Redemption - Leon Uris [298]
Rory seemed bewildered.
“I’ll tell you why, Landers. I’m putting together a small but unique team of officers, directly reporting only to me, to see and hear and know everything that is happening in this country. You are one of the most ingenious young men I’ve come across. You get things done, if by the rule or not. I know how you smuggled Dr. Norman off Gallipoli. I also know how many Turks you killed during their counterattack. Stick with the Army for a few more years. I see nothing but a brilliant career for you…and, I need you.”
“I’m a New Zealander, sir.”
“Well, New Zealanders are British! You signed up for the duration.”
“In actual fact, I’m not all that anxious to return home this way, and particularly after what you’ve offered me.”
“Well, good enough. If I may indulge in a moment of sentimentality, you would be taking Christopher Hubble’s place. How say you?”
“Pretty heady stuff, sir. Let me make my rounds here in Ireland and report back to you. Let me think it through.”
“And I’ll hold these for you,” he said putting the pips back in his pocket. “So, where do you head for first?”
“I’ve been in contact by phone and mail with Countess Hubble. She was unable to travel to London to see me. Seems that her father has had a severe stroke and is completely paralyzed.”
Brodhead rested his head on his chin, sadly. “Beastly time for that great family,” he murmured. “Lord Roger, a most, most wonderful human being simply sailed off into eternity, God rest his soul. Sir Frederick! What an Ulsterman that was! Caroline told me he was stricken over the boys.”
“How will I find her?”
“The most exquisite creature who ever graced Ulster,” Brodhead said. “She’s not a child any longer, in her mid-fifties, but she is still the queen of Ulster in my book. When I paid her my sympathy call, it was she who was worried about me rather than about herself.”
“I’m anxious to see her.”
Brodhead took a long sip of the potent cognac and his eyes showed the first glaze of intoxication. “Shall I let you in on a secret?”
“Please don’t tell me anything you’ll regret tomorrow.”
“Oh, you’ll know what I mean when you lay eyes on her. I have adored that woman, from afar, for three decades. Of course, I’ve never been so much as a ha’penny out of line. Lord Roger and I were thick chums. With him gone, so tragically…and my own marriage rather…well…stale…Beatrice and I have had separate bedrooms for years. Good Lord, what am I prattling on about?”
“Sounds very understandable to me, General.”
“Caroline is a bit of a wild one, wrong politics, and all that—a carefree youth in Paris. She’s got this Irish clown Galloway hanging around her—for the money, no doubt—but he’s off in London, producing a play or something. Lord Roger kept her in hand, made a great woman out of her. Now, by God, she’s doing the right thing, staying in Belfast at her father’s side.” He stopped to see how this was going down with Landers. Yes, Landers was showing loyalty incarnate.
“General Brodhead, I am honored by your trust.”
Sir Llewelyn cleared his throat.
“She is best handled by a strong person like Lord Roger. It would seem that she’s ready for a real man to comfort her now.”
“Lady Caroline will certainly know of my own feelings toward you, sir.”
Brodhead grinned broadly. “Do think it over and come back as one of my aides.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll return in a fortnight with my answer.”
76
Late May, 1916
“Lieutenant Landers, you’re most welcome!”
“Thank you, Countess Hubble.”
“Please call me Caroline,” she said, signaling the butler. “Take the Lieutenant’s bags up to Jeremy’s apartment.”
They stared at each other curiously, then came together for a shyish peck on the cheek.
“Jeremy was right,” Rory said, “you must be the most beautiful woman in Ireland.”
“Twenty years removed, at least,” she said. His voice, strange, a recollection flashed through her.
“Something wrong, ma’am?”
“What?”
“You’re staring at me,” Rory said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. You hit me with a startling family