Edge of Glass by Catherine Gaskin

Author:Catherine Gaskin [Gaskin, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: gothic romance, 1960s, Irish romance, family saga, romantic suspense, love story, ireland, mystery thriller romance
Publisher: Corazon Books
Published: 2017-02-12T05:00:00+00:00

Seven

‘It’s half eleven, Miss Maura,’ the voice said. I opened my eyes on Mrs. O’Shea’s round starched form, cup of tea in hand, standing beside my bed. ‘I’d have told Annie to let you sleep longer but I thought you’d not be wanting to miss the day entirely, seeing that the sun’s come out.’

I sat up and gropingly took the tea from her. ‘That’s very kind of you, Mrs. O’Shea. I should have been up long ago.’ My eyelids were sticky, though the brightness at the windows where she had drawn back the curtains confirmed what she had said about the day. It was a spring day, and half of it was gone. I took a long gulp of the hot, strong tea.

‘Sure now, it’s as well to be getting a little rest, and you on the go all the live-long day yesterday.’ She said nothing about the night, but I thought she had probably heard my return, the stumbling on the stairs. She had probably known that Connor had waited for me.

She stood expectantly at the end of the bed, and I knew she had come to say something, and it wasn’t a complaint, or I would have heard it already.

‘Well, it’s not much of a fine spring day for me,’ she began, pulling her mouth down. ‘Didn’t I get the news this morning that Great-Uncle Pat has finally died ‒ him that’s been ready for it these past ten years, God rest his soul. The funeral’s Friday, and a grand affair it’ll be, with Uncle Pat been saving for it so that everyone could raise a glass or two to him in the next world. A very congenial man, my Great-Uncle Pat is. Friday afternoon, and it’s to Wexford I’d have to be going, and if I’m to join in any of the doings after, then I’d have to be spending the night. But there’s Lady Maude, and I’m really only here to oblige Dr. Donnelly …’

Through my half-sleep I grasped what was required of me, and also the fact that I was expected to stay; that in their minds no one had set a time for my going. ‘I’m sure I could stay with her, Mrs. O’Shea … if you’d just show me what’s to be done.’

Her mouth lifted. ‘Nothing, and that’s the truth of it. ’Tis me own opinion that the Auld Lady is as strong as a horse and will see many another in the grave. But Dr. Donnelly will not have her left to sleep quite alone this first week. All that would be to do would be just to sleep in my room and leave the doors open so you could hear if she needed anything. But I’d never let it be said that Molly O’Shea went off and left her patient in charge of a servant.’ She gave me a confidential smile as if to say we both understood what servants were; then she left me ‘to finish your tea in peace and get your eyes open,’ sounding as if I needed her permission for both.

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