Page 2 of The Book of Irish Secrets (Magnolia Manor #5)

She often wondered how they were managing and now, more than thirty years later, as she was preparing her escape from home, she thought about those women and what they must have been through.

How had they coped with the trauma that must still be lingering even after all these years?

She knew about the family from reports in the press from time to time.

The daughters had all moved back to Dingle and now lived near the manor, she had read, when Violet, the youngest daughter, had married Jack Montgomery, an actor and now a director of some well-known movies.

There had been quite a bit in the media about them at that time.

Claire had quite a thick folder with newspaper cuttings about the Fleurys of Dingle that she had collected ever since she was in her teens.

She often dreamed of going to Kerry to meet these fascinating women who had grown up in a place that seemed like a fairy-tale castle to her when she was a little girl.

And now, could this book allow her to gain entry to the castle and get to know the ‘princesses’ who lived there?

‘Perhaps I should go to Kerry and find those other Fleurys,’ Claire said.

‘You must go,’ Finola said and sat down beside Claire. ‘It’s written in the stars.’

‘It’s now or never,’ Claire said, stroking the F on the front of the battered old book. ‘I will turn fifty next year and I feel time is running out. The arrival of this book feels like a message from Auntie Rachel.’

‘Oh yes. She’s saying, go to Kerry and find the family,’ Finola said, her eyes wide with excitement. ‘To unravel the mystery of the feud.’

Claire nodded. ‘That’s how I feel right now. I have to go and find out what happened, even if it takes me years. I’ll close up the house and…’ She looked apologetically at her friend. ‘Sorry, Finola. I’ll be leaving you all alone.’

‘Oh, I’ll be all right.’ Finola threw her arms around Claire and hugged her tight. ‘You’ve already been so kind to me by letting me stay here.’

‘I’m not sure about that,’ Claire said dryly. ‘I needed a friend when Hugh left. I thought I’d be living here for good, but now…’ She opened the book again and glanced at the family tree. Then she noticed something on the flyleaf. ‘Oh, there is something written here…’

‘Read it out loud,’ Finola urged, picking Prince up from the floor.

‘“Dear Claire, this is a compilation of all the material about the Fleury family I have gathered through the years”,’ Claire read, blinking away tears.

‘“It’s about my father’s family and the place where he grew up.

He was forced to leave after a terrible row and never went back.

I hope that one day there will be peace and forgiveness and the Fleurys will once again be together.

”’ Claire sighed and dabbed her eyes with a tissue from the box on the coffee table.

‘Oh this is so lovely. Auntie Rachel’s last wish.

There’s more: “My father, Louis Fleury, kept some photos taken at Magnolia Manor before he left in 1912.” Gosh, that’s so long ago,’ Claire said.

‘“I have also drawn up a family tree and written down whatever I know. It might be a help for anyone who reads this.”’ Claire looked at Finola, feeling overwhelmed with emotion.

‘It’s like a sign from above. My darling Auntie Rachel has given me something that might tell me the whole story. ’

‘Oh!’ Finola looked at Claire with big eyes. ‘How exciting. But how are you going to get to see these Fleurys? Surely they’ll be very private. Aren’t they very well known in the area?’

‘I don’t know,’ Claire said. ‘I could try to get a job in the area. I’m sure I’ll find something more interesting than the insurance company I used to work for before they made me redundant.

Then, when I’ve settled in, I’ll do some research and also talk to some of the locals.

Everyone knows everyone else down there, I’d say, like in most rural communities.

I’m sure there are stories about the Fleury family of Magnolia Manor that they still talk about. Someone must know something at least.’

‘Maybe you should go undercover,’ Finola suggested.

Claire laughed. ‘You sound as if I’m some kind of spy.’ Then she thought for a moment. ‘But you know what? You might be right. Maybe I should use my married name, O’Hanlon, even though I’m not married to Hugh any more. Claire Fleury would give me away. Good thinking, Finola.’

‘Well, even if Hugh didn’t leave you with much, you can at least use his name,’ Finola said, with a laugh. ‘You know I was so angry when he just upped and left you like that. I could wring his neck for doing that to you.’

‘Well, it’s all behind me now. At least it wasn’t about another woman,’ Claire remarked.

‘Sure, who’d have him?’ Finola said. ‘You had great patience to stick with him for fourteen years.’ She smiled.

‘I thought I could change him,’ Claire said, struggling. ‘More fool me.’

‘I don’t think you can change people,’ Finola remarked. ‘I know that from experience. I’ve never succeeded in changing any of my boyfriends. So now I’m going for men who are nice and kind. Looks don’t mean much to me any more. It’s what’s on the inside that matters.’

‘Very true,’ Claire said, remembering Hugh’s handsome face. ‘I was fooled by his looks.’

‘Hugh is a handsome devil,’ Finola said. ‘With a cold heart.’ She looked at Claire with a worried expression. ‘But what about the house?’

Claire sighed and looked around the living room that she had thought was so pleasant and cosy with its period fireplace and bow window overlooking the leafy street.

‘Only I don’t know what to do with it, to be honest. Selling seems so final.

If I do, I won’t have anywhere to come back to, should things not go the way I planned.

I don’t want to turf you out, either, Finola.

That would be unfair after the way you’ve supported me through the past years. ’

‘That’s very kind of you,’ Finola replied.

‘I know Hugh is keen to get rid of it, and I don’t think he really cares that it’s become my home…

’ She paused, thoughtfully. ‘You could let it,’ Finola suggested.

‘Put it up on Airbnb. I could still live here and look after the lettings. The little guest room on the ground floor with the ensuite would be great for me. And Prince loves the garden. It’s perfect for a cat.

You could do short-term lettings and I’d clean up after each tenant.

My aunt in Galway does that and it works very well for her. ’

‘Oh.’ Claire stared at Finola. ‘That’s not a bad idea. And of course I’d pay you.’

‘Well…’ Finola shot Claire an awkward look. ‘It would be extra work so maybe…’

‘I’ll give you commission,’ Claire said. ‘We’ll draw up an agreement. Oh, this is such a relief! I knew you’d think of a solution. You’re such a practical person.’

‘What will Hugh say?’ Finola looked suddenly worried. ‘What if he comes back and gets upset that I’m still here?’

‘Come back from sunny Spain?’ Claire asked, incredulously. ‘Nah, not Hugh. He loves it down there. Food and wine are cheap and I bet he’s flirting with all the senoritas making them believe he’s the bee’s knees while dancing the flamenco.’

Finola giggled. ‘I can see it clearly, except for the flamenco. Hugh has two left feet.’

‘Let’s forget about him. I’ll just tell him I’ll think about it and say I’ll sell the house as soon as I’ve found somewhere else to live.

That should keep him happy for a while.’ Claire sighed happily, hugging the big book to her chest. ‘Oh, I’m so looking forward to going to Kerry.

I’ve never been there before. I’ve heard it’s very beautiful and the people are lovely. ’

‘I went to Killarney on a school trip years ago, when I was sixteen,’ Finola said. ‘Beautiful town. And the countryside is gorgeous.’

‘So I’ve heard.’ Claire felt a dart of excitement.

‘I can’t wait to get down there. Lots to do before I go, though.

I know it’s only January but I want to start organising all of this.

First we have to blitz the house and get it clean and lovely and then organise the rooms upstairs and see about bed linen and stuff.

But that shouldn’t be too hard. Great to have two bathrooms up there and the kitchen is in good shape. ’

‘We have to make a list of everything,’ Finola said.

‘We do,’ Claire agreed. She put the book carefully on the coffee table. ‘I’m not going to look at this until I’m in Kerry. It doesn’t seem right to open it until I’m there. I’ll put it away for now. Let’s make a list of everything that needs to be done.’

Finola looked across the room at the piano beside one of the windows. ‘You’ll miss playing your music.’

‘I know. But sometimes you have to sacrifice things you love for the greater good. And I feel I’ve been given a mission.’ Claire went over to the desk and got a pen and her writing pad and then sat down on the sofa again. ‘Number one: clean house…’

Half an hour later they had forgotten about going to the pub to celebrate Claire’s birthday and were busy making plans for this huge change in both their lives.

Claire’s spirits lifted as they talked late into the night and she felt as if her whole existence was about to change and a new chapter in her life was about to open.

Claire had somehow lost her own persona when she had married Hugh and had become some kind of appendage to him and his life, only worrying about pleasing him.

But now, suddenly, she was going to a place she had never been to, searching for her roots and the answers to so many questions that had been troubling her since she was a little girl.

Would she finally learn the truth about the Fleury family scandal, and in doing so, find herself?

She looked at the book on the table and suddenly, the large F on the front seemed to shimmer in the lamplight.

What would she find when she opened it again?