Redemption - Leon Uris [70]
“Barring insurrection,” she said.
“I’m going to train a couple of your people to keep its sheen, and especially how to rub out any rust spots. I’ll also put it on a regular inspection schedule. The weight is going to make shifts, what with the moisture, bolts, and all the interwoven faces, the parts. They all have to learn to live together.”
“I’m having the same problem,” Caroline said. “That is, the routine here has changed so drastically.”
“Mine as well.”
“Conor, Sir Frederick repeated the offer he made to you, through me. He is absolutely convinced he should be your patron. He likes the idea of being a Medici. He has some commissions in mind and God knows Belfast could use your sort of work. He is also laying hulls for super transatlantic passenger ships and thinks you could do wonders for the grand rooms.”
“Long time ago, when I left Ballyutogue, I had thoughts of becoming a rover for a while. Somehow now it has become difficult for me to see beyond Derry.”
“There’s another reason,” she said.
“Now what would that be?”
“As you know he owns the Boilermakers. He’s had scouts at your games. They all think you’d make a great player.”
Conor smiled and shrugged. There they go, taking you over, he thought. Some guilt about having neglected his people in Bogside had rushed in. In fact, he had seen Dary and blurted out that he felt very ashamed of himself.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said. “You’re thinking, ‘I’m not your house paddy.’”
“Where’s Jeremy lad?” Conor turned the conversation. “He wasn’t at practice last week. I thought I’d bring the news myself. He’s made the Bogside junior team.”
“You’re joshing?”
“He’s fast, very fast, and he loves crashing into people.”
“That will shake the old house down to the timbers.” She laughed. “Jeremy is in Kinsale with his father and Christopher doing a spot of sailing and shark fishing.”
“Lucky lad.”
“He detests both sports, but you know, the old father and son, stiff-upper-lip stuff. He really misses you, Conor. Your hand on his shoulder is one of the most powerful things that has happened to him.”
“We’ll remain good friends. He’s a very open chap.”
“Unlike Christopher and Lord Hubble. Jeremy will never run Weed Ship & Iron. Christopher is tailor-made for that job. Jeremy will be a ceremonial earl under tight supervision, he’s too friendly, too plain, you know. Roger always thought that I had Jeremy to make my father happy,” Caroline said sharply.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you’ve become my dear friend and I don’t want my son to lose you.”
“We could end up hurting each other, you know.”
“Well, that’s the risk we’ve got to start taking if we’re ever going to get things turned around in this crazy province. You have his respect and affection. If the two of you can’t be friends, who can?”
With all the republican teachings that had crowded his years, Conor rarely heard of, and believed less, that the ascendancy would ever make an accommodation. Yet he had with Caroline and Jeremy. Was this another door to open…or was it a way to be eased into their system? Surely Caroline meant well, but would it stand with Roger Hubble and his class?
“There was another reason I asked you here today,” Caroline went on. “I’ve a small job I want you to look into. We’ve a lodge up in the Urris hills, about an hour’s horseback ride.”
“Oh, I know that place, from afar. When I was a lad pasturing the sheep in the summer in the high meadows, my pal Seamus and I could see the lodge.”
“I need some guards on the windows and a sturdier gate and fence. Are you up for a ride?”
Conor galloped behind her playing out the boyhood dream. She rode well, at first. Not up to the top ladies of her class, but decently. The looseness of her blouse and streaming hair and riding astride instead of sidesaddle began to add up to a presence. As they pored through woods and over the stream, she opened up.
The wild side of Caroline burst out! This was the hidden Caroline breaking the restraints. Conor refused to listen to his