"Lady Fortune has been managing her own wealth since she was a maid of twelve according to her stepfather. Her great-grandmother taught her how before she died. She was the famous Skye O'Malley, who was old Queen Bess's confidante, if the stories be true. The girl has almost doubled her wealth in the past few years, William. She is no fool.
"Do you think you could marry a woman who would not heed your advice regarding her investments? For after all, William, you know nothing of such things. This girl has grown up in a noble and wealthy family, and she is clever. She would not be content to simply sit at home and manage her household while having your children. I am not overwhelmed by jealousy and wild emotions as is your mama, but I, too, agree with her that this marriage would not be a good thing for you. Still, if knowing what I have just told you you still wish me to approach the duke of Glenkirk with a firm offer, I shall do it, my son."
"Make the offer," William Devers said through gritted teeth.
Kieran shrugged, and poured himself another dram of whiskey. "You want to lie with her, and can think of no other way of doing it than to marry the wench," he said scornfully. "I know a lass who would pleasure you so well you would forget all about Fortune Lindley."
"You want her yourself," his brother repeated angrily.
"If I wanted her, little Willy, I'd take her," Kieran Devers said with brutal frankness. "Virgins don't interest me, however."
"You bastard!" William Devers yelled, and tried to hit his brother, but Kieran was too quick for him, and pinioned the young man's arms to his sides, shaking his head wearily.
"Behave yourself, Willy, or your mama won't take you to London Town," he teased his brother wickedly.
"Leave him be, Kieran lad," their father said to his elder son, "and you," he told the younger sternly, "keep your hands to yourself! I'll not have my sons fighting amongst themselves like savages."
"You'll make the offer?" William demanded, shaking himself free of his elder brother's grip.
"I'll send over to Erne Rock in the morning," Shane Devers promised his heir.
"My lord, this message has just arrived from Mallow Court," Adali said coming into the Great Hall the following morning.
The duke took the folded parchment, and breaking the seal scanned the contents. "They've offered for Fortune," he said. Then he turned to his stepdaughter. "Well, lassie? Will ye hae him, or no?"
Jasmine held her breath.
"I know I should accept him, Papa," she began. "It is the sensible thing to do for I am not getting any younger."
"But ye won't accept him, will ye, lass?" James Leslie said.
Fortune shook her head in the negative. "No, I won't. Poor Will. I know he cares not a whit for my money. He is handsome, and has a nice little estate he'll inherit one day; but Papa, he is the dullest man I have ever met in my entire life. And his ideas about women are positively ancient. They are supposed to stay at home having babies, and listening adoringly to whatever their husbands say. He is ill educated for his class, and does not care. He has no interests at all except riding, but horses are only a means of transportation for him. He is not in the least attracted to the idea of breeding, and raising the beasts for sale. That, he says, is for Maguire to handle. I could find nothing of interest to speak with him about, and Lord knows, I tried. If I must remain a spinster, then I will remain a spinster, but I should rather go to my grave a virgin than wed with such a handsome young dunce!"
Jasmine let her breath out in an audible swoosh. "Thank goodness!" she said. "I was so afraid you would do the right thing, poppet, and he would have made you miserable, I fear."
"Very well," James Leslie said with surprising calm, "then what are we to do now?"
"I think we should remain in Ireland for the next few months," Fortune suggested.
"Agreed," Jasmine replied. "And we must make certain that poor young William is not embarrassed by your refusal, poppet. It must be put out that you simply didn't suit each other, but that our families have all remained friends despite our mutual disappointment."
"I concur," James Leslie said. "We will deliver our refusal in person. I would not embarrass the Deverses. You and I will ride over tomorrow morning for it is too late now for us to go and return. We must start early. First, however, I would tell Father Cullen, and the Reverend Steen. They had high hopes for this match. Cullen will understand, but it will be hard for Reverend Steen."
"Shall I come too?" Fortune asked.
"I think not," her stepfather said.
Fortune hugged him hard, and kissed his handsome cheek. "Thank you for understanding, Papa," she said. "I realize I am a disappointment to you in that I cannot settle upon a husband, but as nice as he is, Will Devers is not the man for me. I wonder if any man is."
In the morning the duke and duchess of Glenkirk set out for Mallow Court. They both enjoyed the gentle hills and the soft weather as they rode. Mallow Court was a pleasant Tudor dwelling, and the announcement of their arrival brought both Sir Shane and Lady Devers hurrying into their Great Hall where Jasmine and James were already being served wine by the well-trained household servants.
"Forgive us for our unannounced arrival," James Leslie said, kissing Jane Devers's hand, "but we wanted to come personally to give you an answer to your offer for Lady Fortune."
Dear God, Jane Devers thought, agitated. They are going to take my William away from me. She flung her husband a distraught look.
Seeing it Jasmine actually felt sympathy for the woman, and quickly said, "Your son is a fine young man, and I would be proud to have him for a son-in-law. Unfortunately, my daughter does not believe she is the right girl for William. While Jemmie and I think the boy quite suitable, we will not compel Fortune to a marriage she does not want. We wanted to come and tell you this ourselves because we did not want you to think we were refusing your suit capriciously. Nor did we want any gossip that would reflect badly upon William. I hope you are not too offended, and that you will not think badly of Fortune."
Jane Devers almost collapsed with her relief. William was safe from that girl! Then suddenly she found she was also offended. Fortune Lindley had turned down her son's offer of marriage! Did the baggage think herself too good for William Devers? The words were out of her mouth before she could hold them back. "Then why did you come to Ireland to seek a husband for your daughter if you did not intend she accept a most suitable prospect? It does seem quite fickle to me," she huffed.
"My wife"-the duke began, squeezing Jasmine's hand hard, and warning her to silence-"thought to give her Irish estates to Fortune. We believed under those circumstances an Irish husband would be best."
"A perfectly reasonable conclusion," Sir Shane replied, glowering sharply at his wife as he silently warned her to keep quiet. The duke and duchess of Glenkirk had been more than generous in their treatment of the Devers family. They would not be embarrassed by this situation now despite the fact Jane had blathered about the countryside to all who would listen that their son would undoubtedly marry the heiress of Erne Rock Castle. "Will you be returning to Scotland soon?" he asked.
"Nay, not immediately. We thought to spend the summer here in Ulster," the duke responded. "Jasmine has not been here since Fortune was born. Now with the pain of the marquess of Westleigh's murder long past, she is enjoying Maguire's Ford again. Father Cullen was her tutor in India, and shepherded her from her father's court to England twenty-four years ago. He is her kinsman, and she is fond of him. She had not thought to see him ever again when she left Ireland last. We shall go home to Scotland in the autumn in time for the grouse hunting, and then down into England to court for the winter. Perhaps the right man will make his appearance then. For Fortune's sake I hope so."