Page 26 of The Book of Irish Secrets (Magnolia Manor #5)

EIGHTEEN

‘That’s quite a story,’ Pierce finally said, looking as if he was trying to take it in. ‘I expected something quite different.’

‘Like what?’ Claire asked.

‘That the two of you were still married or something,’ Pierce said quietly. ‘Or that you were still in love with him.’

‘God, no,’ Claire exclaimed. ‘I don’t even like him.’

‘That’s a relief,’ Pierce said. ‘But this… That you are who you are, that’s incredible. I would never in a million years have believed it if it didn’t come from your own lips.’

‘So if Hugh had told you, you would have thought that it was a pack of lies?’

‘Something like that. But it’s true and you’re standing here telling me you’re a real Fleury and that your great-grandfather was Cornelius’s twin brother.

’ Pierce shook his head in disbelief. Then he looked at her curiously.

‘So you’ve been hiding the truth all this time?

Pretending to be someone quite different? ’

‘Yes,’ Claire whispered. ‘I know it seems bad, but…’

‘But you felt it was justified because you needed time to – what?’ Pierce asked, looking at her with slight scorn in his eyes.

‘I need to find out what the feud was about,’ Claire explained.

‘If I told everyone who I am, they might not believe me. Or they might carry our ancestors’ anger and I’ll be cast out too.

I must prove that Louis, Cornelius’s twin, really existed.

Only Sylvia knows that Cornelius had a twin.

Nobody else has a clue. So I need to be able to prove that he was born here, and find a way to repair whatever happened back then. ’

‘I see,’ he said. ‘Well, I’m not sure what I think about all this. It’s quite difficult to get my head around it all.’

‘I’m sure it is,’ Claire said, knowing his feelings for her had somehow changed. She realised that by asking him not to tell anyone, she was making him a kind of ally in her scheme.

He looked thoughtfully at her for a moment, seeming to suddenly notice that she was cold. ‘You’re shivering in that thin shirt. Let’s go inside and get warm. In any case, I think the band is having a break, so we can go in before anyone misses us.’

‘And then there would be another kind of rumour,’ Claire said with a laugh.

‘It’s already all around town,’ Pierce said and ushered her towards the door to the pub. ‘We haven’t exactly been hiding. Not that I care, but maybe you do?’

‘Not at all,’ Claire said as they arrived back in the warm, cosy pub. ‘That takes the spotlight away from who I am and what I’m really doing here.’ In any case , she thought, I’m getting so fond of him, but now maybe I’ve blown it…

‘Well, as everyone has accepted your story about coming to Kerry to look for a job and to find yourself, nobody has suspected your motives for a second.’ Pierce led the way through the crowd that had thinned considerably as some people had gone home or returned to their tables to chat with friends.

‘Find myself?’ Claire said with a giggle as she sat down on the chair Pierce pulled out for her. ‘I always thought that sounded so precious. Don’t we find ourselves all through life, anyway?’

Pierce sat down beside her. ‘That’s very true.’ He suppressed a yawn. ‘Right now, I’d like to find myself in my bed. Old age is creeping up on me.’

‘Me too,’ Claire confessed, suddenly tired after the long day with so many ups and downs.

‘How will you get home?’ Pierce asked. ‘I couldn’t drive you, I’ve had a few pints.’

‘I came here with Rose and Noel,’ Claire said. ‘Noel’s driving so he had the zero Guinness.’

‘Oh, great.’ Pierce scanned the crowd for a moment. ‘I see them over there at another table. Will I go over and say you want to go home?’

‘No, please don’t,’ Claire begged. ‘I don’t want to interrupt if they’re with friends. I’ll just wait here until they’re ready. You go on home, Pierce. I don’t mind.’

‘Are you sure?’ he asked.

‘Of course I am,’ Claire assured him. ‘But before you go, I just want to thank you for…’ She stopped, not knowing how to go on. She wanted to say thanks for listening, but also to make him promise not to share her secret with anyone. If she did, she’d look as if she didn’t trust him.

He put his hand on her arm. ‘I know what you’re thinking,’ he said softly into her ear.

‘You don’t need to worry, though. I won’t tell a soul what you just told me.

You needed to tell someone and I was happy to listen.

Of course I was beyond surprised by what you told me and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

But it will stay between us, so don’t lose any sleep over it. ’

‘Not over that,’ she said. ‘But I will worry about what you think of how I’ve kept everyone in the dark about who I am.’

He looked at her for a moment. ‘Well, there is that. Not something I’d normally approve of.

But I can see that it was difficult for you.

And, of course, the whole story is fascinating.

It puts a whole new slant on the Fleury family, particularly Cornelius.

I’m actually curious about what happened.

So… well, despite everything, I’d like to help. ’

‘Oh, good,’ Claire said, flooded with relief. He seemed to be coming around to her way of thinking and was trying to understand. ‘But what do you think you could do?’

‘There might be something among my own family’s mementoes that could help you on your way to finding out what happened all those years ago,’ Pierce said. ‘Our family had many links to the Fleurys through the years. And, of course, Sylvia is the connection between the two families.’

‘Oh yes, of course she is,’ Claire said. ‘I wish I could tell her and ask her if she knew about what happened between Cornelius and his brother.’

‘She probably doesn’t know, if he left when they were young,’ Pierce suggested.

‘Actually, I think she does know,’ Claire argued. ‘Because she said something that first time I went to the orangery. I don’t remember her exact words, but it was something about a lost brother and that he was not like Cornelius.’

‘Oh,’ Pierce said. ‘Then maybe she does. Well, you can’t ask her until…’ He stopped as Rose walked towards them.

‘Hey, you two, what are you whispering about?’ Rose smiled at them as she approached.

‘Oh, I was just telling Claire I’m going home,’ Pierce said, smiling back at Rose as he got up from his chair. ‘So I was saying goodbye. Great evening, wasn’t it?’

‘Such good craic,’ Rose said. ‘But my feet are aching after all the dancing. So if you’re ready, Claire, we’ll bring you back to the manor and then go on home.

Our babysitter is staying the night, but it must have been quite a task putting the kids to bed after all the excitement.

So I’m taking the early morning shift, letting her sleep in. ’

‘I’m ready,’ Claire said and gathered up her handbag and jacket. ‘Goodnight, Pierce.’

‘Night, Claire,’ he said and shot her a secret little smile before he walked away.

Rose looked at his retreating figure, then back at Claire. ‘He seems to like you very much.’

‘I like him too,’ Claire said. ‘He’s such a kind man. And nice to talk to.’

‘He’s a pet,’ Rose said fondly. ‘We all love him. And we’re happy to see you two getting close.’

‘Is it that obvious?’ Claire asked.

Rose grinned. ‘You might as well put it on the front page of The Irish Times . But come on, we’d better get cracking. Noel is already in the car waiting for us.’

During the drive back to Magnolia Manor, Claire’s thoughts drifted to what had happened earlier today.

Hugh’s arrival had shaken her and his threats had frightened her.

She knew he was capable of doing what he said if he didn’t get what he wanted.

But he didn’t know that she’d be prepared to give anything not to be discovered.

It would perhaps be best if she simply agreed to accept a third of the money and let him have the rest. I’ll talk to Finola , Claire thought.

She knows Hugh and will be able to figure out how I should play my cards.

She was glad she had told Pierce everything.

It felt good to tell him who she really was.

That would mean she could be honest with him from now on and build on their relationship.

She felt sure her secret was safe with him and that somehow, he understood how important it was to find out the truth and maybe get the families to finally make peace.

That thought calmed her and she was able to thank Rose and Noel in a normal voice for the lift when they arrived at the manor. ‘I really enjoyed the day,’ Claire told them. ‘The parade was lovely and the dinner and dancing was such fun.’

‘I’m glad you enjoyed it all. But now I’m sure you’re just as tired as we are.

We’re going to chill tomorrow and do absolutely nothing,’ Rose said.

‘It’ll be quiet here with nobody around.

Granny and Arnaud are having lunch with Lily and Dom and the kids, so, apart from the tenants, you’ll be left in peace. ’

‘That sounds good,’ Claire said. Then she said goodnight and, once through the door, walked slowly upstairs to her flat.

She was very tired, but as she climbed the stairs, something occurred to her.

She would be on her own tomorrow. ‘It’ll be quiet here with nobody around,’ Rose had told her.

Would this not be a perfect opportunity to do a thorough search through the family archives?

Nobody would know what she was doing. Claire felt suddenly excited at the thought.

Maybe she would find something in there that would lead her to the final conclusion…