The House by the Liffey (14 page)

It was almost three years since Izzy's abduction and things at Riverside had moved forward at something of a breakneck speed. Mageen was now twenty-three. She had finished her degree and, in spite of her heartbreak, had pulled herself together with admirable determination and had done very well. From the day she had unburdened herself to Maggie, sitting on the riverbank, she had never again mentioned Freddie's name, not even when the verdict of his trial, the death penalty, was announced. It was later commuted to imprisonment for life with hard labour.

Both her parents were delighted, but especially Milo, when she opted for a career in stockbroking and joined the family firm. Through a business colleague, Milo had arranged for her to spend six months in London, working in the Stock Exchange. She thoroughly enjoyed the experience and rose to its challenge without being the slightest bit fazed. Her enthusiasm had been really fired, confirming for her that this was the career she wanted.

‘I loved every minute of it, Dad. The excitement of being in there at the sharp end is fantastic. And London is such a vibrant and interesting place. I had a good time socially too.'

‘Yes, you mentioned that there were several of you who became good friends and went out together.'

‘That worked so well, with no one committed to anyone else, which suited me down to the ground. When it was time to come home I was quite torn. I wanted to stay longer but I missed home so much that in the end there was no real contest. Anyhow, there's nothing to stop me from going back there now and again for a kind of refresher course, is there?'

‘No, indeed. You know we wouldn't have tried to stop you if you had decided to stay and live in London, but Mum and I are delighted that you wanted to come home. We've missed you such a lot. I'm very impressed with some of the business ideas and practices you've brought back with you too. We'll look at introducing some of them here.'

‘Can I be involved?'

‘But of course!'

‘Great!'

Milo smiled. He adored all of his children, each for different reasons. Mageen was his firstborn and he remembered so clearly the first time he held her in his arms: the sense of overwhelming joy and protectiveness that had surged through him. Then, too, she looked so like her mother in features and in the huge eyes, so dark they were almost black. The only difference was his beloved Noola had black curls whereas Mageen's glorious dark, chestnut hair came from his mother, Rachel.

Later that evening he and Noola were chatting about Mageen's experiences in London.

‘Judging from what she said, she didn't form any sort of romantic attachment over there.'

‘It's obviously going to take a bit longer for her to trust anyone enough.'

‘Do you think she ever will, Noola?'

‘I hope so … someday.'

* * * * *

Bill and Harry were now twenty, but one of the most dramatic developments during those intervening years had been that Bill, when it came to time to choose whether or not to go to university, had dropped something of a bombshell. The whole family regularly had holidays together. A visit at least once a year to their villa in Monte Carlo was a must and they all loved going to the beautiful old house in Oughterard, in County Galway, where Milo's grandparents had lived in their retirement. However, every year Milo made a point of taking the twins away with him for an all-male holiday. He felt this was important. It created an atmosphere of letting down of hair away from everyone else. Before Tommy had joined the RAF he was always included in this trip. Noola would do likewise with the girls and in each case the young people were allowed to choose the location. It was a very successful tactic.

When Bill and Harry had been in their final year in school, their parents had never been given any reason to doubt that they would go to Trinity together, following in the footsteps of their grandfather and his twin and then their father. In the year following Izzy's abduction, it was the long weekend in May and the boys had chosen Oughterard, where the salmon fishing was second to none, for their special time with Dad. Milo, whose antennae were finely tuned to his children's moods, however well disguised, realised that something was bothering Bill. Whatever it was he was absolutely certain that Harry knew about it. The boys were so close that, even if Bill hadn't confided in him, Harry would have been aware of his brother's anxiety. This was confirmed when, on the last day of their holiday, after their evening meal, Harry made a very thinly disguised excuse to go to one of the local pubs.

‘Like to come with me anyone?'

‘Not this evening, Harry.' Bill's reply was rather hasty and Milo realised that this had been agreed between them.

‘Dad?'

‘No thanks, Harry. I think I'll stay here with Bill and enjoy this lovely fire.'

Although it was May it was still cool in the evenings and a fire had been lit in the comfortable sitting room, creating an atmosphere conducive to intimacies. Milo poured drinks for them and then they sat for a while not saying very much.

‘Game of chess?'

‘Er – no thanks, Dad.'

By now Milo's imagination was running riot. What was wrong with the boy? Well whatever, he wasn't going to rush him. His biggest worry was that Bill had discovered he had some dreadful illness and didn't know how to tell him. Please, God, don't let it be that, he prayed. Anything but that!

‘Dad, there's something I need to discuss with you.'

‘Go ahead, Bill.'

‘Well I'm worried about it. I've made a decision about my career, but I'm so afraid that you'll be disappointed.'

Relief washed over Milo. It wasn't some awful terminal disease. Anything else he could cope with.

‘Bill, it's your life and the choice as to where or how you want to make your career is entirely up to you. Why on earth do you think I might be disappointed?'

‘Because it's far away from anything you might have hoped for. It will mean I won't be joining the family firm, making a career in stockbroking.'

‘That's perfectly all right. As I just said it's
your
life, the choice is yours.'

‘But you may not like it!'

‘For goodness' sake, Bill, what on earth are you trying to tell me? I can't imagine what you could choose that I wouldn't like!'

‘I want to train to be a priest.'

Of all the things Milo might have imagined, that would not have been one of them. But, when he thought about it, perhaps it wasn't such a surprise. From the time they were old enough to think for themselves, all five children had been allowed to make their own decisions as to whether they followed their mother or their father in which church they went to. Bill and Sarah had chosen to go to the chapel with Noola and Maggie. Mageen, Harry and Izzy went with Milo, Tommy and Aunt May to the church in the nearby village, which had been attended by Butlers for generations. However, quite often the whole family went together to one or other. It was an unusual arrangement for the times and not an easy one for some, but was accepted by all concerned and outside interference was not tolerated. Bill had always had both respect and affection for old Father Callaghan and Milo knew they had often spent time together discussing religious issues, but Milo had never suspected that his son might be considering a career in the church. There was silence while Bill waited in trepidation and then his father voiced his thoughts.

‘That is a very brave decision and I suspect it hasn't been an easy one for you. I'm quite sure you've thought it through very carefully and probably discussed it with Father Callaghan, but are you fully aware of all that you will be sacrificing?'

Bill's relief was overwhelming.

‘Yes, Dad.'

‘Truly? We Butlers tend to be a pretty virile lot. You'll be foregoing a happy married relationship, physical as well as emotional, and having children.'

‘I know and I haven't rushed into the decision. I've agonised over it for a long time, going round and round the arguments for and against. You're right I've talked to Father Callaghan but I've also talked it through, over and over again, with Harry. He's been so patient – never got short-tempered with me for going on and on about it.'

‘Good! I'm glad you could do that and good for Harry, but I would have expected no less, the two of you being so close. So you'll be applying to Maynooth?'

‘Yes.'

‘Well at least it's only down the road so we will see you from time to time!'

‘Yes, of course. And, Dad, . . . thanks!'

‘For what, Billy Boy, for wanting you to be happy and follow your own inclination? God bless you and grant you happiness in your decision. It's such an important one.'

The floodgates opened. Bill, greatly to his relief, now felt free to talk to his father in depth and at length about his calling: his wish to dedicate his life to God's work. They talked on for a long time and Milo was impressed and proud of his son's courage of his convictions. He also realised that this was no sudden or spur of the moment decision. It
had
been thought through long and carefully, obviously agonised over as Bill had said.

When told to the rest of the family, this news was greeted with varying responses. Noola and Maggie were delighted, although they had the same concerns about the sacrifices Bill would be making. However, like Milo, they reckoned that it was Bill's life choice and he must be very aware of all that. Not so, down-to-earth, outspoken Mageen, who, having grown up with Tommy just a few years older and the twins three years younger, had no inhibitions in saying what she thought to them, even if about intimate topics.

‘Good heavens, Billy, you mean a big husky fellow like you is choosing to go through the rest of your life without any sex. You must be mad! You'll never stick it.'

‘
Mageen
,
really
! That's a most inappropriate comment to make. It's verging on being coarse.'

‘No it's not! For goodness' sake, Mum, he's my kid brother. We've said much worse things than that to each other.'

‘Well I don't want to hear about them, thank you, and please reserve them for private conversations between you.'

Bill was trying so hard not to laugh but not succeeding.

‘It's okay, Mum. It's our Mageen just being herself. I'm not offended. And, Mageen, I've thought it all through very carefully indeed and my convictions are strong enough to make me willing to forego all that.'

‘Well, good luck to you. I'm glad you've found something that you feel so strongly about but sad I'll never see you with children of your own.'

‘Thanks, but, after all, there are plenty of Butlers to keep the family name and business going.'

Quieter and somewhat more reserved than Mageen, Sarah was hugely impressed. She was very proud of her older brother and told him so.

* * * * *

By the summer of 1965 Bill was well into his studies and Harry was at university reading for a degree in maths and economics. He, like Mageen, wanted to make a career in stockbroking, much to Milo's relief and delight, for with two members of the family having this ambition, the future of the family firm was assured. Like his father and grandfather before him Harry was a great sportsman, with rowing his forte. He was a member of several rowing teams having his university colours in this sport. Bill was also maintaining his sporting prowess and with him too there was much emphasis on water sports.

Sarah, at nineteen and just a year younger than the twins, was also at university. She had opted to read for a degree in natural sciences and was especially keen on botany. She was fascinated by the orchid collection started by Grandpa Tom and was now working with Maggie to maintain and develop this. One unexpected aspect of her life at university was that, like her brother, she had joined Trinity Boat Club and was having as much success in the women's teams as was Harry in the men's. This was a first for the family and as her trophies joined those of generations of the Butler men in the library, so Milo's delight and pride in her grew. It was the icing on the cake of her academic successes. Tommy and her brothers were equally delighted and Uncle Paddy, who also had his colours for rowing, cheered her on and hoped his own daughter, Orla, would follow in Sarah's footsteps.

Izzy, now fourteen, attended a highly regarded independent girls' school in the city. Thanks to a huge level of support from those around her she had recovered well from her ordeal and now very rarely spoke of it. An unexpected legacy of her traumatic experience was that she had developed a remarkable resilience in coping with stress. Her musical talent had blossomed and, having won a number of prestigious awards, she was now becoming recognised locally as outstandingly gifted. A sparkling career in music seemed a certainty. Her other great love was horses and she was a highly competent horsewoman. This she had inherited from Milo's mother, Rachel, and he sometimes worried that Izzy might, like her, be killed or injured in an accident.

When the news came through of Tommy's engagement to Isabel a great wave of excitement rippled through the whole household at Riverside. Mageen, Sarah and Izzy had been invited to be bridesmaids, the fourth being a close friend of Isabel's from her schooldays. The wedding was to be in Cyprus.

‘Mum, why will it be out there?'

‘Why not, Izzy?'

‘Because I thought Tommy would want to get married here in Dublin with the reception beside the river. It would be so wonderful. We could have a great big marquee out on the lawn.'

‘Ah, but Isabel's parents live in Cyprus at the moment so she'll want to be married from her parents' home. That's the tradition anyhow.'

‘That means when I get married the wedding will be here?'

‘Certainly.'

‘Good! So we'll all be going to Cyprus in September?'