The Parting Glass (48 page)

Instead she looked at Tim McNulty and felt nothing except pity. He was a man empty of everything that mattered. Perhaps he had not been this way from the beginning, but at some point on his life journey he had managed to quench all human instinct. She was nothing to him except a pawn in his power game.

She managed one final smile. “I’ll wear my prettiest dress. When is Niall expected?”

“I don’t know. Just be ready.” He turned and left the room.

She would not look back tonight when she escaped from this house, this man and this life. She would never look back.

Glen expected resistance from his family. As always, he decided to go to his grandmother first. Lena would understand why the marriage had to be performed tonight and why they had to leave town immediately afterward. He hoped she would intercede with his parents and put in a good word with Father McSweeney, who had seemed reluctant last night, even when Glen had explained the situation.

Lena was close friends with the priest. He knew the two old people often spent afternoons together, talking of times they had known, of world politics and scandals. Their relationship had always seemed odd to him, the revered, learned priest and the poorly educated Irish saloon keeper. Yet clearly the priest admired the same things that Glen saw in his grandmother: virtue, raw intelligence, the strength to do whatever was required.

He hoped her strength was up to this particular task.

He went to her house the next morning, rising early to reach her before the rest of the family descended. He found her in the kitchen, which was no surprise. But she wasn’t cooking. She was reading the newspaper.

“Anything of interest?” he asked.

She looked up and smiled. “My favorite grandson.”

“You say that to all of us.”

“And it’s always true.” She patted the seat beside her and started to rise to get him tea.

“No, I’ve had my breakfast. Please, sit.”

“Bad news or a request?”

She knew him too well. He shrugged. “Some of both, I guess.”

“The day will be filling up quickly,” she prompted. “Spit it out.”

“
Mamó,
I’m getting married tonight.”

She looked up from folding the paper. “Did I hear you right?”

“I’ve no choice.” When her expression darkened, he smiled. “No, it’s not what you’re thinking, I promise. You’ve been reading the newspaper? And you’ve read about the raid down on Whiskey Island?”

“Seen it in the paper, yes, and heard the gunfire myself.”

“You were at the saloon?”

“Yes, helping your father and mother with a banquet.”

He wasn’t surprised the gunfire had been audible, since there had been a fierce battle on the waterfront. He was only surprised no one had died in the raid. “Clare’s father lost everything. It’s just a matter of time before he insists she marry one of his accomplices. He borrowed money, and he thinks that is the way to make certain he has time to pay his debt.”

“What kind of father does such a thing?”

“A particularly bad one. I love Clare. I want to marry her and take her away from here. That’s the only chance she’ll have for escape. And it has to be tonight, before things get worse at home. While she still has a chance to get away.”

“She’s asked you for this?”

“No. She wouldn’t ask anybody for anything. I’ve wanted to marry her for weeks now. I’d rather not do it this way, but we don’t have a choice.”

“I trust you. I know the kind of man you’ve become. Where and when, exactly?”

“Tonight at dusk.
Mamó,
will you encourage Father McSweeney to do the ceremony without proper notice? At the saloon tonight? He knows the story. I want my family there. It may be the last time you see me for a very long time.”

“I don’t have a
very
long time on this earth. Don’t tell me that.”

“We’ll come back the moment it’s safe. I promise.”

“There’s the matter of a license.”

“I think I can see to that without Clare. I have friends at the courthouse.”

“If I’ll see to Father McSweeney…and your parents?”

“Please, it’s a difficult time. I’m sorry to ask so much, but I have to try to get my whole life in order today.”

“You’ll need money.”

“I’ve lived frugally and saved. Clare has some, as well.”

“You’ll have more this evening.”

Glen knew better than to argue. Nobody argued with
Mamó.
He stood and kissed her cheek. “I’ll miss you most of all.”

“That’s akin to my saying that you’re my favorite grandson. My dearest lad, I know you. Losing us will be like losing a limb. You’ll miss us all, each and every one.”

chapter 31

C
lare put on a demure lavender dress with a pique collar and pearl shell buttons. She thought the dress made her look young and virginal, too young, she hoped, to get married right away. The morning was taut with tension. Even with her bedroom door closed, she could hear her father shouting at the men who worked for him. She wasn’t able to piece together much, since she wanted to stay out of his way. But she thought Tim was demanding that they go over, once again, exactly what they had seen and heard on the night of the raid. She knew that a great deal of money had disappeared. She wondered if her father believed that one of his own men had taken it.

When he left the house, she crept downstairs for lunch. She considered going directly to Whiskey Island Saloon before Niall Cassidy arrived, but she found her guardian sitting at the bottom of the stairs. This man was kinder than the others, she thought, but perhaps that was only sentimentality. Perhaps she believed this of him because he was from Ireland and she found his accent so charming.

“My father has gone?” she asked.

“That he has. And you’re not planning a trip yourself, are you, Miss McNulty?”

“I’m planning lunch. Will you join me?”

“I doubt your father would approve, but I’ll sit with you.”

She doubted he was offering his presence for company. The dining room windows were low to the ground and easily opened.

He followed her to the kitchen, where she spoke to the cook, who promised soup and sandwiches. Then Clare made herself some tea and carried the pot and two cups into the dining room. She put the pot on the table, waiting for the tea to finish steeping.

“So, things are not what they should be around here,” she said casually. “Were you, perhaps, on Whiskey Island two nights ago?”

“Whiskey Island?” He looked pensive. “I’m still so new to your country, Miss, that I haven’t yet learned where everything is. But Whiskey Island sounds like a place worth knowing.”

“We both know what I’m talking about.”

“Not me.” He shook his head.

She supposed if she were in his shoes she wouldn’t be talking about this, either. “I think we’re expecting company this afternoon. A man named Niall Cassidy?”

“I’ve heard the name.”

She decided the tea had steeped long enough, and she poured two cups. “Your name is Liam, correct? How do you take it, Liam?”

“Not at all.”

She added sugar and cream and pushed it toward him. He sighed and lifted the cup to his lips.

“I know, it doesn’t make good sense to be friends with the boss’s daughter,” she said. “Particularly when your job is to make her life as unhappy as possible.”

“It’s sorry I am to be doing that, Miss.”

“Do you have a wife and children?”

“Does it matter?”

“No, but a man who loves his wife usually likes other women well enough and often feels protective of them.”

“My job is to protect you.”

“Your job is to protect me from myself and any instincts I might have that go against my father’s. Instincts like not marrying Niall Cassidy.”

“I’d know nothing about that.”

“Well, I’ll fill you in. I think my father has lost everything except the hair on his head, Liam. And in order to make certain he’s not killed outright for his debts, he needs time to pay back money he borrowed. He believes if I agree to marry Mr. Cassidy, that will buy him some time. Do you follow so far?”

“This is no concern of mine.”

“Oh, but it is. Because you’re the one who follows me everywhere, and you know it’s not Cassidy I love.”

Liam was silent.

She lowered her voice. “I don’t know you well enough to ask favors, but I must, because I have no other choice. Today, will you please stay nearby when Mr. Cassidy comes? I don’t…I don’t trust him. Do you understand? I don’t want to be left alone with him.”

“You’re going to tell the man no?”

She shook her head sadly. “No, I’m going to tell him yes, and that will encourage him toward things I want no part of.”

“They come with marriage.”

She stiffened. “Yes, well, if I have my way, we won’t be married for a very long time.”

Liam considered. She thought she could see the struggle in his eyes. Self-interest versus good instincts. She was sure the good instincts were there—her own good instincts were at work.

“I’ll stay nearby,” he promised. “Any sign of trouble and I’ll get you out of there.”

“Oh, thank you.” She felt genuinely relieved. The cook arrived with two bowls of soup and a platter of sandwiches. “Please, join me. It will make me feel better about asking for your help.”

Liam seemed to know that accepting her hospitality bound him even closer to her. He sighed, but he took a sandwich and finished it in one hungry bite.

From the moment the two men had been introduced, Liam hadn’t liked Niall Cassidy. Cassidy was a man who had no room in his own little world for anyone but himself. Liam suspected the man did not love Clare McNulty; he loved instead the things her beauty, intelligence and poise might do for his future. Liam was also afraid that Cassidy might be one of those all-too-common ruffians who enjoyed destroying anything of beauty. As a boy, Cassidy had probably torn off the wings of butterflies or thrown newborn kittens into the lake for amusement.

It wasn’t Liam’s job to like or dislike the men with whom Tim McNulty did business. Why should he like
them
when he disliked McNulty himself? Unfortunately, he did like Clare, who reminded him of Brenna. The circumstances of their lives were different, but neither woman had received the love she deserved. Now Brenna had Liam, but what did Clare have? The promise of a miserable marriage to a miserable man?

He didn’t want to care, but he did.

On the night of the raid, Liam had been lucky to escape Whiskey Island. He had waited for hours, stealing away undetected just before dawn. Jerry had not been so fortunate, but he was out on bail now. Together they had listened to McNulty rave maniacally about fate and incompetence. Had they been quicker, smarter or safer, McNulty insisted, they would never have been caught. The liquor would be in speakeasy cellars and the profits in McNulty’s pockets. To a man they were lucky he didn’t strangle them with his bare hands.

Liam was surprised that McNulty would entrust such a bumbler to watch over his daughter, but McNulty had taken Liam aside that morning and told him not to let Clare out of his sight, at least not until Cassidy showed up. Then Liam was to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to whatever occurred.

By the time Cassidy arrived at the front door, Liam was still hoping that his promise to Clare and his job would not conflict. One glance at the cocky set of Cassidy’s shoulders and his dismissive wave when Liam followed him into the parlor, and Liam knew that conflict was inevitable.

“Miss McNulty, may I get you anything?” Liam asked, ignoring Cassidy’s attempt at expulsion.

She looked grateful. “Some water would be lovely, Liam. But bring it a bit later, would you?”

Cassidy might think she wanted to be alone with him, but Liam knew she was inventing a reason for him to intrude if things got rough. He nodded and departed, but he didn’t go far. After he got the water he sat in the hall and listened intently as the ice melted in the glass.

“You like the flowers I got you?” Niall asked her.

Liam had noticed the flowers, a gaudy, exotic collection of blooms that belonged in a whorehouse parlor. Any sensible man would know that a modest woman like Clare preferred roses or maybe a small nosegay of violets.

“They’ll light up any room I put them in,” she said.

In the hallway, Liam smiled at her tact and at the slight pinprick hidden within it.

“You been thinking of me?”

“You’re never far from my mind,” Clare said sweetly.

Liam smiled again. Two hits for the young lady, two strikes for Cassidy, who was too stupid to know it.

“I brought you something else.”

“One gift a visit is already so generous.”

“Yeah? Well, this ain’t a gift. Not exactly. It’s like a contract.”

There was silence. Liam could picture Niall Cassidy pulling something out of his pocket. He hoped that despite his own humble background he had been more sophisticated than this when proposing to Brenna.

“You like it?”

Clare was silent for a moment, then said, “I really don’t know what to say.”

“It’s a beauty, hardly got a flaw. I know this guy on the North Side, and he gave me a deal. I told him I wanted big. He gave me big.”

“Yes, he certainly did. That ring could sprain a finger.”

“You don’t like it?” Cassidy no longer sounded as pleasant or proud.

“Oh, it’s truly a remarkable ring. I’ve just never seen one quite so…”

“Large?”

“Yes. Large.”

Liam tried to picture the rock in question and decided that for Clare to sound this way, the setting must be on a par with the flowers.

Cassidy sounded happier. “Try it on, why don’t you? See if I got the size right.”

“Mr. Cassidy…Niall, it’s too generous. I can’t take something like…ummm…this.”

“How else you gonna let people know we’re getting married?”

“Married?”

“Sure, it’s an engagement ring. You and me. What did you think it was for?”

“Well, you didn’t exactly ask me to marry you.”

Liam was trying not to laugh.

“It’s a sure thing, right?” Cassidy demanded.

“I don’t know. We haven’t really talked about it.”