Page 44 of An Irish Kiss
“Found what I’m looking for.”
His scrutiny unnerved her.He couldn’t mean her, could he?
And how could he say this, when there was still this great big elephant in the room?She drew in a breath.“So tell me what you are thinking about the castle ruins.”
* * *
Wow.This.They were getting into this now, not tomorrow?But it was one thing to feel attraction.It was another to see if there was a way to somehow make this work.And he was fairly sure there was no way to make this work until this conversation was had.So he drained the rest of his overly-sweet hot chocolate and placed the mug back on the table.
“I want to start off by apologising for how you first learned this news.I should’ve been more upfront about things, and I wasn’t.So I’m sorry.”
Her chin dipped, her eyes wary.“I understand it’s not exactly an easy thing to admit.But you must know that it comes across as fairly personal.It’s like you’re accusing me and my family of doing you wrong.And I know that my family has always tried to do well by our neighbours.That’s what is just so hard to believe.”
He nodded, remembering the ladies in the wool shop who had sold him the cardigan he was now wearing.The cardigan that was—just as they’d promised—cosy and comfortable.“I was told about some of the good initiatives your family had done over the years.”
Her face eased a fraction, making him glad he’d chosen the path of reconciliation.
“I know it comes across as personal, and it certainly wasn’t meant to be that way.But I came across here on a mission from my grandmother and I’m just trying to do right by her.”
“But do right how?Even if there was some claim, what would you hope to achieve?The castle is a ruin.The land it’s on is next to worthless.”
“Is it?Isn’t it a golf course?”
“Yes, but it’s only part of the golf course.The rest is part of the Griffin Castle estate.So even if you were to sell the land then you’d only get a small return.”
He didn’t want to give away too much of what Mary Connolly and the lawyer had found.But in the spirit of cooperation, he should probably try to continue to be as conciliatory as possible.“Look, I’m just trying to do right by my family.”
Her lips flatlined, like she was trying to control her temper.She drew a breath.Released it.Offered a tight smile.“Look, I can appreciate that, but you must know this is not just your family that this would affect.If you’re talking about a perceived injustice of many decades then there would be thousands of people wanting a stake, from all over the world.How is you finding a Quinn connection actually going to benefit your family at all?Would you seriously try to sue my family?”
He paused.This was the part of the venture he had always been a little hazy about.It was one thing to prove an injustice.It was quite another to see proper compensation.And admitting to the enemy what their strategy consisted of—or lack thereof—was probably not the wisest idea.
“I’m simply trying to find out what happened to the Quinns and why they seem to have been written out of history.”
“I agree that seems curious, but I really cannot think that any of my ancestors would do something like that deliberately.My mother’s family have been high sheriffs, archdeacons, they’ve won medals for serving in wars.They’ve done a lot for the local community, established co-operative businesses, low cost housing.They’re not self-seeking gentry looking to evict people and cause hardship.”
He leaned forward, elbows on knees, and studied her.The late afternoon light showed a pale luminosity in her skin.He liked how her fairness meant she said what she felt, even if she didn’t use words.“I don’t want to fight with you.I want to know the truth.And what happens after that is something to leave for another day.”
“But surely opening the past like this is like poking a bear.What if it leads to a massive court case?”
“It would only go there if you were wrong and your family had done something illegal.And you’re so sure that can’t be the case.So what are you afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid,” she said.
“Then you have nothing to worry about then, do you?”
She frowned.“I feel like you’re manipulating me.”
“I’m not.”
“Yeah, because all the manipulators would admit that.”She rolled her eyes.
“Truly.I expressed myself badly.I don’t want this to become a wedge between us.”
“Between us?”There were those prettily arched eyebrows again.“I don’t think there is an ‘us’.”
“There could be.Don’t you think?Please.”His eyes bore into her.“Can we be friends?”
CHAPTERELEVEN
