登陆注册
15468300000165

第165章 FIVE 1938-1953 FEE(28)

"Patsy and I will meet him," Jims offered eagerly, then his face fell. "Oh! We don't know what he looks like!"

"No," said Fee. "I'll meet him myself. On my own. I'm not in my dotage yet; I can still drive to Gilly."

"Mum's right," said Meggie firmly, forestalling a chorus of protests from her brothers. "Let Mum meet him on her own. She's the one ought to see him first."

"Well, I have work to do," said Fee gruffly, getting up and moving toward her desk.

The five brothers rose as one man. "And I reckon it's our bedtime," said Bob, yawning elaborately. He smiled shyly at Cardinal Ralph. "It will be like old times, to have you saying Mass for us in the morning."

Meggie folded her knitting, put it away, got up. "I'll say good night, too, Ralph."

"Good night, Meggie." His eyes followed her as she went out of the room, then turned to Fee's hunched back. "Good night, Fee." "I beg your pardon? Did you say something?"

"I said good night."

"Oh! Good night, Ralph."

He didn't want to go upstairs so soon after Meggie. "I'm going for a walk before I turn in, I think. Do you know something, Fee?" "No." Her voice was absent.

"You don't fool me for a minute."

She snorted with laughter, an eerie sound. "Don't I? I wonder about that." Late, and the stars. The southern stars, wheeling across the heavens. He had lost his hold upon them forever, though they were still there, too distant to warm, too remote to comfort. Closer to God, Who was a wisp between them. For a long time he stood looking up, listening to the wind in the trees, smiling.

Reluctant to be near Fee, he used the flight of stairs at the far end of the house; the lamp over her desk still burned and he could see her bent silhouette there, working. Poor Fee. How much she must dread going to bed, though-perhaps when Frank came home it would be easier. Perhaps. At the top of the stairs silence met him thickly; a crystal lamp on a narrow hall table shed a dim pool of light for the comfort of nocturnal wanderers, flickering as the night breeze billowed the curtains inward around the window next to it. He passed it by, his feet on the heavy carpeting making no sound.

Meggie's door was wide open, more light welling through it; blocking the rays for a moment, he shut her door behind him and locked it. She had donned a loose wrapper and was sitting in a chair by the window looking out across the invisible Home Paddock, but her head turned to watch him walk to the bed, sit on its edge. Slowly she got up and came to him.

"Here, I'll help you get your boots off. That's the reason I never wear knee ones myself. I can't get them off without a jack, and a jack ruins good boots."

"Did you wear that color deliberately, Meggie?" "Ashes of roses?" She smiled. "It's always been my favorite color. It doesn't clash with my hair."

He put one foot on her backside while she pulled a boot off, then changed it for the bare foot.

"Were you so sure I'd come to you, Meggie?"

"I told you. On Drogheda you're mine. Had you not come to me, I'd have gone to you, make no mistake." She drew his shirt over his head, and for a moment her hand rested with luxurious sensitivity on his bare back, then she went across to the lamp and turned it out, while he draped his clothes over a chair back. He could hear her moving about, shedding her wrapper. And tomorrow morning I'll say Mass. But that's tomorrow morning, and the magic has long gone. There is still the night, and Meggie. I have wanted her. She, too, is a sacrament.

Dane was disappointed. "I thought you'd wear a red soutane!" he said. "Sometimes I do, Dane, but only within the walls of the palace. Outside it, I wear a black soutane with a red sash, like this."

"Do you really have a palace?"

"Yes."

"Is it full of chandeliers?"

"Yes, but so is Drogheda."

"Oh, Drogheda!" said Dane in disgust. "I'll bet ours are little ones compared to yours. I'd love to see your palace, and you in a red soutane." Cardinal Ralph smiled. "Who knows, Dane? Perhaps one day you will." The boy had a curious expression always at the back of his eyes; a distant look. When he turned during the Mass, Cardinal Ralph saw it reinforced, but he didn't recognize it, only felt its familiarity. No man sees himself in a mirror as he really is, nor any woman.

Luddie and Anne Mueller were due in for Christmas, as indeed they were every year. The big house was full of light-hearted people, looking forward to the best Christmas in years; Minnie and Cat sang tunelessly as they worked, Mrs. Smith's plump face was wreathed in smiles, Meggie relinquished Dane to Cardinal Ralph without comment, and Fee seemed much happier, less glued to her desk. The men seized upon any excuse to make it back in each night, for after a late dinner the drawing room buzzed with conversation, and Mrs. Smith had taken to preparing a bedtime supper snack of melted cheese on toast, hot buttered crumpets and raisin scones. Cardinal Ralph protested that so much good food would make him fat, but after three days of Drogheda air, Drogheda people and Drogheda food, he seemed to be shedding the rather gaunt, haggard look he had worn when he arrived.

同类推荐
  • 续异记

    续异记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说延寿妙门陀罗尼经

    佛说延寿妙门陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 南斗延寿灯仪

    南斗延寿灯仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 咸同将相琐闻

    咸同将相琐闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 条山苍

    条山苍

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 重生信念

    重生信念

    如玉之莹,白皙剔透,白莹,这是她的名字。她本是一个单纯天真,不染世尘的女孩,可现实将她摧残,使她变得冷血无情。一场交通意外,让她重生于那最好的年纪,18岁。重回校园,她能否找回自己,获得新生?重生信念,带你找回失去的青春,找回最初的自己~
  • 龙腾魂武

    龙腾魂武

    混沌天体出世,远古的天尊传承也跟着浮现水面。叶天翔一夜之间家破人亡,是阴谋还是仇杀?寻亲的叶天翔发现自己被卷进了一个更大的漩涡。身为混沌天体的他又该怎样应对一个又一个麻烦,如何在生死之间救出自己的亲人。
  • 明星总裁,姗姗来迟

    明星总裁,姗姗来迟

    一场精心设计的车祸竟然让顾珊珊意外的卷入一场娱乐圈的争斗中,虽是演员出身可却嗓音极好,因此被唱片公司星探关磊选中,却不成想唱片公司的大boss居然是撞了自己的人!正所谓是可忍孰不可忍,在大boss的压迫下顾珊珊更是开始了发愤图强的练习生生涯。boss让买咖啡?好,你说加糖我加盐!boss让赔西服?好,要钱没有要命不给!明星总裁请接招!
  • 脉侠

    脉侠

    没有华丽多彩的魔法,没有巅峰强势的斗气,有的只是那圆满长生的脉力!!
  • 优质偶像:蛇君的长裙女王

    优质偶像:蛇君的长裙女王

    许长裙不过是陪着追星的妹妹去听一场演唱会,就遇上了一个会唱歌耍宝的男人,交缠之后,谁欠谁的早就说不清,以为的爱不是爱,以为的恨消灭了爱,用一生去补偿你好不好?敢说不好,那算了!走了,再见。谁知道那个宝又别别扭扭上门求包养,说她害他丢了人气,丢了工作。
  • 重生之神盒修真

    重生之神盒修真

    “王意”出身工人家庭,30岁,因工作中被领导算计开除,伤心欲绝和好友喝酒,回家途中闲逛,机缘巧合落入水中穿越末世仙界,得到仙界神人赠神物传承,结果遇到仙界痴迷功法老者借身练法,秘法失误导致“王意”穿梭时空,返回到地球,可是没想到的是……………。
  • 风流丹师

    风流丹师

    轩辕风意外遇到修真奇人,却不幸被任命为丹鼎派的光杆掌门,而且得到遗命广收女弟子为丹鼎门徒,光大丹鼎派……
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 我是机械改造人

    我是机械改造人

    一半血肉之躯,一半钢铁之躯。来自未来的机械改造人追寻着自己最终的使命过程中。在平凡的俗世掀起阵阵浪花,留下了属于他的传奇。
  • 若我未曾遇见你

    若我未曾遇见你

    六年后她还是回到了这座城市,站在机场门口看着来往往往的人群,六年前的那场事导致故她背井离乡整整六年,她经常会问自己:若我未曾遇见你.....