Epilogue
McCullen Grove, the Wexford seat of the Baron of Kilmore
Weeks, after his return to Ireland and his childhood home Luc looked at his wife, rosy from their early morning love making.
“We’ve kept to ourselves, long enough don’t you think, Grace?”
“I could live alone with you for a lifetime and be content.” She stroked his arms.
“I wouldn’t mind that. However, I am a baron and I do have responsibilities to the people who live nearby. Most of them work on my land or toil at my businesses.”
She studied him. “I expect you also have old friends you wish to connect with.”
“Would you mind?”
“Of course not. Your friends must become my friends too.”
Then I suggest we walk into Cullenton village after breaking our fast. I’ll show you around and introduce you to everyone I know.”
“I’d like that. Just…”
“What?”
“They’ll have questions about where you’ve been, how we met and came to marry, and a host of other queries I can’t think of right now.”
“You are a wise woman.” Luc kissed her forehead. “I’ll answer what I can. What I can’t, I’ll put off until whomever is asking can visit us at home.”
“A good plan. I’ll race you to the breakfast parlor.”
Later, well fed and dressed, they ambled down the lane and into the village where they walked the square of the town and met many of the local residents.
“Do we intend to seek out Squire Comerford and his wife today?” Grace asked almost shyly.
“Perhaps. Let us have some tea and discuss how we want to approach them.”
“Very well.”
They crossed the green to a small thatched building. A sign shaped like a teacup and saucer hung above the door. “MacNamara’s Teas & Biscuits” was printed in white paint on the wood.
“Hmmm.” Luc mused. “This was O’Grady’s shop when last I was here.”
“Supposedly you’ve only been away for three years or so. Even in that short time, much can change,” Grace remarked.
“True.”
They went inside and found seats at a pleasant oak table near a small window.
A large woman came bustling up. “What sort of tea can I be getting you, loves? We’ve bohea, suchong, hyson and singlo.”
“Bohea for me please, my lord,” Grace said to Luc.
“Bohea for my wife and me as …”
“Saints preserve us.” The woman covered her mouth with both hands. “I’d know that voice anywhere.” The woman bent close peering at Luc’s face. “’Tis really you, your lordship. Come back from the dead?”
“Ah’m you believed I was dead?”
“Well, some of us. When I heard Lord Kilmore was living at McCullen Grove, I thought perhaps it was a new man.”
Luc lifted his brows and nodded. “I suppose that’s possible. However, you have me at an advantage. You are…?”
“Jaysus, Mary and Joseph, bless you. I’ve put on a bit of weight since you left. But ’tis me, Letty McNamara.”
“Letty McNamara?” Luc rolled the name around in his head, blinking when he finally recalled. “Your maiden name was O’Grady, and you worked as housekeeper to Squire Comerford.”
“Aye, that I was, rest his soul.”
“Rest his soul?”
“He passed on during the typhus that swept through Cullenton just before this past Christmastide. Same one as killed your ma. I lost me own da, which is why I own this shop now, with Mr. McNamara my husband. I’ll be right back with the tea.” She trundled off.
Luc’s eyes went wide. “Just this past December?” The news of his mother's death was no surprise, Cal had told him when they'd met in New Orleans. It was the timing of the epidemic that shocked.
Grace reached for his hand? “That would be…?”
He gripped her fingers like a lifeline and shook his head. “I know.”
Grace sat back, easing her hand from his. “Of course, it goes without saying, my lord.”
Luc sat in contemplative silence, as they consumed their tea and biscuits.
“Can I get you aught else, my lord?” Letty came to clear away their plates and cups.
“No thank you, Mistress McNamara,” Luc said. “However, would you sit with us a while? He stood and pulled back a chair for her. “I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
The shop owner blinked her astonishment at him. “T’wouldn’t be proper my lord.”
“It is if I say it is.”
“Please,” Grace added with that stone-melting smile.
“I can’t sit for long,” Letty warned. “Got other customers to see to.”
“We won’t linger,” Luc promised.
“Fine enough then.” She sat. “Now what is it you want to ask?”
Luc resumed his seat. “Can you tell us what happened to Squire Comerford’s wife?”
“That sweet natured Grainne Tirlán?”
“Yes.”
“Ah ’tis a sad thing that. She and the babe she carried passed with her husband of the typhus.”
“She never left Ireland?”
“No. I recall she used to talk about all the places she wanted to visit.” Letty cast a look at Grace. “If you don’t mind my asking my lord, weren’t you and Grainne courting before you left Cullenton?”
“Aye, but that was a long time ago and is best forgotten.”
Letty nodded.
Grace linked her hand in his once more. “You are kind Mistress McNamara to share old memories with my husband.”
“His lordship was always well liked hereabouts.”
“Thank you for saying so,” Luc continued. “If Comerford had no children, who became Squire?”
“What of Mistress Comerford’s family?” Grace inquired. “I believe you said their name was Tirlán. Might they appreciate a visit of condolence from the baron?”
“Bannock is squire now, by royal decree.” Letty frowned.
“As to the Tirláns, that family had nothing but hard luck. The old man was carried off by lung fever, weeks after Grainne married Comerford. After the typhus, the remaining family had no income, so Mistress Comerford’s two sisters were transported for stealing.
Rather than stay in Cullenton alone, their mother scraped up enough money to follow them. ”
Luc fell silent. Nothing remained of the bright, joyful girl he’d loved. “Thank you, Mistress MacNamara,” Grace stood. “We’ve kept you from your work long enough. Husband, we must go, or suffer the walk home in the dark.”
Hand in hand they left the village, strolling in companionable silence toward McCullen Grove. Grace pulled them to a halt at the entrance to the estate drive. “What are you thinking, Luc, my love.”
“How fickle fate is. You save my life and break my curse, but Grace Tirlán and all her kin suffer or die.”
“Would you choose to remain cursed, if you knew her present fate?”
“No.” He took Grace in his arms. “I love you too dearly to make that sacrifice, even for a woman I once loved.”
“Would you like to try to find her sisters?”
He shook his head. “Britain has so many penal colonies, it would be nearly impossible to learn which one they were sent to. Besides, I’ve had too much of interfering with fate.”
“Then what are you planning to do?” she asked.
“I’ll spend all the coming years here with you. However, right now, I wish to hurry home to our bedchamber and make sweet love with the woman whose heart I’ve earned.”
She smiled up at him in the twilight. “Then let us hurry.”
Hand in hand they broke into a run, giggling and laughing like children set free from school.
***