Kieran Devers’s dark green eyes narrowed with annoyance. He grasped his younger brother with one hand at his neckline, and yanked him forward so that they were face to face. “Listen to me, wee Willy,” he said in a menacing voice, “you have nothing to complain about. You are heir to a fine estate, and bear an ancient respected name. You are to wed a girl you have known your entire life. A lass who is utterly devoted to you, and will make your life happy if you will but let her. What the hell is the matter with you? You don’t want adventure, or excitement in your life for you are too much your mother’s son. Now, hear me well, little brother. If you make Emily Anne’s life miserable, I will personally beat you to a pulp. That girl comes to this house bringing her hopes and dreams.
You will not destroy them!”
“Why should you care?” William sneered.
“I care because I so generously gave you all you have, and will have one day. If I should decide to become a Protestant, Willy, do you really believe Da would keep you on as his heir? A second son isn’t usually as fortunate as you have been. All that could change in the blink of an eye should I will it, little brother. Even your formidable dear mama couldn’t stop it. Now, accept your good fortune, and be kind to your cousin. You really don’t deserve either Mallow Court or Emily Anne, for you are truly a callow youth. Try to change for all our sakes.” He loosed his grip on his brother’s shirt, and pushed him away.
William Devers stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him as he went.
Kieran laughed, and sat opposite his father. “I hope you will live a good long life, Da, for it is obvious our Willy isn’t ready for all the responsibilities that you will pass on to him eventually.” He gulped his whiskey, enjoying the satisfying warmth it spread through his veins.
“I intend living a very long life, laddie,” Shane Devers replied. “I can see the youngster needs seasoning. Traveling with him was no joy, I can tell you. He did nothing but bemoan his
loss
of Lady Lindley. I wish to God the wench had never come to Ulster! She must be a witch to have such a hold over William. I do not understand it, Kieran.”
“Fortune Lindley is exerting no hold over William, Da. It is all in his imagination, I fear. How in the name of God did my stepmother get him to agree to marry Emily Anne Elliot?”
“She told him he had no other choice since there was no other young woman of his acquaintance he fancied who would have him. She told him it was his duty to wed and sire another generation of Deverses for Mallow Court. You know your stepmother, Kieran. When she wants something she will not be denied. At first William resisted her, but when Mary and Bessie agreed with Jane, he could no longer fight against his obvious fate. Even I have to agree ’tis best for him.”
“You had best be certain Willy is pleasant, and affectionate toward his cousin when the Elliots arrive in several days, Da.”
“I’ll speak to him myself, and so will his mother. He’ll treat the lass properly, or Catholic or no, you’ll find yerself heir to my estate once again,” Shane Devers said bluntly.
“God forbid!” Kieran chuckled. “With that threat hanging over me, Da, I’ll speak to my brother myself!”
The two men laughed. Shane Devers loved both his sons, but he truly liked the elder. Kieran was strangely sensible for a man with such a stubborn nature, and he was honorable to a fault. It saddened Shane Devers that his eldest son had so easily given up his patrimony, but in a strange way the older man understood. Kieran, with his Celtic heritage, harked back to their more adventurous ancestors. William, with his English mother, was truly more suited to Mallow Court, particularly in their world which was changing so rapidly. Ulster, with its farms and its Scots and English immigrants, was gaining a smooth veneer more suited to the midlands of England than to the north of Ireland.
Jane Devers was horrified to learn that the duke and duchess of Glenkirk remained in residence at Erne Rock Castle. There was no way she could avoid asking them to William and Emily’s wedding. There were none of greater rank currently in the vicinity, and everyone knew the Deverses knew the Leslies because of the match gone awry. While no one was particularly surprised that William and Emily were marrying—it had always been a given despite the Deverses’ try for the Lindley heiress—the scandal that would ensue if the Leslies of Glenkirk were not invited to the Devers wedding would be impossible to live down.
The invitation was dispatched, and accepted. A large silver punch bowl, embossed with grapevines, leaves, and clusters of fat grapes, along with twenty-four matching silver cups, and a large silver ladle engraved with the family crest, arrived in the care of Adali himself. Lady Devers could scarce contain her excitement as the bowl and its accoutrements were carefully lifted by the white turbaned majordomo from the velvet-lined, polished ebony box with its silver corners and silver
Devers
nameplate. She managed to contain herself long enough to say, “Thank the duke and the duchess for their generosity. The bride will certainly write them when she arrives from Londonderry next week. We look forward to seeing his lordship and his family at the wedding.” She smiled faintly.
Adali made his most elegant bow. “I shall convey your kind words to my master and mistress,” he said. Then he backed from the room.
When he had gone Jane Devers made no attempt to hide her delight. “Shane, will you look at it! It’s magnificent! William, is it not wonderful? Dearest Emily will be so pleased. It will provide a point of conversation for anyone who admires it. You shall be able to tell them it was a wedding gift from the duke and duchess of Glenkirk, who are related to the king himself! What generosity, especially considering . . .” Her voice ceased. “It is lovely,” she finished weakly.
“I shall think of Fortune each time I see it,” William said.
“Stop it!”
his mother screeched. “I truly believe you have lost your mind, William. I can only pray for you. Stop thinking of yourself! Think of Emily Anne. You hardly spoke to her when she was here in August. The Elliots thought it strange, but I told them you were just exhausted from your travels in England. When your cousin and her family arrive next week I expect you to behave lovingly toward Emily, and with dignity and respect towards her family.”
“Come on, laddie, and ride out with me,” Kieran said, with a quick wink towards his stepmother. “The September air will clear your head, and you’ll be thinking straighter.”
Jane Devers gave but an imperceptible nod of her head to her stepson. Kieran had been so helpful of late, and while he had certainly never been difficult with her except in the matter of religion, she wondered about his attitude. Still, she was grateful for he seemed to be the only one that William would listen to these days. She watched from the window of her salon as the two brothers rode off together.
“Can you feel her watching us?” William said as they set their horses into a canter. “She is so afraid that I shall cry off at the last minute, and spoil her dreams, but I won’t. I have no choices left to me at all. I shall marry my cousin, sire children, and do all that is expected of me. And why? Because I fully believe Da capable of turning about and giving you back your inheritance,” he concluded.
“I don’t want Mallow Court,” Kieran replied.
“But I do,”
his brother said, for the first time admitting what Kieran had always known. Willy was indeed his mother’s son.
The two brothers rode in silence for some time, and then Kieran realized they were coming up on Black Colm’s Hall. From the opposite direction another horse and rider were visible. Kieran recognized Thunder, and attempted to distract his brother, and turn about, but William, too, had recognized Fortune’s gelding. He spurred forward eagerly. Cursing beneath his breath Kieran followed.
Fortune recognized the brothers, and swore softly. She could hardly turn and run at this point. At least she would get to see Kieran even if he was with Will. She had only managed to see him once since the end of July, and then but briefly because he wanted no questions asked as to a lengthy absence. As they drew abreast of her Fortune smiled, drawing Thunder to a halt. “Hallo!” she greeted them. “What a surprise to meet you two out here. Will, how was England? Your sisters are well, I hope. My most hearty felicitations on your upcoming marriage. I look forward to meeting your bride.”
“I love you!” William Devers cried. “But say the word, Fortune, and I will tell my cousin our wedding is no longer possible!” His blue eyes were pleading with her.
Fortune glared at him as if he had insulted her deeply. Kieran had warned her about Will’s continuing infatuation. She had to stop it right now for all their sakes. “You stupid puppy!” she snapped. “I do not want to marry you! Did my family not make it clear? If they did not, then I will. You are a nice young man, Will Devers, but I would not wed you were you the last man living on the face of the earth.”
“But why?”
he wailed at her.
Fortune sighed. It was obvious her blunt tact had not worked, and was not going to work. She continued on in battle mode. “
Why?
Because you bore me, Will. You are the dullest fellow I have ever met. Why even Mama’s estate manager, Rory Maguire, has more vitality than you, and is far better read to boot.
Why?
Because we have absolutely nothing in common. I am educated. You care naught for knowledge. I believe a woman can do almost anything. You think women are only good for running a household, and having babies. I could never marry a man like you. Now, do you understand?”
He stared at her, astounded by her words. “You do not love me?” he said bleakly.
“Nay, I do not love you, nor could I ever love you, Will,” Fortune replied.
“Then why can I not get you out of my heart and soul?” he demanded of her. “You haunt me, Fortune, both when I am awake, and when I am asleep. Why have you bewitched me?”
“I have not bewitched you, Will. You have simply been loved your whole life by your family, and never been denied anything. I am probably the first thing you thought you wanted that you cannot have. You are most fortunate to have your cousin to wed. I am told she is perfect for you, and will be a good wife to you. Be satisfied with that, Will Devers.”
He stared at her blankly and then, turning his horse, spurred away from them.
“You were hard on him,” Kieran said softly.
“Should I have been otherwise?” Fortune replied.
“Nay. You knew just what had to be done, and you did it,” he told her. “I miss you, sweetheart!”
“And I you, but you had best follow your brother lest he grow suspicious. I will see you in a fortnight at the wedding.” She turned Thunder about and rode off. She didn’t look back. She didn’t dare. The longing for Kieran had overwhelmed her when she had first seen him riding towards her. It was only in afterthought that she had noticed Will. Until today she had felt pity for him. Now, however, she felt irritation. William Devers was a fool. Her parents had refused his suit. He had spent a summer away from Ulster so he might forget. He had returned supposedly ready to wed his cousin. Poor girl, Fortune thought.
But to everyone’s delight William Devers greeted his bride-to-be enthusiastically when she arrived a week before their wedding. She was a pretty young woman, just turned sixteen, with a round, sweet face, and large blue eyes. Her strawberry-blond hair was styled in bunches of corkscrew curls that bobbed about her face. She had a straight little nose, and a cupid’s bow of a mouth. Her skin was the peaches and cream tone so currently in fashion. William kissed her heartily upon the lips, and left her blushing.
“Ohh, William!” she managed to gasp.
“Welcome home, dearest Emily,” he greeted her, and taking her by the arm led her into the house.
“What has caused this turn?” Shane Devers murmured to his eldest son.
“We ran into Lady Lindley several days ago out riding. Will made a perfect fool of himself, and she gave him a tongue-lashing the like of which I have never heard. I believe the words fool and bore were used several times, Da. She left him absolutely no maneuvering room, or any doubt that she didn’t love him, never loved him, or ever could love him. She shattered his dream entirely, and I believe it brought him to his senses rather abruptly. He was quite surprised, for you know he has harbored this boyish infatuation for months now.”
“Thank God!” Sir Shane said softly. “Your stepmother has been hell to live with of late because she has been in fear that William would cry off at the last moment. She wants this marriage, and always has. She was only willing to give it up for Maguire’s Ford, but once she met Lady Lindley, she saw an enemy who could actually take William from her, and was relieved to have her son turned down.”
“But she still covets Maguire’s Ford,” Kieran said.
“Aye,” his father admitted.
“They say Lady Leslie is dividing it between her two younger Leslie sons, who are both staunch Protestants. They are already here from Scotland, I have heard,” Kieran told his father. “I expect we will meet them at the wedding.”
“Yer stepmother knows,” Shane Devers replied. “She is hoping that William will impregnate Emily with a daughter first. Then she hopes to match that child to one of the Leslie lads. If she cannot have all of Maguire’s Ford, she is willing to settle for a half.”