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company of a man who did not disturb her composure, against whom she
need not be continually on her guard.
'All the same,' he said in parting, 'I wouldn't say anything up at the Hall,
about our meeting.'
But Noelle wasn't in the habit of lying or of concealment, and when Miss
O'Rourke enquired mildly, in Fergus's presence, whether she enjoyed her
walk and where it had taken her, she replied frankly.
'Down by the lough. I discovered a very picturesque cottage and met the
man who lives there.'
'Patrick Byrne?' Fergus rapped out the question.
'Yes.' Steadily Noelle met brown eyes suddenly angry. 'I take it you know
him?'
'Oh, I know Patrick Byrne all right. A pity you didn't tell me where you were
going. I'd have warned you to keep away from him.'
if you had I wouldn't have taken any notice,' she retorted, 'and Patrick told
me you'd--'
'Oh, so it's Patrick, is it, already, when you can't even bring yourself to use
my name, except by accident.'
'I only call my friends by their first names.'
'And you think Byrne wants to be a friend to you? You're crazy! He'll have
his eye on the main chance, your share of Claddagh.'
'You're the one who's crazy,' snapped Noelle, 'I only met the man for the first
time today.'
'Only because you called on him. He knows he'd better not set foot across
this threshold.'
'Then I'll invite him here and there's nothing you can do about it.'
'You think not? How about if I throw him out, neck and crop?'
What a ridiculous argument they had got into, forgetting all their
resolutions, Noelle reflected some moments later, after Fergus had stamped
out with the bitter remark that he would sooner endure marriage himself,
even to such a virago, than see O'Rourke property fall into Patrick Byrne's
hands. Until Fergus had begun laying down the law, the idea of inviting
Patrick to return her visit hadn't even occurred to her. She wasn't that much
interested in the man, but his acquaintance could be a useful stick to beat
Fergus with. She put the tempting thought aside for the moment and
apologised to Miss O'Rourke.
'Sorry, Aunt Bridie. I had meant to avoid rows with Fergus in front of you. I
know it upsets you.'
Her great-aunt smiled faintly.
'I'm not quite such a delicate plant, my dear, and all the O'Rourkes tend to be
hot-blooded. It seems you and Fergus are no exception.'
Manny Cohen's awaited visit, which was to help restore Claddagh's fallen
fortunes, only prompted another clash between the cousins. First Noelle had
to set the scene, and this she did by producing, one evening, the three
paintings she had unearthed from one of the attics.
'I'm not certain, of course,' she said, carefully casual, 'but I think they might
be rather good ones. I've seen something very similar in a collection owned
by a friend of mine. I've asked him to come over and take a look at them.'
'By what right?' Fergus demanded. 'Why didn't you consult me first?'
'What use would that have been? You admitted you knew nothing about art,
and I have a friend who does. You were hoping to sell something to pay the
bills?' she challenged, and Fergus couldn't deny it.
Since he already knew he would be taking the pictures back to London with
him, Manny Cohen had brought his car over and, as Noelle had done, driven
cross-country to Galway. Notified of his expected time of arrival, Noelle
was on the lookout for him, and as the tall, slightly stooped figure emerged
from his car, £he flew out to intercept him, to remind him of his script and
that he should be careful what he said in front of Fergus.
'What name am I to give?' Manny enquired anxiously, and laughingly
Noelle told him his own.
'The less acting you have to do the better,' she advised. 'Just be yourself, but
rave about the pictures!'
Manny looked doubtful, but promised to do his best, and he succeeded so
well that Fergus became suspicious. He took Noelle on one side.
'If he's so damned keen to buy those pictures at that price, they must be
worth a hell of a lot more. How do we know he's not taking us for a ride?'
'Because I trust him,' Noelle snapped. Surely Fergus wasn't going to play
hard to get and ruin all her plans. If he insisted on a second opinion and a real
expert came down from London, her well- meaning deceit would be
exposed.
'Know him well, do you?' Fergus enquired.
'As it happens, yes!' She met his gaze steadily and after a while he jerked
his head in agreement.
'All right. I admit I know nothing about paintings. He's the expert and I
won't deny the money will be useful, an unexpected bonus of your
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