Page 9 of The Granddaughter's Irish Secret
‘That’s not the reason. He wasn’t right for you,’ Sylvia said. ‘He was what you might say stuck up. I’d call it having notions.’
‘That too,’ Rose said drily. ‘But let’s not go into all that. Where is everybody?’
‘On the terrace,’ a familiar voice called.
‘Lily,’ Rose shouted and ran out onto the terrace, where she found her sister and brother-in-law standing beside a pram. Their baby daughter was doing her best to disturb the peace with her loud crying. They both looked tired, especially Lily, who had dark rings under her usually lively brown eyes. Her hair hung drably, but her wide grin as she hugged Rose back lit up her face.
‘Hi. Sorry about the noise,’ Lily said. ‘But Naomi is hungry. I have to go and feed her in Granny’s bedroom.’ She lifted the wriggling, crying bundle out of the pram. ‘Won’t be long.’
Rose laughed and turned to Lily’s husband, Dominic. ‘Hi, Dom. I haven’t seen you since the christening. How are things with you?’
Dominic kissed Rose on the cheek, his green eyes twinkling. ‘Wonderful to see you, Rose. We’re fine, a little worn out with the new arrival. She’s awake at the oddest hours. Sleep is optional these days.’
‘Lily told me. Must be hard to have a baby waking up in the middle of the night. But isn’t that normal at this early age?’
‘Yes it is, I’m afraid,’ Dominic said with a resigned little shrug. ‘We’d give a thousand euros for a night’s sleep right now, but we’ll get there. We just need to figure out her routine. But what about you? How are you settling in with the new job and living in the gatehouse and all that?’
‘Oh, I’m loving being back here,’ Rose replied. ‘Can’t believe it’s for good. The gatehouse is a little old fashioned but I’m sureit’s character forming, doing the washing up and coping with the fire and the back boiler and all that. Just like the old days when we grew up in Magnolia.’ She looked up at the façade of the large building, admiring the new plaster and restored windows. ‘I love seeing the house getting repaired without ruining the period feel of it.’
‘I agree. They did a good job,’ Arnaud said beside Rose, handing her a glass of champagne. ‘Good evening, Rose. So nice to see you again.’
‘Oh thanks,’ Rose said and smiled at him. ‘Lovely to see you too, Arnaud.’ He was, as usual, the epitome of elegance. Perfectly dressed for a spring evening in beige chinos and a white shirt, with a navy cashmere sweater over his shoulders. His white hair made his tan look even darker, and his brown eyes twinkled as he smiled back at Rose.
‘I’m so happy to be back in this beautiful place,’ he said, raising his glass. ‘Cheers, Rose. Good luck with your new life here in Kerry.’
‘Cheers, Arnaud.’ Rose sipped the champagne and looked over the rim of the glass towards the end of the terrace, where she could see Henri walking up the steps from the garden path, looking unusually dishevelled.
He bounded up the steps and went to the small table to pour himself a glass from the bottle. Then he joined Rose, grinning at her. ‘Hello, Rose,’ he said in his part-French, part-American accent. ‘You look a little tired. New job too much for you already?’
‘Of course not,’ Rose replied, smiling sweetly at him. ‘Why would it be? And I’m not a bit tired. Feeling great, actually.’ She glanced at his ruffled brown hair, wrinkly T-shirt, worn jeans and bare feet. ‘You’re not exactly dressed to impress. I’m sure Granny won’t approve of you sitting down to dinner like that.’
He looked down at his clothes. ‘Oh, you mean this? I’ve been surfing in the Maharees. Didn’t have time to change. But I will as soon as I’ve finished this glass of champagne. I have my party clothes in the truck.’
‘You have a truck?’ Rose asked.
‘He means his new Volvo SUV,’ Dominic cut in. ‘Great car, I have to say. Not something I could afford though.’
‘Yes, I’m very happy with it,’ Henri said. ‘I can drive it across the sand on these beaches without having to worry.’ He winked at Rose. ‘Great for my image too. Perfect for pulling birds, as you say here.’
‘How wonderful for you,’ Rose said with a stiff smile, sidling away. ‘Excuse me, I need to talk to Lily.’
‘See you later at dinner,’ Henri said as she moved away. ‘Looking forward to chatting with you.’
Lily appeared through the French doors, carrying a sleeping baby, just as Rose was about to go inside. ‘Shh,’ she whispered. ‘I’m going to put her very gently into the pram and then wheel it away to the far side. I hope she stays asleep for a while now.’
Rose looked at the baby fast asleep in Lily’s arms, her dark eyelashes fanned over her pink cheeks, the little mouth quivering into a near smile. ‘She’s adorable,’ she whispered to Lily.
‘Oh yes, she is. When she’s asleep,’ Lily whispered back. They both tiptoed to the pram. Lily put the baby down and started to push it away, Rose following behind.
When the baby was settled, Lily turned to Rose. ‘Did you ask Noel?’
Rose nodded. ‘I did and he said yes. So I have a plus one. Such a relief. It was so kind of him to accept just like that.’
‘He’s an absolute pet. And I think you’ll have fun.’
‘I’m beginning to think I will,’ Rose said. ‘Noel is better company than I thought.’
‘Great. Then you’re all set and can relax.’ Lily looked across the terrace. ‘Granny is waving us in. Dinner is served in the new kitchen diner. Wait till you see it.’
