‘Hello. Where are you?’
‘I’m just leaving Abbey Court.’
‘Great. Are you still on for lunch?’
Elizabeth’s heart sank. She was in no mood for a silly flirty lunch. Her decision was made.
‘I’m really sorry, but I’ve got to head out to Muirinish again to check on something.’
‘Oh.’ He sounded deflated. ‘Well, never mind. I’ve got stuff I should be getting on with anyway.’
‘Thanks.’ She hardly knew this man, why did she feel like a bitch? ‘Nice to meet you.’
‘You too. Thanks for everything. Bye.’
‘Bye.’ She hung up feeling as if she had just dumped someone.
Back in Muirinish, Elizabeth had almost given up waiting for the door to open, when the diminutive grey-haired figure of Mrs Lynch appeared behind the frosted glass. When she saw who her visitor was she did not look thrilled.
‘I promise not to burst into tears!’
Mrs Lynch gave a half-hearted chuckle.
‘Sorry. I think I must have dozed off in the chair. Did you forget something?’
‘No. It was just, well, I wanted to check something with you. It’s probably nothing.’
‘Well, you’d better come in, so. My legs aren’t great for standing. They’re not great for anything to be honest,’ the old woman said as she made her way slowly back into the gloom of the house towards the kitchen.
‘Tea?’ she offered but her tone suggested the answer she was hoping to hear.
‘No, thank you. I’m grand.’
Mrs Lynch retook her seat from that morning. The large black and white cat didn’t look as if it was going anywhere on this visit so Elizabeth sat down beside it.
‘So, what can I do for you?’ Mrs Lynch put her hands on the table with the air of a professional. Elizabeth was reminded of a bank manager or head teacher.
‘It’s probably a misunderstanding, but I just wanted to check: somebody told me, Edward’s mother, she, well, she didn’t take her own life, did she?’
The expression on the old lady’s face was the only answer Elizabeth needed. Before Mrs Lynch could speak, she demanded, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
One of the old woman’s hands was now twisting the small gold chain around her neck. ‘You were so upset. I was going to tell you but then I just thought it would be too much for you.’
Still slightly indignant, Elizabeth could nevertheless see her point.
‘It wasn’t as if it mattered really. Not to you. It was just more tragedy to be heaped upon the Foleys.’
Elizabeth thought about poor Edward left all alone at Castle House.
‘When did it happen?’
‘Oh, God. That was a long time ago. I remember it was around the time the second wife went off with you.’
Elizabeth wondered how this news played a part in her story. ‘Did it happen before my mother left? Was it the reason she went away?’
Mrs Lynch shook her head sadly. ‘I’m sorry. I really don’t know. What you have to remember is that I never set eyes on that woman. There were no announcements. I didn’t know she was here. I didn’t know she was gone. Word got around, that’s how things worked. With poor old Mrs Foley, God rest her, it was very different. The guards were here, asking questions around the place, sure everyone knew.’
‘And …’ Elizabeth hesitated, ‘she was found in the orchard?’
Mrs Lynch sucked her teeth. Clearly the details were too much for her. ‘As far as I know, yes. And,’ she continued as if reading Elizabeth’s mind, ‘it was Teddy that found her.’
‘I see.’
‘Have you been in to see him?’
‘I have.’
‘And how is he?’
Elizabeth wasn’t sure what to say. ‘Fine. I mean, he doesn’t seem very …’ Her voice trailed away.
‘I know. Sure, if those were your memories wouldn’t you want to lose them too?’
The cat beside Elizabeth gave an extravagant stretch and began to lick its back paw.
THEN
Two whole days had passed since Patricia had seen Edward. Was he avoiding her? Had the argument she had overheard been the end of his fight to release her? Was his mother making him believe she had decided to stay? Certainly, since she had asked to keep the baby Mrs Foley was treating her differently. She was no longer watching Patricia’s every move; even her bedroom door was sometimes left unlocked. She had come and watched Patricia while she tried to feed Elizabeth a jar of baby food, and helped her wipe up the orange carrot goo as it was unceremoniously spat out. Patricia wanted to escape, she had to, but she also understood that it was now more complicated than that. She couldn’t just wander away barefoot into the night, she had no idea how far her weakened body could manage, and why should she when she was still hoping that Edward was going to help? Then there was the baby. Could she really leave this place, abandoning Elizabeth? She wasn’t her baby, she kept reminding herself of that, but she didn’t belong to anyone else. Who else could care for her and, yes, love her? Patricia could hardly articulate the feelings, but it was good to be needed. She loved the weight of the hot little bundle in her arms as she paced the bedroom. The little girl was even more vulnerable than she was and that gave her a patience and a strength she hadn’t had before. She couldn’t act rashly, not now she had to think about someone else.