“Daniel!” I gave a nervous laugh. I was only just understanding the ramifications of being a New York policeman’s wife. There were rules, but those rules could be successfully bent at the right time and place, so it seemed. At least I didn’t have to worry about Daniel being crooked like some of his fellow officers.
We conducted a quick tour of our little guest cottage. It was simple but adequate—the downstairs consisted of a living room, dining room and kitchen, and two bedrooms upstairs with the bathroom between them. The larder was well stocked and to Daniel’s satisfaction there was a barrel of beer and some bottles of wine. “Let’s go for a walk. The sun is shining,” Daniel said.
“We need to clear away the breakfast things first,” I said.
“I wonder if they have a newspaper delivered up at the big house?” Daniel looked around.
“Don’t think you’re going to get out of doing your share of the housekeeping while we’re here, Daniel Sullivan,” I said. “You didn’t marry a drudge. Here, stack up those plates while I go and run some hot water.”
Daniel sighed but didn’t protest. Half an hour later we were walking through the lovely grounds, enjoying the warm sun on our faces. The occasional downed tree limb and drifts of fallen leaves were the only signs of last night’s fury. Today the air was balmy enough to allow us to walk with no overcoats and the breeze from the ocean was gentle and tinged with just enough saltiness to be delightful. I slipped my hand through Daniel’s arm, still enjoying the new feeling of being a couple. Marriage wasn’t so bad after all. I don’t know why I had protested for so long.
Our route took us away from the big house, through a stand of Scotch pine trees and rhododendron bushes. Suddenly we came out to find ourselves at the top of the cliff with wicked-looking rocks on the shoreline below. There was no fence or wall and Daniel grabbed my arm, dragging me back. “Don’t take another step,” he said. “We don’t know if the edge is overhanging.”
“I’m glad we didn’t blunder too far last night,” I commented. “We might have wound up on those rocks.”
We stepped back as a particularly big wave crashed onto the rocks and the sheet of white spray came up toward us. But the cliff was too high and it didn’t reach us.
“Do you fancy a swim?” Daniel asked wickedly.
“I swam in wilder seas than that when I was a child,” I replied, meeting his gaze. “But that was a long time ago now. I think I’ll stick to more sedate occupations. And I’d like to take a look inside the big house while we still have the place to ourselves, wouldn’t you?”
“It might be interesting to see if Hannan has acquired taste along with money,” Daniel agreed.
We completed the circle by walking past the tennis court, a croquet lawn, and then the fountain. There was even a pretty little gazebo, hidden among trees.
“This place has everything,” Daniel said. “I wonder if Hannan has ever allowed himself enough time to enjoy it. Men like him devote their lives to making money.”
“We are definitely going to allow enough time to enjoy ourselves, aren’t we?” I tugged on Daniel’s arm.
“If I remain a policeman our life will certainly not be devoted to making a fortune like Brian Hannan, that’s for sure,” he said. “And I’ve warned you that I have to work all hours of the day and night.”
“You make it sound so appealing,” I said dryly, making him laugh. He put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to him. “We will make time to enjoy ourselves. I promise.”
We came around to the front of the house and my eyes were drawn again to that corner turret. From which window had I seen the face? Was there even a window facing the main gates?
“Are you coming?” Daniel interrupted my reverie. I followed him up those imposing steps to the front door. This time it stood half-open. Daniel peered around it. “Hello!” he called. “Anyone home?”
Nobody appeared as we stepped inside a towering oak-paneled foyer decorated like an old castle with swords and banners hanging from walls.
“I wonder where he picked those up,” Daniel said, peering up at the walls. “Irish castle or theater prop shop.”
“Hush, Daniel, someone will hear you,” I whispered. I shivered, wishing I had brought my wrap. The entry hall felt cold and unfriendly after the bright sunshine outside and I wondered why anyone would choose to build a house to feel old and uncomfortable.
“I wonder where that housekeeper has disappeared to,” Daniel said, pacing impatiently.
“It’s a big place.” I looked around, my eyes following the broad curved staircase that led to a dark gallery. “She’s probably upstairs making beds. We should go out again and ring the doorbell to let her know we are here.”