Page 38 of The Book of Irish Secrets
‘Not over that,’ she said. ‘But I will worry about what you think of how I’ve kept everyone in the dark about who I am.’
He looked at her for a moment. ‘Well, there is that. Not something I’d normally approve of. But I can see that it was difficult for you. And, of course, the whole story is fascinating. It puts a whole new slant on the Fleury family, particularlyCornelius. I’m actually curious about what happened. So… well, despite everything, I’d like to help.’
‘Oh, good,’ Claire said, flooded with relief. He seemed to be coming around to her way of thinking and was trying to understand. ‘But what do you think you could do?’
‘There might be something among my own family’s mementoes that could help you on your way to finding out what happened all those years ago,’ Pierce said. ‘Our family had many links to the Fleurys through the years. And, of course, Sylvia is the connection between the two families.’
‘Oh yes, of course she is,’ Claire said. ‘I wish I could tell her and ask her if she knew about what happened between Cornelius and his brother.’
‘She probably doesn’t know, if he left when they were young,’ Pierce suggested.
‘Actually, I think she does know,’ Claire argued. ‘Because she said something that first time I went to the orangery. I don’t remember her exact words, but it was something about a lost brother and that he was not like Cornelius.’
‘Oh,’ Pierce said. ‘Then maybe she does. Well, you can’t ask her until…’ He stopped as Rose walked towards them.
‘Hey, you two, what are you whispering about?’ Rose smiled at them as she approached.
‘Oh, I was just telling Claire I’m going home,’ Pierce said, smiling back at Rose as he got up from his chair. ‘So I was saying goodbye. Great evening, wasn’t it?’
‘Such good craic,’ Rose said. ‘But my feet are aching after all the dancing. So if you’re ready, Claire, we’ll bring you back to the manor and then go on home. Our babysitter is staying the night, but it must have been quite a task putting the kids to bed after all the excitement. So I’m taking the early morning shift, letting her sleep in.’
‘I’m ready,’ Claire said and gathered up her handbag and jacket. ‘Goodnight, Pierce.’
‘Night, Claire,’ he said and shot her a secret little smile before he walked away.
Rose looked at his retreating figure, then back at Claire. ‘He seems to like you very much.’
‘I like him too,’ Claire said. ‘He’s such a kind man. And nice to talk to.’
‘He’s a pet,’ Rose said fondly. ‘We all love him. And we’re happy to see you two getting close.’
‘Is it that obvious?’ Claire asked.
Rose grinned. ‘You might as well put it on the front page ofThe Irish Times. But come on, we’d better get cracking. Noel is already in the car waiting for us.’
During the drive back to Magnolia Manor, Claire’s thoughts drifted to what had happened earlier today. Hugh’s arrival had shaken her and his threats had frightened her. She knew he was capable of doing what he said if he didn’t get what he wanted. But he didn’t know that she’d be prepared to give anything not to be discovered. It would perhaps be best if she simply agreed to accept a third of the money and let him have the rest.I’ll talk to Finola, Claire thought.She knows Hugh and will be able to figure out how I should play my cards.
She was glad she had told Pierce everything. It felt good to tell him who she really was. That would mean she could be honest with him from now on and build on their relationship. She felt sure her secret was safe with him and that somehow, he understood how important it was to find out the truth and maybe get the families to finally make peace.
That thought calmed her and she was able to thank Rose and Noel in a normal voice for the lift when they arrived at themanor. ‘I really enjoyed the day,’ Claire told them. ‘The parade was lovely and the dinner and dancing was such fun.’
‘I’m glad you enjoyed it all. But now I’m sure you’re just as tired as we are. We’re going to chill tomorrow and do absolutely nothing,’ Rose said. ‘It’ll be quiet here with nobody around. Granny and Arnaud are having lunch with Lily and Dom and the kids, so, apart from the tenants, you’ll be left in peace.’
‘That sounds good,’ Claire said. Then she said goodnight and, once through the door, walked slowly upstairs to her flat. She was very tired, but as she climbed the stairs, something occurred to her. She would be on her own tomorrow. ‘It’ll be quiet here with nobody around,’ Rose had told her. Would this not be a perfect opportunity to do a thorough search through the family archives? Nobody would know what she was doing. Claire felt suddenly excited at the thought. Maybe she would find something in there that would lead her to the final conclusion…
NINETEEN
Claire slept soundly all night and woke up late. Momentarily confused, she looked around the little bedroom and smiled to herself, feeling a surge of joy as always at being in her own little flat at the top of Magnolia Manor. She luxuriated for a while in the softness of the old linen sheets that felt like silk, then got up and had a quick shower, drying herself with one of the threadbare towels Rose had supplied her with. She had brought some of her own from Dublin, but she oddly wanted to use everything the manor could provide.
The different pieces of crockery Rose had put into the kitchen cupboards included plates from the formal dinner service in Royal Doulton china, some cereal bowls from a downstairs kitchen service and other bits and pieces that looked ancient but still in very good nick. The glasses were also an eclectic mix of modern and old and Claire enjoyed drinking her orange juice from what must have been an old wine glass of wafer-thin crystal. Then she poured tea from a teapot with a Beatrix Potter motif into a mug decorated with tiny flowers she was sure was Victorian. The cutlery, some of which was sterling silver, was heavy and engraved with the Fleury family crest. It felt as if allthe history of the manor was contained in the cupboards and drawers of the tiny kitchen.
As she enjoyed her breakfast sitting at the little table by the window, Claire gazed at the view of the garden and the sea. Up here she could see far out to the horizon and she noticed that it was going to be quite a nice day: cold but sunny, perfect for a walk in the grounds before she tackled the little room by the stairs that contained the family archives. She felt slightly apprehensive about going in there without permission, but then told herself sternly that if they were the family archives of all the Fleurys, she had a perfect right to look through them.
Claire made her way to the little room beside the stairs. The door creaked as she eased it open and she quickly went inside, turned on the light and closed the door gently behind her. Then she dragged a stool from the other end of the room and sat down in front of the shelving unit with the material that had not yet been looked at, and pulled out a few papers. They turned out to be shopping lists which could be fascinating for anyone researching into the Victorian diet but not exactly what she was looking for.
Then Claire spotted a cardboard box with all kinds of letters and cards, and pulled that onto her lap. There were Christmas and birthday cards, all yellow with age but quirky and sweet. She looked at each one, thrilled at the signatures of long-dead family members she had heard Auntie Rachel mention.
At the bottom of the box, she found a few letters of little interest and then there was what looked like an old copybook used by schoolchildren in the early years of the last century. Claire opened it and as she read what was on the first page, she nearly stopped breathing. This was no school copybook but a kind of diary, written in spidery handwriting. Each entry had a date and as Claire read, she deduced that the author was Maria Fleury, Cornelius and Louis’ mother.My great-great-grandmother, Claire thought as she read about daily life at Magnolia Manor over a hundred years ago. There were outings and luncheons, dinner parties and afternoon tea with friends and neighbours, the children growing and going to school and college. Iseult, Maria’s daughter, married someone her father didn’t approve of and moved to Cork, an event which seemed as if it had created high drama. But then… Claire read, fascinated, an entry at the end of the dog-eared copybook. It was dated March 1910.
