The Lost - J. D. Robb [116]
“You did all this by yourself?”
He smiled. “I’d love to take all the credit, but it took hundreds of tradesmen hundreds of hours to turn this into the place you now see. All I did was hire good people.”
“Not to mention spending a considerable fortune,” Ross added.
“Money well spent. I was happy to add to the town’s economy, since I make it a rule to hire as many local workmen as possible. Now the people of Glinkilly can take pride in what they accomplish, while enjoying the wages they earn.”
“What spurred you to do all this?”
He ducked his head and sipped his champagne in silence. When he looked up, his smile was back. “Ross made me realize that it was necessary to restore not only my land, but my name, as well. Both had gone to ruin, and it shamed me.”
He glanced over when Bridget entered, followed by Charity, pushing a serving cart. “Ah, here’s our dinner now.”
Instead of the large table in the center of the room, Cullen led her to a small, round table in one corner, set with snowy linens and fine silver and crystal.
The old man held her chair. “I thought this would be cozier.”
“It’s perfect.” She smiled at Charity as the girl paused beside her, offering a tray of tender roast beef slices and an array of vegetables. She helped herself, and waited as Cullen and Ross did the same.
Bridget placed a silver basket of soda bread in the middle of the table, along with a platter of various cheeses.
“I hope you’ll try the cheese.” Cullen placed several wedges on his plate. “They’re all made by the farmers here in Glinkilly.”
She tasted first one, then another, before nodding. “Wonderful. They must be very proud.”
“And well they should be. Since we’ve made them available throughout the country, they’ve become one of the most popular dairy products in Ireland.”
“Do I see your hand in this, as well?”
“It was Ross who recognized a highly marketable commodity and suggested we try packaging them on a small scale first, to test the waters. Once the consumers began buying in quantity, I knew we had a winner. The rest was up to our local farmers, who’ve proven to be more than up to the task.”
“Do you own the company that markets the cheese?”
He gave a firm shake of his head. “I suggested the farmers form a cooperative. With some seed money from me, they took over completely. They raise the dairy cows, make the cheese, market it under their own brand, and all members share in the profits.”
“No wonder the town looked so prosperous.”
He smiled. “A high compliment indeed. Some years ago you’d have thought Glinkilly the poorest of places in all of Ireland.”
“And now, thanks to you, it prospers.”
His tone lowered. “May it continue, through good times and bad.” He brightened. “How is your dinner?”
Aidan laughed. “What little I’ve tasted is excellent. I’m afraid I got too caught up in your narrative to do it justice.”
“You’d best eat or Kathleen, who oversees our kitchen, will think she made a dreadful choice, and probably have Bridget’s and Charity’s heads in the bargain.”
“We can’t have that.” Aidan took another bite of beef that nearly melted in her mouth.
By the time they’d finished their meal, Bridget and Charity were back, this time with coffee and a tray of assorted cherry and blueberry tarts.
Cullen polished off one of each before sitting back with a sigh. “The perfect ending to a perfect meal. Bridget, be sure to give my compliments to Kathleen.”
She smiled and took her leave, shooing Charity ahead of her.
Across the table, Ross refused dessert and sipped his coffee. It occurred to Aidan that he’d volunteered nothing during the course of their meal. Maybe he was on a mission to see that she