Besieged Read online

  ***

  On the morning that the Deverses were due to arrive, Fortune bathed with the help of her new maidservant, Rois, who was Bride Duffy's youngest granddaughter. She was a slender girl of eighteen with dark braids, large blue eyes, and porcelain skin lightly sprinkled with several freckles across the bridge of her nose. Rois was soft-spoken and diffident towards her mistress. Her grandmother had been training her for several months for this coveted position in what was to become Lady Fortune's household.

  "Have you ever had a suitor, Rois?" Fortune asked as she stepped from her tub to be enfolded within a soft, warm towel.

  Rois blushed prettily. "Kevin Hennessey and I would like to walk out, my lady, but grandmother says we must keep our attention on our positions. In a year, or two, we may be allowed to court."

  "What does your Kevin do?" Fortune was fascinated. It would seem that her servant had no more freedom than she had.

  "Kevin helps Master Maguire with the horses," Rois said.

  "Does he like what he does? Is he good at it?" Fortune probed further. God's bones! Getting information from Rois was like pulling teeth.

  "Aye, he loves the beasties, as he calls them," Rois said, warming now to her subject. "And he is very good with them. They say that one day he may take Master Maguire's place, but that, of course, is a very long way off, my lady."

  "Have you ever kissed him?"

  Rois blushed again, this time a far deeper hue than previously. "Ohh, my lady," she squeaked. "You shouldn't ask me such a thing."

  "That means you have!" Fortune pounced. "Good! What is it like to be kissed? I never have, except by my relations. It is far different with a suitor, I expect, isn't it?"

  Rois nodded her head, working furiously to dry her mistress. She wasn't quite certain what to say. "When Kevin kisses me," she said, and then quickly amended, "if he did kiss me, my heart beats a tattoo like a drum, and my whole being feels filled with light. It's hard to describe, but it is wonderful. If, indeed, it actually happened."

  Fortune giggled mischievously. "That doesn't tell me a whole lot, Rois," she said frankly. "I guess you have to experience a kiss to know what it's like. I wonder how long before William Devers tries to kiss me. I wonder if I will like this kissing."

  "Women usually do," Rois replied. Then she slipped a clean chemise over her mistress's head.

  "My mother certainly does," Fortune remarked, straightening the lace edging about the chemise's low-cut neckline, and on the balloon sleeves that came just below her elbow.

  Rois rolled a pair of cream-colored silk stockings up Fortune's slim legs, gartering them with gold rosettes. Then she helped the girl into several silk petticoats. Next came the outer skirt of heavy deep green silk, the skirt falling in simple folds with its fullness toward the back, and open in the front to display the skirt petticoat of cream and gold brocade.

  "Sit down, my lady, and let me do your hair," Rois said. She unpinned the fiery mass from atop Fortune's head and brushed it out vigorously, parting it in the middle, and coiling it into a flat knot at the nape of her mistress's neck. She tied the single lovelock by Fortune's left ear with a pearl-studded gold ribbon. Stepping back she observed her work, and then smiled. "Come on now, and let's get into your bodice, my lady," she said. She helped Fortune into the square-necked green garment, pulling the cloth down firmly so that the lace from the chemise showed; fastening the sleeves, which came to just below the elbow as did its undergarments, at the armscye, drawing down the lace from the chemise sleeves so that they showed. It was a simple gown, but an obviously expensive one. "You do look nice," Rois said with great understatement. "Shall I bring you your jewelry box, my lady?"

  "Aye," Fortune said. When the maidservant opened the case, Fortune chose a long single strand of creamy pearls and slipped them over her head. They lay glowing and perfect upon her gown. About her left wrist she affixed a bracelet fashioned of a double strand of pearls. About her other wrist she wore a bracelet of gold links, each of the rounds studded with an emerald. Contemplating her rings Fortune chose a large baroque pearl, a round emerald, and a simple gold ring with the Lindley family crest, two swans with their necks intertwined to form a perfect heart. "There," she said with a small chuckle. "That should be impressive enough for a first meeting."

  "Yer so naughty, my lady," Rois giggled, and taking the jewelry case stored it away.

  There was a soft tapping upon the door, but before Rois could answer it, the door opened to admit the duchess of Glenkirk who was garbed in rich burgundy silk, a necklace of pigeon's egg rubies about her neck with matching earbobs that fell from her lobes, several rich bracelets, and her hands heavy with elegant rings. Her hair was done as was her daughter's save that Jasmine wore no lovelock.

  "How lovely you look," she complimented both daughter and maidservant with her words. "The green is quite suitable for your hair, eyes, and skin. You have Irish skin like the O'Malleys, poppet. It is very fair."

  "Merci, Mama," Fortune replied. "I see you are dressed for battle," she chuckled. "Is it really fair to intimidate poor Lady Jane at our first meeting? The duchess of Glenkirk is really quite grand."

  "I have been informed by those who know that Lady Jane is a very intimidating woman, Fortune. I want her to understand that I am even more intimidating, and by inference, that you will not allow yourself to be bullied. It is important to establish these things upon first meeting, else we have a difficult time doing so afterwards. You must remember it is young William you are contemplating marriage with, and not his strong-willed mama. He is, I have been told, a pleasant young man, as is his father. It is your future mother-in-law that we must put in her place today so you do not have any difficulties later on," Jasmine advised her daughter.

  "Listen to her ladyship, my lady," Rois said with sudden unaccustomed frankness. "There are rumors even here at Maguire's Ford about Lady Jane Devers, although my grandmam would skin me for saying so."

  "What rumors?" Fortune asked.

  "They say she hates Catholics, and will not tolerate any about her. Those up in Lisnaskea must hide their faith, or risk losing everything-their homes, their positions, whatever they may be. Her stepson, Master Kieran, is only allowed to remain in the house because his stepmother will not drive him out for fear of a scandal. Sir Shane did disinherit him when he turned twenty-one and refused to convert to Protestantism," Rois said. "Most believe her influence was responsible for it."

  "How is it that Sir Shane's eldest son is a Catholic?" Jasmine queried the maidservant.

  "Sir Shane was born into the one true church," Rois said with complete ingenuousness. "His first wife, may God assoil her good soul, was Lady Mary Maguire, a kinswoman of Master Rory's. She had three children before her death. The eldest was Moire, then came Master Kieran, and finally Colleen, who killed her mother in birthing. The older children were six and four when their mother died. Two years later Sir Shane courted and won the hand of Mistress Jane Anne Elliot, the only daughter of a London merchant who had settled in what the English call Derry.

  "She was an heiress of some small means, and Sir Shane was attracted by both her fortune and her person. The only condition to the marriage was that Sir Shane convert to Protestantism, and raise his children as such. The poor man wasn't strong in his faith. He had three motherless children. While wealthy in land and cattle, he hadn't the coin his wealthy father-in-law-to-be could supply to restore his tumbledown manse and buy more cattle. He succumbed to their request, was baptized once again, this time by a Protestant minister, and swiftly married.

  "Sir Shane's two daughters were easily cajoled into following their father's lead. Moire was eight, and had been her papa's darling. She wanted to please him, and not lose him to her stepmother, although to be fair to Lady Jane, she has been good to her predecessor's children. Little Colleen was but two when her father wed, and knew no better. Lady Jane is the only mother she ever knew. But Master Kieran was six, and as stubborn as his da's prize bull. He had adored his mother. Now
he had but two things remaining to remind him of her. A wee miniature he always keeps on his person, and her faith. While his father and stepmother forced him to attend church with them each Sunday, he would sneak away afterwards to attend the mass being held in secret somewhere in Lisnaskea. It was years before his father and Lady Jane discovered it. By then he was a young man, and when they confronted him he did not deny it. From that time on he would not attend church with them in their Protestant church.

  "Lady Jane gave her husband two children. The girl was born first when Master Kieran was seven. She is called Elizabeth. Then came Master William the following year. There were no more children after that. The rumor is that Sir Shane has a mistress outside of Lisnaskea, one Molly Fitzgerald, who has two daughters by him, but it isn't discussed aloud because she's a Catholic. Finally, when Master Kieran was twenty-one his father gave him an ultimatum. Give up his Catholicism, or give up his birthright to his younger brother, William. 'Tis said that the father and son had such a terrible fight over it 'twas heard all the way to Ballyshannon, but Kieran Devers refused to give up his faith for a piece of land. So, the father disinherited him, and made young Master William his heir."

  "Yet Kieran Devers still lives in his father's house?" Jasmine was curious about such a thing.

  "His stepmother would not allow the father to dispossess the son for fear of what would be said. She wanted it to appear all her stepson's fault. She wanted to be the good and gentle lady. So Master Kieran lives in his own rooms in a separate wing of the house. While there are those who are saddened by the loss of his inheritance, none can say with certainty that Lady Jane is responsible. It is very important to the lady how she appears before others," Rois explained.

  "Poor Master Kieran has nowhere else to go. His mother's family are all gone, and the rest of his father's family are over in Donegal. They are hardly known to him, if they know him at all. While Kieran Devers is proud, he's no fool. Me grandmam says she thinks he enjoys remaining just to annoy Lady Jane, who would appear charitable towards him but is really not. 'Tis said she attempted to stop her husband from settling a sum on his son so that his wicked conscience might be salved, but Sir Shane would not listen to her then for he, too, cares what people think. The eldest son is in his will, and is given an allowance each year into the bargain. That generous allowance, I am told, comes from the inheritance the lady was bequeathed from her late father. I have heard it delights Master Kieran to donate a goodly portion of that allowance to the church just to annoy his stepmother." Rois giggled. "I have never seen him myself, but they say Kieran Devers is as handsome as sin, and as wicked as the devil himself to boot. Yet he is kind, and always ready to help those who need it. Mostly our kind who have been driven off our lands for our faith," she said.

  "I have never heard you speak so eloquently before," Fortune teased her maidservant.

  "There was nothing to say until yer mam asked me," Rois replied.

  Jasmine smiled. "You're a practical puss like my daughter, Rois. Bride did well to choose you for Fortune."

  The door to the chamber opened again, and the duke popped his head into the room. "The Deverses' coach is just coming through the village," he told his wife. "Come along, or we shall be late, and appear rude. We want to make a good first impression now, don't we?"

  "Do we?" Fortune asked mischievously.

  "I obviously didn't beat ye enough when ye were a wee lassie," James Leslie responded.

  "You didn't beat me at all, Papa," Fortune said, linking her arm through his, and smiling up into his craggy face.

  "Well, I probably should have," the duke teased her. He turned to his wife. "Where shall we greet them, madame?"

  "In the hall," Jasmine responded. "Adali will escort them in to us. It sets the proper tone, for our rank is far greater than theirs. They should be honored to even be considered as a possible match for our daughter. The more I learn about the Deverses of Lisnaskea, the less certain I am that they are the right family with which to be allied. Perhaps we did not look closely enough back home."

  If James Leslie was surprised by his wife's words he gave no sign of it. The duke knew Jasmine would have her way no matter what he said, and much of the time she was absolutely correct. "Nothing is signed, or even agreed to yet," he told her. "We can change our minds if Fortune does not like this young fellow, or we decide he is not at all suitable for her, darling Jasmine."

  "I am glad you see it my way, Jemmie," came the reply.

  They descended down into the Great Hall even as they heard the wheels of the coach rumbling into the courtyard through the open front door. Adali, garbed in his usual white trousers, tunic, and turban, was awaiting the visitors. Stepping out onto the portico, he waited until the Deverses had descended from their carriage and were halfway up the steps to the house. It was then he bowed deferentially to them.

  "Sir Shane. Lady Jane. Master William. I am Adali, the duchess's majordomo. You are welcome to Erne Rock Castle." He turned. "If you will please to follow me. I shall bring you to the duke and the duchess who are awaiting you in the Great Hall with Lady Fortune."

  Chapter 3

  Lady Jane Devers looked sidewise at her husband, and whispered in discreet tones, "She has a brown-skinned foreigner for a servant, Shane? We were not told she consorted with such people."

  "If the man holds a position of such importance in the duchess's household, Jane, then he must be a person worthy of her trust, and the duke's," Shane Devers whispered back. "Now shut yer mouth before you destroy William's chances for this marriage. The girl is quite an heiress."

  "I was an heiress," came the icy reply.

  "Not like this lass," her husband shot back as they entered the Great Hall. He was a tall man with iron gray hair and dark blue eyes. His face was weathered and ruddy from the outdoors, and his big hands those of a horseman.

  His wife was petite with fading blond hair and light blue eyes. Her complexion was yet fair, although her rosy cheeks owed much to the artifice of light rouge which she thought made her appear younger. Her gown was old-fashioned, the bell-shaped, ankle-length skirt worn over a farthingale with a wasp waist, and a long pointed stomacher. It was deep blue in color, and while it was of an excellent material, Lady Jane, looking at the duchess's gown, saw at once she was at a disadvantage. She almost cried with her frustration. Why hadn't she found out what Lady Leslie would be wearing? But then she had assumed that coming from Scotland, the lady would be no more up on the latest fashions than she was.

  Seeing the woman's scrutiny Jasmine felt a surge of triumph. Lady Jane was obviously already intimidated. Excellent! She had not yet made up her mind about William Devers, but if he was indeed to be her son-in-law, Jasmine felt they were already off on the proper foot with his dominating mother. She smiled graciously. "Welcome to Erne Rock, Sir Shane, Lady Jane, and young William. May I present to you my husband, James Leslie, the duke of Glenkirk, and my daughter, Lady Fortune Mary Lindley."

  Sir Shane bowed to his host and hostess as did his son, while his wife curtsied. Their greetings were acknowledged with a bow and two curtsies in exchange. Then Sir Shane said, "I thank you for having us, yer grace. I've always been curious to see the inside of Erne Rock."

  "But I understand your late first wife was a cousin of the Maguire lords of Erne Rock," Jasmine said sweetly.

  "Her kinship was closer to Conor Maguire and his ilk, although the Maguires of Erne Rock shared a great-grandfather with her," he replied.

  "Ahh," Jasmine intoned. Then she smiled at the handsome young man by his father's side.

  "This is my son, and heir, William," Sir Shane said. His wife poked him with a sharp finger. "And my wife, Lady Jane," he finished quickly.

  "How d'you do, your grace," Jane Devers said. Then she turned her gaze on Fortune. The girl was much too pretty, and in a rather bold way with that bright red hair. Why she almost looked Irish. "I am pleased to meet you, my dear," she said in dulcet tones. "My dear stepdaughter is a Mary also."


  "I am not called Mary," Fortune replied. "I am called Fortune, madame, for my mother considered it good fortune that I was conceived the very night before my father was murdered."

  Jane Anne Devers caught her breath in sharply. Had the girl no sense of delicacy, using a word like conceived? Then she caught herself, saying, "Fortune is a unique name, my dear, but if it is what you are used to being called, then we shall call you that."

  "I think it's a wonderful name," William Devers said, and then catching Fortune's hand up in his he kissed it. "Your servant, my lady Fortune." He looked up at her, his light blue eyes assessing her, and smiled winningly, showing a row of even white teeth.

  "Sir," she answered, assessing him as openly. Blue eyes, and chestnut brown hair with just a hint of gold in it. He was taller than she was which pleased her for she knew she was tall for a girl. His face and his hands were tanned which meant he spent a good deal of time in the open air. He seemed to be well formed and well made.

  "I trust I meet with your approval, my lady," he murmured softly so that only she might hear his words.

  "You make a good first impression, sir," she told him.

  William Devers laughed. He didn't like shy or prissy women, and had been expecting just that sort of creature. That Fortune Lindley was neither pleased him. It was far more fun to tame a wildcat than to be given a sweet kitten for a pet; and as Father had always told him, a wife was a pet to be cherished, protected, and trained to her husband's ways. The training, however, was more fun if the lady in question was a spirited lass, Shane Devers said. Fortune Lindley was obviously a fiery filly.

  "Let us have some wine to celebrate our meeting," Jasmine said. "Adali, please see a cask of the Archambault red is broached. It has been aging for some years now in the cellars, and should be quite excellent. And bring some sweet wafers as well."

  Adali bowed. "Yes, my princess, at once." Then he hurried out.

  "Your serving man," Jane Devers said, quite unable to contain her curiosity. "He is a foreigner?"