Authors: Bertrice Small
Besieged (9 page)
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.
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 alluded 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 dare 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. Will 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.
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 attacted 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.
I can’t!
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.
I can’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.”
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 onto 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 somwhere 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
4
I
t 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.
t 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.”
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.
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 shall never set foot in this house as its master until you are dead and gone, madame. You will rule me no more!”
When we are wed, we shall live at Erne Rock, and in England, for that will please her. I shall 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.
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.
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!”
“Calm youself, madame,” Kieran said, and to her surprise he put an arm about his stepmother in a comforting gesture. “It is highly unlikely that Fortune Lindley will accept Willy’s offer, and the choice as we all heard, is hers to make.”
Jane Devers sniffed audibly. “Do you really think so, Kieran?”
He squeezed her hand. “I do, madame, I do!”
“You mean you hope,” snarled William. “Fortune will be my wife! I will not take no for an answer from her.”
“You will have to, you young fool!” his elder sibling shot back. “For God’s sake, Willy, if you make a spectacle of yourself over this girl, Emily Anne won’t have you at all. Behave like a Devers of Lisnaskea, and not some whining, spoiled English milord!” He turned to his father. “Perhaps, sir, this would be a good time for Willy to visit the Continent, and see how the rest of the world lives.”
Jane Devers pulled away from her stepson. “Oh, yes, Shane!” she cried to her husband. “He could go to London first, and see his sisters, and their families. And I will go with you, William! I have not been to London since I was a little girl.” She clapped her hands excitedly like a child. “We shall all go! You, too, Kieran.” Her heart was overflowing with good will at this moment. It was a most wonderful idea. She would get her son away from Fortune Lindley. When they returned the girl would have undoubtedly gone back to Scotland with her family.
And Emily Anne Elliot would be waiting.
“I’ll need a new wardrobe, of course, judging by the duchess’s beautiful gown. I wonder if Colleen has a good dressmaker down in Dublin who would be willing to come up to Ulster? I must write her this very day.” She hurried from the room.
And Emily Anne Elliot would be waiting.
“I’ll need a new wardrobe, of course, judging by the duchess’s beautiful gown. I wonder if Colleen has a good dressmaker down in Dublin who would be willing to come up to Ulster? I must write her this very day.” She hurried from the room.
“Make the offer to the duke,” William Devers said, implacably.
Kieran Devers went to the sideboard, and poured out three double drams of peat whiskey into small polished pewter cups. He handed one to his father, and one to his younger brother, keeping the third for himself.
Shane Devers gulped the liquid fire down. It seared his throat as it dropped into his stomach like a hot stone. “Hear me out before I go any further,” he said to his heir. “I spoke with the duke the first night we were at Erne Rock. The terms of any marriage agreement between you and Lady Fortune would be very odd to say the least. He tells me this is the standard marriage contract for all the women in his family. You would receive a settlement in gold, to be agreed upon by both families. As for the rest of Lady Fortune’s wealth, and lands, they remain in her hands. You would have no say in how she managed her property at all, William.”
“But what if she frittered her wealth away as any woman would do given such license? Women do not know how to manage their pin money let alone manage great wealth, Da. Look how Mama always comes to you to wheedle additional coins because she has spent her allowance before the quarter is up,” William said.
“Lady Fortune has been managing her own wealth since she was a maid of twelve according to her stepfather. Her great-grandmother taught her how before she died. She was the famous Skye O’Malley, who was old Queen Bess’s confidante, if the stories be true. The girl has almost doubled her wealth in the past few years, William. She is no fool.
“Do you think you could marry a woman who would not heed your advice regarding her investments? For after all, William, you know nothing of such things. This girl has grown up in a noble and wealthy family, and she is clever. She would not be content to simply sit at home and manage her household while having your children. I am not overwhelmed by jealousy and wild emotions as is your mama, but I, too, agree with her that this marriage would not be a good thing for you. Still, if knowing what I have just told you you still wish me to approach the duke of Glenkirk with a firm offer, I shall do it, my son.”
“Make the offer,”
William Devers said through gritted teeth.
William Devers said through gritted teeth.
Kieran shrugged, and poured himself another dram of whiskey. “You want to lie with her, and can think of no other way of doing it than to marry the wench,” he said scornfully. “I know a lass who would pleasure you so well you would forget all about Fortune Lindley.”
“You want her yourself,” his brother repeated angrily.
“If I wanted her, little Willy, I’d take her,” Kieran Devers said with brutal frankness. “Virgins don’t interest me, however.”
“You bastard!” William Devers yelled, and tried to hit his brother, but Kieran was too quick for him, and pinioned the young man’s arms to his sides, shaking his head wearily.
“Behave yourself, Willy, or your mama won’t take you to London Town,” he teased his brother wickedly.
“Leave him be, Kieran lad,” their father said to his elder son, “and you,” he told the younger sternly, “keep your hands to yourself! I’ll not have my sons fighting amongst themselves like savages.”
“You’ll make the offer?” William demanded, shaking himself free of his elder brother’s grip.
“I’ll send over to Erne Rock in the morning,” Shane Devers promised his heir.
“My lord, this message has just arrived from Mallow Court,” Adali said coming into the Great Hall the following morning.
The duke took the folded parchment, and breaking the seal scanned the contents. “They’ve offered for Fortune,” he said. Then he turned to his stepdaughter. “Well, lassie? Will ye hae him, or no?”
Jasmine held her breath.
“I know I should accept him, Papa,” she began. “It is the sensible thing to do for I am not getting any younger.”
“But ye won’t accept him, will ye, lass?” James Leslie said.
Fortune shook her head in the negative. “No, I won’t. Poor Will. I know he cares not a whit for my money. He is handsome, and has a nice little estate he’ll inherit one day; but Papa, he is the dullest man I have ever met in my entire life. And his ideas about women are positively ancient. They are supposed to stay at home having babies, and listening adoringly to whatever their husbands say. He is ill educated for his class, and does not care. He has no interests at all except riding, but horses are only a means of transportation for him. He is not in the least attracted to the idea of breeding, and raising the beasts for sale. That, he says, is for Maguire to handle. I could find nothing of interest to speak with him about, and Lord knows, I tried. If I must remain a spinster, then I will remain a spinster, but I should rather go to my grave a virgin than wed with such a handsome young dunce!”
Jasmine let her breath out in an audible swoosh. “Thank goodness!” she said. “I was so afraid you would do the
right
thing, poppet, and he would have made you miserable, I fear.”
right
thing, poppet, and he would have made you miserable, I fear.”
“Very well,” James Leslie said with surprising calm, “then what are we to do now?”
“I think we should remain in Ireland for the next few months,” Fortune suggested.
“Agreed,” Jasmine replied. “And we must make certain that poor young William is not embarrassed by your refusal, poppet. It must be put out that you simply didn’t suit each other, but that our families have all remained friends despite our mutual disappointment.”
“I concur,” James Leslie said. “We will deliver our refusal in person. I would not embarrass the Deverses. You and I will ride over tomorrow morning for it is too late now for us to go and return. We must start early. First, however, I would tell Father Cullen, and the Reverend Steen. They had high hopes for this match. Cullen will understand, but it will be hard for Reverend Steen.”
“Shall I come too?” Fortune asked.
“I think not,” her stepfather said.
Fortune hugged him hard, and kissed his handsome cheek. “Thank you for understanding, Papa,” she said. “I realize I am a disappointment to you in that I cannot settle upon a husband, but as nice as he is, Will Devers is not the man for me. I wonder if any man is.”
In the morning the duke and duchess of Glenkirk set out for Mallow Court. They both enjoyed the gentle hills and the soft weather as they rode. Mallow Court was a pleasant Tudor dwelling, and the announcement of their arrival brought both Sir Shane and Lady Devers hurrying into their Great Hall where Jasmine and James were already being served wine by the well-trained household servants.
“Forgive us for our unannounced arrival,” James Leslie said, kissing Jane Devers’s hand, “but we wanted to come personally to give you an answer to your offer for Lady Fortune.”
Dear God, Jane Devers thought, agitated. They are going to take my William away from me. She flung her husband a distraught look.
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