The Irish Bride

by Marina Oliver

  'Then he can behave with common civility when he dances with me, not storm away and leave me in the middle of the floor. He's an unmannerly cub, and even if there were any way I could help him I would not. He got into this scrape, and he can get himself out of it. So he has been cheated? Tell him to learn a lesson from it and avoid playing with men like that in future.'

  'He can't.'

  She was twisting her hands together, and almost crying. There was something else behind this, Brigid thought.

  'What do you mean? Surely it's easy enough to refuse to go to these places, or play with men he knows are cheats?'

  'He, well, he had challenged him. To a duel, you know.'

  'Oh, is there no limit to his idiocy?'

  'He feels it is a matter of honour.'

  'Does he not know duels are forbidden?'

  'Well, yes, but they still take place.'

  'Why are you coming to tell me this? I might inform the magistrates.'

  'You would not. But Colum doesn't know many men, and the ones he has asked have refused to act for him. Be his seconds, I mean. So Colum thought, in fact, you might ask Mr Childe if he would do it.'

  Brigid was speechless, mainly from rage, but also amazement that Colum should even approach Matthew, or think she would intervene on his behalf.

  'Will you? Please,' Sinead said, grasping Brigid's hand. 'If he can't find a second, he says he'll be so ashamed he won't feel able to show his face anywhere again.'

  'That might be a good thing! I won't help, and I advise you to have nothing to do with it.'

  Sinead, seeing her resolution, sprang to her feet.

  'You are unkind! I don't like you, and what Colum sees in you I don't know!'

  She swung around and almost ran out of the room. Brigid followed to see her struggling to open the front door, only moving away to permit Jameson to do it when she realised she could not release the catch.

  *

  Brigid decided not to tell anyone of Sinead's visit. She did not wish to advertise Colum's stupidity to her friends. How could he, after his behaviour at the ball, even think she would be willing to help him? Especially how did he imagine she would have enough influence with Matthew to persuade him to help Colum break the law?

  She tried to dismiss it, and concentrate on the dinner party. Sir Kenelm and Joanna arrived first, and she had so much to talk about with Joanna, who had been her best friend at the seminary, and who had introduced her to the Childes by employing her as a governess to Sir Kenelm's twins.

  Joanna was in raptures about all the places she had visited on her wedding journey.

  'I only knew Portugal and Spain when my father was in the army there,' Joanna said. 'Then it was a countryside which had been ruined either by fighting or by having armies around who controlled everything. Brigid, you must try to visit Paris!'

  'And Rome. And Switzerland. And Vienna. And Venice. To be sure I will! Next week, perhaps?'

  Joanna laughed. 'I'm sorry! But look what happened to me? I was destitute when Kenelm found me. Now I'm the happiest woman alive.'

  'And you deserve it. Actually, I was thinking of applying for a position as maid, or companion, to some wealthy woman who likes to travel. Do you know anyone who might do?'

  'No, but we met several while we were abroad.'

  'If you hear of anyone who wants a maid, before I have to become a governess again, do let me know. Which city did you enjoy most?'

  The Earl and Countess of Sheldon then arrived, followed by Henry and Albinia.

  'I thought Henry and Albinia were staying with you,' Brigid whispered to Joanna.

  'They are, but Albinia was making such a fuss about four of us having to squeeze into the barouche Kenelm said we'd come in the chaise, so we left first. She even suggested Kenelm and Henry walked, but then she realised she would have only the coachman and a footman to protect us from footpads.'

  Brigid laughed, but she was wondering where Matthew was. It was unlike him to be late, and she felt a frisson of fear that something had happened to him. Then she told herself not to be silly. All kinds of things could have delayed him. Before she could grow really worried he arrived, apologising profusely, and blaming his valet for not having enough starched cravats.

  'For I had to be perfect tonight, dining with my sisters and my big brothers, and I ruined over two dozen and had to make do with this travesty, for it was the last one.'

  'Puppy!' Henry exclaimed, and Albinia tut-tutted.

  'I deplore the influence of such dandies as that Brummell fellow,' she said. 'He has had an unfortunate effect on the young men.'

  Matthew looked horrified.

  'You must not call Brummell a dandy! That is the supreme insult.'

  'Besides, he is about to leave for the continent. He goes next week, I understand,' Alex said. 'Poor devil, his debts have caught up with him, and since he quarrelled with Prinny there is no one to help.'

  'I shall call him a dandy if I wish,' Albinia began, but fortunately dinner was then announced and they went downstairs to the dining room.

  Brigid could not help comparing the tasteful array of dishes Sophia had ordered with the ostentatious display at her aunt's. She was seated between Henry and Kenelm, and they were both attentive to her. Albinia, opposite, kept a careful eye on her husband, and Brigid chuckled inwardly. Even if he felt gallant he would be afraid to show it for fear of the recriminations he would be bound to encounter later. Poor fellow. How did he tolerate it?

  Sir Kenelm and Joanna had been to visit the twins, and Brigid, who had for a short time been their governess, was eager to learn how they did.

  'George has discovered a talent for sport,' his proud father said. 'He is longing to be playing cricket. Amelia has made a couple of friends, and one lives in York, so we will be having her to stay during the summer. You must try to come and visit us if Sophia will release you to us.'

  'I must be looking for another position soon. Sophia does not need a companion now.'

  'She will be sorry to lose you. Alex was saying how helpful you were when she was unwell. If I hear of anyone wishing to hire a governess, I will certainly recommend you.'

  Brigid did not want to tell him she was considering a different sort of position. Luckily he turned to Sophia and she was able to ask Henry how his children did, then sat back to listen to him extolling the virtues of his son, who she remembered as a boisterous, loud and uncontrolled boy. His daughter Caroline was still an infant, and he clearly had little interest in her as yet, apart from saying she was the prettiest baby in the district.

  She glanced across the table at Matthew, who was sitting next to Albinia, and he grinned sympathetically at her. She hastily looked down at her plate. If Albinia caught her smiling at Matthew she would be affronted. She had, in the drawing room beforehand, asked in a piercing whisper why Sophia was including her companion in the dinner party. Brigid had not heard Sophia's reply, but she had noticed Elizabeth take Albinia by the arm and draw her aside.

  Apart from that, it was a far more pleasant dinner party than the one in Wimpole Street. When the ladies left the room, Elizabeth and Joanna made certain they sat Brigid between them, while Sophia drew Albinia to a sopha at the other side of the room. The men did not stay long over their port, Sir Kenelm saying they were planning an early start the following morning. Brigid had no opportunity for private talk with Matthew, and as she had decided she did not want to tell him about Colum's absurd notion, she felt wary of talking with him for fear she would inadvertently reveal it. That was the trouble, she thought, when you were so much at ease with someone you felt you could say anything to them.

  *

  The following morning Sophia said she was feeling dull after the dinner party, so Alex proposed a drive to Richmond.

  'Spring is late this year, so we should be able to see the spring flowers.'

  'That is just the thing! How clever of you. I'll send a note round to Matthew and if he is up he might be able to join us.'

  'Unles
s he spent the rest of the night at White's. We did finish very early for him, it must have seemed like the middle of the evening.'

  Sophia laughed, and pouted when the footman she'd sent with the note came back to say Mr Matthew's man had said he did not get home till two hours before, and was in bed and not to be disturbed.

  'Why young men have to spend the whole night in play and the day in bed I cannot imagine! It will be a good thing when my little brother finds himself a wife and has to behave more responsibly.'

  'He does not appear to be looking for a wife,' Alex said.

  'Not unless that minx of your cousin traps him, Brigid. Though he does not appear to pay her any more attention than he does to any other of the debutantes who make eyes at him.'

  They drove along in silence for a while, then Sophia turned to Alex.

  'You never told me why you were so eager to go to that wretched rout the O'Keefs organised.'

  'Didn't I, my dear? I was curious, that's all, to see who was there. I haven't seen Cecilia O'Keef for years, I thought she had retired to Ireland with her poet. I was frankly surprised.'

  'Her family are good ton. Both her sisters married well. And perhaps she is an avid letter writer, and keeps in regular touch with all her acquaintances.'

  'And perhaps most of the people there were curious, as I was. There were a few surprise guests though, people I know in the City, lawyers and bankers. I wonder if they are connections of his father's?'

  'But would a Dublin attorney know many London lawyers? Besides, Patrick said his father was old and forgetful.'

  They allowed the topic to drop, and instead, feeling a scatter of snowflakes, wondered whether to turn back.

  'Snow in the middle of May!' Sophia exclaimed in disgust.

  'It won't be much, and we are half way there. Let's be brave and adventurous.'

  Sophia laughed. 'You can be a fool!'

  It was a very brief shower, and they enjoyed the rest of the day, admiring the primroses and other spring flowers, eating a nuncheon in a wayside inn on the return journey, and declaring, when they reached home, that such simple pleasures were as enjoyable as the most elaborate balls and parties.

  'I shall be quite glad when the Season is over and we go to Oxfordshire,' Sophia said.

  'Do you wish to go now, my love?'

  Sophia shook her head.

  'No, for I know you have business here, and I am in such a contrary mood I would probably declare I missed being in town once I had been there a week.'

  *

  Chapter 8

  Matthew raised the pistol, pointed it at the target, and pulled the trigger just as someone tapped him on the shoulder. He swung round with a furious oath on his lips, to find Colum O'Neill standing behind him with an obsequious smile on his lips.

  'What the devil did you have to do that for?' he demanded.

  'Do what? Well, you weren't looking this way, and I wanted to attract your attention.'

  'You realise you ruined my shot, and I was taking part in a competition? Which you have now lost for me!'

  He shrugged his shoulders and handed the pistol to a man standing nearby.

  'My apologies, Salcombe. Let's try again tomorrow. When we can make sure we have no interruptions.'

  'You were going to win,' Mr Salcombe said ruefully. 'I'd kick this fellow down a long flight of stairs, if I were you.'

  'I might do that. What do you want that's so important, O'Neill?'

  'It is important! You were just in a sporting competition,' Colum sneered. 'I have something more important to ask you.'

  Matthew sighed. 'Then ask me. Don't waste time.'

  Colum stared round at the other men in Manton's shooting gallery, and seized Matthew's sleeve to draw him to the far end of the room. Matthew irritably shook him off.

  'I'm not going to abscond! What the devil do you want?'

  Colum looked round, saw there was no one else in earshot, and bent towards Matthew, clutching at his arm.

  'I want you to teach me to shoot,' he whispered.

  Matthew frowned. 'Why me?'

  'You're good, I could see that, and - well - I know you.'

  'Unfortunately! Didn't you learn to shoot in Ireland? Most lads take out a gun occasionally.'

  'My father wouldn't let me. He said he didn't trust me with a gun. The fact is, he is afraid of guns, and never leant to shoot himself, so he wants to deny me the opportunity.'

  'Why not ask for lessons from someone who teaches the skill for a living? I'm not a teacher.'

  'No, but I know you, and - '

  'Well, man, get to it! I am leaving in precisely two minutes, I have another appointment.'

  'With some other useless sport!' Colum said, his antagonism showing as he forgot he was asking a favour.

  'If you think it's useless, why bother?'

  Colum glanced round again, then came even closer to Matthew, who drew back.

  'I am going to challenge someone to a duel!' he whispered. 'But I can't shoot, so I need to learn how.'

  Matthew stared at him in astonishment, then burst into laughter.

  'In the first place,' he said when his laughter permitted speech, 'duelling is illegal.'

  'But it happens! I know it does!'

  'That does not excuse it. Secondly, you cannot learn to shoot in a few hours. And your opponent, as the one challenged, has the choice of weapons. If he chose swords, would you expect to become an expert swordsman in a few hours? You're a fool, O'Neill, and I want nothing to do with it.'

  'But, I wanted you to be my second! I've got to have someone! You know me, and you, well, you've been making up to Sinead, which makes you almost one of the family.'

  'Listen to me, O'Neill! I have not, as you so vulgarly call it, been making up to your sister. If you want plain speaking, let me tell you that if anything, she has been making up to me. And don't expect that I'll ever become one of your family. Now, you unmannerly cub, I suggest you get out of here before I take Salcombe's advice and kick you all the way down Davies Street.'

  'You'll be sorry you wouldn't help when I'm dead!'

  He stood and watched, frowning, as Colum, his shoulders slumping, turned and walked slowly from the room. As he followed Matthew was worried. Should he try to intervene? The boy looked afraid. But what could he do? It was inconceivable he should tell the older Mr O'Neill, though he had no doubt the man could control his son. He'd shown that at the dinner party. He hoped it was just a show of bravado on the boy's part, and he would think better of an insane impulse.

  Then Matthew began to wonder who it was Colum wanted to challenge. How could he have embroiled himself in some dispute serious enough for him to consider a duel would resolve it? And why should he appear so afraid? There had been real fear in his eyes as he turned away to leave. Oh, curse the boy! He supposed he ought to ask around and see whether he could find any trace of a quarrel. Even though Brigid disliked him, she might be sorry if the stupid creature did engage in a duel and was either killed, which was the most likely, or had to fly abroad to escape the law.

  *

  Brigid looked up in annoyance. Sophia had gone to visit a friend, and she was stealing an hour to read one of the Minerva Press romances. She ought to have gone to her bedroom instead of remaining in the drawing room, she thought.

  'Mr Colum O'Neill,' Jameson announced, and bestowed upon her a benign look she was unable to interpret.

  Before she could deny him Colum was in the room, almost hidden behind an enormous bouquet of roses. They were, Brigid could not help noticing, past their best and were scattering petals in his wake as Colum advanced towards her.

  He thrust the roses towards her, and she shrank back in her chair.

  'For pity's sake, Colum, be careful! They are full of thorns! Please take them and put them somewhere,' she appealed to Jameson, who was now looking rather disapproving, as if he considered she was being impolite. Well, whatever he thought, she did not intend to be scratched by Colum's offering.

  'Wha
t do you want?' she asked rather ungraciously as the butler removed the offending roses.

  'I came to ask you to drive with me,' he said.

  'After the last time? You can't control a donkey, and if you think I am going to risk life or limb sitting in a carriage you are driving, you are mad!'

  'I have two better-behaved nags now,' he said. 'It wasn't my fault they hired those bone-shakers to me.'

  'I don't care what horses you have, you can't drive them!' Brigid declared in uncompromising tones.

  Colum heaved a great sigh, and sat down in a chair facing Brigid.

  'Well, then, I'll have to ask you here.'

  'Ask me what?'

  'You know Matthew Childe, don't you?'

  She stared at him in amazement.

  'You must know I do.'

  'He's your mistress's brother,' Colum persevered.

  'Have you come here to give me a history of the Childe family?'

  'I need your help. You see, I want you to ask Matthew Childe to teach me to shoot?'

  'Shoot what?'

  He frowned. 'What does that matter?'

  'Why do you want to learn to shoot? And what do you want to shoot, in any event?'

  He got to his feet and began striding round the room, clutching at his cravat and ruining the set of it.

  'What does it matter what I want to shoot! You are being as unhelpful as Matthew Childe was!'

  Brigid began to see some light being shed on this puzzle.

  'Have you already asked Matthew and he's refused?' she demanded.

  'He - he didn't understand.'

  'Then what do you think I can do to change his mind?'

  'You live with his sister. He might listen to you. Or you could ask Mrs Langston to ask him.'

  'No, I won't ask either of them.'

  He turned and came to stand in front of her.

  'Do you want me to be killed? That would suit you, wouldn't it? Then you could find a way of getting rid of Sinead, and having all of Grandfather's money for yourself!'

  He was, she realised, truly desperate. Something threatened him, and she set herself to discover what. She might despise him, but he was her cousin. It took time and patience, but eventually he confided that he was about to fight a duel, and Matthew had refused both the teach him how to shoot, or be his second.