"Kieran!" She heard William Devers say behind her as he topped the hill. "This is Lady Fortune Lindley. Fortune, this is my half-brother, Kieran Devers."
The horseman, tall, lean, and dark-haired, looked her over boldly. "Yer a proper hoyden if I've ever seen one," he said, reaching out to finger a lock of her blazing red hair.
"And yer a fool, I am told," Fortune responded angrily.
He laughed, and then said to William, "Does your mother approve of her, Willy?"
"She approves of my dowry," Fortune shot back, "but you get ahead of yourself, Master Devers, for no betrothal has yet been arranged, nor will it be unless I want it to be arranged."
"Don't wed her, Willy," his elder brother advised. "She's too much of a handful for you, I can see it." Then he laughed again at the look of outrage on Fortune's face. "I think your cousin Emily Anne Elliot will make you a far better wife than this wildcat."
"Kieran!" William's voice was anguished. He turned to Fortune, his face flushed with his embarrassment. "My brother is naught but teasing, Fortune. He has a rather odd sense of humor. Please forgive him. He means no harm."
"None at all," Kieran Devers agreed, flashing her a wicked smile. "None at all, m'lady Fortune."
She glared at him, and his eyes danced mischievously. They were dark eyes. Dark green eyes. And he was outrageously handsome. Even more so than his younger brother. He had a recklessness about him in comparison to Will's civilized manner. She would have never known they were brothers-half-brothers, she amended to herself. William Devers looked like his father. Tall, well-made, and sturdy with his mother's light blue eyes and chestnut-gold hair. He had an elegant nose, a small mouth, and well-spaced eyes set in a round face. But his brother, Kieran, was taller, with a long face, a squared jaw, a big mouth, and a nose that appeared to have been hewn out of granite. He was craggy and fierce looking while his sibling appeared the epitome of a civilized gentleman. A man like Kieran Devers was dangerous, and not to be tolerated.
"Kieran, why have you come over?" William asked.
"I thought it might help the cause if we appeared the happy family, and the duke of Glenkirk could see I don't give a damn for our father's lands. They are yours with my blessing, little brother. So, m'lady," he addressed Fortune, "William Devers will not come penniless to the heiress bride. Does that please you?" The green eyes mocked her.
"His wealth means nothing to me," Fortune replied scornfully. "My personal riches could buy and sell the Deverses of Lisnaskea several times over. I seek a man to love, you lout!" Then yanking Thunder's head about, Fortune cantered off towards the castle.
"Whew! What a firebrand," Kieran Devers said admiringly. "Yer a lucky man if you can win her, Willy. Red hair and a hot temper! She'll be a tigress in bed, you young devil. I'm not certain you deserve such a prize. Yer mam won't like her. She prefers Emily Anne, I'm sure, but poor Emily Anne isn't enough of an heiress, is she?" He chuckled.
"Fortune's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, and so damned interesting. She says just what comes into her head," William said.
"I've noticed that," Kieran replied with a small smile.
The two young brothers rode down the hillock and across the meadows back into the village. As they traveled down the main street of Maguire's Ford several young women called out a greeting to Kieran Devers, and he greeted them all by name with a smile and a jest. William raised an eyebrow. He had not been aware that Kieran's escapades, as his mother called them, extended as far as Maguire's Ford. In the castle courtyard Kieran was greeted by a red-haired gentleman.
"Kieran lad, how are you?" Rory Maguire said. "And this will be yer little brother, I'm thinking. How d'ye do, Master William. I am Rory Maguire, the estate manager of her ladyship, the duchess."
"Rory, yer looking well as ever, and aye, 'tis young Willy," Kieran Devers replied as he dismounted his horse.
"You were not in the hall earlier," William said.
"Nay, sir, I wasn't. 'Twas out of respect for your mother's feelings, for we all know how she feels. I felt Lady Jasmine's cousin, Father Cullen, would be just about all she could handle." It was said with good humor, and a twinkle.
William Devers laughed. "Aye," he agreed. He decided he liked this Maguire fellow. Of course his mother had said that once he was master at Erne Rock, his cousin, James Dundas, would be a suitable estate manager, and James was a good Protestant. Still, Fortune had given him pause for thought when she had asked him why anyone who did their job properly should be discriminated against for their religion. Besides, James Dundas knew nothing of horses, and indeed, was afraid of them. He would make a poor manager for a horse breeding estate. William slid from his saddle, saying as he did so, "Come on, Kieran, and let us surprise mother." Then he laughed again.
Jane Anne Devers was indeed surprised to see her stepson enter the Great Hall in his half-brother's company. Still, he was dressed respectably, and appeared in a good mood. She hoped he had not come to cause any deviltry. "Kieran dear," she twittered as he approached her.
"Madame, you are as lovely as always," Kieran Devers told Lady Devers as he bowed and kissed her hand. Then he turned, and bowed quite beautifully to the duchess of Glenkirk who was sitting with his stepmother. "I am Kieran Devers, your grace. I hope I am not intruding, but my curiosity was, as always, too great. I came to lend my brother, William, support in his pursuit of your beautiful daughter, whom I have just met a while ago." He kissed Jasmine's hand.
"You are most welcome at Erne Rock, Kieran Devers," she replied. "Adali, bring Master Devers a goblet of wine. You will join us, sir?" She motioned him to a seat by the fire. He's a handsome devil, Jasmine thought. What mischief is he up to, or is he indeed just curious? She smiled at Kieran Devers. "Have you ever been to Erne Rock before? I understand your mother was a Maguire before her marriage to your father."
"This is my first visit," Kieran replied. "Thank you," he said to Adali who offered him a goblet from a tray.
"We met Kieran out riding," William said.
"He has already explained that, dearest," Lady Jane said patiently. Lord! Did William have to appear such a dunce before the duchess? "I am certain he cannot stay, especially now that his curiosity has been satisfied. Where is Fortune?"
"Nonsense! Your stepson must stay at least the night," Jasmine replied. "I have always been famed for my hospitality, my dear Lady Jane. It will be lovely to have a family party. Later, I hope to meet your daughters too."
"Only Colleen is in Ireland," Lady Jane said. "Mary and my Bessie are in England where their husbands reside. Colleen lives outside of Dublin in the Pale. Her husband has a small estate there. She is the only one who will be able to come for the wedding."
"If there is a wedding," Jasmine amended.
Kieran Devers saw his stepmother pale slightly. So, it was not the sure thing Jane Anne Devers had bragged it was. Interesting. Still, the girl was extremely desirable for her wealth, not to mention her beauty; but Jane Anne had been certain the only reason the Leslies would come to Ireland seeking a husband for their daughter was that she was unmarriageable in England for some reason. After all, according to his stepmother, an English husband was the most desirable husband of all. She had managed English marriages for his elder sister, Moire, who she had called Mary since the day she wed his father; and for her own daughter, Bessie. Colleen, however, had eluded her, falling in love with Sir Hugh Kelly. Hugh, however, had an English mother, and was a Protestant, and so Jane Anne had acquiesced gracefully to one Irish marriage.