Lynette Vinet - Emerald Trilogy 02 (14 page)

The purple haze of early morning had lifted and sunlight bathed the meadow in a golden glow. It shimmered before Allison’s eyes as she sat on the stone bench on the terrace. Her robe wrapped loosely around her slight figure caused her to look small and defenseless, and that was exactly how she felt. Paul’s family was trying to suffocate her, to take away that which was hers by right. She felt stupid and humiliated and didn’t know how to fight. But she felt a grudging respect for Quint, because he did know how, and evidently had been fighting injustice all his life. He just took what he wanted, as did his son. However, she was ill equipped to do that; she admitted to herself that she wasn’t much of a fighter—otherwise, she’d have cast down the Flannery crest last night. Yet she had done nothing, only burst into childish tears.

A slight noise behind her caused her to turn and she beheld Daniel. She refused to speak to him, putting him in the same category as his father and brother, though she knew he wasn’t devious or meant to give her pain. She positioned herself so she didn’t have to look at him and gazed across the meadow, hoping he would leave her in peace. But Daniel wasn’t about to be daunted by her behavior. He moved directly in front of her so she’d have to either look at him or keep her eyes on his belt.

His ploy worked. The liquid blue of her eyes seared his face. “Move aside, Daniel,” she commanded crisply.

“Not until I apologize for my father’s lack of conscience and my brother’s total disregard for you.”

“And what about you?
Don’t you classify yourself among them?” she asked.

He shook his dark head, his broad shoulders slumping in despair. “This is the first time in my life that I detest my name. I may use the name Flanders, but I’ve always thought of myself as Daniel Flannery. Father told us often enough that we should never forget our true name, but now I shall never call
myself
that. I am ashamed of my father and my brother for what they’ve done to you.” He sank onto the bench and clasped her hand in his, totally bewitched by her ivory beauty and the sadness in her face.

“Allison, I love you,” he whispered, his voice choked with sincere emotion.

She wasn’t shocked by his love but was surprised he had admitted it. No matter what his family had done, she couldn’t dislike Daniel and wouldn’t allow him to think so. “I love you, too, but not in the way I think you mean. I know you’re not like Paul or your father, but no matter what Paul has done, I’m in love with him…” Her voice broke and his arms enfolded her to his chest as she wept out her pain. She allowed him to stroke her hair and wipe her tears away, comforted by him and certain he understood.

Lifting her tear-stained face, she finally managed a tremulous smile. “I’m going to have a baby in the spring,” she confessed.

Daniel’s jaw dropped but he recovered himself immediately as his rage against his brother increased. “How can Paul treat you like this when you carry his child?”

“I haven’t told him,” she said. “And please don’t say anything to him. I don’t want him to know about it just yet.”

 
“Why not?”

“Paul will insist the baby be born here, and I refuse to bear my child in this house. I won’t give birth here, not after everything that has happened.”

“Do you intend to punish him by going off and having the baby somewhere else? I know he and Father would love the Flannery heir to be born here. Your child will be the first Flannery since my father to be born in the manor in a half century. You’re quite clever, Allison; I had no idea you’d think of something like this. Let me help you! When do you wish to leave and where do you want to go?”

She shook her head. “You mustn’t do that. I can manage on my own.”

Daniel’s mouth set in a firm line. “We’re going together.”

She wished to dispute him, but she didn’t. She admitted she needed Daniel, and though she felt uneasy about his love for her, she was flattered and knew he’d take good care of her. Besides, what better way to hurt Paul than through his own brother? “As soon as I get my things together, we’ll leave for Dublin. Paul has a house there, but I don’t believe he’d think I’d use it. I doubt he’ll even search for me. He has what he wants now.”

Daniel remained quiet, not voicing his opinion that Paul would indeed look for her, and that he thought she wanted him to search for her. Allison rose in accord with Daniel from the bench just as Dera exited the terrace doors.

“I had no idea you’d be up so early,” she told Allison. “It’s quite chilly.”

Allison’s demeanor hardened. She disliked Dera just as much as she did Paul and Quint for the deception that had been practiced upon her. “I can do as I wish in my home.”

“I know that,” Dera said softly. “This isn’t where I belong or where Quint belongs. Our home is Green Meadows and that’s where I plan to live out my days, just as soon as Quint comes to his senses.”

“I don’t think that will happen,” Allison said with a mock laugh. She suddenly realized how upset Dera was and knew she’d stick with her husband whatever the outcome.

“He must return home with me. Otherwise something terrible will happen. I just know it,” prophesized Dera.

Daniel placed a comforting arm around his mother’s shoulders. “Father will get over this in time.”

Dera smiled at him tenderly. “Where is Paul this morning?” she asked Allison.

A wave of heat rose from Allison’s toes all the way to her face. She surmised Paul had paid a visit to Constance Granger last night and was probably still in the woman’s bed like a hibernating bear. But she convinced herself she didn’t care. After all, she would be leaving for Dublin shortly. When she spoke, her voice was calm. “Paul must have visited Ballysheen Hall and stayed the night. I hear their hospitality is uncommonly fine.”

“Did father return home?” Daniel inquired of Dera, trying to steer the conversation away from Paul.

“No,” Dera worriedly shook her head. “I don’t know where he went.”

“These crazy Flannery men!”
Allison voiced her exasperation. “Can’t they stay home and accept their responsibilities and not always go wandering off somewhere?” She was so agitated that she fairly ran inside to seek her room, leaving Daniel and Dera alone on the terrace.

“I pity her so much,” Dera said, drawing away from her son.

“Allison will be all right, Mother. I’m taking her away,” he announced.

“Daniel, she’s Paul’s wife!”

“He doesn’t love her. He treats his horse better than he does her. But I do love her, and I want her, and by God I’ll have her, no matter that she carries his child!” He hadn’t meant to say that, but now it was too late.

“A child?”
Dera’s face glowed. “How wonderful, your father and I are going to be grandparents.” Then she shook her head. “Oh, no, son, she must stay here! The girl is so frail and may need special attention.”

“There are fine doctors in Dublin. Please don’t tell Paul where we are. For once, don’t favor him over me,” Daniel pleaded.

Dera blinked in astonishment. “I’ve never done that!”

“You have, though you weren’t aware of it.” His voice was soft and he smiled gently. “Paul is a lot like father. I think that’s why he has gotten away with so many things that I never had the nerve even to attempt. But now I want something, something of Paul’s—and, Mother, you must help me.”

“Allison loves him, Daniel.”

“She thinks she does, but in time, she’ll forget him. All I need is your silence. Please.”

Dera wished to deny him, but Daniel might well be correct. Paul had deceived the girl and had now gotten her pregnant. Though she guessed Paul loved Allison, she wasn’t certain. He hid his feelings, like his father.

“All right, I’ll keep quiet,” she said.
For now
, she added silently to herself.

Daniel’s gratitude overwhelmed her. As they were about to go inside, they saw Paul on his horse, galloping fast over the hills. He crossed the meadow and stopped in front of them. His clothes were covered with soot, and he smelled strongly of smoke.

“Whatever has happened?” Dera asked in alarm.

“A portion of Ballysheen Hall burned last night. Luckily no one was hurt and damage wasn’t great. I happened to be there when it started, so I was able to render some assistance.”

“How convenient,” Daniel noted drily.

Paul ignored him. “I’m going to bathe and change. I’m exhausted.”

Daniel followed his brother into the house, making terse comments which Dera could see rankled, but she didn’t wish to interfere. In fact, she didn’t have the strength. Sinking onto the bench, she stared straight ahead, viewing the meadow spread out before her.
Very little had altered on the estate since she had left to marry Dominick Saucier and gone to live in Louisiana all those years ago.

The hills were still a rich purple after a recent rain storm, the meadow was still a soft shade of green—and burnings still occurred. No homes had been torched since Quint and his rebel followers had fled, pursued by the authorities twenty-five years ago.
And now, the burning of Ballysheen Hall.

Quint had been arrested for setting fire to that very same house at one time, though no one could prove he’d torched it. Her mind flew back to that night when she had seen him, proud and defiant, standing before the English soldiers with his hands tied behind his back; and she remembered how Peg McConnell, the other woman who loved him, had boldly kissed him in front of everyone, staking her claim to him.

Dera covered her face with her hands. She hated remembering, but she couldn’t forget or drive away the nagging doubt that Quint and his friends were once again on the move.

“Come home with me, Quint, you crazy fool. Come home,” she whispered into the morning breeze, hoping her words would carry across the fields to wherever her husband might be.

Allison heard Paul stirring in his room, and unannounced she opened the door to find him soaking in a tub of hot water. “So you’ve decided to come home,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.

“The atmosphere here was chilly. I decided a change of temperature was necessary.” Water beads glistened on his upper arms. He looked as comfortable bathing before her as he did lounging in the drawing room. Paul had the knack of always appearing perfectly at ease.

“I trust Constance gave you a warm reception,” she continued.

“Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”

She shook her head to drive away the distracting pictures in her mind of Paul with Constance. “No,” she lied.

He sighed.
“Pity.
I would have liked you to be jealous. At least then I’d know you cared.” At that point he stood up and stepped out of the tub, water dripping from his powerful torso and down the length of his hard thighs. “Hand me the towel, Allison.”

She started, not quite sure what he had asked. Her attention had been on his body, not his words, and she blushed. But she reached for the towel and handed it to him.

“Thank you,” he said. She looked at him, and her heart lurched madly when his hand touched hers. His eyes seemed to root her to the spot, drawing her lips nearer to his until hers parted of their own accord and met the hardness of his mouth. She felt his arms encircling her, molding her body to his and drawing her toward the bed.

She moved with him like a sleepwalker, totally mesmerized by the desire which pulsated through her. His kisses drugged her, and she found herself unable to resist. God, she wanted him! She had even forgotten Constance for the moment until a knock sounded on the door.

“What is it?” Paul growled.

“Mother needs you downstairs. Father has finally come home,” echoed Daniel’s voice.

“Oh hell!
Tell her I’ll be right down.”

Daniel’s footsteps moved away, and Paul smiled in apology. “We’ll continue this later, my sweet.” He stood up and dressed quickly. “Wait for me.”

After he closed the door behind him, Allison blinked as if waking from a drugged sleep and sat up. Her clothes were disarranged, and her humiliation was so great that she felt unable to face him again. Her resolve to leave for Dublin reinforced itself. One moment she hated Paul and detested him for seeking out Constance for comfort, and the next, she was wantonly giving herself to him. Paul had a devastating effect on her, and she must leave Fairfax Manor soon or risk further humiliation. She didn’t belong in her own house any longer.

She walked to the door, not caring what was happening downstairs. She looked back at the empty
bed,
covers tumbled from their brief encounter. “I won’t be waiting for you, Paul,” she said aloud. “I’ll never wait for you again!”

~ ~ ~

As soon as she entered her room, she rang for Beth and began packing.

“
What’s
all the tears for, Dera? Sean, Dabney and I just had a few drinks together last night, and I guess I passed out. Can’t a fellow have some fun now and then?”

“Then you don’t remember anything about last night?”
Dera.
said
and finished wiping her eyes.

“Nay.
What is there to remember?”

Just then Paul joined them in the drawing room and quickly sized up the situation. The old man obviously needed some breakfast and sleep. He hoped his mother would be gentle with Quint because he had been through a hard time in his own way.

But Dera was not about to back down, she needed to know the truth. “I want to know if you and your friends started the fire which burned Ballysheen Hall last night. Did you do it?”

Quint drew back in astonishment. “Nay, I didn’t!”

“Don’t lie to me!” Dera screamed.

He grabbed her and held her to him. “I didn’t do it, Dera. Please believe me. Trust me.”

She looked up, her eyes resembling deep purple pools. “I want to, Quint. Please, please take me home where we’ll be safe!”

He lifted his hands and placed them on each side of her face. “My love, we are home. You must accept that, just as you must accept the fact that I didn’t burn Ballysheen Hall last night. I have no quarrel with the Grangers.”

“As I recall, you had no quarrel with them years ago and still you burned them out.”

He let her go, his face filled with pain. “In all our days as husband and wife you’ve never brought up my past sins. Don’t turn from me now, Dera.”

Paul cleared his throat. “I don’t think Father started the burning last night, Mother. The fire may have been accidental.”

“But he can’t explain his whereabouts.”

“Would you rather I lied about where I was than tell you I don’t remember?” Quint clenched his fists, knowing she was going to be stubborn.

“No, I want the truth from you, but after what has happened in this house, I can’t be certain of anything. Paul sides with you and has broken an innocent girl’s heart while my other son…” She stopped before she gave away Daniel’s and Allison’s secret. “I’m suddenly very tired of you both! I’m going to rest awhile.”

After she left the room, Quint paced its length. “I really don’t believe I did the deed,” he said, trying to convince himself as well as Paul.

“I was there, Father, when the fire started, and I don’t think you did, either. I think you’d remember something as serious as that.”

“Who did, then?”

Paul shrugged his broad shoulders. “I have no idea, but I believe you’re innocent.”

Leaving a much-puzzled Quint, Paul bounded up the stairs to his room, where he expected to find Allison waiting for him. He wanted to make everything up to her, to show her how much he loved her. And he did love her, very much. But his room was empty and she wasn’t in hers. There was only Beth, putting things in order.

“Where’s your mistress?” he asked sharply.

Beth curtsied. “She packed a small bag, and off she went. She gave me this for you.” Handing him a note, Beth hurried away, avoiding his black look.

He read it, hardly able to believe his eyes.

 
Dear Paul,

I can’t abide living here among your family, not after all that has happened. My home is no longer mine, and I refuse to stay where I’m unwanted. I loved you desperately, but no more. Desperation is foreign to me, and I choose to live my life in peace. I don’t wish to share you with Constance Granger or any other woman. When you married me, I was a naive, ignorant girl. I’m now a woman, thanks to you. Don’t bother to look for me. Even if you find me, I shall refuse to return.

She signed it Allison Fairfax.

Paul’s blood chilled. He realized she must have been planning this for some time, and he felt like a stupid fool. She had intended to leave him, but all the while she had pretended passion in his arms, just as she had done only an hour earlier. “Damn!” he cursed aloud and crushed the letter in his hand.

He wondered where she had gone, and decided Daniel might know. When he knocked on Daniel’s door and received no answer, he opened it and went inside the room. Everything was in order, but seized by a premonition, he threw open the wardrobe and discovered that half of Daniel’s clothes were gone, as well as his art materials.

He looked up, stunned disbelief on his face, and beheld Dera standing in the doorway with a note in her hand. “I have a letter from your brother,” she told him quietly. “He and Allison have run off together. I hoped it wouldn’t happen, but it has. You’ve driven the girl away and forced her into Daniel’s arms. You’re so much like your father that you frighten me! The two of you can’t be honest with the women you love.”

“I don’t love the hussy!” he bellowed and flung the rest of Daniel’s clothes from the wardrobe.

“I think you love her very much.”

“I’ve lost her, Mother.” Paul sat upon the bed, his ire deflated.

“Give her time. After a few weeks have passed, go after her. She and Daniel are in Dublin.” Dera purposely resisted telling him about the baby. She wanted him to go only for Allison’s sake, not for the child. Then Allison would know that he truly loved her.

“Do you think she’ll return with me?”

Dera smiled gently; he looked so uncertain and reminded her of the little boy she had loved so dearly. “I hope so. Allison is a Fairfax and I learned a long time ago how stubborn they can be. But you’re a Flannery and there is no one on this earth more bull-headed than an Irishman!”