He stared at her, astounded. He had not realized how strong-willed she was until this moment. Still, he suddenly realized he needed her strength. "Emily," he began, "I am so sorry."

She stopped his mouth with her slender fingers. "It is forgotten, William dearest. You were led on, and bewitched by a noblewoman of loose morals. It was before our marriage and, therefore, of no importance to me at all. While I do not generally approve of public displays of affection, I think it would help to put our guests at ease if you would kiss me on the lips, my dear. Then we will join the dancing." She held her pretty face up to him.

He kissed her tenderly, and in leisurely fashion. Emily was right, he thought. Fortune had indeed bewitched him. She was a wicked and libertine bitch, who probably had no more control over her lustful desires toward his brother than she had had over her quick tongue. "You are the perfect wife for me, Emily dear," he told her as their lips parted. "And you have said a great deal that makes sense to me. Kieran must indeed leave Mallow Court. He is every bit as wicked as that woman. I do not want him around the children we will have." Then, daringly, he kissed her again, and she blushed prettily. "Thank you for forgiving me, my dearest wife," he said, and then he led her out to join the dancers.

It was as if nothing at all had happened. Seeing the well reconciled bride and groom, the guests relaxed. The celebration continued on into the night. The bride and groom were put to bed with as much decorum as was possible. The guests departed. The servants cleared away the debris of the celebration. Lady Devers sought her bed with a rather large carafe of wine, while Sir Shane sat with his elder son over full whiskey tumblers in his library before a blazing peat fire.

"A successful day, Da," Kieran said to his parent.

"Aye," the older man answered. "No one was maimed or killed despite our William. 'Twas fortunate the duke of Glenkirk was unarmed, or he might have defended his stepdaughter's honor after your brother insulted her so gravely. She's got a cool head, that one," Sir Shane remarked. "I don't know of any young woman so affronted who would not have caused an even greater scene defending herself, or castigating your brother before everyone with the plain truth. She's a strong lass."

This was the perfect moment for it, and Kieran knew it. "We're being married on October fifth, Da," he said quietly. "I'd like you to come, but I'll understand if you don't. Willy isn't to know until he and Emily have returned from Dublin. You understand why."

Shane Devers nodded. "Aye, I do."

"You don't seem surprised," Kieran said.

"After seeing you two together today, I'm not, laddie," his father responded. "How did it happen? Did you want her from the start, Kieran? Was William correct in his accusations?"

"I honestly don't know, Da. Fortune and I met up the day you left for England, and I was just returning from the coast road. After that " He shrugged. "We fell in love."

"We can't tell your stepmother about this until after the fact," Shane Devers said. "There's going to be hell to pay when she learns you are to have Maguire's Ford and Erne Rock."

"But Da, we're not," Kieran said. "The estate really is going to the two younger Leslie sons. My stepmother can dream her dream of matching Willy's first daughter with one of those lads. Mayhap it will even come to pass. Fortune and I will go to England with the duke and duchess. Lord Baltimore is mounting an expedition to the New World in order to found a Catholic colony where all faiths may live together in peace, especially the Catholics. Fortune and I intend to join that expedition, and start over. We will not be anywhere in evidence where my brother, or my stepmother can see us, and be chafed."

Shane Devers said nothing for a long moment, but finally he spoke. "That it should come to this," he said sadly. "That my eldest son should be driven from his heritage, and the land of his birth." He slowly drank down the tumblerful of whiskey, and held the crystal out for more, tears running down his weathered face. "I saw the handwriting on the wall when I married Jane, but I didn't want to fight. I just wanted peace and comfort for us all. Now yer leaving us."

Kieran poured the amber liquid into his father's tumbler, and then set the decanter aside again. "Da, you know that I never felt truly at home here. I don't understand it, but there it is. Ulster is not where I belong. Fortune feels the same way. She has lived in England, in France, in Scotland. She is well loved by her family, and yet she, too, never felt comfortable anywhere. We are two like souls, drawn together in spite of ourselves. The New World beckons to us, Da. We must be together. We must go away from this old world."

"You're certain, laddie? This isn't just a compromise because you've fallen in love with Fortune Lindley?" Sir Shane looked directly at his son, seeking the truth.

Kieran smiled. "We're certain, Da."

"Then God bless you, laddie, and your lass too. I'll be at your wedding no matter your stepmother's outrage afterwards."

"Colleen will be there too," Kieran said softly.

The older man nodded his head. "This will be the first secret I ever kept from my Jane, laddie. I love you greatly to do so."

"Ah, Da," Kieran told his father, "in all the years since my mam died, the one certainty I've always believed in was your affection for me. I return it, sir, and thank you for your blessing upon Fortune and upon me."

"I tell you, laddie, I am grateful I have lived most of my life when I see how the world is changing about us," Shane Devers mourned.

"Changing with the world while holding fast to your ideals and ethics seems to be the only way to survive," Kieran said quietly.

"The young can change," his father replied fatalistically. "The old cannot, or do not want change."

Kieran chuckled. "You're not that old yet, Da," he said.

"I'm old enough to want peace in my house, and peace in the land," Sir Shane said. Then he downed his whiskey, and stood up. "I'm off to my bed now, laddie. I would suggest you not be around in the morning when your brother leaves with his bride for Dublin."

Kieran nodded. "I agree, Da. Perhaps I will ride over to Erne Rock tonight. There's a fine moon rising, and there's no rain. Tell Colleen I will see her on the fifth. Molly and the girls will be there too." He chuckled. "All your black sheep, Da."

His father laughed. "Black sheep are far more interesting than the docile white ones," he noted, and then left the library.

Kieran sat for several more minutes before the peat fire; then he arose, and set his crystal tumbler on the silver tray by his chair. Going out into the empty antechamber of the house he looked up the staircase. His father would be in his own bedchamber now. His stepmother would have been lulled into sleep with wine. William would have, by now, it was hoped, breached Emily Anne's virginity. He would do little more, Kieran suspected, and smiled to himself. He wondered if there was any depth or passion to his pretty sister-in-law, or his brother. No matter, he thought, leaving the house, and going to the stables where he saddled his horse.

Riding out he thought his wedding night with Fortune would be more interesting and active than his brother's. Willy, however, would do his duty, and provide Mallow Court with children for the next generation. They would be more English than Irish though, Kieran realized, and sighed sadly. There were some changes he didn't like either, he realized.

The ride was uneventful, although he did spot the shifting shadows of several local poachers. They, however, recognized his horse, and ignored him as he passed by. He rode down the main street of Maguire's Ford, passing two cottages where he knew he would be more than welcome. His horse clopped across the little drawbridge of Erne Rock, and into the courtyard. A sleepy stable lad came to take his mount, leading it away as Kieran Devers mounted the staircase, and entered the castle.

He found his future father-in-law awaiting him in the hall.

"I thought you'd come tonight," the duke said.

"I've told my da I am to wed Fortune," Kieran replied.

"And?"

"He'll be at the wedding, and gave us his blessing," the younger man replied. "My stepmother is planning to match a granddaughter with one of your lads."

James Leslie laughed aloud. "She doesna gie up, does she? Well, Leslie men, nae matched in the cradle, tend to wait to wed. She could hae her wish in the long run. I want nae feud between our families, Kieran. 'Tis yer brother who is the difficulty. 'Twill be up to yer da and his wife to keep William in line. I'll nae hae my lass insulted by him again. 'Twas fortunate I was unarmed this day, or the bride would hae been a widow before she was deflowered."

"I suggested the same thing to my brother Willy," Kieran said.

The duke nodded. "Yer a good man, Kieran Devers. I'll be proud to call ye my son. I only regret that yer stubborn nature will take Fortune from her family, but if she's content to go wi ye, then we must be content also."

"Were not your family once Catholics, my lord?" Kieran asked.

"Aye," James Leslie replied. "But times change, laddie, and what good does it do to argue over semantics in the matter of religion? Faith is what counts, Kieran. Our good Lord Christ once said that in his father's house were many mansions. Surely one road alone canna lead to all those mansions. But while I will nae condemn ye for the manner in which ye worship, there are those who will, and laws to punish ye if ye do nae conform. I dinna agree with such laws, but I will follow them until they are changed. When we are in England ye must obey the king's law for all our sakes. Yer nae the stuff martyrs are made of, laddie; and I'll nae hae my family endangered by yer rebellion. Is that understood, Kieran Devers? If ye want my help, ye must play my game by my rules. Ye do understand that, don't ye?"