The house in Carrickfergus was even more impressive than Calum was led to believe, and he admitted to gawking as he stepped out of the taxi. Finn and Jenny were equally gobsmacked, and they were even more surprised to see the staff lined up on the steps waiting for them. A woman with her grey hair done in a tight bun, her dark grey dress neatly buttoned with matching grey shoes and smart grey stockings, stepped forward. "I'm Mrs Doyle," she said by way of greeting, her voice crisp. Though she had an accent, it was sharp rather than musical, but Calum found himself liking her all the same. "I am addressing Mr Murray, Mr Kelly and Miss Byrne?"
"You are," Calum said. "And 'tis a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Doyle. As you can see, we've made it safe and sound."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHyHJf6bTx
Mrs Doyle smiled, the severe planes of her face softening and making her seem a bit more human. Not that she wasn't, Calum told herself, but all that grey did make her look a bit like a rock. Which only heightened his regard for her; rocks were very dependable. "I have high hopes this relationship will be a mutually beneficial one," she said. "Now, please, do come in; it's quite cold, and I don't wish for Miss Byrne to catch a chill in her condition."
Jenny blushed. "I'm quite alright," she said gallantly, but there was a pallor to her skin that caused Calum some concern. He knew Jenny and her mother had had a savage fight the day Finn had collected her from the Byrne house, and Roisin had threatened to have her daughter sent to Cork, with the baby then taken from her the moment it drew its first breath. The fight had stripped the last of the blinkers from Jenny's eyes, and she'd been very happy to turn her back on her childhood home. Marriage, therefore, was on the list of Things that Needed to be Done, and Fast.
Mrs Doyle clicked her tongue. "Nonsense," she said briskly, gently taking Jenny by the elbow. "I've not borne children myself, but I can tell you're very distressed by something..." Her voice trailed off as she guided Jenny inside, and Calum shared an amused smile with Finn.
"She's a force to be reckoned with," the black-haired man commented, as he and Calum followed the women inside, while two manservants took their suitcases -all the two young men had in the world. Finn hadn't parted on bad terms with his family, but he'd opted to start fresh in solidarity with his best friend, for which Calum was grateful.
"She is that," he agreed. "I've the feeling we're going to find ourselves all managed rather well before we know it."
"Aye," Finn said. "Though I must convince her to let me and Jenny stay together in the same room. Can't very well get in some cuddles with several corridors between us, can I?"
Calum chuckled and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "I'm sure we can talk Mrs Doyle around," he said. "She seems a reasonable enough sort to me; I'm sure she'll be turnin' a blind eye to the shenangians you and your future wife get up to. And it's quick we'll have to be to get the two of you married before the Lady Roisin takes it into her head to try and claim kidnapping."
Finn nodded, his face grim as the humour fled. "Aye, and the sooner the better," he agreed.
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