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"Calm youself, madame," Kieran said, and to her surprise he put an arm about his stepmother in a comforting gesture. "It is highly unlikely that Fortune Lindley will accept Willy's offer, and the choice as we all heard, is hers to make."

  Jane Devers sniffed audibly. "Do you really think so, Kieran?"

  He squeezed her hand. "I do, madame, I do!"

  "You mean you hope," snarled William. "Fortune will be my wife! I will not take no for an answer from her."

  "You will have to, you young fool!" his elder sibling shot back. "For God's sake, Willy, if you make a spectacle of yourself over this girl, Emily Anne won't have you at all. Behave like a Devers of Lisnaskea, and not some whining, spoiled English milord!" He turned to his father. "Perhaps, sir, this would be a good time for Willy to visit the Continent, and see how the rest of the world lives."

  Jane Devers pulled away from her stepson. "Oh, yes, Shane!" she cried to her husband. "He could go to London first, and see his sisters, and their families. And I will go with you, William! I have not been to London since I was a little girl." She clapped her hands excitedly like a child. "We shall all go! You, too, Kieran." Her heart was overflowing with good will at this moment. It was a most wonderful idea. She would get her son away from Fortune Lindley. When they returned the girl would have undoubtedly gone back to Scotland with her family. And Emily Anne Elliot would be waiting. "I'll need a new wardrobe, of course, judging by the duchess's beautiful gown. I wonder if Colleen has a good dressmaker down in Dublin who would be willing to come up to Ulster? I must write her this very day." She hurried from the room.

  "Make the offer to the duke," William Devers said, implacably.

  Kieran Devers went to the sideboard, and poured out three double drams of peat whiskey into small polished pewter cups. He handed one to his father, and one to his younger brother, keeping the third for himself.

  Shane Devers gulped the liquid fire down. It seared his throat as it dropped into his stomach like a hot stone. "Hear me out before I go any further," he said to his heir. "I spoke with the duke the first night we were at Erne Rock. The terms of any marriage agreement between you and Lady Fortune would be very odd to say the least. He tells me this is the standard marriage contract for all the women in his family. You would receive a settlement in gold, to be agreed upon by both families. As for the rest of Lady Fortune's wealth, and lands, they remain in her hands. You would have no say in how she managed her property at all, William."

  "But what if she frittered her wealth away as any woman would do given such license? Women do not know how to manage their pin money let alone manage great wealth, Da. Look how Mama always comes to you to wheedle additional coins because she has spent her allowance before the quarter is up," William said.

  "Lady Fortune has been managing her own wealth since she was a maid of twelve according to her stepfather. Her great-grandmother taught her how before she died. She was the famous Skye O'Malley, who was old Queen Bess's confidante, if the stories be true. The girl has almost doubled her wealth in the past few years, William. She is no fool.

  "Do you think you could marry a woman who would not heed your advice regarding her investments? For after all, William, you know nothing of such things. This girl has grown up in a noble and wealthy family, and she is clever. She would not be content to simply sit at home and manage her household while having your children. I am not overwhelmed by jealousy and wild emotions as is your mama, but I, too, agree with her that this marriage would not be a good thing for you. Still, if knowing what I have just told you you still wish me to approach the duke of Glenkirk with a firm offer, I shall do it, my son."

  "Make the offer," William Devers said through gritted teeth.

  Kieran shrugged, and poured himself another dram of whiskey. "You want to lie with her, and can think of no other way of doing it than to marry the wench," he said scornfully. "I know a lass who would pleasure you so well you would forget all about Fortune Lindley."

  "You want her yourself," his brother repeated angrily.

  "If I wanted her, little Willy, I'd take her," Kieran Devers said with brutal frankness. "Virgins don't interest me, however."

  "You bastard!" William Devers yelled, and tried to hit his brother, but Kieran was too quick for him, and pinioned the young man's arms to his sides, shaking his head wearily.

  "Behave yourself, Willy, or your mama won't take you to London Town," he teased his brother wickedly.

  "Leave him be, Kieran lad," their father said to his elder son, "and you," he told the younger sternly, "keep your hands to yourself! I'll not have my sons fighting amongst themselves like savages."

  "You'll make the offer?" William demanded, shaking himself free of his elder brother's grip.

  "I'll send over to Erne Rock in the morning," Shane Devers promised his heir.

  ***

  "My lord, this message has just arrived from Mallow Court," Adali said coming into the Great Hall the following morning.

  The duke took the folded parchment, and breaking the seal scanned the contents. "They've offered for Fortune," he said. Then he turned to his stepdaughter. "Well, lassie? Will ye hae him, or no?"

  Jasmine held her breath.

  "I know I should accept him, Papa," she began. "It is the sensible thing to do for I am not getting any younger."

  "But ye won't accept him, will ye, lass?" James Leslie said.

  Fortune shook her head in the negative. "No, I won't. Poor Will. I know he cares not a whit for my money. He is handsome, and has a nice little estate he'll inherit one day; but Papa, he is the dullest man I have ever met in my entire life. And his ideas about women are positively ancient. They are supposed to stay at home having babies, and listening adoringly to whatever their husbands say. He is ill educated for his class, and does not care. He has no interests at all except riding, but horses are only a means of transportation for him. He is not in the least attracted to the idea of breeding, and raising the beasts for sale. That, he says, is for Maguire to handle. I could find nothing of interest to speak with him about, and Lord knows, I tried. If I must remain a spinster, then I will remain a spinster, but I should rather go to my grave a virgin than wed with such a handsome young dunce!"

  Jasmine let her breath out in an audible swoosh. "Thank goodness!" she said. "I was so afraid you would do the right thing, poppet, and he would have made you miserable, I fear."

  "Very well," James Leslie said with surprising calm, "then what are we to do now?"

  "I think we should remain in Ireland for the next few months," Fortune suggested.

  "Agreed," Jasmine replied. "And we must make certain that poor young William is not embarrassed by your refusal, poppet. It must be put out that you simply didn't suit each other, but that our families have all remained friends despite our mutual disappointment."

  "I concur," James Leslie said. "We will deliver our refusal in person. I would not embarrass the Deverses. You and I will ride over tomorrow morning for it is too late now for us to go and return. We must start early. First, however, I would tell Father Cullen, and the Reverend Steen. They had high hopes for this match. Cullen will understand, but it will be hard for Reverend Steen."

  "Shall I come too?" Fortune asked.

  "I think not," her stepfather said.

  Fortune hugged him hard, and kissed his handsome cheek. "Thank you for understanding, Papa," she said. "I realize I am a disappointment to you in that I cannot settle upon a husband, but as nice as he is, Will Devers is not the man for me. I wonder if any man is."

  In the morning the duke and duchess of Glenkirk set out for Mallow Court. They both enjoyed the gentle hills and the soft weather as they rode. Mallow Court was a pleasant Tudor dwelling, and the announcement of their arrival brought both Sir Shane and Lady Devers hurrying into their Great Hall where Jasmine and James were already being served wine by the well-trained household servants.

  "Forgive us for our unannounced arrival," James Leslie said, kissing Jane Devers's hand, "but we wanted to come personal
ly to give you an answer to your offer for Lady Fortune."

  Dear God, Jane Devers thought, agitated. They are going to take my William away from me. She flung her husband a distraught look.

  Seeing it Jasmine actually felt sympathy for the woman, and quickly said, "Your son is a fine young man, and I would be proud to have him for a son-in-law. Unfortunately, my daughter does not believe she is the right girl for William. While Jemmie and I think the boy quite suitable, we will not compel Fortune to a marriage she does not want. We wanted to come and tell you this ourselves because we did not want you to think we were refusing your suit capriciously. Nor did we want any gossip that would reflect badly upon William. I hope you are not too offended, and that you will not think badly of Fortune."

  Jane Devers almost collapsed with her relief. William was safe from that girl! Then suddenly she found she was also offended. Fortune Lindley had turned down her son's offer of marriage! Did the baggage think herself too good for William Devers? The words were out of her mouth before she could hold them back. "Then why did you come to Ireland to seek a husband for your daughter if you did not intend she accept a most suitable prospect? It does seem quite fickle to me," she huffed.

  "My wife"-the duke began, squeezing Jasmine's hand hard, and warning her to silence-"thought to give her Irish estates to Fortune. We believed under those circumstances an Irish husband would be best."

  "A perfectly reasonable conclusion," Sir Shane replied, glowering sharply at his wife as he silently warned her to keep quiet. The duke and duchess of Glenkirk had been more than generous in their treatment of the Devers family. They would not be embarrassed by this situation now despite the fact Jane had blathered about the countryside to all who would listen that their son would undoubtedly marry the heiress of Erne Rock Castle. "Will you be returning to Scotland soon?" he asked.

  "Nay, not immediately. We thought to spend the summer here in Ulster," the duke responded. "Jasmine has not been here since Fortune was born. Now with the pain of the marquess of Westleigh's murder long past, she is enjoying Maguire's Ford again. Father Cullen was her tutor in India, and shepherded her from her father's court to England twenty-four years ago. He is her kinsman, and she is fond of him. She had not thought to see him ever again when she left Ireland last. We shall go home to Scotland in the autumn in time for the grouse hunting, and then down into England to court for the winter. Perhaps the right man will make his appearance then. For Fortune's sake I hope so."

  "Lady Fortune is a lovely lass," Shane Devers said graciously. "I am sorry she will not be our daughter, my lord."

  Bows and curtsies were exchanged all around, and then the Leslies of Glenkirk took their leave of the Deverses of Mallow Court.

  "My prayers have been answered!" Lady Jane Devers cried out when they had gone. "We shall leave for England as quickly as possible. I can have my wardrobe made in London. It will be more up-to-date than with a dressmaker from Dublin."

  "William will not be pleased at all," her husband answered her. "I do not know what he will do for he has convinced himself that Lady Fortune Lindley is the love of his life. How he should know that on such short acquaintance is beyond me, my dear. Let us call him now, and tell him. John," he called to a footman. "Fetch my sons, and tell them to come to the Great Hall at once. Find Master Kieran first."

  "Why Kieran first?" his wife demanded.

  "Because Kieran can help us to control William's assured outburst. I don't want him galloping across the countryside to plead with the girl. It would embarrass Lady Fortune, and shame us."

  Kieran Devers came, and was swiftly apprised of the situation. He smiled sardonically. Had he not predicted the haughty wench would turn his younger brother down? Why the Leslies had even considered a Devers of Mallow Court was beyond him. With a duke for a stepfather, a duke for a half-brother, and a marquess for a brother; with a small fortune and rich lands to her name, the Lady Fortune Lindley could have a duke for a husband. She probably had some poor dumb devil back in England dangling while she tortured him by coming to Ireland on a supposed husband hunt. "How soon does the girl go home?" he asked his father.

  "They plan to remain for the summer months," was the surprising answer, "which is even more reason for getting William off to England as soon as we possibly can. Are you going with us?"

  Kieran shook his head. "I have no desire to see England," he said. "You, William, and Lady Jane go. I'll look after everything here, Da. 'Tis small trouble. The crops are planted. The sheep are flourishing in the meadows. There is not a great deal to do, but I know how closely you mind your accounts, and that I can do for you."

  William Devers came into the hall. "You sent for me, Da?"

  "Lady Fortune has refused your offer," his father spoke bluntly.

  "Of course she would the first time," William answered calmly. "She is a lady, and it would be unseemly for her to jump at my offer."

  "For God's sake, Willy," his brother snapped impatiently. "You could offer a hundred times, and the wench would turn you away! She doesn't want you. Her parents came themselves to tell our father and your mother, laddie. Let it go, and marry your cousin, Emily."

  "I don't believe you," William Devers said defiantly.

  "Faugh! You tell him, madame. Tell your son he has been rejected by a disdainful and arrogant English wench," Kieran said angrily.

  "It is true, William," his mother said.

  "I shall go to her!" William cried.

  "You shall not!" Sir Shane said harshly. "Would you disgrace our family with your lovesick behavior?"

  "Take one step out of the hall," his brother warned, "and I swear, laddie, I shall beat you senseless!" His dark eyes threatened warningly as he glared at his younger brother.

  William Devers felt his heart sink. She had turned him down. How could she? She was the most beautiful girl in the world. She spoke about things he had never heard a woman speak about. He adored her. How could she not understand that he loved her? "You have always planned on me wedding Emily Anne," he said, suddenly turning on his mother menacingly. "Put it from your mind, Mama. I would not have that simpering, treacle-soaked little bitch if she were the last girl on the face of the earth!"

  Lady Devers drew herself up, and glared fiercely at her son. "Do not speak to me like that, William. You do not have to marry your cousin if you do not wish to, but Lady Fortune Lindley will not marry you either. We will leave for England tomorrow to visit your sisters. Perhaps a few months away will free you of the bad influences you have come under these past few days. No!" She held her hand up at him. "Do not even attempt to argue with me in this, William." Then she stalked from the hall, her back straight, her head high.

  Kieran put an arm about his brother's shoulders, but William shrugged it off. "There is nothing you can say to comfort me," he snarled.

  "I suggest you lock him in his room till you're ready to leave, Da," Kieran said mockingly. "If you do not, the young fool may make a run for Erne Rock, and get his backside kicked by a duke for his presumption." He chuckled.

  "I'll kill you one day, Kieran," William said angrily.

  "Why would you even bother?" his brother returned scathingly. "You already have everything that should have been mine. Not that I care, Willy, but your mama might. Pull yourself together, laddie, and behave like a Devers." Then he, too, departed the hall.

  "I don't think I can trust you, William," his father said wearily, and then proceeded to follow his eldest son's advice.

  The next morning the Deverses' coach pulled away from Mallow Court, a stony-faced William seated inside with his mother. His father rode alongside the lumbering vehicle with his elder son who had decided to accompany them as far as the Dundalk Road. There Kieran Devers bid them farewell, and headed back cross-country to his home.

  Fortune saw him from a distance, but she recognized the large white stallion he had ridden the day he had come to Erne Rock. With its black mane and tail, the beast was quite distinctive. She waved to him. It was bold, she kne
w, but once she had realized that young William Devers was not really the mate for her, she had also realized that his older brother was the far more interesting man. Now she meant to confirm her first impression. Because she was not marrying his brother did not mean they could not strike up an acquaintance. After all her parents had both stressed the importance of not embarrassing the Deverses by avoiding them, and appearing to snub them. Not that she had any interest in Kieran Devers.

  What was the wench up to? Kieran wondered, as he rode toward her. She had certainly been rude enough when they had first met, and then she had made a great pretense of being enthralled by his brother. If anyone was to blame for William's heartbreak and attitude, it was certainly Lady Fortune Lindley. Still, he was rather fascinated by her. A wench who rode a big gelding, and rode it astride to boot. He waved back as he came toward her.

  "Good day, Master Devers," Fortune said pleasantly.

  "Good day, Lady Fortune," he replied.

  "You were coming from the Dundalk Road?" she queried.

  "I escorted my parents and William to it. They are going to England to visit my sisters in London," he explained.

  "Poor Will. He is a sweet boy," she answered him. "I hope he will enjoy London, although most of the good families leave it in the summer weather. Perhaps your sisters' families have homes outside the town?"

  "If it is the fashionable thing to do, then they will indeed have country houses," he told her with a small smile. "If there is one certainty my stepmother has taught my sisters, and my half-sister, it is how to be fashionable, and properly English."

  "You don't approve of the English?" she said quietly.

  "I don't approve of those who enter a country, take the land from its rightful owners, and attempt to impress their religion and way of life upon a people who already have their own way of life and religion," Kieran Devers said.

  "It is the way of the world," Fortune told him as they rode along side by side. "Our tutors taught my brothers and sister and me that throughout history one culture has always conquered and overcome another. Those of you in Ireland today once came from another place to overcome the Tuatha da Danae, the Fairy folk, who it is said once ruled this island. It is claimed they now live beneath the earth here because they did not wish to assimilate with the Celtic races. Sometimes these changes are for the good, and other times they are not. I don't approve, however, of how most of the English treat the Irish, but given the opportunity, would you Irish not be as wicked? Given the chance you would pillage and burn in the manner of your ancestors, and drive the English right into the sea itself. You would show no mercy, and are no better than they are."