bed. ‘How do I ring for Orla? I can’t do this.’
‘I told you. She can’t come here till the storm has died down.’
‘But she’s my maid. She has to do this work.’
Fenella gave up and put everything away herself. Was Kathleen really as helpless as she seemed?
It wasn’t until four days after the ship had left England that Ronan ventured on deck, turning his face up to the watery sunshine and hoping those clouds didn’t mean more rain or – heaven forbid! – further stormy weather.
He walked along the part of the deck reserved for cabin passengers, saw Bram on the lower deck and waved. Unless he much mistook it, his friend was staring at something beyond him on the upper deck with a shocked expression.
Ronan turned round to see what was wrong and froze where he was, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Kathleen Largan!
After a moment’s hesitation he marched up to her. ‘What the hell are you doing on board this ship?’
She turned away as if he’d not spoken and he grabbed her arm.
‘Take your hands off me!’ She spat the words at him, well laced with her usual venom.
‘I will when you answer my question.’
‘It’s no concern of yours where I go or what I do. And I haven’t changed my mind about talking to someone who supports traitors.’
Just then someone came across to join them and he had a second, even greater shock. ‘Mother!’
‘Hello, darling. I thought I’d join you on your visit to Australia.’
He was bereft of speech, could only gape at her like a landed fish. She gave him one of her sunny smiles, but her eyes were wary, and well they should be!
‘I’m glad you two have started talking to one another, Ronan darlin’. It’s so foolish for neighbours to keep quarrelling.’
‘I’ve no intention of talking to your son, Mrs Maguire. What he says or does means nothing to me.’ Kathleen turned and walked away.
‘How could you bring her to Australia, Mother?’
‘She’s bringing me. This was all her idea.’
‘Then you should have refused to come.’
She shrugged. ‘That’d not have stopped her coming. She’s got it into her head that she has to see Mrs Largan and tell her that poor James is dead, and you know what Kathleen’s like. Once she’s decided on something, she won’t change her mind.
‘Anyway, you aren’t the only one who gets bored in the country or who longs for sunshine. Ah, come on now, darlin’. There’s no use staying angry with me, because I can hardly turn back now, can I?’ She gave him one of her twinkling smiles as she added, ‘I never did learn to swim.’
He rolled his eyes at heaven for what it had thrown at him, then gave her a hug anyway. ‘I’m not sure you’re going to enjoy this journey.’
‘Of course I will. I know it’s going to be uncomfortable sometimes, especially when the weather’s rough, but at least I shall be with people. I shan’t be sitting in that parlour on my own hoping someone will call, anyone, even Kathleen, who is not the most amusing companion in the world.’
His voice grew gentler. ‘Is that what you do when I’m not at home?’
She smiled and gave a quick shrug. ‘Sometimes. I’ve missed your father sorely, for all his faults.’
He put one arm round her shoulders and gave her another hug. ‘Then we’ll have to make the most of travelling together, shan’t we?’
‘Indeed we shall. I intend to enjoy myself. And Ronan, darlin’, you’ll do your best to get on with Kathleen, won’t you? Just for me?’
‘A saint couldn’t get on with that woman for more than a few minutes. She’s the one who’s not speaking to me, you know. It takes two to hold a conversation.’
‘I’ll have a word with her. By the time we get to Australia, you two will be on good terms again, I’m sure. After all, she is your best friend’s wife.’
He wished his mother wouldn’t try to reconcile them. He didn’t trust Kathleen. She was so chancy, you never knew what she’d do next.
What
‘I told you. She can’t come here till the storm has died down.’
‘But she’s my maid. She has to do this work.’
Fenella gave up and put everything away herself. Was Kathleen really as helpless as she seemed?
It wasn’t until four days after the ship had left England that Ronan ventured on deck, turning his face up to the watery sunshine and hoping those clouds didn’t mean more rain or – heaven forbid! – further stormy weather.
He walked along the part of the deck reserved for cabin passengers, saw Bram on the lower deck and waved. Unless he much mistook it, his friend was staring at something beyond him on the upper deck with a shocked expression.
Ronan turned round to see what was wrong and froze where he was, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Kathleen Largan!
After a moment’s hesitation he marched up to her. ‘What the hell are you doing on board this ship?’
She turned away as if he’d not spoken and he grabbed her arm.
‘Take your hands off me!’ She spat the words at him, well laced with her usual venom.
‘I will when you answer my question.’
‘It’s no concern of yours where I go or what I do. And I haven’t changed my mind about talking to someone who supports traitors.’
Just then someone came across to join them and he had a second, even greater shock. ‘Mother!’
‘Hello, darling. I thought I’d join you on your visit to Australia.’
He was bereft of speech, could only gape at her like a landed fish. She gave him one of her sunny smiles, but her eyes were wary, and well they should be!
‘I’m glad you two have started talking to one another, Ronan darlin’. It’s so foolish for neighbours to keep quarrelling.’
‘I’ve no intention of talking to your son, Mrs Maguire. What he says or does means nothing to me.’ Kathleen turned and walked away.
‘How could you bring her to Australia, Mother?’
‘She’s bringing me. This was all her idea.’
‘Then you should have refused to come.’
She shrugged. ‘That’d not have stopped her coming. She’s got it into her head that she has to see Mrs Largan and tell her that poor James is dead, and you know what Kathleen’s like. Once she’s decided on something, she won’t change her mind.
‘Anyway, you aren’t the only one who gets bored in the country or who longs for sunshine. Ah, come on now, darlin’. There’s no use staying angry with me, because I can hardly turn back now, can I?’ She gave him one of her twinkling smiles as she added, ‘I never did learn to swim.’
He rolled his eyes at heaven for what it had thrown at him, then gave her a hug anyway. ‘I’m not sure you’re going to enjoy this journey.’
‘Of course I will. I know it’s going to be uncomfortable sometimes, especially when the weather’s rough, but at least I shall be with people. I shan’t be sitting in that parlour on my own hoping someone will call, anyone, even Kathleen, who is not the most amusing companion in the world.’
His voice grew gentler. ‘Is that what you do when I’m not at home?’
She smiled and gave a quick shrug. ‘Sometimes. I’ve missed your father sorely, for all his faults.’
He put one arm round her shoulders and gave her another hug. ‘Then we’ll have to make the most of travelling together, shan’t we?’
‘Indeed we shall. I intend to enjoy myself. And Ronan, darlin’, you’ll do your best to get on with Kathleen, won’t you? Just for me?’
‘A saint couldn’t get on with that woman for more than a few minutes. She’s the one who’s not speaking to me, you know. It takes two to hold a conversation.’
‘I’ll have a word with her. By the time we get to Australia, you two will be on good terms again, I’m sure. After all, she is your best friend’s wife.’
He wished his mother wouldn’t try to reconcile them. He didn’t trust Kathleen. She was so chancy, you never knew what she’d do next.
What
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