The Girls of Ennismore by Patricia Falvey

Author:Patricia Falvey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atlantic Books

PART FOUR

REBELLION

1914–1916

CHAPTER 19

Victoria bid goodbye to her father outside 6 Fitzwilliam Square.

‘Thank you, Papa, for all you have done.’

Lord Ennis smiled at his only daughter. ‘You will thank me by doing your best, Victoria, and applying yourself to your training with Dr Cullen. It is most generous of him to take you on.’

Victoria bowed her head. ‘Yes, I know, Papa, and I promise I will work hard.’

Lord Ennis bent and kissed her on the cheek. She noticed that his eyes were moist and she reached over and hugged him tightly. He pulled away, looking somewhat embarrassed. ‘There, there, Victoria. I must be off now. Don’t forget to write to your mama.’

With that he called to his driver and climbed into the carriage. Victoria watched as it took off up Sackville Street, looking old-fashioned and somewhat out of place among the electric trams. Just like Papa, she thought to herself, still clinging to the old-fashioned habits of the past.

She lingered on the pavement until the carriage disappeared. Then a sudden and unexpected fear overwhelmed her. She did her best to quell it, but without the promise of Rosie’s companionship she felt utterly and miserably alone. Renewing their friendship was the thing she had most looked forward to in coming to Dublin, and that hope had been dashed. She couldn’t see how things could be mended now.

She allowed her thoughts to turn to her visit to Rosie in Foley Court, even though the memories of the sights and smells of the place still sickened her. Celine had warned her that Bridie lived in a Dublin slum, but she had not been prepared for the squalor and despair she found there. It was all she could do to keep her rising nausea at bay. Her earlier euphoria at her new-found courage in standing up to Rosie had begun to ebb. She understood that Rosie’s antagonism towards her stemmed from embarrassment, but still her old friend’s words had stung.

For a moment she wished she was back in the safety of Ennismore where she was sheltered from the vagaries of the world. She found herself craving the very protections under which she had so recently felt stifled. She began to question her ability to survive in the real world outside that sweet prison in which she was brought up. Sighing, she entered the front door of her aunt’s house and closed it tightly behind her.

That night, she dreamed of Ennismore, where she was playing in the garden with Rosie while the sun shone down on them. Valentine was nearby, laughing. Suddenly she was twirling in her bedroom, showing off her new dresses to Rosie, excited at the prospect of her first Season. But now Rosie was crying. She put her arm around her to comfort her but Rosie pushed her away and ran out. She ran after her, calling her name, but Rosie would not look back. Then she was back sitting in the garden, this time with Brendan, kissing him passionately, but in the middle of the kiss he got up and walked away from her.

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