“Sure and you don’t think he’d pay it?” said Kieron with a laugh. “It’s only another way of insuring he stays away altogether.”
“If he’d sign at all.” Ann held no hope for that occurrence.
“Oh, that’s no problem now,” said Michael, his eyes twinkling at me. “I’m sure Paddy’ll sign if Rene is willing to drop charges of trespass.”
“Oh!” Clearly Ann hadn’t considered that possibility.
“You’d be free to come and go as you please then, Ann,” Michael assured her. “He’d need your written permission to enter the house or see the children. And if he so much as grabs your arm, you can have him up for assault.”
“Sure and it would cost the earth,” she said in a flat voice.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Ann, don’t worry about money,” I began. Kieron and Michael flashed me warning glances. “I mean, you’ve the fees for taking care of another child. I doubt Michael’ll starve in the meantime and—oh hell, after what you’ve been through, this is what you need …” I kept fighting with myself not to play Lady Bountiful.
“Are you certain, Rene?”
Then I heard the root of her anxiety: Was it right for her to achieve this freedom?
Right in whose eyes, I wondered. Hers, Irish society’s, Aunt Irene’s? Had Aunt Irene suggested a legal separation before? And had Ann refused? Or had Ann not been pushed to the breaking point? Divorce, even among Irish Protestants, was not yet totally accepted, so perhaps divorce had been “dirty” in Aunt Irene’s lexicon. But if reassurance was all Ann needed, I could give her that courtesy and be quite honest about it.
“Yes, Ann, I’m positive the separation is right for you. It’d be far better, of course, if you could get a full divorce. You’ve got nothing to lose, certainly. And you’ve been existing under … under … what amounts to a house arrest!” I became exasperated with and furious for her. “You’re so young! Live a little! Enjoy.” Then, because I felt I was getting too intense, I added with a laugh, “They always say that in the States, ‘Enjoy!’, but never what.”
The quip rated a laugh from the men and a slight, worried smile from Ann.
“Look, you’ve even forgotten how to smile! Say,” and I turned to Michael, “does Paddy Purdee still think it was Aunt Irene’s ghost after him?”
Michael ducked his head to hide a broad grin, and Kieron chuckled openly.
“Well, he’s not all that certain,” said Michael. The Garda told him Miss Teasey’s niece shot off the gun at intruders, but no one’s told him that you’re an Irene Teasey too. or that you sound exactly like your aunt.”
“I like it. I like it,” I said. “Do him good. Might even get him some religion.”
“It won’t do that,” Ann said, but, for a wonder, there was a gleam of amusement in her eyes.
“That must be Shay back,” said Michael as we all heard the sound of a car braking in the drive.
I hurried to the door, eager to see whom Shamus had brought. The last people in the world whom I would have anticipated! Shay carefully handed out first one, then the other, Lady Brandel.
I was given lavender-scented, silken cheeks to kiss, and soft little hands seized mine while I was beamed upon.
“We were so overjoyed to see dear Shamus, Rene,” said Lady Mary, tucking her hand under my right arm while Lady Maud claimed my left. “He’s told us all the happenings. My dear Rene …”
“He’s also told us how we can help with a few words to the right person,” said Lady Maud, “so if we may have permission to use your telephone, Rene …” She hesitated before the phone just long enough to receive my dazed acquiescence.
“There are moments when a telephone is so very useful,” said Lady Mary, folding her hands in front of her as she took a place beside her sister.
“Whom do they know?” I whispered to Shamus as Lady Maud unfolded a tiny notebook and carefully found the page she wanted. She pressed it flat on the table, ran her fingers down the entries, paused, peered, frowned at the number, and then, picking up the receiver, dialed very carefully, silently enunciating each numeral.
“Oh.” Her face, serious from the delicate business of dealing with the unfamiliar instrument, brightened. “And good afternoon to you too. Is it at all possible for the Colonel to have a few words with Lady Maud Brandel? The matter is rather urgent … Yes, thank you, I’ll wait.” She turned her head to smile pleasantly at me, all cool, composed Grande Dame. She ignored Lady Mary, who was hovering rather breathlessly.
“Colonel who?” I hissed at Shamus. He signaled me to be patient and listen.
“Oh, Dermot, how good of you! Yes, thank you, I’m quite well. Yes, so is Mary. I trust that Derval and the children are well? Oh? Another grandson? How pleased you must be! Well, I’ll come to the point if I may, for I know you’re a very busy man. But one of my dearest friends”—she acknowledged that accolade to me with a courtly bow of her head—“is being harassed by an American in the most unpleasant way. Totally unnecessary. Her solicitor is standing by me, and I’m sure he can explain the pertinent details. You will then be able to judge the merits of the case. Yes … She’s Irene Teasey’s niece. You remember Irene, of course. Rene, that’s the niece, has inherited Irene’s property, you see, no problem that way, but you must know Michael Noonan? Well, let me just put him on to you … But I’m sure you’ll see that something must be done directly. I know you won’t disappoint me.” She rose and handed the phone to Michael.
“Noonan here.” A stunned look came over Michael’s face, and unconsciously he stood straight, all attention. “Yes, sir!”
“I’m positive that Dermot can oblige,” said Lady Maud as she and Mary drew me into the living room. Shamus gave me a push from behind.
“That dreadful man!” Lady Mary was saying. “When Shamus told us, we were appalled to think of the ordeal you’ve been through … How distressing for our twins!”
“Shay, did you tell them everything?”
“Oh, Rene, we’d’ve heard it soon enough anyway, you know,” said Lady Mary reassuringly, and she peered across me at her sister for confirmation.
“Pleasant to have the truth of a matter from a competent source,” was Lady Maud’s reply as she smoothed her skirts out on the couch.
“You see, we know just the person to assist you.”
“Who?” I asked bluntly.
“Let’s just say, a high-ranking official at the Castle,” said Shamus. “I don’t think he’ll care for official thanks.”
“Well? What’s going to happen, then?”
“Oh,” and Shay’s eyes got wide and devilish. “I would suspect that shortly several officials will call on your ex-husband at his hotel and suggest, very politely, that his presence is unacceptable to the Irish Republic. He will be politely escorted to the airport and put on the first available flight out. And I don’t think he will ever get back in again.”
“But—but—” That was more than I’d counted on. “Can they do that?”
“You’re in Ireland.”
“But—but—”
“It’s such a relief,” said Lady Maud at her most placid, “to know that we could perform a little service for you … and Irene … after all you’ve done for us.”
Her expression was guileless—like Snow’s—but I wondered then, as I’ve wondered often since, if Lady Maud and Lady Mary were quite as ignorant of the origin of their trust fund as everyone assumed.
“Now, what is this that Shamus has been telling us about you two, dear Rene?”
I could not deny it in the face of their obvious delight and pleasure.
“And how could dear Irene have so misjudged Shamus? You barely knew him and yet you realized that he was incapable of so ungentlemanly a deed. “
I stared at Shay, who grinned and shrugged. “They are over eighteen, pet.”
“As I’ve had occasion to remark to you before, Rene,” said Lady Maud, putting a conciliatory hand on my arm, “we are aware of the ways of the world, whether we
chose to follow them or not.”
Simon, Snow and Jimmy came traipsing delicately in at that point, tray-laden. Before I knew it, I was eating again, drinking tea with the good Ladies. Michael joined us rather absently, and soon rose abruptly. “I have some legal tying up to do,” he said. “If anything develops, I’ll ring you this evening, Rene. Lady Maud, Lady Mary,” and he bent with graceful dignity over each daintily extended hand. “My respects!” His grin indicated that he’d recovered his composure.
One day, I’d find out who had impressed him so!
“Don’t panic, Mihall, if we don’t answer here between seven and midnight,” Shamus was saying as he and I escorted Michael to the door. “We’ve some celebrating to do, if Rene feels up to it.”
“Of course Mommy’ll feel up to it,” said Snow emphatically. “She’s going right upstairs now and rest.”
“I’m being bossed.”
The Ladies Brandel said that they would have been prostrate with exhaustion and wasn’t I clever, and it was so nice to know that my lovely children and I were staying on in Ireland. They’d really get to know us. And I was going to sing with the Rathmines group now, wasn’t I? Carrying on in Irene’s tradition?
Michael then offered to drive them home, as it was on his way. Which seemed a neat ending to the day’s activities.
As usual, Irene Teasey spoke too soon. No sooner had Michael’s car pulled out into the main road than another came slithering over the loose gravel at the entrance.
“Good God, now what?” I complained, moving closer to Shamus in alarm. “I’ve seen that car before. It’s Aunt Alice!”
“Good!” said Shay. “I’ve a crow to pluck with the old cow.”
As well he was primed, because Auntie Alice Hegarty came charging out of her car, her face suffused with the blood of angry vengeance. It was me she headed for. Shay’s hand was strong and warm against the small of my back. Not that I would have retreated. I was (Preserve the Image!) too proud.
“You’ll sell now, won’t you? You promised!”
“Sell?”
“And you!” She wheeled on Shamus, brandishing her rather heavy handbag. “Your check was stopped. You had no right to stop it!”
“All the right in the world, you old phony. You had no right to sell me access up the lane. Then or now. I think I’d better have a word with Tom.”
“Tom doesn’t enter into this matter at all!” She was defiant, and scared.
Oh, Tom was her husband, Gerry’s father. The big-bear man who played accordion. But he scared Alice, even if he appeared innocuous to me.
“Perhaps not, Alice Hegarty. I could of course prosecute you for illegally selling rights you did not possess.”
“Prosecute me?” She took another backward step. “I won’t go to court. No Hegarty has ever been dragged into court.” She got her second wind too quickly for my liking. “You!” The purse swung round to me. “You! You said you’d sell once the will was probated.”
“I said I couldn’t sell until the will was probated, Mrs. Hegarty.” I took a deep breath. “And I certainly wouldn’t sell to you.”
“You’ll be glad enough to be quit of Ireland when that fancy man of yours finds you and takes your brats away.”
“He’s been and gone,” Shay said, his voice treacherous as silk, because I was bereft of speech. “And I’d say it was yourself told Paddy Purdee where to find Ann?”
“Of course it was,” and the angry red returned to Auntie Alice’s face. “I’ll have the whole lot cleared out of here …”
Two more cars came tearing up the lane. Winnie Teasey popped out of the first one, in such a state that the car stalled with a buck. The other driver was Gerry, his usually affable face set in hard, angry lines.
It became a Donnybrook of words: Alice raging with frustration, Winnie wringing her hands. Shamus was adding some trenchant remarks about illegal permissions. Winnie said that he shouldn’t upset poor Alice this way with talk of courts and suing. Shamus wanted to know what else could he do. Alice raved about his stopping checks when he’d made a strictly business arrangement…
“What check?” asked Gerry, in such a roar that everyone shut up.
“Why,” said Shay, completely at ease, “the money I paid her for the use of this lane, which she didn’t have the legal right to lease.”
Gerry turned slowly to his mother. She drew her small stout self up against his scrutiny.
“This property is mine, Gerard. You “know” Irene meant to leave it all to me …”
“I know nothing of the kind, Mother. Now get in that car and drive home. Unless you want me to tell Dad that you’ve been meddling again?”
She didn’t want to go. She opened her mouth to protest, but Gerry took her firmly by the elbow and marched her to her car. Winnie had been reduced to sobbing, wringing her hands and murmuring. “How could Alice? How can she be this way?”
When his mother’s car swung on to the main road, just missing a truck, which honked a loud, continuous blast, Gerry turned to his aunt.
“Now, you calm down too, Winnie. Get along home, and we’ll say no more about this.”
She was being deftly inserted into her car by Gerry. Bucking and stalling it, she did manage to turn it around and leave.
“I will have to tell my father, I think,” Gerry said to us. “I can’t even say she means well, Rene,” and Gerry sighed. “But we’ll sort her out. Not to worry. I’d better go after her, if you’ll excuse me. And forgive?”
I hastily assured him I did, and then he was away, leaving a cloud of dust to settle on the well-used lane.
“Well, will he?”
“Will he what, pet?” asked Shay guiding me back to the house.
“Contain her.”
Shamus chuckled. “Sure enough. Once Tom hears of this, Alice will be mild for months. There are, you know,” and he smiled affectionately at me, “some good reasons for Irish men to beat their wives. Now and then only, of course—for the good of their souls and the peace of the neighborhood.” His hand gently pushed me into my house. “Now, you’re to go upstairs, alone, and get some rest. You’ve had enough on your plate.”
“The twins?” I knew it was silly, but I was apprehensive.
“I won’t take my eyes off them,” he said, capturing my waving hands and drawing me close to him for a very satisfactory kiss. Very satisfactory because I was thinking that the twins were big enough to keep an eye on themselves, and I wanted his on me.
“Oh!”
We broke away, or rather I tried to, at the soft exclamation of dismay.
Ann was in the doorway to the dining room, flustered and utterly dismayed at our carrying-on. An amused expression came over Shamus’s face.
“We’d better all be friends,” I said to neither in particular, “and let bygones be. You’ll be seeing a lot of Shay again, Ann.”
“A lot?” Shamus challenged my qualifier.
Ann’s lips met in a firm line of disapproval.
“Yes, Ann, a lot. In fact, you might say a continuous performance, if he hasn’t changed his mind after all the tumult and shouting today.”
Shay’s hand crept up my shoulders to rest on the back of my neck in the most caressing and possessive of gestures. I felt feline enough to want to wiggle with delight at that touch. But Ann was there, and I should Preserve the Image.
The hell with that! I’d preserved, destroyed, tried on enough Images for one person for the rest of her lifetime. From now on I was going to be me, Irene Teasey Stanford … God willing … Kerrigan.
“I’ve discovered that I can’t function properly without a man m my life, Ann,” I said, looking at her unapologetically as I pressed closer to Shay. “I like having a man to take care of, who’ll return the courtesy by taking care of me. And yes, I made a mistake, and I may make many more.”
“Not with me, pet,” murmured Shay, so fervently that Ann stared at him in a startled fashion.
“But I’m not about to close the book of my l
ife for one mistake, and you shouldn’t either, Ann Purdee.”
She looked so stricken at my attack that I relented and reached out to her.
“Ann, honey, it’s right for me, for the way I am. I know it is now. I wouldn’t have thought so even three weeks ago, believe me. I’d finished with men. But I’m not too proud or too stubborn or too stupid to change my mind for a good reason. And now that Paddy Purdee’s off your back, you can look around a bit too.
She shuddered at a notion still abhorrent to her. I now appreciated my friend Betty’s wry smile.
“That’s what this is all about, Ann, your being here. It’s probably what Aunt Irene really wanted for you, in good time. It s what women’s lib is all about—you, me, Mary, Sally, the Ladies Brandel, everyone having a chance to find their own way to … Oops, I’m sorry. I’m the last one who should sermonize anyone! Enjoy! Enjoy, Ann, let yourself enjoy even a little!” I broke free from Shay’s insidious proximity and rushed halfway up the stairs in my embarrassment at having spouted so intensely. “If you want to pick up the pieces about seven Shay dear, I’ll be ready. But right now I have to regroup my energies, as Snow used to say.”
“At seven, then, your courtier will await thee, Queen Irene! Shamus swept another of those ridiculously involved, flourishing bows. “She makes a bloody good queen, doesn’t she, Ann? I heard him say as I clattered up the rest of the steps.
“Sure and she does!” replied Ann, so firmly that I knew I could rest awhile. My queendom, for the moment at least, was in good hands!
THE END
The Kilternan Legacy Page 29