an O’ or a Mac who, though denied the opportunity, according to one of the statutes, “to strutte nor swagger through the streets of Galway”, were nevertheless an ever-present threat. From across the table she saw Lawyer Bodkin look at her with slightly widened eyes.
But I’ve done the right thing, though, thought Mara. This is a hard-hearted, self-satisfied man. Not a man to be appealed to. Not a man to take compassion on poor old Sheedy who had lost his wits and who stole a pie because he was starving. No, this was a man to be threatened.
‘I think we have an acquaintance in common,’ she continued, looking challengingly at Mayor Lynch. ‘The Lord of Clanrickard is a great friend of my husband.’ And if that reminded him of Ulick Burke’s last daring raid on the Lombard Street in the heart of the city, well that might be all to the good, she thought as she turned back to Margaret again.
‘You must see the Shrove Tuesday celebrations tomorrow evening, Mara,’ the latter was saying. ‘I would ask you to supper at our place, but it is so much more fun to go out on to the town streets. Your young people will love it. We’re hoping that the weather will keep fine. The whole of the city is like one huge fair – lanterns everywhere and food cooked at every street corner.’ She sighed heavily and added, ‘But my husband does not like that sort of thing, so these days I stay at home and just look out from the top windows.’
‘Your son would enjoy it, though,’ said Mara with a smile.
‘Oh, I would not burden him with his old mother these days,’ said Margaret with a fond smile. ‘He and Catarina will be together.’
‘Why don’t you come with us?’ said Mara impulsively, and then looked across at Lawyer Bodkin. ‘My scholars would enjoy these Shrove celebrations. Would we disgrace you if we went?’
‘Of course not, I would be delighted to escort you,’ he said, and to her surprise he looked quite animated by the thought. ‘I haven’t gone for the last few years because Jane has taken a dislike to the crowds but you need fear nothing for your young scholars. The behaviour is usually very good and the mayor –’ he looked across at James Lynch – ‘always ensures that all available constables are on duty. I will escort you ladies if necessary, but I do assure you, my lady judge, that there is nothing to fear and Mistress Margaret and you would be perfectly safe together.’
‘Well, let’s just go together then,’ said Mara, turning back to Margaret. ‘I will enjoy your company and we can gossip about our sons, and you will show me all the sights of Galway.’
‘That’s very kind of you,’ said Margaret appreciatively. ‘Last year I was to go with Valentine and Cecily, but she gave birth to their son two weeks too early and so was laid up for Shrove Tuesday. Of course, Valentine has his daughters by his first marriage,’ she looked down the table at Eliza – she’s married to one of the D’Arcy family – he’s away at the moment – but you can imagine what it was for him having a son! He just worships that child.’ She raised her voice, looking teasingly down the table at her brother. ‘Valentine, are we going to see little Jonathon? I can’t believe that we are almost at the end of a meal at Blake’s Castle and the young prince has not yet been displayed to your guests.’
There was no doubt that Margaret and James Lynch were an ill-assorted pair, thought Mara, after she had duly admired the strong, handsome one-year-old child, who arrived so quickly in the dining room that his nurse must have been awaiting the summons. Margaret continually tried to repress her exuberant friendliness and high spirits when she saw her husband’s cold eye on her, and young Walter cast frequent guilty looks down the table at his father – especially whenever Catarina’s attention was taken up by her wealthy cousin, Carlos Gomez.
It would be a great blow to James Lynch and his prestige
But I’ve done the right thing, though, thought Mara. This is a hard-hearted, self-satisfied man. Not a man to be appealed to. Not a man to take compassion on poor old Sheedy who had lost his wits and who stole a pie because he was starving. No, this was a man to be threatened.
‘I think we have an acquaintance in common,’ she continued, looking challengingly at Mayor Lynch. ‘The Lord of Clanrickard is a great friend of my husband.’ And if that reminded him of Ulick Burke’s last daring raid on the Lombard Street in the heart of the city, well that might be all to the good, she thought as she turned back to Margaret again.
‘You must see the Shrove Tuesday celebrations tomorrow evening, Mara,’ the latter was saying. ‘I would ask you to supper at our place, but it is so much more fun to go out on to the town streets. Your young people will love it. We’re hoping that the weather will keep fine. The whole of the city is like one huge fair – lanterns everywhere and food cooked at every street corner.’ She sighed heavily and added, ‘But my husband does not like that sort of thing, so these days I stay at home and just look out from the top windows.’
‘Your son would enjoy it, though,’ said Mara with a smile.
‘Oh, I would not burden him with his old mother these days,’ said Margaret with a fond smile. ‘He and Catarina will be together.’
‘Why don’t you come with us?’ said Mara impulsively, and then looked across at Lawyer Bodkin. ‘My scholars would enjoy these Shrove celebrations. Would we disgrace you if we went?’
‘Of course not, I would be delighted to escort you,’ he said, and to her surprise he looked quite animated by the thought. ‘I haven’t gone for the last few years because Jane has taken a dislike to the crowds but you need fear nothing for your young scholars. The behaviour is usually very good and the mayor –’ he looked across at James Lynch – ‘always ensures that all available constables are on duty. I will escort you ladies if necessary, but I do assure you, my lady judge, that there is nothing to fear and Mistress Margaret and you would be perfectly safe together.’
‘Well, let’s just go together then,’ said Mara, turning back to Margaret. ‘I will enjoy your company and we can gossip about our sons, and you will show me all the sights of Galway.’
‘That’s very kind of you,’ said Margaret appreciatively. ‘Last year I was to go with Valentine and Cecily, but she gave birth to their son two weeks too early and so was laid up for Shrove Tuesday. Of course, Valentine has his daughters by his first marriage,’ she looked down the table at Eliza – she’s married to one of the D’Arcy family – he’s away at the moment – but you can imagine what it was for him having a son! He just worships that child.’ She raised her voice, looking teasingly down the table at her brother. ‘Valentine, are we going to see little Jonathon? I can’t believe that we are almost at the end of a meal at Blake’s Castle and the young prince has not yet been displayed to your guests.’
There was no doubt that Margaret and James Lynch were an ill-assorted pair, thought Mara, after she had duly admired the strong, handsome one-year-old child, who arrived so quickly in the dining room that his nurse must have been awaiting the summons. Margaret continually tried to repress her exuberant friendliness and high spirits when she saw her husband’s cold eye on her, and young Walter cast frequent guilty looks down the table at his father – especially whenever Catarina’s attention was taken up by her wealthy cousin, Carlos Gomez.
It would be a great blow to James Lynch and his prestige
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