The Made Marriage Page 17

  ‘Well, what about it?’ Nicky asked as they strolled away to the other side of the keep. ‘Now’s your chance to acquire the gift of eloquence!’

  He watched her maliciously and Kate knew he was trying to detect any signs of nervousness. She had indeed felt apprehensive, she had to admit to herself, when she had looked down through the wide meshes of the grill: the ground had seemed terrifyingly far away. But she was loath to let Nicky know how reluctant she was to kiss the stone.

  As she stood uncertainly she heard behind her a high musical laugh and the sound of footsteps. Then, turning, she came face to face with Owen and Doretta as they emerged from the spiral stairway.

  Doretta’s laughter ceased abruptly. An appalled silence followed and Kate saw Owen’s face darken ominously.

  Only Nicky seemed completely unperturbed. ‘Well, well, wonders never cease! Imagine meeting you here! Now that we’ve met we must stick together and have a jolly old time.’

  Owen ignored him and turning to Kate said gratingly, ‘And just what are you doing here, may I ask? Do you mean to say you just dropped everything at Laragh and traipsed down here with Nicky on the spur of the moment?’

  ‘No indeed. It was not on the spur of the moment, as you call it,’ interrupted Doretta shrilly. ‘She planned it deliberately to spoil our day together. Can’t you see she’s madly jealous? She came to Laragh in the first place in search of a husband. She had been looking forward to becoming your bride, instead she becomes your servant. Envy and malice is making her do everything she can to destroy things between us.’

  Kate brushed back the wisps of hair that blew about her face and tried to avoid Owen’s accusing stare.

  ‘Let’s go, Doretta,’ he said quietly. ‘Things are becoming cluttered up here.’

  ‘But not before I’ve kissed the stone,’ Doretta said peevishly. ‘Do you think I came all this way for nothing?’

  She walked purposefully to the other side of the keep, then hesitated as she looked down through the grill at the sea of green tree-tops, terrifyingly far beneath. Her eyes widened with fear as the others joined her and she turned to Owen with an appealing air of feminine timidity. ‘But I did not realise it would be like this!’ She blankly ignored the attendant who pointed out that she would be in no danger as he would hold her securely.

  ‘So after all your eagerness to be able to brag of kissing the stone when it comes to it you’re scared!’ Nicky jeered. ‘Can’t you see there’s no danger? You simply hold on to the two stanchions and slide your head back until the stone is just above your face.’

  ‘I do not care what you say,’ Doretta shrilled. ‘I shall not do it, and I should not have come if I had known it was so horrible!’

  ‘You’re talking nonsense,’ Owen said impatiently. ‘However, if you won’t do it, you won’t. Perhaps something a little less strenuous, like a few hours’ shopping in Cork, would be more your cup of tea.’

  But there was a dryness in his voice that Kate did not miss. He was, she realised, a man who would despise cowardice in any shape or form, yet Doretta, for all her almost feline femininity, had not intuitively guessed that her display of temperament was not the way in which she could win a man like Owen Lawlor.

  ‘Kate was just about to kiss the stone when you two came on the scene,’ Nicky said brightly. ‘However, if you’ve other plans, we won’t detain you,’ he added pointedly.

  ‘But we must wait and see if she goes through with it,’ Doretta said with a short unamused laugh.

  ‘Why shouldn’t she? She knows there’s absolutely no danger, don’t you, Kate?’ Owen asked quietly.

  Kate nodded and flushed with pleasure at the change in his attitude. It was also not lost on Doretta, who glanced at him sharply then looked at her watch. ‘Is it not time we were going if we are to have a few hours in Cork before setting off for home?’

  ‘But I thought you wanted to be a witness to Kate kissing the stone!’ Owen pointed out easily.

  Doretta hesitated, obviously taken aback by his attitude and no longer quite so certain of herself. She shrugged. ‘Oh, very well! But she had better be quick about it. It is getting cold up here—and breezy,’ she added pettishly.

  Kate, hoping she didn’t look as nervous as she felt, sat down with her back to the stone and with the help of the attendant grasped the stanchions tightly, then swung her body under and up, quickly touched the jutting stone with her lips, then swung herself back and got to her feet with a gasp of relief.

  ‘We must go now,’ Doretta said impatiently. ‘The wind is tossing my hair.’

  ‘An excellent reason for departing,’ Owen said sardonically. ‘But as I’m here, I may as well kiss it myself.’

  ‘Good idea,’ Nicky remarked. ‘Actually I kissed it as a boy, but I’ll have another go, as it’s obvious I’ll need to have a double supply of eloquence to lead a peaceful life!’ Kate crossed to the other side of the keep and leaned her arms on the battlement. The pleasure she had managed to extract from the early part of the outing had evaporated. Owen despised her for joining Nicky in an excursion deliberately planned in petty spite. Yet how could she defend herself? She had no excuse for leaving Laragh in Florrie’s erratic charge, and already she was beginning to worry about how she would find things when she returned.

  While the two men were engaged in kissing the stone, Doretta crossed the keep towards her and as she approached Kate could see, by the angry glint in her eyes, that Doretta was not intent on a friendly chat.

  ‘If I were you,’ Doretta began, with an air of dangerous sweetness, ‘I’d look for another position, for when Owen and I marry, I shall certainly not keep you on—nor, for that matter, that dreadful Mrs. Murphy! I shall get a proper staff. By all accounts Owen is wealthy and when I am finished with Laragh it will be a home more in keeping with the way of life I have been used to.’

  So Doretta still did not know that Mrs. Fitzpatrick had discovered her deception! Kate realised.

  ‘I shan’t be staying on, anyway,’ Kate told her flatly. ‘I am to be bridesmaid at my cousin’s wedding and I shall probably remain in England.’

  Even as she said the words she felt a stab at her heart, and couldn’t help glancing swiftly at Doretta’s left hand. Had Owen chosen this outing with Doretta as an opportunity to propose?

  ‘No, we’re not engaged yet,’ Doretta said swiftly intercepting the glance. ‘But I am a woman and have had enough experience to know when a man is on the point of declaring himself. Owen is in love with me and he will make a good husband, of that I am sure, so when the time comes I shall not refuse him. However,’ she added, her eyes narrowing, ‘men are men and can be very foolish at times, especially when a girl tries to make herself indispensable, as you do. But I warn you, keep out of our way. I know Nicky is stupid and immature and no doubt he thinks it is amusing to give us no privacy, but in your case it is different: you agreed to fall in with his plans simply to keep us apart for you want Owen for yourself—but I have known this from the beginning. I warn you, keep away from us and do not attempt to follow us to Cork, for if you do—’ Doretta’s eyes glittered angrily.

  But whatever she had been about to threaten, Kate was not to find out, for at that moment Owen’s voice said, ‘Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, Doretta. I want Kate and Nicky to come with us. I’ve just been telling Nicky that I think it is a good idea we should stick together.’

  Doretta gazed at him in angry bewilderment. ‘But, Owen—’ she began.

  ‘Now don’t let’s have any argument about it,’ he continued pleasantly, though with a hint of steel in his manner that prevented Doretta from further protest. ‘Nicky and I have agreed it’s a much better plan than separating, isn’t that right, Nicky?’

  Kate saw that Nicky, for the first time since she had met him, was looking nonplussed; she could see too that he was puzzled and that his quick malicious mind was already looking for the reason for this change of front in his cousin.

  He shrugged. ‘Why not—i
f that’s what you want.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I want,’ Owen said pleasantly, ‘and after all, wasn’t that what you and Kate intended in the first place? So now I suggest we set off. You girls can be brooding about your purchases on the way.’

  In silence they went down the stairs, all of them with the exception of Owen feeling faintly uneasy. He, on the contrary, seemed to be completely in control of the situation and when he had discussed the route with Nicky they got into the cars and set off. Owen’s car was in front and for a mile or two Nicky followed, frowning thoughtfully at the road ahead.

  ‘Now what on earth has come over old Owen?’ he said at last. ‘I thought he’d be boiling mad when he discovered we’d reached the castle before him, but now he’s all affability and actually inviting us to make it a foursome. Methinks I smell a rat.’

  Kate smiled secretly to herself. Whatever Owen’s motives, she could not deny the happiness that bubbled up when she saw his dark head in the car ahead and knew they were not to be separated and that when they arrived at their destination she would be in his company again; hear his voice and feel his fleeting glance. She closed her eyes for a moment.

  Nicky’s voice shook her out of her daydreams. ‘I think it’s time we gave those two the slip,’ he remarked.

  ‘What did you say?’ she asked bemusedly.

  ‘Just that I’ve no intention of following him about the country like a pet poodle! In that old jalopy of his, he wouldn’t have the slightest chance of tailing us, if we put on a bit of speed.’

  ‘Oh no, you mustn’t!’ Kate exclaimed.

  ‘And Why not, may I ask?’ he demanded, then added sneeringly, ‘So that’s it! You’re keen on him, aren’t you, and you don’t mind playing second fiddle to Doretta as long as you’re in the beloved’s company. Well, you’re very much mistaken if you think I’m going to tag along after a turnip-tosser like Owen Lawlor!’ And with a vicious burst of speed he accelerated and swept past the car in front.

  Kate had a hurried impression of Doretta’s pale frightened face, then found herself being driven helter skelter along a narrow road. On each side the hedgerows grew high and the road curved and twisted sharply, but Nicky, his eyes bright and with the reckless gleam that always made her feel apprehensive, swung the powerful car around corners with a terrifying lack of caution. Kate glanced back, but already there was no sign of Owen’s car.

  ‘Don’t bother to look for the boy-friend,’ Nicky called, his voice exultant, ‘he doesn’t stand a chance. I’m going to head back at the next turn and give poor old Owen the slip. While we’re in Cork, “the Venice of the south”, we may as well enjoy ourselves. After all, there’s no need for us to hurry home. We may as well stay the night. What do you say, Kate?’

  Kate’s lips whitened. He had managed to increase the speed and the heavy car swayed on the rough road.

  Then it happened! He attempted to take a sharp turn and too late discovered that a flock of sheep had taken over the entire road. With a scream of brakes the car spun out of control. It seemed to leap a low mortared wall that bordered the road, ploughed into a field and came to a stop on its side in a draining ditch.

  Kate opened her eyes to the smell of petrol and the vague realisation that someone was tugging at the door. Dazedly she gazed about. She was alone in the car and for a moment she had no idea how she had got there, or why the roof was at such a crazy angle. Then quite suddenly her head cleared: she remembered Nicky’s terrifying driving and the grinding crash as the car had broken through the stone wall. The growing smell of petrol fumes galvanised her into action and she struggled helplessly to pull herself up the steep incline formed by the tilting seat.

  Then at last the door burst open and Kate looked up into Owen’s anxious face.

  ‘Thank heavens you’re alive!’ he said fervently. ‘When I saw what a wreck the car was, I—’ He stopped, his face grim, then reaching down he lifted her out. Gently he laid her down on the grass and slipping off his jacket placed it under her head.

  She sat up abruptly, her eyes wide with alarm, as she remembered that she had been quite alone in the car when she had recovered consciousness.

  ‘If it’s Nicky you’re worried about, he’s quite safe. Apart from a nasty gash on his head he got off scot-free. Needless to say he hadn’t a thought for anyone but himself and the last time I saw him he was flagging down a car, intent on reaching Cork and having his injuries attended to.’

  ‘Cork?’ Kate repeated. ‘That’s where he planned to—’ She stopped confusedly as she remembered Nicky’s suggestion and what his proposition covertly entailed.

  ‘And that’s exactly the reason I intended us to stick together. You see, I know Nicky doesn’t take a pretty girl on an excursion just with the idea of admiring the scenery.’

  Kate laughed shakily. ‘I’m not really hurt, you know, only bruised, and I feel a bit of a hypocrite acting the invalid.’

  ‘In that case we’ll set off for home.’ He put his arm about her and slowly led her back to the road. There was no sign of Doretta. ‘I’d say that taking everything into consideration Doretta decided to accompany Nicky,’ Owen said quietly as he tucked her into the car. ‘I made it plain to that young lady that there was no prospect of her ever becoming mistress of Laragh.’

  Fleetingly Kate wondered what had passed between them after they had left Blarney. Had Doretta then underestimated Owen’s perspicuity and shown her hand too clearly? But somehow now it really didn’t seem to matter very much. It was enough to be alone with him, the sweet mellow scents of the countryside wafting through the open window.

  ‘By the way,’ he said casually, ‘Doretta said something about your going to England to be bridesmaid at your cousin’s wedding?’ But he sounded just a little too casual.

  ‘Well, yes,’ she admitted.

  There was a short silence, then he said, ‘Do you think your cousin would mind very much if you were accompanied by a male companion?’

  ‘It depends,’ Kate said demurely. ‘In some ways she’s rather conservative.’

  ‘But supposing your companion was also your fiancé, and you were wearing a diamond ring on the third finger of your left hand, do you think that would make any difference to her views?’

  Kate’s eyes were shining as she drew close to him. ‘I think,’ she said dreamily, ‘that it would make all the difference in the world, my darling.’