Besieged

by Bertrice Small

  "Kieran, why have you come over?" William asked.

  "I thought it might help the cause if we appeared the happy family, and the duke of Glenkirk could see I don't give a damn for our father's lands. They are yours with my blessing, little brother. So, m'lady," he addressed Fortune, "William Devers will not come penniless to the heiress bride. Does that please you?" The green eyes mocked her.

  "His wealth means nothing to me," Fortune replied scornfully. "My personal riches could buy and sell the Deverses of Lisnaskea several times over. I seek a man to love, you lout!" Then yanking Thunder's head about, Fortune cantered off towards the castle.

  "Whew! What a firebrand," Kieran Devers said admiringly. "Yer a lucky man if you can win her, Willy. Red hair and a hot temper! She'll be a tigress in bed, you young devil. I'm not certain you deserve such a prize. Yer mam won't like her. She prefers Emily Anne, I'm sure, but poor Emily Anne isn't enough of an heiress, is she?" He chuckled.

  "Fortune's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, and so damned interesting. She says just what comes into her head," William said.

  "I've noticed that," Kieran replied with a small smile.

  The two young brothers rode down the hillock and across the meadows back into the village. As they traveled down the main street of Maguire's Ford several young women called out a greeting to Kieran Devers, and he greeted them all by name with a smile and a jest. William raised an eyebrow. He had not been aware that Kieran's escapades, as his mother called them, extended as far as Maguire's Ford. In the castle courtyard Kieran was greeted by a red-haired gentleman.

  "Kieran lad, how are you?" Rory Maguire said. "And this will be yer little brother, I'm thinking. How d'ye do, Master William. I am Rory Maguire, the estate manager of her ladyship, the duchess."

  "Rory, yer looking well as ever, and aye, 'tis young Willy," Kieran Devers replied as he dismounted his horse.

  "You were not in the hall earlier," William said.

  "Nay, sir, I wasn't. 'Twas out of respect for your mother's feelings, for we all know how she feels. I felt Lady Jasmine's cousin, Father Cullen, would be just about all she could handle." It was said with good humor, and a twinkle.

  William Devers laughed. "Aye," he agreed. He decided he liked this Maguire fellow. Of course his mother had said that once he was master at Erne Rock, his cousin, James Dundas, would be a suitable estate manager, and James was a good Protestant. Still, Fortune had given him pause for thought when she had asked him why anyone who did their job properly should be discriminated against for their religion. Besides, James Dundas knew nothing of horses, and indeed, was afraid of them. He would make a poor manager for a horse breeding estate. William slid from his saddle, saying as he did so, "Come on, Kieran, and let us surprise mother." Then he laughed again.

  Jane Anne Devers was indeed surprised to see her stepson enter the Great Hall in his half-brother's company. Still, he was dressed respectably, and appeared in a good mood. She hoped he had not come to cause any deviltry. "Kieran dear," she twittered as he approached her.

  "Madame, you are as lovely as always," Kieran Devers told Lady Devers as he bowed and kissed her hand. Then he turned, and bowed quite beautifully to the duchess of Glenkirk who was sitting with his stepmother. "I am Kieran Devers, your grace. I hope I am not intruding, but my curiosity was, as always, too great. I came to lend my brother, William, support in his pursuit of your beautiful daughter, whom I have just met a while ago." He kissed Jasmine's hand.

  "You are most welcome at Erne Rock, Kieran Devers," she replied. "Adali, bring Master Devers a goblet of wine. You will join us, sir?" She motioned him to a seat by the fire. He's a handsome devil, Jasmine thought. What mischief is he up to, or is he indeed just curious? She smiled at Kieran Devers. "Have you ever been to Erne Rock before? I understand your mother was a Maguire before her marriage to your father."

  "This is my first visit," Kieran replied. "Thank you," he said to Adali who offered him a goblet from a tray.

  "We met Kieran out riding," William said.

  "He has already explained that, dearest," Lady Jane said patiently. Lord! Did William have to appear such a dunce before the duchess? "I am certain he cannot stay, especially now that his curiosity has been satisfied. Where is Fortune?"

  "Nonsense! Your stepson must stay at least the night," Jasmine replied. "I have always been famed for my hospitality, my dear Lady Jane. It will be lovely to have a family party. Later, I hope to meet your daughters too."

  "Only Colleen is in Ireland," Lady Jane said. "Mary and my Bessie are in England where their husbands reside. Colleen lives outside of Dublin in the Pale. Her husband has a small estate there. She is the only one who will be able to come for the wedding."

  "If there is a wedding," Jasmine amended.

  Kieran Devers saw his stepmother pale slightly. So, it was not the sure thing Jane Anne Devers had bragged it was. Interesting. Still, the girl was extremely desirable for her wealth, not to mention her beauty; but Jane Anne had been certain the only reason the Leslies would come to Ireland seeking a husband for their daughter was that she was unmarriageable in England for some reason. After all, according to his stepmother, an English husband was the most desirable husband of all. She had managed English marriages for his elder sister, Moire, who she had called Mary since the day she wed his father; and for her own daughter, Bessie. Colleen, however, had eluded her, falling in love with Sir Hugh Kelly. Hugh, however, had an English mother, and was a Protestant, and so Jane Anne had acquiesced gracefully to one Irish marriage.

  "Of course there will be a wedding," William said with a smile. "I intend winning Fortune fairly and squarely. She is a wonderful girl, and I already adore her!"

  "Who do you adore?" said Fortune, coming into the hall in a fresh green gown, her hair neatly contained within a pretty golden snood.

  "Why you, naturally," William said ingenuously.

  Fortune smiled. "You are a fool, Will Devers," she chided him, but her tone was soft, Kieran noted.

  That's it, little brother, use your charm on her, he thought. But then as he looked at Fortune Lindley again, the hoydenish and disheveled look gone, to be replaced by an elegant young girl, he thought suddenly that she was far too much for his younger brother. Any marriage between them would force Willy into an untenable position. He would be caught between his strong mother, who had told him what to do and to think his whole life, and a headstrong young wife who obviously ran her own life, and would expect to run his as well. The resulting war between the two women would kill his half-brother, who was really a very nice young man.

  Ah, the voice within him said, so that will be your reason. Admit it, Kieran Devers, you're intrigued by the wench, and would like her for yourself. Why you'd have her if she had nothing but her shift to her name. But she doesn't, does she? She's an heiress, and probably thinks herself too good for the likes of you. Fortune Lindley is a proud bitch, but a romantic one. She told you herself she would wed only for love, and no other reason, the voice within said. But he, having little, could never wed an heiress. Other men would, but if Lady Fortune Lindley was prideful, so was Kieran Devers.

  "William's brother is going to remain the night, and visit," Jasmine said to her daughter. "Isn't that nice, poppet?"

  Fortune said nothing, but she smiled weakly. The look in her eyes said she didn't think it nice at all. How dared this interloper push himself into their little group when she was attempting to know more about Will? Fortune was not happy. William Devers seemed a nice young man, but he had such old-fashioned ideas, a dreadful mother, and a rogue for a brother. He didn't set her pulses racing as she had expected the love of her life would. His older brother aroused more feeling in her breast than did Will.

  Fortune gasped. God's nightshirt! She stole a look at Kieran Devers, and to her great mortification he met her eye and winked. She felt the heat suffuse her cheeks, and quickly lowered her head. This was impossible! Kieran Devers was highly unsuitable and worse, he was a practicing Catholic. W
ill Devers was far more eligible as a husband. He would inherit his father's lands and chattels one day; and if he was a bit old-fashioned, she would influence him to be less so. There was no one she cared for at all in Scotland or England. She was going to be twenty in a few months. If not William Devers, then who? Fortune wondered. Certainly not that dark-eyed devil who was his half-brother.

  Kieran Devers was not a reliable man, she was certain. After all, he had given up his position as his father's heir simply over the matter of religion. What sort of a man was that big a fool? An honest one, a little voice in her head said. That may be, Fortune thought, but I don't want an exciting life where I never know what one day will bring. That's the kind of life a woman would lead with Kieran Devers. I want stability, not adventure.

  "Mama, may Will sit next to me at dinner tonight?" Fortune asked her mother in sweetly appealing tones. The sooner she could get over her reticence about William Devers, the sooner they could be wed.

  "Of course," Jasmine said, and wondered what it was all about. She had seen Kieran Devers flirting with Fortune, to Fortune's dismay. Then her daughter's face had grown contemplative. What had she been thinking about? Jasmine considered. Then she decided if Fortune were forcing herself to make a match with William when she really wasn't certain, it could only lead to her daughter's unhappiness.

  I shall sit William on Fortune's right, and Kieran on her left, Jasmine silently decided. Fortune had recently said she would wed only for love, although there had been a time when her ideas were more sanguine about marriage. What had happened to her practical, sensible child? Still, better love with the wrong man than an unhappy eternity with the right one. If Fortune was attracted to Kieran, better she face it now, and not marry young William because he was the right choice. Her daughter could be stubborn. Besides, and Jasmine smiled to herself, a rascal made a far more interesting lover than a proper gentleman. I can't allow her to make a mistake, Jasmine decided. Ican't!

  Of course if Jemmie discovered what was going on he was going to be furious despite his promise to allow Fortune her own decision. She would have to keep the truth from him as long as possible. "Adali," she called to her majordomo. "Put Master Kieran's things in with his brother's. They can share a room and a bed. I'm certain they've done it before. Erne Rock is so small, but it's a wonderful place for a young couple, and their children. Don't you think so, Lady Jane?"

  "I had thought William and his wife would live with us at Mallow Court. After all, it is to be William's estate one day, isn't it, Kieran?"

  "Indeed, madame, it is," he agreed cheerfully.

  "If there is a wedding," Jasmine said, again striking a little bit of fear into Lady Devers's heart. "I think the young couple should have their own home. Fortune should not have to live with her husband's relations. She will have Erne Rock in Ireland, and of course, the duke and I intend seeing she has a suitable house in England, either near her brother's seat at Cadby, or her half-brother's seat at Queen's Malvern." She smiled brightly. "We will want to introduce them into the court."

  "Mama, you know I hate the court," Fortune said.

  "But you must make contacts, my darling, if you are to be successful with your breeding farm," Jasmine reminded her. "After all, you cannot depend upon your share of the family's trading company for your entire support. You surely didn't think I meant to bring you to Ireland and leave you here?"

  "I didn't know," Fortune said, puzzled by her mother's speech.

  James Leslie and Sir Shane came into the Great Hall. They had been closeted in the library, discussing the terms of a settlement should there be a marriage between their children. Kieran Devers arose and greeted his father. Then he bowed to the duke as his father introduced him to James Leslie. The duke saw an unrepentant Celt like himself in Kieran Devers, and immediately liked him. The lad was a fool, of course, to give up his inheritance for the church, but one had to admire his faith, and his tenacity in holding on to what he believed was right.

  "Yer content with yer decisions then, laddie?" the duke said.

  "Aye, your grace," Kieran Devers replied, knowing exactly what was being asked of him. "Mallow Court is my brother's, and I happily cede it to him."

  "Yet ye remain." James Leslie was curious.

  "For now," Kieran responded. "I feel there is somewhere else for me in this world, my lord, but I am not certain where it is at this moment in time. I am satisfied to wait, for in time I will be led there."

  James Leslie nodded. Strangely he understood exactly what the young man was saying. The Irish were even more fey than the Scots. If Kieran Devers were awaiting a revelation, then he would undoubtedly get it eventually.

  "Dinner is served, my lord," Adali said. "My lady says you are to come to table at once."

  "Gentlemen," the duke said, and led his guests to the high board.

  Chapter 4

  It astounded William Devers to learn how quickly he had fallen in love with Fortune Lindley, but he was certain he was in love. She was the most beautiful girl in the world. He liked her flaming red hair no matter what his mother said, and Lady Jane had a great deal to say when they returned home. She kept her peace in the coach as they traveled around the end of the lough back to Lisnaskea. It was as if she were afraid the duchess would hear her unless she was safely in her own home. William was quite surprised that his mother was so intimidated by Jasmine Leslie. He had found her lovely to behold, and quite charming in her manners.

  "I will marry Fortune as soon as possible," William announced to his parents when they were gathered about their own fire that evening.

  "No," his mother said, "you will not! She is far too outspoken a female. An educated, overbred bluestocking if I ever saw one. She is not the girl for you. Your cousin, Emily Anne, is far more suitable a match for you, William. She may not have Fortune Lindley's wealth, but no amount of monies could make up for having that Lindley girl in our family!"

  "I agree with you, madame," Kieran Devers supported his stepmother. "For the first time in our acquaintance, I agree with you."

  "You do?" Now Jane Devers was suspicious. "Why on earth would you agree with me, Kieran? You certainly never have before, although I did my best to raise you properly despite your Catholic leanings."

  He laughed. She had indeed done her duty, at least publicly, as his stepmother, and he had to admit to himself that she had never been a cruel woman. She could not help it that she preferred her own son, and had encouraged his father into disinheriting him so William could someday be the master of Mallow Court. Strangely he had no deep feelings for his home. It had been no loss. There was something else awaiting him, somewhere.

  "I concur with your conclusions because they are correct, madame. Fortune Lindley is a beautiful, spoilt wench of great privilege. She would destroy William without ever meaning to do so. Cousin Emily Anne, however, loves our Willy, and has since they were children. She is younger than Lady Fortune by almost three years. She will be delighted to live at Mallow Court with you to guide her. Lady Fortune would not."

  "You want her!" William accused his sibling. "You want her for yourself, Kieran. Don't think I don't see it!" His face was red with his anger.

  "Aye, I'm intrigued, I'll admit, but then wild things have always fascinated me, Willy. Nonetheless, I doubt the duke of Glenkirk, with his own royal blood, and close ties to the king, will be willing to match the likes of me with his beautiful, wealthy daughter. Matches among people of our class are not made that way. I have nothing to offer any respectable woman as you well know. So though I may desire her, I shall never have her. And you should not be foolish enough to seek her perfumed little hand."

  "Make the offer," William Devers told his father. "Make it, or I shall leave this house forever, and never come back!"

  "Dearest." Lady Jane reached out, and touched her son's face, but he shrank back from her.

  "I will have Fortune Lindley for my wife. When we are wed, we shall live at Erne Rock, and in England, for that will please her. I sh
all never set foot in this house as its master until you are dead and gone, madame. You will rule me no more!"

  "But you will allow her to," his mother snapped.

  "She has more to offer me than you do, Mama," he replied with devastating effect.

  Lady Jane burst into tears. "She's bewitched him!" she sobbed on her husband's sturdy shoulder. "Or else my son should never speak to me in such a terrible fashion. She has bewitched him!"

  "Don't be a fool, Willy," Kieran chided the young man. "This girl is beautiful, it is true, but she is not for you. You have absolutely nothing in common with her that I can think of. What would you talk to her about?"

  "Talk? I don't want to talk with her. You damned well know what I want to do with her!" came the angry reply.

  "Ohhhhhh!" Lady Jane collapsed against her husband in shock.

  Sir Shane swallowed back a chuckle. "Mind yer tongue, you young scamp," he half-scolded William.

  But Kieran did laugh, receiving a furious look from his overwrought stepmother. "You've raised him honest, madame," he said shrugging.

  "If you truly desire it, William, I will tender an offer to the duke of Glenkirk for his daughter," Sir Shane said to his disquieted son.

  "If you do, I shall never forgive you," his equally agitated wife cried out. "She is a dreadful girl! Dreadful! Dreadful! Dreadful!"