Cailín (Lass) (Anam Céile Chronicles) (14 page)

Siobhán
refused to hear anything of it.  Finally, her father asserted it had all been
quite settled and was in everybody’s best interest.  The wedding was scheduled
for the end of that week.  She screamed that she hated us and locked herself in
her room for days.  Believe me, Aislinn, it tugged at my heart so to listen to
her irrepressible lamenting sobs.”

 “The
first few months after the wedding, I tried not to let Siobhán’s miserable behaviour
affect me, convinced she would adjust and find some joy in her new life soon
enough.” Misses O’Connor took a deep breath before proceeding.  “Yet still, I
found it difficult to shake the dead expression her face had taken on. 

“And
then she became with child, and I saw some life return to her, bestowing me
with a grand hope.  I was certain the baby would help aid her acclimation.” she
spoke, though not sure whether ‘twas to me or herself.

I
listened on as Misses O’Connor continued, easily imagining how I would feel
were it me.  “One day during a visit, I decided to talk with her and see if I
could somehow help her through her adjustment.  It was then I only began to realise
that which she had already withstood.  Through her indignity, Siobhán revealed
to me hesitantly, that which had transpired since she had wed that man.”

I
gripped the sofa, anticipating the various possibilities leading to the final
consequences of which already I be aware.

 “I
shall not retell the things she told me that day, for a lass innocent as you
shan’t be subjected to the details of such obscenities.  Only I will tell you
that he not be regarding her in the manner of a wife, more precisely demanding
acts of her only fit for that of a whore.” 

She
waited a moment while the comprehension of what she said registered upon me
face.  When she perceived that it had, she continued her story, her face contorting
in her sorrow.

“Siobhán
confessed to me that she sought out her former lover, as she felt Kieran would
be the only one to understand her distress over enduring her husband’s
exploitation of her.  And ‘twas his son she soon thereafter bore.  Your
Donovan.”

Me hand
flew to me heart, the words stunning me. 

Not any
inkling had I of this!

“The
abuse of Siobhán by her husband continued, and so did she continue seeing her
lover in secret, most times with their child.  Once when she came to him with
dreadful contusions upon her face, Kieran became so enraged that he determined
to confront her husband for his treatment of the woman he loved and reveal to
him that the child was actually his own.  He expected her husband would merely
cast out her and the child, and he could then take them on as he originally
intended.

“Knowing
the character of her husband as she did, Siobhán knew better.  That day, she
brought the child here to me so that he would not be present for whatever would
inevitably ensue.  A wretched feeling I had in the pit of my stomach and I
begged her not to return there.  She smiled and told me not to fret and kissed
me and her baby before she marched out the door to her fate.

“The
whole of that day I did wait, clutching tightly to my precious grandson, the
pit in me stomach carving deeper and deeper.  Alas, I heard nothing.  When that
night she had not returned for the child, we knew in our hearts that something
treacherous had occurred.  Thus, late that night, Mister O’Connor went to the
home of her husband to determine the situation.” 

Misses
O’Connor cast her eyes down, yet still I could see the pain there in them. 
“When he arrived, he discovered our Siobhán . . .” her eyes became excruciating
and she had to swallow rigidly to speak.  “. . . she was departed . . . 
murdered
.”
she paused another moment, looking down at her hands. 

When
she looked up again, a tear escaped down her face.  “I knew in me heart the
moment she left the baby with us to go deal with that man alone that no good
could come of it, but her father refused to accept it.  Not long thereafter,
the whole truth came to light.”

Growing
impatient, I waited to hear the consequence.  She weighed whether to fill me in
on what had happened or leave it at that fer me to draw me own conclusions. 
She looked at me and something she saw in me face motivated her decision. 

She
sighed deeply as she revealed to me the conclusion of her heartbreak story.  “Evidently,
my talk with Siobhán had changed her perspective and had given her the
inspiration to rise against his maltreatment of her.  For that I shall forever honour
her.  Regrettably though, before she arrived, Kieran informed him that the
child was indeed his own.  Upon her arrival, her infuriated husband struck her
repeatedly ‘til death did find her.” 

Me
horror must have been evidenced all over me face, fer she reached over and
hugged me tight to her.  I began sobbing audibly.

“’Tis
alright dear.  Many years ago that was, and he did reap that which he sowed.”

I
looked to her questioningly. 

“Kieran
returned to discover his beloved slain and in his rage, and with his bare
hands, he did deprive that man of taking another breath.  When poor Mister
O’Connor arrived that night, the scene he came upon was one of her lover
sobbing and clutching to Siobhán’s lifeless body, her husband dead upon the
floor in the next room.”  She paused, shaking her head in sorrow.  “I just
thank God the baby, Donovan, was here safe with us!”

As I
be!  What a weight to carry!  This be the heartbreak they endured, taking
blame, ignoring the desperate pleas of their daughter.  Sorry fer them I be,
but what should they expect in forcing such a fate upon her?  And what gives a
man the right to hold his wife accountable by her life if she follows her heart
and refuses to commit vile acts in order to please him? 

If
fathers would not treat daughters as commodities or cattle to simply trade off
to the highest bidder, and men would not treat their wives as mere contrivances
serving to satisfy their libido, things of this horrific nature would never
happen!  Thankful I be, I have absconded such a tragic fate and be free to
marry the man of me own choosin’, the man I love. 

Following
our conversation, she assisted me in me washing up, so that by the time Donovan
came back through the door that evening, I would be presentable once again. 
Misses O’Connor dug out her daughter’s remaining clothes and granted them to
me, since I had escaped with naught but those which be upon me back.  Though
casual, still, they were much nicer clothes than anything ever I had possessed.

When
Donovan walked through the door, I startled him by dashing up and assailing him
with a hearty embrace.  Upon spotting me in his mother’s clothes, I discerned
the residual sadness transmitted through the smile which painted his face.

How unfortunate
fer him that he never knew his mother!  At least he had this good woman to care
fer him!

Dusk
just falling, by carriage Donovan drove me to Deirdre’s new home in Galway. 
Though it would take into the late night hours afore we arrived, ‘twas glad I
be fer the long ride, fer the chance to be with him fer that prolonged time. 

He
drove on in silence, seeming reflective, and I wondered whether it be in
regards to the situation which I had brought upon him or if he ruminated over
thoughts of his mother long gone.  After the long day, me emotional outbursts
of that morning, and the traumatic past night, fer once I welcomed the silence
and sleep soon found me as I rested me head upon his shoulder. 

We
arrived at Deirdre’s home in the late hours.  Still, I cannot fathom how Donovan
knew to find it so easily!  To me wonder, they resided in a moderately large
white country manor, as nothing in Éire ever I had set me eyes upon!  Suppose I
should not have been astonished so, her family had always been reasonably
prosperous.  And since parents strive to have their lasses marry above their present
social position, Fergus’s family must have been even wealthier.   

When their
butler did not know us, Deirdre came to the door to investigate the cause fer
the visitors at such a late hour. 

“Aislinn!”
she startled, stunned to see me.  Quickly the surprised look she wore became
quizzical.

“’Tis
quite the extensive story.”  I sighed heavily. 

Then
remembering me always atrocious manners, I turned to the beloved lad at me
side.  “Donovan, be acquainted with me cousin, Deirdre.” 

Realization
swept across her face, as he took her hand and swiftly she glanced over to me,
eyes wide with approval.  Suddenly, I had the distressing thought of him being
taken with her.  After all, she be the most
álainn
lass ever I have
known.  Of course, she be a married woman now, but still I hoped he would not
become smitten with her and thus not continue to perceive me in the
unexplainable way he has ‘til now.

“Please
do come in and sit,” she so graciously invited.  “Dreadfully weary from your
travels you must be!”

“Suppose
I do look a fright, then?” I excused meself.

“Nonsense,
Aislinn.  Actually, I cannot quite put my finger upon it, but I would dare to
say you appear better than ever I have seen you!” she pronounced, winking at me
as she looked me over approvingly.  I pretended not to know what she meant as I
suppressed the urge to giggle.

“Why,
thank you, Deirdre!” I obliged.  “And dare I say that, likewise, you appear
inconceivably all the more lovely since last I saw you!”

“You
are much too kind, dear cousin” she replied, leading us into the parlor.

The
interior of their home be far beyond the elegance I had expected. 

The
instant we stepped inside, we were accosted by this ostentatious object
flashing a spectacle of lights and garish gems suspended from the high white
ceilings, which were carved with elabourate patterns.  I squinted from the
stark illumination glaring straight into me eyes.

Once me
eyes had carefully adjusted much as they could, I looked around further.  It
seemed that every conceivable surface had either carvings or be shrouded in
frenzied patterns of florae or spinning swirls.  ‘Twas all stark white and in
pastels shades of yellow, blue, green and red.  Colours that, up until then,
never had I witnessed in use in any home.  

Audacious!

The
floors were of a square cut, polished stone, I presumed.  I feared I would
surely slip upon them when walking through, so smooth they be!

Fergus
walked in to greet us just then.  Deirdre rose to meet him as she proceeded to
introduce us.  “Darling, certainly you do remember my dear cousin, Aislinn
MacAuliffe.”   His eyes widened in hearing that before him stood the same
unkempt little brat he recalled having plagued his future wife’s family with
her presence each summer, save fer the last. 

Fergus
moved toward me, taking me hand lightly in his to kiss it.   I smiled at him
gracefully as I could fare.  He returned it with a rather sophisticated smile. 
I had to admit, he definitely not be the gangly lad I evoked from our
childhood.  Long and lean he be with charming features and the same deep auburn
hair, yet somehow it all came together quite nicely now. 

Certain
I spotted a smirk form upon Deirdre’s mouth, she continued the introduction. 
“And this be, Donovan.”  They nodded to each other in acknowledgement.

“Can
you believe they drove all the way here from Ballyvaughan just this eve?” she
informed him in amazement as she led us into the parlor.  “Aislinn was nearly
on the threshold of apprising us the paradoxical events which has led them so
fortuitously to our door tonight,” Deirdre portrayed to him as she courteously
motioned fer us all to be seated.

The
upholstered furnishings in this exclusive room echoed the quantity of carvings
and patterns as elsewhere.  So extravagant they were, I could scarcely fathom
they be fer actual use.

Thus,
once more I retold the story of yesterday’s events projecting me to this
moment. 

“Oh you
poor thing!” be all Deirdre could manage to utter, her face becoming
increasingly more struck by revulsion as I recapitulated the words of me
father.  “Quite bold you are, Aislinn!  Are you not terrified he will come for
you?”

“Not a
lone care remains fer him with me.”  I stated unfeelingly, waving me hand.

The
three of them just silently glanced to one another, apparently all shocked in
sensing the same deathly coldness emanating from me voice.

Deidre
and Fergus so kindly insisted that Donovan retire there fer the night, so that
he may drive back fresh in the light of morning.  How arduous ‘twas to behave
knowing he was just down the corridor sleeping in the very same house as I, with
no father to hinder me! 

That be
the most arduous night of me life to that point!  Lay in bed awake did I fer
those endless hours; stirring, trying to talk meself out of sneaking in and
stealing into bed with him!  Feel his arms about me, the heat of his skin upon
mine, our bodies pressed close, safe in each other!  How I desired to breathe
him in so deeply I might taste his scent in me throat, savour it.