There was a rap on the door.
Who would be calling on them at this early hour?
Helena straightened the long cotton shirt the vicar had given her. She would need to get more clothes.
The door opened without a sound. Standing on the other side was Angel. Liam was asleep in her arms. His sweet little blond head was on her shoulder, his thumb in his mouth.
“Did I wake you? I heard what happened last night.” She stepped in, and Helena shut the door. “Are you okay? What about the kids?”
“The kids are fine.” Helena couldn’t make sense of Angel’s presence.
“Grand… That’s just grand…” Angel set Liam down and covered him with a blanket.
She made her way into the kitchen with Helena close on her heels, and collapsed into a seat at the little square table. The morning sun settled on her face, highlighting the thin lines around her red eyes.
“How about ye, Angel?”
Angel looked back through the kitchen door toward the couch and, once assured that Liam was asleep, she turned back. “Are Mam and Da here?”
“Mam was admitted to the hospital. Da’s in the back bedroom, asleep.”
“Is Mam gonna be okay?”
“I’m going to go see her later.” Helena paused for a moment. “You don’t want to go with me, do you?”
Angel shook her head. “You got any coffee?”
“I don’t know.” Helena moved to the cupboards and shuffled things around until she found a small tin of grounds and a filter for the automatic brewer.
“I… I know that you’ll have to say no, but Liam and I… we need a place to stay.” Angel wrung her hands and peered back out at the sleeping boy. “We can’t go back to Rathkeale—to Duncan. He and I, we’re getting divorced.” She whispered the last word, as if she were afraid Liam would hear.
“Are ya okay?” Helena filled the pot with water.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. It’s for the best. There are some things that we couldn’t get past; we’re just too different.” Angel dropped her face into her hands. “I tried to make our marriage work. I swear. I know I shouldn’t have come here, but you’re the only people I’ve got to turn to.” Angel’s voice was choked with tears. “Is it okay if we stay? It would only be ’til I can get a job and get a few shillings.”
The vicar had said that all of their family was welcome, and Angel was in a bad position. Helena thought of Da. Even a few months ago, she would never have believed he’d allow Angel to live with them, but he’d changed. If he loved Angel as he said he did, than he would give her another chance.
The same couldn’t be said of Mam. Cora would never allow her shame-causing daughter to come back. Jesus himself would have to come down to save Angel from the vile words Mam would undoubtedly have in store for her.
They would just have to deal with the fallout.
“You’re welcome to stay.”
“Thanks. Yer savin’ me arse.”
“Aye.”
Helena turned the faucet off, picked up the filled carafe, and carried it to the machine.
Angel rubbed her hands over the knees of her jeans. “I think I owe you an apology… For before. I shouldn’t have been so hateful. I was just upset when you stopped by. I’ve felt just awful since you left. I was acting like a prat. Duncan and I had been fightin’. And Da… As usual, Da was at the center of our row. Then when you got there I just…” Angel stopped wringing her hands and rested them on the table. “I love Da, and I miss you and the kids. I wanna be part of my fam again.”
“I know what it is to want to be a part of the family. You’ve never stopped bein’ my sister and you never will.”
Angel stood and wrapped her thin arms around Helena. “I love ya, gra…”
Helena’s eyes filled with tears as she wrapped her arms around Angel. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Thank you, gra.” Angel stepped back and, smiling, wiped away the tears that wetted her cheeks. “What happened with that boy you were supposed to marry?”
Helena shifted uncomfortably as she searched for the right words.
“Brian is the worst kind of git. I told him I wouldn’t marry him, but before the words had even cooled, Rionna had offered herself in my place.”
“Rionna has always been a pain in the arse. She’ll get what’s coming to her.”
“I just hoped she’d do more. Maybe at least get her schooling done before she ran off with some boy.”
“Not everyone is like you, gra. Just look at me—I tripped over myself to get to Duncan. What an eejit I turned out to be.”
“You got Liam. You ain’t no eejit.” Helena paused. “To tell ya the truth, there was another reason I couldn’t marry Brian.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m in deep with Graham.”
The scent of the hot coffee filled the tiny kitchen.
Angel looked down at the counter and sucked in a long breath. “Follow your heart, gra—even if it isn’t the easiest path to take. If the road turns out to be full of ruts, you’ll always have a place with me.”
• • •
Rionna crouched in the farthest corner of the hospital room, her back against the yellow wall, which was the only thing that kept her from moving farther away from Helena. Rionna had said nothing of what had happened between them, but she was staring at Helena like she was a traitor to her, the family, and their traditions.
Mam groaned from the bed. Her hands and arms were covered with thick white gauze, stained yellow from the wounds that lay beneath. Mam’s eyes flickered open.
“Mam?” Helena asked.
She looked over at her, but then her gaze swung to Rionna and Gavin. “Where’s your da?” She tried to sit up, but instead she grimaced in pain and fell back.
“Here, let me help you.” Helena stood up and moved to reach under Mam’s arms to lift her.
“No. Don’t touch me, girl. Rionna told me all about your black magic. I don’t want to be manked up by your gammy touch,” Mam spat. “Your sister can help me. Isn’t that right, Rionna?”
Helena dropped her hands.
Mam shunning her hurt worse than she could have ever expected.
“Aye, Mam. I’ll help ya.” Rionna pranced over, her tall heels making out-of-place clicks against the sterile white floor. “I’ll always be there for ya, instead of runnin’ off like a cow with her arse on fire.”
“What’re you talkin’ about? I’ve done nothin’ of the sort. All I’ve been tryin’ to do is to help the fam—to pay the debts, work hard, and make you all proud. I gave up my dreams to help you. I’m not even gonna take the exams.”
“You lie. All you ever do is lie.” Rionna pushed Helena out of the way as she lifted Mam higher in the reclining bed. Mam bit her lip, and her eyes shut as if she were trying to hide the pain.
“If you really cared about this family you wouldn’t be running away from your duties,” Mam said between breaths. “You’re just damn lucky you have a sister who actually cares about me and what I look like to our people.”
“That’s not true. Da and I care.”
“If that’s true, then where’s your da? Why ain’t he here? He couldn’t stand to be near me, could he?”
“He had to work this morning. The festival’s goin’, and they needed him at the manor—one of the tables was broken in a guest’s room.”
She held back the fact that Graham had offered to give Da the morning off, but Da had refused.
Mam huffed angrily. “I ain’t surprised. He’s never done nothin’ for me, or any of us. He’s been nothing but a dirty louse. Sucking the blood right out of this family every chance he gets, and the one time I need him, he ain’t here. He’s hidin’ out, tryin’ to act the part of a country man.”
“That’s shite.”
Mam’s eyes bulged in surprise. “What was that, girl?”
“You heard me. You’re talking shite. Da’s been nothing but a saint since he’s gotten out. The only time he did any
thin’ away in the head was when allowed himself to be bullied by you.”
“Shut your mouth, girl. You don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.” The monitors around Mam started to give off shrill beeps.
“No. I’m sick of ye and the way you’re actin’.”
“Mind your manners, girl. I didn’t raise you to be talking to me like this. If I could get up, I’d give you a right whippin’.”
“You have no right to treat me like a child.”
“As long as you’re livin’ under my roof I’ll treat ye as I want.”
Helena couldn’t control the wild smile that broke free of its reins. “Then, thanks to you, none of us have to put up with your gammy arse anymore.”
“You ungrateful little prat. You will—”
Helena put her hands up, stopping her mam’s tirade. “All you’ve done my whole life is beat me down, but no more. Ye ain’t gonna tell me what to do anymore.”
Gavin stared at her with fear in his eyes.
Helena turned to Rionna. “You listen to me. I know why you’re acting like ya are. I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do to change who ye think I am, or how easy ya think I have it. I know ye hate me.”
Rionna crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t hate ya.”
“Then don’t be jealous. I only want the best for you. And the best thing you can possibly do is put off this marriage and finish your schoolin’.”
Rionna stared at her. “How can you tell me what to do? All you do is follow Da around like his little lap dog. Ye don’t think for yourself.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, love.” She tried to ignore the pain that radiated through her at her sister’s words. She knew they weren’t hers. They were well-planted lines that had been seeded, watered, and fed by Mam’s bitterness.
“Rionna.” Helena tried to keep the hard edge from her voice. Her sister was only a puppet; if she was patient, maybe some of what she had to say would seep through the cracks. “Da is a good man. He’s made mistakes, as we all have, as we all do, but he’s done more for me since his release than Mam’s done in me whole life.”
“That’s shite!” Mam screeched. “I’ve clothed and fed you and kept you out of the streets. I’ve paid a heavy price to keep you under my roof, don’t ya forget. I’m the one who’s taken care of you when your precious Da was away.”
“All you did was use us to get on the dole. And when the government’s dole wasn’t enough, you used us to take a shilling from anyone else who would give it, even if it meant selling your daughter in the process.”
“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”
“You knew the O’Donoghues would want a high return on their loan, but you did it anyway. You knew they had a son who was close to my age. You’ve had this planned since the moment you took their money.”
“So what if I did? So what if I wanted somethin’ better for ye? I didn’t want ya to end up like Angel. She brought nothing but shame to this family. And it was a damn fine plan if ya ask me… We win back a little bit of face and you get married to a good enough bloke. You’re lucky any man would take a woman like you… Took quite a bit of sellin’ before they would buy.”
“You don’t own me, and I don’t want to be the wife of a good enough man.” Helena walked to the door, but turned back to her mam one more time. “I’m done bein’ your puppet.” She pointed at Rionna. “Hopefully she’ll figure out what a banjaxed old cow you are before it’s too late.”
“Shut your fecking mouth, ya little bitch!” Mam screeched.
Helena stepped back from her. “You may be my mam, but I don’t need you anymore.”
“What’s wrong with ye?” Mam tore at the IV’s that protruded from her arms. “You ain’t no daughter o’ mine!”
“There’s nothing wrong with me, Mam. I just can’t be happy settling for this life. I want to learn; I want to be more than a wife. Even if that means that I can’t be your daughter.”
“Get out of here! Don’t you dare come crawling back to me! We’re done. You’re done. Who’ll want you… you, a stupid little prat!”
Helena moved to the window and pulled Gavin to her side. “I’m takin’ Gavin with me. You aren’t a fit mother. When you quit drinkin’ and tryin’ to burn yourself to death, you can come see him. I’m not letting you put this family in danger anymore.” Helena looked up to Rionna. “You’re welcome to come with us.”
Rionna’s gaze snapped to Helena and a sneer puckered her childish lips. “I’m not leaving Mam’s side.” She put her hand on the burnt woman’s shoulder.
“That’s fine. You should stay here.” Helena smiled dangerously. “I love you, but if you don’t watch yourself, your jealousy and hatred will turn you into Mam.” Helena looked over at the pickled, bandage-covered woman on the bed. “Family or not… she’s a foul woman. And Rionna, you’re better than her—you still have a heart.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“So how did the festival go? Did the guests enjoy themselves?” Mr. Shane sat across from Graham in his office, his fingers tented in a perfect triangle. The morning light poured through the window behind him, casting shadows throughout the room.
“It all went off without a hitch,” Graham said.
“That’s grand.” Mr. Shane was too nonchalant for Graham to read his expression. “I heard you didn’t stay until the end.”
It had been less than twenty-four hours since Graham had shown Helena, Seamus, and Gavin the cottage at the far end of Holy Trinity Abbey Church. The entire time, Seamus had overflowed with appreciation and assurances that they wouldn’t “overstay their welcome.” He’d sounded so adamantly against the help that Graham secretly wondered if the family would still be there by the week’s end.
“No. I had to take care of some additional business.”
“Like?” Mr. Shane prompted.
Graham could only oblige him with the truth. “There was a fire at the Travellers’ campsite. I had to help them find another place.”
Mr. Shane tapped his fingers against his chin. “You should’ve told me you put up our employees on the church’s grounds. I had to find out from the vicar this morning.”
“Why did you talk to the vicar?”
“It is my job to know what’s happening on this estate.” Mr. Shane gave him a predatory smile. “And, amongst my many duties, this morning I received a complaint from one of the guests.”
“What’s it this time?”
“Yesterday we had a staff member fixing something in a guest’s room. Yes?”
Graham nodded. “I sent Seamus up to the Lady Caroline Room to fix a broken table. It was nothing major, why?”
“He’s the gypsy with the gift of sight, yes? Is his ability strong enough to help with Danny and your mother?”
“He has a gift, but I don’t think we can use it. Why?”
Mr. Shane dropped his hands down to his desk. “If that’s the case, and we won’t be able to use his abilities, you’re going to need to let him go.”
“Go where?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Why? He’s done nothing wrong. He’s been a damn fine employee.”
“I’m afraid not.” Mr. Shane slid open his desk drawer and removed a file. “Apparently, he has sticky fingers.”
“No, not Seamus.”
Mr. Shane flipped open the file to a picture of a diamond necklace. “He was in the Lady Caroline Room, and this necklace went missing. Do you know anything about it?”
Graham shook his head. “When did the guest say it was taken?”
“Sometime during the festival. The woman is convinced he took it from her nightstand.”
“Are you sure she didn’t lose it?”
“Her husband remembered seeing it there before they left, and it was missing upon their return—after Seamus had been in to fix the side table. They wanted to call the police, but I managed to control the situation. You know the last thing we need here is more bad press
.”
Nothing—not a single item—had been stolen from Adare Manor, with the exception of hand soaps and the occasional guest towel. Who would have broken into the room and stolen the woman’s necklace? It had to have been someone who knew what the woman had, and someone with access to the room.
“Was there any sign that someone had forced their way in?” A part of him hoped there was a chisel mark to the door—anything to indicate that it wasn’t Seamus’s doing.
Mr. Shane shook his head. “I’ve been asking around and, besides the cleaning staff, the only person who was reported to have been seen near the room was that gypsy. I know you have a soft spot for him, but think about it. His trailer burns… and then a necklace, which is worth more than his yearly salary, goes missing. It has to be more than mere coincidence.”
It wasn’t possible. Seamus had said how much he regretted his time in prison. There was no chance he would risk being sent back.
“He didn’t take the necklace.”
Mr. Shane tapped his fingers against his chin and the chair squeaked as he shifted his weight. “What proof do you have?”
“Seamus’s a good man. He wouldn’t steal.”
Mr. Shane tapped. “Graham, let’s be frank. He’s a Traveller and an ex-con. We should’ve never hired him in the first place. Since he and his daughter have been working for the manor, it’s been one problem after another.”
“You know we couldn’t have gotten Helena here without getting Seamus. I know he wouldn’t have stolen the woman’s necklace. He’s been a model employee.”
“The woman wants us to pay to replace the necklace. I can’t say I blame her, but I’m not looking forward to footing the bill. If you think he didn’t do it then you need to find the person who is responsible.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Now, have you had word on Rose yet?” Mr. Shane asked. “The vicar said you had stopped by when you were looking for her.”
“No one has seen her since yesterday.”
“When she was at your house?” Mr. Shane flipped the file closed. His cold gaze clung to Graham. “You don’t have to pretend you didn’t see her. I already know. Why did you let her go? Why didn’t you insist that she return to the infirmary?”
Once a Gypsy Page 20
