Page 36 of The Book of Irish Secrets (Magnolia Manor #5)

TWENTY-EIGHT

They made their way down the stairs together and then Rose took the lead, Claire following her along the corridor and through the library and ballroom.

Claire looked around at the family portraits on the walls and felt her ancestors’ eyes on her through the centuries.

What would they think of my actions? she wondered.

And how would the family react when they were presented with all the facts?

She thought back on how kind they had all been, especially Rose and Lily.

Sylvia had welcomed Claire with open arms and everyone, from Karina to Pierce, had gone out of their way to make her feel at home.

They had all become dear friends in such a short time.

Pierce taking a step back, seeming to reconsider their budding romance, had been a sign that told her it might not be easy to break the news to the family.

Some of them might feel her behaviour was difficult to accept and impossible to forgive.

She had to be prepared to leave this wonderful place that had felt like home ever since she arrived.

Claire’s nervousness grew while they kept walking until they came to a stop outside the door that led to Sylvia’s apartment.

Rose knocked. ‘I think she’s in. I saw her arrive in her car earlier.’

They waited a few minutes and then heard footsteps inside and Sylvia opened the door, looking at them with surprise. ‘Rose? What are you doing here? I thought you’d gone home for the day. And Claire… You look a little – wild. What’s up?’

‘We need to talk to you, Granny,’ Rose said. ‘It’s important. Can you hold dinner for a while?’

‘Oh, well…’ Sylvia glanced behind her. ‘Arnaud is doing something clever with a chicken in the kitchen, but that will take hours.’ She opened the door and stepped aside. ‘We can go into my study.’

‘Okay.’ Rose stepped inside, followed by Claire carrying her book.

They walked into the study, a cosy little room where the evening sunshine streamed in through the tall window. Sylvia sat down on the sofa by the fireplace and Rose joined her while Claire sat down on a chair facing them, the book on her lap.

‘So,’ Sylvia said. ‘What is this all about?’

‘Granny.’ Rose put a hand on Sylvia’s arm. ‘Please don’t get upset when we tell you.’

‘I can’t promise not to get upset,’ Sylvia protested. ‘Just tell me why you’re here looking as if the world has stopped turning. What’s happened?’

‘It’s about me,’ Claire said, her voice shaking. ‘And who I really am.’

‘Yes?’ Sylvia stared at Claire. ‘So who are you really?’

‘She says she’s a Fleury,’ Rose cut in. ‘The great-granddaughter of Cornelius’s brother.’

Sylvia’s face went suddenly ashen and she looked from Claire to Rose and then back to Claire, who stared back at her with a beating heart. There was a long silence until Sylvia took a deep breath and finally spoke.

‘I see,’ she said. ‘So it has finally happened. Louis has come back to claim his right to Magnolia Manor.’