Page 40 of The Book of Irish Secrets
‘I’m glad you’re enjoying it.’ Pierce sat down on the chair by the desk and bit into his own Danish and then looked at Claire with interest. ‘How are you getting on with your research?’
‘The research into the Fleury family, you mean?’ Claire asked.
‘Yes.’ He paused for a moment, looking awkward. ‘You know, I’m still trying to decide how I feel about the fact that you’rehiding your real identity from everyone. It feels to me like you’re living some kind of lie.’
‘I haven’t lied,’ Claire protested. ‘Claire O’Hanlon is my married name.’
‘Yes, but you’re not married any more,’ Pierce argued. ‘Did you not take back your maiden name after the divorce?’
‘I did, but then when I decided to come here, I thought it best to stay incognito for a while.’ Claire looked at his troubled eyes, willing him to understand why she had hidden who she was.
He shrugged. ‘Okay. I see your problem. Not that I approve, but we’ll leave it at that for the moment. And I suspect now that you’re living at the top of the manor, you’ll have access to the archives up there.’
‘I do, kind of,’ Claire admitted. ‘I mean, I haven’t told Rose or anyone else that… well, you know. But I think I’ve found something. It’s a step forward but I’m not there yet.’
He nodded and they stood in an awkward silence as Pierce waited for her to offer up the information. But then Claire felt worried about revealing what she had found out. What if it made things worse?
‘I’ve been in the room with the archives in secret,’ Claire said. ‘Just to see if I could find anything. I had to say it felt a little peculiar to go in there like a thief.’
‘You’re not stealing anything,’ Pierce argued. ‘Even if it’s a little sneaky. You were only looking through old papers, after all. So what did you find?’ he asked, with a glint of excitement in his eyes.
‘Well…’ Claire took another bite of the Danish and then put it on the plate, wiping her fingers on a tissue from a box on the coffee table. ‘I found something really weird. Something that shocked me, in a way.’
‘What was that?’ Pierce looked intrigued.
‘You want to know, despite your concerns?’ she asked.
He smiled suddenly. ‘Despite my concerns, I have to admit I’m finding it all – and you –
rather exciting.’
Claire let out a laugh. ‘I came across an old copybook that Maria Fleury seemed to have used as some kind of diary. And she wrote about Caroline, Cornelius’s wife. She was a great beauty and both Louis and Cornelius were starstruck when she walked into the ballroom at Magnolia Manor. But Louis managed to get the first dance with her. Not only that, they fell in love at first sight. It was quite perfect, because…’ Claire stopped for a moment to gather her thoughts, wondering if she should reveal that Louis had been the rightful heir. But there was no proof of that, except what she had read in the diary, so she decided to leave out that fact. ‘It sounds quite jumbled up now when I tell you like this, but…’
‘No, I get it.’ Pierce looked thoughtful. ‘Hang on while I try to get this right. Louis and Caroline were in love, but she married Cornelius. So one would wonder why? She was quite a legend in her day, you know.’
‘Really? I had no idea,’ Claire said.
‘Oh yes. I’ve heard from my grandmother that she was very beautiful and came from a prominent family on the Cork-Kerry border. I remember learning that from reading the history of the Fleury family on their website. John Fleury and Caroline’s father were close friends and I think Caroline was always meant to marry – well, one of the twins. I always thought it was Cornelius.’
‘Yes, me too,’ Claire said. ‘But then I read this in Maria Fleury’s diary – if it’s genuine.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s so confusing. I don’t know what to think.’
‘Yes, of course it is,’ Pierce agreed. He drained his coffee cup. ‘I have to go back to work, I’m afraid. So we’ll have to leave this alone for a bit.’
‘I’m going to have another look anyway,’ Claire said. ‘And I’m also going to put out everything I have and see if I can piece the whole thing together, at least about the twins.’ She got up from the sofa and brushed crumbs off her jeans. ‘Thanks for the coffee and the chat. It’s nice to be able to share this with someone. It’s so kind of you to take an interest. And to trust that I have good intentions in all this.’
Pierce followed Claire to the door. Then, when she was about to leave, he touched her arm and looked at her with empathy. ‘I still don’t approve of the lies you’ve told. But I’m beginning to understand how important this is to you. You’re a Fleury from a branch of the family that has been estranged for so long because of some wrongdoing by someone. I find the story fascinating, but I’m also very moved by how you want to heal the rift and bring the two families together. I have a feeling that you will never give up until you have achieved it. And I want to help you do that.’
‘Why?’ Claire asked.
‘Because I like you,’ he said in a near whisper. ‘I like you very much, Claire Fleury.’
‘Oh,’ she said, suddenly lost for words. ‘I like you very much, too, Pierce.’
‘That’s wonderful.’
They looked at each other for a moment that was loaded with emotion before Pierce’s phone rang and he stepped away. ‘I have to answer that.’
‘Okay.’ Claire walked out of the room as he grabbed his phone, smiling at her as he answered. ‘See you,’ she whispered and waved before she ran back downstairs as if floating on clouds. Once back at her desk, she put her hand on her heart, feeling it beating so fast she thought it echoed around the room.He likes me, she thought,maybe as much as I like him. He doesn’t know how to deal with what I’ve done, but he likes medespite all that. This is too soon, but oh, how I hope it’s real and strong and something that will last.
