To Tempt an Irish Rogue by Kaitlin O'Riley

Author:Kaitlin O'Riley [O'Riley, Kaitlin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781420112405
Google: Su-ZVnzrlKIC
Amazon: 1420112406
Publisher: Zebra
Published: 2012-11-05T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Shadows

“Why should we care what happens to him? He killed our sister,” Deirdre Ryan Hollingsworth uttered with distaste. Her once attractive face was pinched into a bitter frown, making her appear far older than her thirty-five years.

“I thought you might have some interest in what he is doing in London,” Gerald O’Rourke remarked. He and Alice had invited Declan’s in-laws to Cashelmore Manor for the week to see what information they could glean about the investigation. However, Margaret’s two sisters had proven themselves to be as miserable as he had always declared them to be.

But then again, Gerald had always known that.

He had been somewhat fond of Declan’s young wife at the start of it all. Margaret Ryan had been sweet and obliging, and quite nice to look at. But in a surprisingly short amount of time she had grown overly tiresome with her whining and complaining. Gerald had in all good conscience warned his cousin not to become involved with her and her horrid family before he wedded her. The last thing Gerald needed was a nasty set of in-laws to deal with, as well as possible heirs. In any case, Declan was far too young to marry. But had Declan heeded Gerald’s advice or warnings? No. He was too blinded by Margaret’s silvery cool beauty to see any of the negative qualities she possessed. And she had quite a few of them.

So did her sisters, Deirdre and Ellen, sitting there looking more and more like a pair of old crows. They had both been attractive at one time, but it seemed their younger sister had inherited all of the beauty in the family.

“Well, then,” Ellen Ryan Hanlon sniped. Her face was as lined and pinched with bitterness as Deirdre’s. “What do you have to tell us about him? I thought that was why you dragged us back to Cashelmore Manor. To tell us something. I do hope it’s important.”

Gerald and his wife Alice exchanged looks across the elegant parlor where they sat having tea with the Ryan sisters.

Alice asked, “Have you no interest in your young niece?”

“Of course, I do!” Deirdre exclaimed sulkily. “I tried my best to keep her here! I offered to take care of her and raise her like my own. She is poor Margaret’s only child. Of course I wanted her. But he wouldn’t let me have her. ‘There’s no way in hell I would let a bitch like you take my daughter,’ were his exact words to me, if you must know. I haven’t seen or spoken to Declan Reeves since. He was off to London the next day with Mara and I’ve washed my hands of him completely.”

“Yes, what happens to him now is up to the authorities,” Ellen added with a smug grin, folding her long fingers primly in her lap. Her pale blond hair was pulled tightly back from her face and she wore a high-necked black gown, still in mourning for her sister.

“Well, what have you heard regarding Declan’s standing?” Gerald asked, wishing he had some whiskey to settle his nerves.

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