Destiny's Path (11 page)

‘Send that maid to me, then.’

He went to find Xanthe. ‘My wife wishes to wash and needs some refreshments. Perhaps you could show her to the spare bedroom and attend to it?’

‘Of course,
sir
.’ She smiled mischievously as she called him that, had clearly realised that with Kathleen around they could not relax or seem too friendly.

‘And remember, Xanthe, my mother is still mistress here and . . . if my wife doesn’t use your real name, don’t answer her.’

‘I’ve met that before. They called me Susan at the soup kitchen in Lancashire. I suppose because it’s similar in sound.’

‘They had no right to do that – and nor does she.’

‘Might is right. Only money gives you freedom.’

‘And sometimes, not even then.’

It seemed to him that her look was full of sympathy. She didn’t yet understand quite how bad Kathleen could be, but a few days would enlighten her.

Oh, hell, what was he going to do?

Conn walked slowly back through the house to the front veranda, where he found Ronan sitting beside his mother, his arm round her shoulders as she wept. His friend must have told her the news.

Conn went to her other side and knelt beside her. ‘I didn’t expect you to weep for my father.’

‘I’m not. I’m weeping for sheer relief that I no longer have to fear him coming here to drag me back to live with him. It’d shock a priest, but you both know what a harsh man he was and I was always afraid of him, always.’ She mopped her eyes. ‘I’m forgetting my duties. Could you find Maia and ask her to help her sister sort out bedrooms for our guests?’

‘You’ll be all right?’

‘I’ll stay with her,’ Ronan said.

It was then that Conn remembered what Kathleen had told him. ‘I’m sorry about your mother.’ He saw a bleak look come into his friend’s eyes.

‘Yes.’ Ronan looked at Mrs Largan. ‘My mother died on the ship coming here. There was nothing the doctor could do to help her.’

She stared at him. ‘You’ve just lost your mother?’

‘It’s over a month ago now.’

‘Oh, Ronan, I’m so sorry. I know what a loving mother she was.’

He gave a wry smile. ‘In her own way. I’m getting used to it now. Actually, Kathleen was quite helpful at the time. In her own way. At least she stayed with my mother. I was surprised by that.’

‘She was always good with sick horses. And she’s had it drummed into her what you should do in every situation.’ Mrs Largan sighed. ‘Beaten into her, from what she told me. She’s not had an easy life.’

‘Beaten into her?’

‘Yes. Her parents were very strict and her mother whipped her regularly.’

‘Poor thing. I didn’t realise.’

‘That still doesn’t excuse the way she behaves!’ Conn said. ‘I’ll not have you feeling sorry for her, Mother, and letting her upset the household.’

‘She’ll upset it anyway. Where is she now?’

‘In the only spare bedroom that’s furnished. She can use it while she’s here, because it’s at the far end of the house from you and me.’ He looked at his friend. ‘We’ll have to move some furniture around and I’ll ask your help in putting the beds together for the other rooms. We never did get round to finishing them. Well, there was no reason. Not many people are likely to want to come and visit a convict.’

His mother patted his hand as if understanding his pain. ‘Shh now. We’ll get through this.’

He couldn’t think how.

Maia went through into the kitchen, where her sister was putting some refreshments on a tray.

‘
She
has decided to eat in the dining room, not her bedroom,’ Xanthe said with a grimace in that direction. ‘I’m not dusting it for her. I’ve enough to do with all the guests.’

‘Shall I go and set the table?’

‘Certainly not. I’ll take in a tray. But you could start getting some refreshments ready for the others. I’m hoping Orla will help us too, once her mistress is eating.’ She turned towards the outer door and saw the groom who’d come with Ronan standing on the veranda. ‘Come in, do. I’m Xanthe. This is my sister Maia. We’re all at sixes and sevens, but we’ll find you something to eat presently.’

‘I’m Bram. I’m not needed in the stables, so can I help you at all here?’

‘You can. If you’ll watch the kettle and fill the big teapot when it boils, it’ll be a help. I’ve put the tealeaves in already. Thank you.’ She turned back to Maia. ‘Conn made a point of saying we were to refer any orders that weren’t reasonable to his mother, who will remain in charge.’ She bent closer to whisper, ‘Be careful not to give yourself away!’

When Xanthe carried the tray into the dining room, she found Kathleen sitting at the head of the table. She set down the tray in front of her, not commenting on that. ‘Please ring when you need this cleared away, ma’am.’ She turned to leave.

‘I’m not eating off a tray. I want this table setting properly. I can’t believe Mrs Largan accepts such shoddy service.’

‘I don’t have time to set tables. There are other guests needing food.’ Xanthe turned to leave the room.

Behind her, Kathleen yelled, ‘Come back! Come back this minute!’

Xanthe carried on walking, wincing at the shrillness of the other woman’s voice.

She stopped dead in shock when she heard the sound of smashing crockery.

When he heard the noise, Conn set off running. It had started.

With a quick word of excuse to his hostess, Ronan followed him, passing Xanthe, who was staring open-mouthed into the dining room. Both men stopped in the doorway.

Kathleen was sitting at the head of the dusty dining table.

‘I
will not
accept such shoddy service.’ She thumped the table to emphasise her words. ‘How
dare
that servant speak to
me
like that? She must be dismissed instantly. Instantly, I tell you.’

Conn stared at the tray, which was lying upside down on the floor on top of a welter of food and smashed crockery, then looked back at his wife’s furious face.

‘You will get rid of her! Dismiss her at once,’ she repeated.

He said nothing because silence was as good a weapon as any with her. Kathleen glared at him, but when he didn’t move, she began to fight for control over her emotions, something he’d seen her do before. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her struggle for so long, though, nor could he remember her acting quite so outrageously.

‘Wait for us in the kitchen, please, Xanthe. I’ll deal with this.’ Conn turned back to his wife, horrified to see how much crockery she’d broken. The mess was so far from the table that she must have hurled it. This was the act of a child in a tantrum or . . . he looked at her flushed face and wild, staring eyes and couldn’t help thinking
a madwoman
.

‘I’ll pick that mess up,’ Ronan said quietly, ‘and I’ll stay here in case you need help.’

Conn realised then that his friend was thinking the same thing.

Halting footsteps made them both turn round.

He forced a smile. ‘No need to worry, Mother. Kathleen just had an – accident.’

‘I won’t be served by sluts and when I reprimanded her,
she
threw the tray on the floor. I’m a lady born and bred, the wife of a man who was born a gentleman, at least, and I
will not
be treated like this. That lazy creature must go.’

Surely she didn’t think he’d believe this lie? Conn was utterly certain that Xanthe had not thrown a tray of food on to the floor, not because she hadn’t had time to run out of the room before he got there, but because it wasn’t in her nature. Kathleen had changed for the worse in the years since he’d seen her. No wonder his brother Kieran didn’t want her staying on at Shilmara. No wonder her own brother didn’t want her living with him and his family. The wonder was that they’d not locked her away before now. They must be delighted that she’d come to Australia.

‘Perhaps we’d better send for Orla to help you to your room.’

‘Why?’ Kathleen’s gaze was wide. ‘I don’t need her help just now, Conn. What I want is some food, served properly by those whose job it is.’

Ronan began to pick up the broken crockery and food. As he passed Conn, he whispered, ‘Don’t send for the maid. She beats poor Orla.’

Kathleen stood up, shoving her chair back so hard it fell over. ‘What are you whispering about?’

Conn’s mother moved forward. ‘Why don’t you come and sit with me on the front veranda, Kathleen. We often eat out there.’

‘You’ve lowered your standards.’

‘It’s a different country. Different standards apply here.’

‘That’s not what the women on the ship said. I used to listen to them talking. They didn’t bother to lower their voices. They said the gentry had to
maintain
their standards here. That’s what I’m doing.’

‘Some try to do that and they live miserable lives because it’s impossible. There aren’t enough servants here.’

The younger woman blinked her eyes furiously. ‘I wish I’d never come.’

‘It would have been better to write first. Anyway, you’re here now, so come and sit down with me, Kathleen. We’ll both have a piece of cake and a cup of tea.’

His wife stood there for so long Conn was about to intervene, but gradually the wild look faded from her eyes and she moved forward.

‘You’re moving very stiffly,’ she told her hostess, ‘worse than before.’

‘My joints are less painful than they used to be in Ireland, however.’

‘Stay with them,’ Conn whispered to Ronan. ‘I don’t want to leave her alone with my mother.’

Ronan gave him a pitying look and nodded.

When they’d gone, Conn went to speak to the maids, his heart heavy with fear about what his wife would do next. In the kitchen he asked for tea and cake for his mother and wife on the veranda. While he waited for Xanthe to get it ready, he studied Orla, who was looking subdued and had a red mark across one cheek. He went across to study it. ‘Did my wife hit you?’

The maid shrugged. ‘She does sometimes. It’s not so bad, sir.’

‘I’m not having it.’

She looked at him, her eyes dull and hopeless. ‘How will you stop her, sir?’

Silence, then. ‘Why do you stay with her?’

‘The old master said he’d throw my family out if I tried to leave.’

‘Did Kieran say the same thing?’

She looked puzzled. ‘I don’t know. It’s not for me to ask the new master about such things. He did say he was pleased she had me.’

It wouldn’t occur to Kieran to worry about whether Orla was happy. He usually left the servants to his wife. Conn turned to the two maids. ‘I’m sorry my wife is behaving – strangely. I think you two had better not be alone with her from now on. She’s very strong and can be quite violent. Orla, you must call for help if she hurts you again. Whoever’s nearest will come to make sure you’re all right.’

‘Better not, sir. She’ll get even angrier. It’s just a slap or two.’

Before he could argue with her, Xanthe pushed a tray forward. ‘Here you are.’

‘I’ll take it.’ Maia picked up the heavy wooden tray.

Conn followed her along the passageway, waiting out of sight while she took it to his mother. Kathleen was sitting staring out across the gardens, looking spent and weary now, as she often did after a tantrum.

He watched his mother pour some tea and keep up a gentle flow of conversation.

Kathleen responded briefly to her questions, ate two pieces of cake, then said, ‘I’m tired. I think I’ll go and lie down for a while.’

‘Do you remember the way to your bedroom?’

‘Yes.’

Conn slipped into a nearby room and waited till his wife had walked past, then went to sit with his mother. ‘She behaved better for you.’

‘She always did. Her mother used to whip her, you know, to teach her self-control. I speak to her gently.’

‘She didn’t show much self-control today, did she? I’ve never seen her behaving so badly.’

‘That poor girl should have led a quiet life in the country with the horses she loves. Instead her parents filled her head with foolish ideas that people should wait on her hand and foot.’

He looked over his shoulder and whispered, ‘Is she insane, do you think?’

‘I don’t know. Her aunt was very similar, you know. Strange as a girl, getting worse as she got older. They’d have had to lock her up but she drowned herself when she was twenty-two.’

‘I never heard that.’

‘Her family threatened trouble to anyone who spoke of it. Poorer people were too afraid for their livelihoods to do so. Most people of our class were too considerate to gossip about it.’

‘And yet my father insisted I marry Kathleen.’

‘For the money. I argued with him, but he threatened to disinherit you and throw us both out if I didn’t keep quiet.’

‘He threatened the same to me. He said he’d make you pay.’ He’d never told her that before, not in so many words.