Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
They went inside the vast hall and continued into the large lobby where Marian stopped at the bottom of the staircase.
‘We could take the lift up to the second floor and then walk up to my flat. But maybe you’d like to see all the rooms down here first?’ she asked.
‘Yes, I would,’ Theo said. ‘I want to see everything.’
‘Okay.’ Marian took his hand. ‘Come with me.’
They walked down the corridor, lined with old paintings, and went into the ballroom, where Theo looked in awe at the painted ceiling where cherubs and nymphs floated around among the clouds, the crystal chandelier from the early eighteen hundreds, the parquet floor and the tall windows overlooking the grounds and the rose garden.
There was a faint smell of candles and flowers after the wedding party that had been held here the day before.
‘What a beautiful room,’ Theo said. ‘There is a real sense of history here. Of balls and parties and other celebrations through the centuries.’
‘Yes, it’s amazing to think it’s been here like this for over two hundred years,’ Marian said, touched by how taken he was with the atmosphere of the ballroom.
They continued through the dining room with its walls hung with old portraits and the large Regency dining table and chairs, to the library that still had some of the old books in the bookshelves lining the walls, the leather sofas and chairs sitting on the old Donegal carpet, the colours faded but still beautiful.
Theo didn’t utter a word until they arrived back in the hall.
He looked at Marian, his eyes sparkling. ‘Wow,’ he said. ‘I had no idea the rooms were so beautiful and still so intact.’
‘They have been restored with a very gentle hand,’ she agreed.
‘The tenants of the flats are also very respectful and love the rooms the way they are. The library is especially popular as they can sit on the sofas and read or play cards or just chat and have a cup of tea. It’s like a large sitting room for them to use.
But now I’m going to take you upstairs and show you my flat. We can take the lift if you like.’
Theo looked up at the wide staircase with its carved oak banister. ‘No, I’d like to walk up these stairs and imagine what it was like in the eighteen hundreds. I assume all the bedrooms were on the first floor?’
‘Yes,’ Marian said. ‘And now they have been turned into studio flats.’ She started to walk up the stairs, Theo trailing behind her, running his fingers along the beautifully carved banister.
They arrived on the top floor, panting while Marian searched in her handbag for the key. She opened the door and Theo followed her into the tiny hall.
He stepped into the living room and immediately sat down on the sofa in front of the fireplace, looking out the window. ‘Lovely view. And the flat is nice but a bit like a doll’s house. How do you cope with this tiny space?’
‘I manage very well,’ Marian replied. ‘It’s perfectly fine for just one person. And just look at that view,’ she added, making a sweeping gesture at the window where the vista of the gardens and the ocean were especially beautiful in the golden light of the setting sun.
‘It’s the best part of this flat,’ Theo said, trying to make himself comfortable. But with his tall frame, the sofa was clearly too small for him.
‘I’ll make some tea,’ Marian offered, slightly put off by his negative attitude.
‘I’ll move to the table instead,’ Theo suggested, and went to sit down at the table beside the kitchen. ‘This is better,’ he said once he had settled on the kitchen chair while Marian busied herself making tea for them both.
‘There you go,’ she said as she put two steaming mugs in front of him. Then she sat down on the chair opposite Theo.
Theo grabbed one of the mugs and took a sip. ‘Good tea.’
‘Of course,’ Marian said and smiled fondly at him. ‘Nothing better. You used to love a cup of Barry’s.’
‘Still do,’ Theo said. He drank some more tea and then put his mug down, fixing her with a serious expression. ‘I get it now,’ he said.
‘Get what?’ Marian asked.
‘This house, the family, this whole area. The endless sea, the sky, the wind, the waves, the ocean. The mild air, even the rain and then… the people of Kerry.’ He drew breath. ‘How can I possibly compete with all that?’
‘You don’t have to compete,’ Marian said softly.
‘I’m not saying I’ve landed in some kind of paradise either.
There are days when it never stops raining and the wind is howling.
There are tedious things like getting up early, going to work and paying tax.
People in Kerry are not always lovely; some are rude and grumpy, just like anywhere.
But… This is where I want to live despite all that. ’
‘Because now you feel you have a family,’ Theo filled in.
‘You never had much of a family before, except your great-aunt and your sister. I think Claire feels the same. I’ve seen how they have welcomed you and been there for you and how they close ranks when any of them is in trouble.
’ He shook his head and laughed. ‘The Fleury women, eh? I often wondered where you got your strength and resilience from, but now I know. You’ve become even stronger since you arrived here, even more determined.
Australia was not for you, but you stuck it out and tried your best.’
Marian nodded. ‘I did but then I just couldn’t cope with everything, especially when I found that letter.’
‘That didn’t help, I suppose,’ Theo said with a resigned sigh. ‘We’ve drifted apart during the last year or so, I think. There’s no denying that.’
‘No, but…’ Marian stopped. ‘I have a feeling you’re more comfortable with this place than you ever were when we were living in Dublin.’ It’s strange, she thought. Could it be that the magic of Kerry is working without me having to persuade him?
‘In what way?’ Theo asked, looking intrigued.
‘I’ve seen you here, with the family and how they like you a lot already,’ Marian explained. ‘And I’ve watched you slowly coming around to the idea of living in Ireland again. Or maybe I’m mistaken about that,’ she said, meeting his eyes.
‘Not really mistaken,’ Theo said, looking thoughtful. ‘But I’m not ready to decide about the future yet. I just want to have a holiday, really. A break from worry and tensions. And this is a lovely place for a holiday. I feel so relaxed here.’
‘Oh yes, me too,’ Marian said with a surge of happiness and hope. ‘It’s the peace and tranquillity that I love the most.’
‘That’s it.’ He took her hand. ‘Let’s not discuss this any further. I’ll go back to the B&B when I’ve finished the tea. And then we can have dinner tomorrow night, if you like.’
‘Or you could stay here?’ Marian suggested, her heart beating. ‘The sofa folds out to a sofa bed, or…’
‘Or what?’ he whispered, still holding her hand in a tight grip.
‘Or we could sleep in my bed,’ she whispered and leaned across the table, placing a light kiss on his mouth.
He slowly rose and pulled her up into his arms. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes,’ she said, melting into his embrace. She suddenly felt so close to him. There seemed to be a new understanding between them that had never been there before. Then she stepped away, looking into his eyes. ‘This doesn’t mean that I’ll be coming back with you. I want you to understand that.’
He gently pushed back her hair from her face ‘It doesn’t have to mean anything except that you love me enough to ask me to stay tonight.’
‘That’s a step forward, though,’ Marian said, as the vibes from him told her that he was beginning to come around to the idea of them living in Kerry together.
It felt like a sweet victory and at the same time a new kind of love, better and stronger than ever before.
Then, in the early days, and even the first few years in Australia, it had been all about the children and their family.
But now it was only about Theo and Marian, two people who had fallen in love on a beach in France many years ago and now found themselves on another shore where maybe they could start afresh.