“I told you, Cullen,” Grania said, “we only received word about them yesterday.”
“The message was sent to Maude Donne at the theater. It concerned stage properties for an upcoming play, donated by Oona and sounding quite innocent. Maude naturally passed the message along to Queen Mab.”
“Queen Mab,” Cullen said scornfully. “So she's in charge now, is she?”
“Not of the Daughters of Erin, per se, but of the organization's more militant branch, yes.”
“And you women will be running the battles from now on?”
“The Daughters of Erin have done their part so far and will continue to do whatever is required of us,” Grania said stiffly, “and as to that, it
“We?”made more sense to send the message in this way, when your organization is sure to be more closely watched than ours. At least now we have the weapons safely hidden and waiting for when they will be needed.”
Cullen continued to scowl. “And it seems that my own lads were used to transport them.”
“Obviously our women don’t possess the strength to haul around trunks full of weapons, so Queen Mab enlisted them,” Grania said.
“Queen Mab enlisted them,” Cullen repeated scornfully.
“You’re being unreasonable, Cullen. If all our little groups can’t work together, what hope do we have of uniting when the big push comes some day. And it's sheer arrogance to think that you men will be the only ones with a say in how our country is to be ruled.”
Cullen looked at her and then he laughed. “I can see you taking over from Queen Victoria, Grania. You’d love every minute of it.”
She smiled too. “Contrary to popular belief, I’d be happier carrying on with my life of leisure. I enjoy my theater and art shows and trips to Paris for the fashions. I’d hate to give them up to have to rule a country. I’m sure you’ll do it much better than I.”
“I don’t expect to be alive that long,” Cullen said.
“Don’t say that.” Grania shivered.
“We have to face facts, Grania. It's only a matter of time before they find out I’m back in Ireland, and then you know very well that my life isn’t worth a damn. Most likely it will be a sniper's bullet so that they don’t have to bother incarcerating me again.”
I had been looking from one to the other, following this conversation with awe. It was like watching a play. I decided she was every bit as brave as he. He had nothing to lose at this stage, but she had a grand life with all the money and freedom she could want, and she was prepared to risk it all. And my own little brother was all ready to follow them. And in the heat of emotion, I had volunteered to help them. I wondered how brave I’d be when it came to it.
“I think we need refreshments, don’t you?” Grania said. She went across to a bellpull and almost immediately a young maid appeared. “Francoise,” she said, and proceeded to address her in French. The girl curtseyed, “Oui, Madame,” she said, and hurried out.
I saw why Grania didn’t have to worry about our meetings being overheard by her staff.
Cullen looked more relaxed. He took out a pipe and lit it. “I’m still amazed that Oona is working for us over in America,” he said. “I thought she’d renounced the cause long ago in favor of fame and fortune.”
“Isn’t it obvious why she's doing it?” Grania said. “She's doing it for you. She heard you were back in circulation and still carries a torch for you, Cullen.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Cullen said. “That was all years ago.”
“You forget that we women can carry a torch for life.”
The way she looked at him made me realize something. These two were lovers, or had been. I’d led a sheltered life and didn’t know much about such things, but I had seen Daniel look at me in that way.
I went to stand up. “If you’ll forgive me, I’m tired and I need to go back to my hotel room.”
“Don’t be silly, Molly,” Grania said. “We can’t let you go out alone at this time of night. You’re staying here. We’ve plenty of room. And in the morning I’ll send one of the staff round for your things. Much more comfortable than a stuffy old hotel.”
I saw that I wasn’t going to be allowed to escape. They might be acting like civilized people, but I was still to be held a prisoner.
“You really don’t have to worry about me,” I said. “You said yourself that I’m not likely to betray my own brother.”
“I’m sure you’re not,” Cullen said, “but the enemy has many spies and some of them are highly skilled at wheedling information out of unsuspecting young ladies. To tell you the truth, I haven’t quite made up my mind as to whether you and your brother are among the enemy's latest choice of spies.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “You heard why Liam is here.”
In Dublin's Fair City (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #6)
Rhys Bowen's books
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