Page 43 of The Widow's Irish Secret
‘That’s right,’ Rose cut in. ‘I read through those records when I sorted everything out a few years ago. Mary and John O’Grady were the first tenants. He was head gardener then.’
‘They had a son called Kieran,’ Cillian said. ‘At least that’s what Tricia and I assumed from two drawings Tricia found in the cottage. Dated eighteen seventy-nine. Was he that famous painter?’
Sylvia shot a look at Cillian. ‘Drawings?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ Tricia said, realising the cat was out of the bag. There was no point keeping it secret. ‘Of a ship and another one of a family.’
‘Kieran O’Grady?’ Dominic cut in. ‘You mean the one who became famous? But he was from Tralee, wasn’t he?’
Lily picked up her phone. ‘Just a sec. I’ll google him. Yes,’ she said after a moment. ‘It says here he was from Tralee. So it can’t be him but someone with the same name. Would have been great, though, if you found drawings by him.’
‘Early work by Kieran O’Grady,’ Rose said with a wistful look. ‘How exciting.’
‘They’re just some scribbles by a child,’ Cillian interjected. ‘One of some stick figures and the other one a boat or something. Nothing that could point to a great artist.’
‘You’ve seen them?’ Sylvia asked, again fixing Cillian with a curious look.
‘Eh, yes,’ Cillian said with a quick glance at Tricia. ‘I saw them when I called in to see the cottage. Before Tricia moved in,’ he added.
‘I found the drawings in a wardrobe in the attic,’ Tricia cut in. ‘One of them said it was drawn in eighteen seventy-nine,’ she confirmed, hoping Sylvia wouldn’t focus on the news that Cillian had been to the house.
‘He was born in eighteen seventy,’ Lily announced as she looked at her phone.
‘That would fit as far as I remember,’ Rose remarked. ‘He would have been nine when he did those drawings. If he was the one, I mean.’
Lily put down her phone. ‘I’m sure he’s not the famous painter, but wouldn’t it be fun if he was? I mean, as Rose said, an early work by Kieran O’Grady – wow.’
‘Dream on,’ Dominic said. ‘That would be impossible to prove.’
‘Of course it would,’ Sylvia said and turned her attention to her tarte Tatin. ‘But we’re ignoring this wonderful dessert. Arnaud, you’ve surpassed yourself today. The whole meal was a masterpiece by a master chef.’
‘You are too kind,’ Arnaud said, looking pleased. ‘I’m glad you like it.’
‘Even the kids are quiet for once,’ Dominic remarked, looking to the end of the table where the three children were tucking into the dessert. ‘But it won’t last long, of course.’
‘They’ll soon be bouncing off the walls,’ Noel said. ‘I think we’ll let them out so they can run off the sugar fix in the garden.’
Rose joined Tricia in the living room while everyone else was having coffee on the terrace. ‘Just for a little peace and quiet,’ Tricia said. Her mind was reeling. Sylvia and Rose had confirmed a Kieran O’Grady did indeed live in the gardener’s cottage. It sounded like she’d be hearing positive news from the National Gallery. She should have told everyone she had found a painting, too, and sent a photo off to be authenticated. But she was glad she hadn’t. Sylvia’s reaction to the news of the drawings had been odd.
Tricia tried not to worry further about Cillian and Sylvia whispering in the kitchen earlier. She sat down on the sofa, happy to have a moment with Rose. ‘We haven’t had any time on our own for a while. Come and sit here with me. You do look a little tired, Rose.’
‘Well, yes, I am,’ Rose said as she sat down. ‘There was a wedding yesterday and I had to oversee everything because the wedding planner was off sick. It’s nice to have a moment on our own. Mum,’ she continued, ‘I was thinking about what you said just now. About Kieran O’Grady, I mean. I know it says on the various websites that he was from Tralee. But it doesn’t say he wasbornthere, does it?’
‘How do you mean?’ Tricia asked.
‘Well, he could have been born here and spent his early years in the cottage. Then he might have gone to Tralee for school or something and stayed with relatives. That often happened in those days.’
‘I suppose,’ Tricia said. ‘But maybe your imagination is running away with you? I know how you love research but this might be an impossible task.’
‘Oh, I don’t think so,’ Rose argued. ‘There must be a way to find out. When you mentioned those drawings, I got really excited. I mean, Kieran O’Grady at Magnolia? How exciting is that?’
‘Yes, but it’s quite a common name,’ Tricia said. ‘And the biographies I’ve seen all say he was from Tralee.’ She was tempted to tell Rose about the oil painting she had found but decided to keep quiet for now.
‘Yes, but still…’ Rose insisted, ‘he could have said he was from Tralee when they asked about his education. He also went to study art in Dublin and then went on to Paris. He lived in an artists’ community there and then went to somewhere in Normandy to paint those lovely landscapes he was famous for. He might have just told people he was from Tralee because he went to school there.’
Tricia looked thoughtfully at Rose. ‘Yes, that’s possible, of course.’
‘I’d like to do some more research. I was wondering,’ Rose continued, ‘if you could mind Sophie for a day or two? Noel is going to Dublin for work next week and I thought I might go with him. I really need a break, Mum.’
