Daniel kissed the nape of her neck, taking in her unique scent. Content to the very core of his being, he slipped into slumber, his love tucked safely in his arms. May it always be so.
19
Dublin, Ireland, December, 1854
Daniel paced the front parlor of their rented townhouse as he waited for his wife to come downstairs. Today he’d reunite with his family, and too much excitement thrummed through his veins for him to sit still. Yesterday he’d sent a message to the Flynn’s residence where his mother was employed. She’d be expecting them.
They’d only just arrived in Dublin three days ago. Through correspondence beforehand, he’d arranged with a land agent to lease a suitable, furnished townhouse large enough to accommodate his entire family. He and Meredith had been pleased with the modern, stately home with its view of St. Stephens Green.
Pulling out his pocket watch, Daniel checked the time again and strode to the bottom of the stairway. “Meredith, what is keeping you, love?” he called.
Their newly hired maid appeared on the second-floor landing. “Mrs. Cavanaugh will be with you in a moment, sir. She—”
“Here I am.” Meredith slipped past the maid and hurried down the stairs.
She still looked pale, and dark circles smudged the undersides of her eyes. Six days traveling by steamship across the Atlantic had not been easy for her despite their first-class accommodations. Through most of the voyage she’d been unwell. A stretch of quiet and rest would do her good, and here he was rushing her out the door.
Guilt pinched at him as he scrutinized her. “Perhaps it might be best if you remained at home and rested a bit more.”
“No it wouldn’t, and don’t look at me like that,” she said as he helped her into her coat.
“Like what?” He wrapped a scarf around her neck and handed her gloves to her.
“All worried and guilt-stricken.” She tugged on her gloves. “I’m tired, yes, but otherwise I’m fine. Nothing you say will keep me from going with you this morning.”
“Are you certain you’re not ill?” he asked, opening the front door. “You haven’t had much of an appetite of late either.” The carriage he’d hired waited in front. Daniel helped his wife inside and gave the driver the address before climbing in after her.
Meredith settled herself on the cushioned seat. “The food here is different than what I’m used to. I’ll adjust.”
Daniel took his place beside her. He knocked on the ceiling, and the carriage started off. “Perhaps my mother can recommend a good physician. We can send for him tomorrow.”
Meredith pursed her lips. “Speaking of your mother, you must be excited about seeing your family today. The vow you made to your family will finally be fulfilled.” She cast him a radiant smile. “I hope the Flynns won’t begrudge your mother time to visit with us.”
“I am ecstatic, and the Flynns are good people. I’m certain we’ll be able to spend some time with our family. I suppose we’ll have to wait a week or two for them to hire a new housekeeper before Mam can join us, but Emily and David can return with us today if they wish.”
“David will be fourteen now, won’t he?” she asked.
“Aye, and wee Emily is nine.” He could hardly believe this day had finally come, and his chest swelled with pride, knowing he could support his family comfortably. By the time he and Meredith had left Garretsville, the goldmine was in full production, proving to be every bit as rich a lode as they’d suspected, and they were still extracting silver ore as well.
“When I left Ireland, David had taken a job as a chimney sweep. He’d be too old to do that now. I wonder if he’s begun an apprenticeship, or perhaps the Flynns might have hired him in some capacity.”
“He should be in school,” Meredith murmured.
“Aye, and he will be as soon as can be arranged.”
The journey to the affluent neighborhood of Clontarf to the north of Dublin took a good hour due to traffic and the twisty streets. During that hour, recollections of the events leading up to his departure from Ireland played through his mind. A lump rose to this throat, and grief for his father and baby sister cut through his heart as if they’d only just passed. By the time the carriage stopped in front of the Flynn’s home, impatience had tied him into knots.
He leapt from the cab and turned to help Meredith down. Looping her arm in his, he led her up the walk to the entry. “I can hardly believe this moment has finally arrived,” he mused as he studied the house with its manicured lawn, wrought iron fence, and porticoed grand entrance.
“Wow,” Meredith whispered. “You didn’t tell me the family lived in a mansion. Should we be going around to the back to the servants’ entrance?”
“The Flynns are wealthy merchants, not aristocrats. From what I’ve heard, Mr. Flynn grew up poor. They don’t take on airs.” He patted her arm. “Besides, we aren’t servants.”
“No, but your mother is. Do the Flynns have a butler? I’ve always wanted to see a real live butler.”
He chuckled. “I guess we’ll find out, aye?” He used the heavy brass knocker. Stepping back, he took in the door’s festive evergreen wreath with its bright red ribbon woven throughout. The manor’s exterior appeared to be well maintained. The family must have continued to prosper.”
The heavy oak door opened to reveal a maid, and Daniel handed her his card. “We’re here to see my mother, Edith Cavanaugh. She should be expecting us.”
“This way, sir, madam.” She opened the door wide. “Let me take your coats. Mrs. Flynn is waiting in the family parlor for you.”
Daniel’s heart dropped to his stomach as he helped Meredith out of her coat before removing his own. Why would Mrs. Flynn receive them? Had his mother left their employ? If so, perhaps the lady of the house meant to direct them to his mother’s new address. He glanced at Meredith to find her brow furrowed as well, and a new fear gripped him.
Meredith hadn’t been able to find any information about his family when she’d searched for news of them. He hadn’t had word from any of them in nearly two years. Could it be his mother had fallen ill and … Oh God. Dread sluiced through him, and he reached for his wife’s hand.
His poor heart pounded, and his mouth went dry as they stood in the grand foyer waiting for the maid to return. He considered leaving right then to avoid hearing the devastating news that might be waiting for him.
“Follow me, please,” the maid said, leading them up the broad staircase.
Not a speck of dust covered any surface of the immaculately kept house. More boughs of Christmas greenery decorated the mahogany banister, giving off a fresh, outdoorsy scent. Once they reached the landing, the maid veered right and scratched lightly on the door at the end of the hallway.
“Come in,” a muffled feminine voice said from within.
The maid opened the door and stepped back. Daniel’s gut twisted, and he did his best to prepare himself as Meredith preceded him into the parlor.
“Danny!” a young girl cried. “Danny, you’re finally home!” A small form hurled into him.
“Emily?” His breath caught as he peered down into his little sister’s face. Like him, she had their mother’s strawberry blond curls. Her blue eyes were lit with excitement and happiness. “Emmy, you’ve grown so—”
“Oh, my boy,” his mother cried, and he soon found himself engulfed between his sister and mother. “We’ve missed you so.”
“Mam?” He hugged them both fiercely, his eyes stinging. “I … I don’t understand,” he croaked as he looked around the room to see if there was another woman present. “The maid said Mrs. Flynn awaited us.”
He disentangled himself and reached for Meredith’s hand again, his thumb playing over the pink diamond ring she wore next to her wedding band. Touching Meredith kept him grounded, and he needed anchoring at present. “Mam, this is my wife, Meredith. Meredith, my mother, Edith.”
“We’re so thrilled to meet you, my dear. You cannot imagine our excitement at receiving Dan’
s note yesterday.” His mother kissed Meredith’s cheek. “Come, sit.” She gestured toward a grouping of loveseats and upholstered chairs set near the hearth.
The south facing bank of windows gave the room a light and airy feel. Thick rugs covered the polished wood floor, and a cheery fire burned bright in the ornate hearth of embossed, enameled iron. This was a warm and welcoming room. A few books rested on the scattered end tables, and a basket of knitting needles and yarn sat within easy reach of one of the richly upholstered chairs.
“I’ve ordered tea,” his mother said. “We have quite a bit of catching up to do.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you both,” Meredith said.
“And you, ma’am.” Emily curtsied. “You look very well, Danny,” she said, bouncing on her toes. “Like a fine gentleman.”
He laughed and drew his sister in for another hug, lifting her off the floor. “So do you, Emmy, only like a fine young lady of course.” He took in the quality of the woolen dress she wore beneath the crisp, white pinafore. Her ankle boots were of fine leather, and she also had on thick, warm stockings. Hair ribbons the same color as her dress held back her hair, which reached the middle of her back.
Daniel joined Meredith on one of the loveseats. “How are you, Mam? You look to be in fine fettle as well.” She also wore a richly made gown. Hers was dark burgundy, obviously tailored and not at all the sort a servant might wear. She wore her hair swept up in the popular style. Still, her complexion was smooth but for the laugh lines around her eyes.
Mostly he was struck with the fact that she no longer bore the gaunt, ever-present grief and worry she’d carried since his father and sister had died.
“Thank you. I am well.”
Daniel glanced at the ring on her left hand. “I’m confused. You’re now Mrs. Flynn?”
“I am.” His mother’s eyes held a pleading look. “I did write you about George’s wife taking ill six months after you left.
“Aye, I remember,” he said. He hadn’t given that news much thought, a moment of sympathy perhaps. At the time, they were preparing to leave New York City for the wilds of Montana.
“Mrs. Flynn died of a lung fever shortly after I wrote that letter. George and I … Well, we were drawn to each other in commiseration. Having both been recently widowed, we shared our mutual grief. He and I became close friends during his year of mourning. We depended upon each other for company and solace, and we discovered we had a great deal more in common than grief.” Her expression softened. “George and I married a little over a year ago.”
“Why did you not write to me with such happy news?” Daniel frowned.
His mother’s eyes widened. “I did write, and when I heard nothing back, I wrote again. Both letters were sent to Charles Hannigan’s Uncle Robert in New York. Both times I asked that he forward my letter to you as we always did.”
Edith bit her lower lip, and her eyes glistened. “When I didn’t hear back, I feared something had happened to you, or you were angry with my decision to remarry.”
Daniel shook his head. “I never received either letter.”
“Mail reaching the territories has always been unreliable. Anything could’ve happened to your mother’s letters.” Meredith twined her fingers with his. “I’m just glad we’re together now.” She smiled at his mother. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
The door opened and a maid carried in a tray laden with tea and a variety of pastries, butter, and jam. Daniel’s mouth watered as she set it down on the table in front of his mother.
“How do you take your tea?” his mother asked, her gaze on his wife.
“A splash of milk and a little sugar, please.” Meredith leaned forward to accept the teacup. “How shall I address you, Mrs. Flynn?”
“Edith or Edie is fine. I hope we’ll become great friends. May we call you by your given name as well?”
“Of course. We’re family now, and being so far from my own parents and siblings, I’m thrilled to have you nearby,” she said.
Far from her family was quite the understatement. He longed to tell someone of the extraordinary events that led him to this moment. Perhaps he would write a book after all. Everyone would believe it was fiction, while in truth it would be a memoir. He glanced at Meredith, and a deep peace settled over him.
“Will you tell me about America, Danny?” Emily asked. “We’re studying the continent’s geography in school, but I’d love to hear about that land from someone who has lived there. Did you visit Canada? Are the territories really as rough and wild as the books say?” Emily took a plate from the tea service and helped herself to a scone.
“I can tell you North America is vast and varied, and I only saw a small portion,” he said. “Charles and I never made it to Canada.”
“Since we’re sisters now, It’s permissible I ask you about such things.” Emily cast Meredith a hopeful look. “I should very much like to go on an adventure like Danny’s someday.” She glanced at their mother. “When I’m grown, that is.”
“Where’s David?” Daniel asked as he accepted a cup of tea. Meredith took a plate and helped herself to a scone, and he was relieved to see she had an appetite.
“David is away at boarding school in preparation for university,” Edith said. “George has only the one daughter, and she’s married and living in County Meath with her husband and his family. George is thrilled to have children to dote on again. He’s hoping David will join him in his business after he attends university.
His mother studied him, her eyes shining. “You did what you set out to do, Danny. Your father would be so very proud, as am I. Tell us about your adventures in Montana.” She glanced from him to Meredith. “How did the two of you meet?”
Meredith began coughing as if she were choking on the scone. They hadn’t prepared a story. He patted her on the back, and she reached for her tea. They couldn’t continue the ruse that Meredith was one of Charles’s cousins. The Hannigans and Cavanaugh’s had been close for years, and his mother would know the tale for a lie. Perhaps someday he’d tell his family the truth, but not today.
He shared a look with Meredith, a look he hoped said partial truths would work. “She saved my life while visiting Montana, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with her.”
“Oh, Danny!” his sister cried. “How did you save my brother’s life, Meredith?”
“I didn’t really. All I did was pass along information. Danny and Garretsville’s sheriff did the rest.” Meredith shrugged. “My half-brother and I overheard three outlaws discussing their plans to rob and murder two prospectors who’d recently struck gold near Garretsville.” She went on to describe how she’d set out to find the two so she could warn them. “That’s how we met. Oliver and I showed up at their claim and warned them. Daniel and I went into town and gave the sheriff all the information we had.”
“Because of her warning, we were able to set a trap for the outlaws,” Daniel added.
Meredith’s eyes were wide as she leaned toward Emily. “Mr. Hannigan took a bullet in his side during the gunfight with the three outlaws. If you want to know the truth, the frontier is a rough and wild place, and I’m very glad to be in Dublin now.”
Emily and his mother gasped, and his sister covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes like saucers. “Charles survived. He healed just fine,” Daniel put in quickly. “In fact he was the best man at our wedding.”
“What was your wedding like?” Emily asked, her rapt attention fixed on Meredith.
“Our wedding was lovely,” Meredith said. “We were married in Garretsville in the prettiest little church made entirely of pine logs. Practically the entire town showed up for our reception.” Meredith sighed happily. “Nothing compares to the blue sky in the mountains of Montana, and the day we married not a cloud could be seen. I carried a bouquet of wild flowers, and I wore my best walking suit and a new bonnet.”
“That’s so romantic,” Emily said. “I want to travel to the frontier and get married
in church made of logs, Mama.”
“It does indeed sound very romantic,” his mother agreed, running her hand over Emily’s curls.
For the next hour or so, he and Meredith told them about Garretsville, the mine, life on the frontier, and their journey to New York City by mail coach, steamboat, and train. During that time, Meredith had to excuse herself twice to visit the water closet, and once again he worried for her health.
“David will be home for the holidays, and I’ve sent him news of your return,” his mother said. “You must join us for Christmas. We’d love to have you, and we have plenty of room. I can’t imagine you’ve had time to settle into your home, or to hire adequate staff by then.”
“We’d love to join you,” he said. “For now, we should be on our way.” Daniel rose and offered Meredith his hand. “I’m looking forward to getting to know George, and I’m happy for you both, Mam.”
“Thank you, Danny,” his mother said. “You must know I will always miss you father. He took a piece of me with him when he passed, as did our wee daughter. We had a very good life and many happy years together, and I wish we’d had more.” Her brow furrowed. “What I feel for George is different than what I felt for your father. I’m content, happy. George and I are quite compatible, and we care a great deal for each other. What we share is a more sedate kind of love.”
Daniel grasped his mother’s hands and kissed on her the cheek. “I’m sorry you worried needlessly that I’d be resentful. I know Da would’ve wanted to see you happy again.”
She studied him closely. “I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear you say so. I want us to be close, a family again, and I know George will help any way he can with your business ventures. He’s brilliant, you know.”
“I look forward to getting to know him. Do you think he might be able to direct me to a reliable shipbuilder?”
“I’m certain he can. You and Meredith must come for dinner tomorrow night. The sooner you and George put your heads together the better,” his mother said as she and Emily walked with them down the stairs to the front door.
Summoned in Time: A magical, ghostly, time travel romance... (The MacCarthy Sisters Book 3) Page 26