Fateful Encounter by Francis June

Author:Francis, June [Francis, June]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2016-01-28T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

‘SWEET JESU, mistress, have you taken leave of your senses?’ cried Master Upton, dismounting awkwardly, his expression one of distress. ‘Who will protect you if Master Niall isn’t here?’

‘Who protected Kathleen and Brigid when he wasn’t here?’ she snapped, her fingers curling and uncurling on her horse’s neck. ‘I don’t need the man.’ Her eyes were on Niall’s retreating figure.

‘He was never far away. Folk have only to hear that he’s withdrawn his protection from these estates, and they’ll come down on you from the hills like a flock of hungry crows.’

‘And how will they get to know? Is he going to tell them? What about his foster-sisters? Will he leave them without his protection?’

‘They are not here at the moment.’ He gnawed his lip anxiously.

‘What?’ She stared at him in surprise.

‘They have gone to the hills. It was the first of May yesterday, and they have taken the cows to their summer pasture. Brigid is expected back at any time — but if Master Niall is not here, she might not stay.’

Constance’s face showed her sudden uncertainty, then her expression hardened. ‘That is her decision. You heard what Master O’More said — that I would have to beg him to come back. Inever beg, Master Upton. If you would see to the horses, I’m going inside the house.’

He half-opened his mouth, but before he could speak, she turned and went inside. Nothing seemed changed inside the house, except for the quiet. Silence was suddenly a noiseless echo sounding in her head, one to which she had become accustomed in all the years of her marriage. She would have liked to have become better acquainted with Kathleen, but it seemed that it was not to be.

She wandered about the hall, debating whether to stay. Now that she was here alone, her plans seemed nonsense. How many men had stressed that to her? How many times had the danger of her being alone been emphasised? This place belonged to her, and she wanted to stay — but wanting was not enough if she had no one to help her. Robin had been right, so had her father, and Ormonde, and Desmond. It seemed that she needed a man like Niall O’More if she were to remain.

There was a noise at the door, and she turned eagerly, but it was only Master Upton with her baggage. ‘I think we’ll be needing water,’ he said, sinking wearily on to a stool, and dumping her baggage.

He looked so woebegone that a stir of pity welled inside Constance. It was hot outside, and he was not a thin man! She smiled. ‘I shall go and fetch some. I know the way.’

His face eased into a grin. ‘That’s kind of you, mistress. I’ll just stay awhile here out of the sun, if I may?’

‘Yes, of course, Master Upton.’ She patted his shoulder as she passed.

As she walked to the river, she could not help remembering how she had seen Niall there, and how furious he had been when she dropped his clothes in the water.

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