapsulated her. “Mama,” she called. “It’s been such a long time.”

“Are you ready to come?” She heard her mother’s voice, filled with love and felt her presence though she couldn’t see her.

“Yes,” Allison readily agreed, but when she tried to move toward her unknown destination, she couldn’t. Something was holding her back; someone was calling her. “I can’t go now, Mother. It isn’t time yet. “

“I know, darling. That is the choice only you can make.” For a moment Allison imagined she felt the soft brush of a kiss upon her cheek,
then
she opened her eyes to find Paul, bending over her.

She slowly realized she was on the floor of her bedroom covered with many blankets. She knew she had been ill, near death, and Paul had been responsible for bringing her back. “I couldn’t leave just yet,” she found herself saying, barely able to form the words.

Without further comment, he gave her a sip of water to relieve her parched throat. It’s almost as if he knows where I’ve been
,
she thought. Then he picked her up and tenderly placed her in her bed, covering her with a heavy blanket. Her eyes never left his face, and it was as if she saw him for the first time, He looked so weary and vulnerable that her heart went out to him. He carefully tucked the blanket around her and pushed a stray lock of hair from her eyes. “Rest now, Allison. Regain your strength. Tomorrow a new life begins for us.”

“Yes,” she agreed. On the morrow, when she felt stronger, she’d tell him she loved him and that his love had brought her back. Now that they were parents, she needed him so very much. Bending down, he brushed her lips with his. She barely felt his mouth but it shook her to her very soul. Drifting into peaceful sleep, she knew nothing mattered but their love.

~ ~ ~

Paul hurriedly threw his clothes in a valise, not bothering to shave or wash. He had sent for Daniel, and when his brother arrived, he waved
him to a seat. “Allison will be all right in a few days. I expect you to look after her, protect her and the babies.”

“Going away on a trip so soon is just like you. You’re a cad.”

Paul grimaced. “Perhaps I was, but no longer. I know what must be done, and I intend to do it. Tell Mother and Father good bye for me. I won’t be returning.”

“You’re leaving for good? I don’t believe you,”

“You want to believe the worst of me, so do so. Yes, I’m leaving and I’m not coming back. Allison sent for you because she loves you, and I’ve never been one to stand in the way of true love.”

For a second Daniel looked quite helpless, causing Paul to remember him as a little boy, the younger brother he had always protected. However, Paul knew Daniel loved Allison with unselfish devotion and would take care of her. He had grown into a fine young man. The problem was that Paul loved her, too. And though Daniel wouldn’t have understood such a love, Paul was leaving to set her free, to protect her from
himself
and the deception which had almost ruined her life
.
He
had to honor the promise he’d made when she’d been ill.

“No matter what has happened, I
love you, Dan. Take care of my family for me.” Without further comment, he took one more glance at his children and hurriedly
departed,
leaving the house he once had desperately wanted to fulfill his father’s dream. Going to the stables, he mounted his horse and rode in the direction of Ballysheen Hall.

After a month had passed and Paul hadn’t returned, Allison accepted his departure as final. In fact Howard had been the one to bring her the news that Paul and Constance had left for Canada. At first, she hadn’t believed it though she had long known of his infatuation for that woman. But to abandon her like this, so soon after giving birth to his children, brought her hours of tears and bitterness.

Surprisingly, it was Quint who offered sympathy. Daniel was always nearby and provided a ready shoulder, but her father-in-law began to see her in a different light after the twins’ births. One afternoon, as she sat in the drawing room, embroidering Kathleen’s initials on a blanket, he entered unexpectedly. She first thought he was going to turn and leave. However, he sat across from her and actually smiled.

“You’re a fine mother.”

His compliment caught her unawares, and she dropped her needle which he quickly retrieved
from the carpet. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“I’ve misjudged you, Allison. I’d like you to forgive me.”

“Why do you feel differently?
Because I’ve born the Flannery heirs?
I’m still a Fairfax, and my blood has driven my husband away.”

“Aye, you shall always be a Fairfax and proud you should be of your ancestors. ‘
Tis a noble lineage.
My quarrel was with your uncle, not you, and now I see my error. But don’t blame your blood for driving Paul away.” He suddenly looked sheepish. “The lad takes after me in too many ways, I fear.”

“Yes,” she quickly agreed. “Your obsession with this house was partly to blame for Paul’s leaving. If he had loved me for myself, things would be different. He wasn’t able to look beyond my name—though at one point I thought he had come to love me.” She broke off and looked away, remembering how close she felt to him during her illness. Looking back at Quint, she smiled. “But if he had never come to Ireland, I’d not have his children. No matter what he has done, I love him for them.”

“And that is why you must follow him and bring him home. He has responsibilities now and mustn’t shirk his duty to you and the babes. I’ve done many horrible things in my life, Allison, things of which I’m ashamed, yet I never knowingly abandoned Dera or my children when they needed me. Paul is my son, and I know him well. There is a reason he left and I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t love you. He can’t show his feelings sometimes.” Quint ran his hand through his silver mane of hair. “In that respect, he is very much my son.”

She stared at him, dumbfounded by his words. He expected her to travel to Canada, a country of heathens, to find Paul! “How do you propose I wrest Paul from the arms of Constance Granger?” she asked after a few moments. “They did run off together.”

He stood up, a smile streaking across his face. “Allison, if I must instruct you in that area than you are less the woman I thought.” With that terse rejoinder, he left the room.

For the rest of the day Allison wondered if he could be right. Perhaps Paul truly did love her; but why did he leave? Daniel had told her how Paul had handed her over to him like so
much chattel
. Of course the letter she had written Daniel must have angered and hurt Paul. But he had willingly left with Constance, of all people!

She mulled over Quint’s last remark. Was she woman enough to take her husband from the hussy? And if she succeeded, was she woman enough to keep him?

~ ~ ~

Shortly after Allison had nursed the twins and put them to bed for the night, Beth surprised her in the hallway as she left the nursery. Beth had grown more lovely in the first bloom of her pregnancy, and Allison envied her her happiness. Patrick was a fine man and would never hurt Beth as she had been hurt by Paul. But the urgency in Beth’s face alarmed her.

“Whatever is the matter?” Allison asked.

“I’ve just come from old Mag. She’s asked to see you, said it was urgent that you come. She’s ailing and I don’t think she’ll live out the night.”

“I’ll follow you,” Allison said.

They hurried to Mag’s cottage, and when they arrived, a solemn cluster of neighbors silently parted as Allison rushed to Mag’s side.

Allison knelt upon the rushes and immediately knew Mag was dying. Her eyes were lifeless, her body so shriveled that the outline of her legs beneath the blanket was barely visible. She hadn’t known Mag had been ill. In fact she hadn’t wished to visit her since that last time when she told Allison that her home would revert to the former owners. She bent forward to listen as Mag struggled to speak.

Mag took Allison’s hand. “You must go,”
came
the words, halting at first. “Search for your Paul.”

Allison had no idea that Mag knew Paul had left. “He doesn’t love me,” she whispered.

“Nay, he does. Find him, bring him home.” Mag looked exhausted and Allison thought that was all she had to say, but as she started to get up, Mag’s hand held tightly. “A stranger will claim your heart, Miss. He is your … true love.”

Just then a spell of coughing wracked her, and Allison left her to the ministrations of the neighbors, not wanting to drain what little remained of Mag’s strength.

“What do you make of it?” Beth asked as they walked across the fields.

“Delirium, I suppose.”

“Nay, Mag is sick but not out of her head. She’s always known things. Will you be searching for Paul as she bid?’

Allison halted, considering. “She did tell me that I would meet Paul and marry him. Everything she ever told me has come true.”

“What do you make of her talking of a stranger?”

Allison sighed and walked on. “I suppose Mag’s mind was drifting in the past.” She didn’t dwell upon Mag’s comments. What worried her was Daniel’s reaction when she informed him that she had decided to leave for Canada and find her husband.

~ ~ ~

Dera looked crestfallen when Allison informed her and Quint that she had decided to leave. Though Dera wanted Allison to find Paul, she had very nearly convinced Quint that they should return home, knowing his attitude towards Allison had softened and his vengeance had been dissipated. Now, she had no alternative but to stay in Ireland, watching Quint put an arm around Allison and telling her to bring his son home. “Dera and I shall stay on and take care of the babes. Besides, I will be glad of the time to better know my Beth.”

“Thank you both. I know my children and the estate will be well looked after.”

“Have you told Daniel yet?” Dera asked, all hopes sinking.

“No, but I’ve asked him to meet me in the gazebo. I just wanted to speak with you first, to know that you’ll stay on.”

“Put your mind at ease. Dera and I will be happy to help. Just convince our son that he needs you and the children.”

“I shall.” Love and appreciation glowed on Allison’s face for Quint and Dera. “Daniel is waiting for me.”

“She will break Daniel’s heart,” Dera mused aloud after Allison had left the room to meet Daniel at the gazebo.

Quint took her in his arms, holding her close. “Aye, but she is Paul’s wife, and Daniel must accept that.”

Dera emitted a long sigh as Quint tilted her chin, gazing into her eyes. “I know you wanted to return home, but we must stay here. Sometimes fate intervenes, my love.”

She laid her face on his chest, wishing to weep but restraining herself. Suddenly she felt powerless, their destiny already decided. Peg McConnell was trying to lure Quint from her with Beth, and though he wasn’t interested in Peg, he did love his daughter. And a child could bind a father to the mother. Yet, there was something so maniacal about Peg that Dera doubted she cared about Quint romantically. Could vengeance be the sole motive? Had she never forgiven Quint for abandoning her those many years ago?

Dera ached to caution Quint. Their life together was about to change, and she had no idea how to set things right. Instead she threw her arms about his neck and kissed him long and hard. “Take me upstairs, Quint. Make love to me,” she whispered urgently.

Walking arm in arm, they went to their bedroom where she unleashed all the love she felt for, him, surprising him with her intensity. Even after Quint had fallen asleep, she laid beside him with her arms clasped about him and wondered just how much time was left to them.