A Class Inherited by Susie Murphy

Author:Susie Murphy [Murphy, Susie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Cormac wasn’t sure whether to expect his visitors to return to Bewley Hall following his warning to Patrick about his conduct, but he glanced out of a window shortly after noon the next day and perceived two figures riding up the avenue towards the house. As they approached, he discerned Patrick’s hunched shoulders and wondered whether it was coercion on Garrett’s part or curiosity on his own that had compelled him to come back.

By the time the knock came on the study door, Cormac had rearranged the furniture so that his chair was on the near side of the desk along with two others, the three set up in a loose circle. He didn’t want to sit formally across a desk from his nephew while they discussed the boy’s family history and complicated identity. Sheppard conducted Garrett and Patrick into the study and, after a slight hesitation, Cormac extended his hand to Garrett. They shook gravely while he privately thought that twenty-four hours ago he would never have entertained the notion of such civility with the man. Nevertheless, he was willing to tolerate it for Mary’s sake. He offered his hand to Patrick too and the boy shook it languidly.

Bracing himself for the challenging conversation ahead, he asked Sheppard to send David up with some refreshments. The butler withdrew and Cormac, Garrett and Patrick sat down, the angles of their three chairs subtly stating that no one person had greater authority here. Cormac wanted to command his nephew’s respect but he also needed to be approachable. Patrick’s gaze darted around, his jaw locked tight, and Cormac sensed the need to tread carefully or the boy would bolt like an unnerved horse.

He cleared his throat. ‘Do you have any particular questions as we begin? Or would you prefer me to talk?’

Patrick shrugged. Cormac decided to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being regarding his manners.

‘I’ll talk then,’ he said. ‘I’d like to tell you first about your namesake: my brother, Patrick. He was the second of our siblings. Your mother was the first. In fact, they were born only ten months apart. She and Patrick were very close as children so I wasn’t one bit surprised that she named you after him. He was a stable hand like me.’

Patrick’s lip curled at that last piece of information.

‘There is no dishonour in a life of honest labour,’ Cormac said, his voice tight. ‘Your uncle was decent and hardworking. There wasn’t a bad bone in his body.’

Patrick flinched and Cormac suddenly recognised a potential problem in praising his brother – perhaps his nephew didn’t feel he could live up to his namesake. There was already a precedent for this in the family: Cormac and Bridget had shortened their younger son’s name to Gus so that he wouldn’t have to bear the full weight of his admirable grandfather’s name before he was ready.

Lacing his fingers in his lap, Cormac carried on smoothly, ‘No one expects you to be the same as him, Pat.

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