She laughed. 'Now, big brother, do not paint me with the same brush you do Mama. I am not that close-minded thanks to you.'
He chuckled. 'If Lady Jane ever knew that you occasionally attended the mass with me she would have disowned you entirely. And worse, you met our half-sisters, and Da's kind Molly. I knew I could trust you. Not Moire, for she would have never done anything to earn our stepmother's disapproval, but you had a bit of an adventurous spirit unlike the others.'
'It's a wonder I wasn't caught. I almost was when Bessie was eight. She got very curious about where you and I used to roam. I told her we were searching for a leprechaun and his gold. She was so like Mama, and made fun of me for believing in such things, but it quelled her curiosity. Not Mary, however. She followed us one day when we went to visit Molly and the girls. When I got back she threatened to tell Mama. She was so mean! I said if she did, you would put an Irish curse on her, and she would grow a wart on the very tip of her nose so she could never find a husband. She scoffed at me, but she was afraid, I know, for she never told Mama.'
'So that is why you never went back to Molly's,' he said.
Colleen nodded. 'I thought it better I didn't. Mary was never certain if the visit she spied upon was a one time thing, or not. It was better that way.'
That evening brother and sister watched as the bonfires were lit upon the hills in honor of Midsummer's Eve. There would be dancing and feasting in the nearby villages. Kieran gave his permission for the servants to celebrate if they chose to do so. Without the presence of Lady Jane, or her disapproval, the house was emptied by late afternoon. A cold supper had been left for the siblings in the larder. Colleen had instructed her coachman and her maid that they would be returning south the following day, and she should like to leave as early as possible.
In the morning they departed Mallow Court, but no sooner were they out upon the high road than Colleen signaled her coachman to stop. Exiting her carriage she untied her mare from the rear of the vehicle, mounted it, and said to her driver, 'I have a stop to make before we go south, Joseph. Just follow along after my brother and me.'
By midafternoon they were within sight of Maguire's Ford. Fortune came to meet them, riding her great gray gelding, her red hair flying as she galloped across the hills to greet them. They stopped to await her as Fortune drew Thunder to a halt.
'If this is your wife, and you've lied to me, Kieran Devers, I'll cut your black heart out!' she said to him, grinning.
' 'Tis my sister, Colleen, and I've brought her to meet you so at least someone in my family could defend your reputation. Now, however, you bad-tempered wench, you've disgraced youself,' he teased her back.
Fortune's blue-green eyes swung to meet Lady Colleen Kelly's gaze. 'You're Mary Maguire's last child,' she said. 'Welcome to Maguire's Ford, m'lady. You'll remain a few days?'
'I think I will,' Colleen heard herself reply.
'Good!' Fortune responded. 'Come on, you two, and I'll race you home. I hope you're better at racing than your brother. He always whines, and cries foul when he loses, which is more often than not.'
'I never whine,' Colleen said, and kicking her mare she raced off down the road away from them.
With a delighted whoop Fortune followed her. Shaking his head Kieran dashed after the two young women, catching up to them only when he arrived in the courtyard of Erne Rock castle where they stood, already dismounted, laughing madly, their arms about each other.
'I suspected you were two of a kind,' he said, sliding from his saddle.
'Come into the house,' Fortune said, linking her arm with Colleen's. 'My parents will be delighted to meet you.'
Jasmine and James Leslie were in the hall of Erne Rock. She seated by the fire, and he standing next to the stone mantel. Introductions were made, but Fortune suddenly realized that her parents seemed rather subdued and perhaps even a bit distracted.
'What is wrong?' she asked. 'Is everything all right?'
'Your mother has some rather startling news,' the duke said, putting a hand upon Jasmine's shoulder, and giving it a small squeeze.
'Mama?' Fortune's beautiful face was concerned, and she knelt by her mother's side.
'Perhaps this is not a good time for uninvited guests,' Colleen said.
'Nay, my dear, you are more than welcome,' Jasmine said. 'It is just that I have gotten a bit of a surprise today. It seems that I am going to have a baby.'
Jasmine laughed, and patted her daughter's cheek. ' 'Tis exactly what I thought, poppet, but it would seem I am not too old after all.'
'And I am certainly not too old,' James Leslie replied.
Fortune blushed, clearly embarrassed by her parents' behavior, and yet the thought of another baby was rather nice. It would keep Mama and Papa from missing her too much when she and Kieran went away. 'When is this baby to arrive?' she asked her parent.
'Sometime in November,' Jasmine said.
'Madame, you have my warmest felicitations,' Colleen said. 'I have three of my own.'
'How can you be certain?' Fortune asked.
'I am certain because I have borne eight children previously,' Jasmine said, 'although I will admit when my moon link broke, I thought it was the autumn of my years come upon me. But then I noticed…' She stopped. 'I do not think this is a conversation for mixed company, poppet. Let us just say I am certain, and Bride Murphy, who acts as the village midwife, has confirmed my suspicions.'
'Then we must go back to Glenkirk right away,' Fortune said.
Jasmine shook her head. 'Nay. Bride has advised me against traveling because of my age. This baby will be born here as you were. I have already sent home for Adam and Duncan to come so the people of the estate can learn to know them even sooner. Your brother, Patrick, will have to remain at Glenkirk on his own. I have sent down to Edinburgh for Uncle Adam and Aunt Fiona Leslie to come and watch over him. He enjoys their company, and will not feel quite so bereft of his family with them there. I know Adam and Fiona have grown quite bored with the city in recent years. I believe they will welcome the chance to return to Glenkirk. So, my dears, we must settle ourselves in for a bit of a stay here,' Jasmine concluded.
'Then Kieran and I must wed immediately,' Fortune said. 'Colleen tells me the Deverses will return from England by Lammastide. Will is to marry his cousin Emily Anne at Michaelmas.'
'Then you most certainly cannot be wed to Kieran until after his brother has married, Fortune,' James Leslie said firmly. 'The Deverses will not be pleased by what has transpired while they were away. If they return to find you married to Kieran it will make bad blood between the people of Maguire's Ford and the people of Lisnaskea. William Devers asked you to marry him, and you turned him down. Nicely, but it was still a refusal. If you and Kieran publicly declare yourselves, and wed before William marries his cousin, it will be an even greater insult. You know you have our permission to wed Kieran. All we ask is that you wait until after Michaelmas, and William's nuptials.'
'I agree with you, my lord,' Kieran Devers said quickly, forestalling any vocal outburst by Fortune, to whom he now turned. 'Your father is right, sweetheart. I love my father, and my brother. I don't want a feud between us over our decision.'
'But they will be offended anyway,' Fortune reasoned.
'But their offense will be less since Willy married first,' Colleen
