Ashton Park (37 page)

“Shannon Dungarvan minds. That’s what saves your soul. Someone else somewhere else will kill you. Maybe you’ll have made your peace with the God you don’t believe in by then.”

Robbie kept the revolver on the Irishman. Then he started the car.

“Where are we going?” O’Casey asked, his voice thin.

“Not the graveyard. Your mates are hunting for you on all the approaches to the British and Royal Irish Constabulary bases. But I know this city as well as they do by now. I have a way in they won’t be looking for. I’m bringing you back alive, O’Casey. You can rot behind bars. If you win the war the IRA will demand your release and you can come out a hero and the girls will kiss you on the lips. If you’re still in a fighting mood by then you can start a new war here or somewhere else. The Russians have a civil war going on. You might want to jump in there with both feet.”

“I wouldn’t know which side to choose.”

“What does it matter to the likes of you?”

O’Casey flared up. “You may not like my methods but I love my country. I’m proud to be standing up for her.”

“Is that what you call what you did to Shannon? Standing up for Ireland? She’s more of Ireland than you’ll ever be, Jack O’Casey. I thank God it’s people like her who are the country’s future.” He pointed the gun at the man’s stomach. “Now shut up. We’ve a bit of a drive ahead of us. And I’ve been known to change my mind on long drives.”

“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Sir William raised his head and looked at his wife. She sat beside him in a pew in the manor chapel. Whispering her own amen she opened her eyes but didn’t take her clasped hands away from her face. Rain hummed against the panes of stained glass. Sir William stared at the gray color the rain and clouds produced.

“Our second summer at Ashton Park. We really must get away next year.”

His wife didn’t answer him. She was staring at the large wooden cross over the altar. He leaned back and rested a hand on her back.

“What do you think?” he asked.

She put her clasped hands against her mouth. “All my life I felt it was right that I knew my place. And other people knew theirs. I did not see anything wrong in that. Or anything ungodly. But Victoria has married the man who was our groom and we agreed to the marriage. Kipp has married a French girl and we agreed to that too. It does not seem so very important to me anymore that all our children marry within their class. Perhaps it is enough that Emma and Catherine and Libby have.”

“Is that what you felt while you prayed?”

“That. And a number of other things.”

“Well. I concur. There seems no good reason to prevent Edward from wedding the woman he loves. If she will still have him.”

“Or if he still wants her. Perhaps he really is smitten with Lady Caroline. Heaven knows Kipp was long enough. And there is nothing wrong with her at all or with the Scarborough family. But bringing her into the family now will just wreak havoc with Kipp’s marriage to Christelle. I think she still loves him. For all I know she is simply using Edward to get close to Kipp and steal him back. It would be a scandal.”

“You don’t know that’s her intentions, Elizabeth. She may very well love Edward.”

“Yes. But both of them wanted to be with someone else. What good can come of a second-best marriage?”

“We need to find out how Edward actually feels about Lady Caroline.”

She looked at him. “Haven’t we tried? He will not respond to our letters or telegrams and there is no phone line to the hunting lodge yet. Not that he would answer our call if there were one. I’m at my wit’s end what to do about the situation.”

Sir William cleared his throat and tapped on the back of the pew in front of him with the fingers of one hand. “As we prayed, it came to me I ought to go to her.”

“Go to who? Lady Caroline? Edward?”

“Charlotte Squire.”

“Charlotte!”

“We have her address, of course. We know the family she serves. It may be she will speak with me.”

“And what good would that do?”

He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t know. But I was thinking of taking her to Edward.”

Lady Elizabeth dropped her hands to her lap. “To Scotland!”

“He hasn’t seen her in two years. Who knows? He may find he still loves her. It may change everything for him.” He drummed his fingers on the back of the pew again. “I will need to make a few phone calls. Pack a light bag. I can take a ship from Liverpool to the port of Douglas in the morning. What do you say, my dear?”

She gave him a small smile and placed both her hands on his. “If you think it has any chance of healing the rift between us and our eldest son, I say, Godspeed, William.”

July and August 1920

“Captain Robert Danforth reporting as ordered, sir.”

“Very good, Danforth. Stand easy.”

The colonel, a tall, lean man with a trim black mustache, got up from behind his desk and extended his hand. “That was a nice bit of work bringing Jack O’Casey in, Danforth. I congratulate you.”

Robbie shook the colonel’s hand. “Thank you, sir.”

“Your promotion to major is effective immediately.”

“I’m honored, sir.”

“So is your promotion out of this blood-soaked country.” The colonel sat back behind his desk. “The IRA will know you’re the man to target for O’Casey’s abduction in less than seventy-two hours. So you’re on a ship tonight headed for Liverpool. That will be your new assignment for the time being. You can expect to see the sights of India or Palestine or Singapore in the new year. Is that satisfactory?”

“Yes, sir, but—”

“But?”

“I’d rather hoped to take Miss Shannon Dungarvan with me. I fear for her safety in Dublin, sir.”

“Yes. Miss Dungarvan. More than a fling for you, was it, Danforth?”

“I love her, sir.”

“Hm. How much?”

“Very much.”

“Enough to marry her?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You’ve thought this through?”

“I have, sir.”

“And she’ll have you?”

“I hope so, sir.”

The colonel drummed his fingers slowly on the desktop. “Does she expect to make a Catholic out of you?”

“That’s not important to her, sir. Not after what her countrymen have done to her. And her father and mother.”

“I see.” The colonel leaned back in his chair. “Is she fit enough to travel?”

“I believe she is, sir.”

“Have her here by 1600 hours. Our military chaplain will perform the wedding ceremony. I and Colonel Hotchkiss will stand for you two. The ship sails at 1800. You’ll be on it as man and wife. Does that suit you, Danforth?”

Robbie smiled. “Very much, sir.”

“Good. We’ll see you back here in a few hours then. Dismissed.”

Robbie saluted. “I’m grateful, sir.”

The colonel got to his feet and returned the salute. “So am I, Danforth. For your service to king and country.”

As Robbie half-ran toward the door the colonel called after him. “Oh, and Danforth.”

Robbie stopped in his tracks. “Sir?”

“If she wavers at your proposal I shouldn’t hesitate to get down on bended knee, if I were you. Politics aside, Ireland has the fairest women I’ve seen in the Empire, and trust me when I say I’ve seen a good number of them. Of all those Irish women, Miss Dungarvan is quite easily the most handsome and the most spirited. Don’t board that ship tonight as a bachelor, Danforth.”

Robbie grinned and saluted again. “No, sir.”

“Charlotte?” It was a woman’s voice.

“I’m just down here in Lady Thornton’s room.”

“Come along. There’s a gentleman here who wishes to have a word with you.”

“A gentleman?”

Charlotte Squire glanced quickly in Lady Thornton’s vanity mirror and adjusted her maid’s cap, tucking a few loose strands of shining black hair up underneath. Then she left the room and walked briskly down the hall to the staircase. Descending, she could see the front door. A tall man in black coat and top hat with a silver walking stick stood with his back to her, speaking to Lord Thornton. She thought she recognized him by his height and build but could not come up with a name. Lord Thornton spotted her and smiled through his trim red beard and mustache.

“Ah, there she is. The princess of maids.”

She smiled as she came up to them. “You are too kind, my lord.”

“The truth will out, believe me. Charlotte, I’m sure you remember Sir William Danforth, Member of Parliament for Lancashire? You served in his household briefly.”

Sir William turned around. “Miss Squire.”

Charlotte’s face opened in surprise. “Sir. What…what a pleasure to see you again. It’s been years.”

“Three years. You look well.”

“Thank you, sir. I can say the same for you. I hope the family is in good health.”

“Oh, yes. Emma has three young ones now and practically everyone is married off. Ashton Park is quiet—too quiet. Lord Thornton tells me you’ve enjoyed working here.”

“I have. He and Lady Thornton are wonderful and Ramsey is the loveliest town.”

“Well, you look splendid, so the manor and the climate must agree with you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Sir William coughed into his hand. “Lord Thornton, I wonder if I might have a few words alone with Miss Squire.”

Lord Thornton nodded. “Certainly. Barlope here will show you the parlor. After you’ve finished your business with Charlotte I hope you will join Lady Thornton and me for tea and coffee.”

“I’d like nothing better.”

Barlope, a craggy man noticeably taller than Sir William, led the way to an oak door he opened on a small room of paintings and mirrors and leather furniture.

“Do you need anything, sir?” he asked.

“Not at all, thank you. We won’t be long.”

“You may have as much time as you need. After that I will take you to the library.”

“Excellent.”

The door closed. Sir William placed his top hat on a chair and leaned his walking stick against the wall. He smiled. “Purely for show, my dear. I get along quite well without it.”

Charlotte stood with her hands clasped in front of her. “I’m sure you do, sir.”

He bent and pulled back a lace curtain and glanced out a window. “You have a fine view of the harbor here.”

“Yes, sir. Lord Thornton has a beautiful yacht. He takes the servants on it every summer. It’s quite an outing.”

“I’m sure it is. Does he sail the boat himself?”

“He has a crew. But I’ve seen him haul up and trim the sails right along with the lads. And he insists on manning the wheel.”

“Hmm.” Sir William straightened and put his hands behind his back. “You wonder why I’m here, I expect. We have had no communication with you all this time.”

“I am surprised, sir. I never expected to hear from anyone. I understood your reasons for sending me on to the Thornton estate and I’ve borne you no ill will. I often told Edward it could not work out but he insisted on maintaining our relationship.”

“You have not heard from him?”