This Fierce Splendor

11

A white mist, enormous dark eyes, and clear, gentle serenity.

Elspeth drifted softly up from the darker mists of slumber to look at the strange woman sitting in the tufted green velvet chair beside the bed. She felt no sense or unease or surprise, just the same tranquility that had flooded her when she had opened her eyes. “Hello,” she whispered.

“Hello.” The woman’s voice was mellow as dark honey and a lovely smile lit her dusky face. “I hope you will forgive my intruding on your privacy. I asked my niece to permit me to sit with you until you awakened from your nap. I am Rising Star. I am married to Dominic’s brother, Joshua.”

Elspeth sat up quickly. “I’m very happy to meet you.”

The woman before her was in her late twenties or early thirties and was as different from Silver as the sun was from the moon. The burning vitality that fueled every movement and action of her niece was missing in Rising Star. She sat in the chair as straight and graceful as a young queen, her loose white gown unable to disguise the fact that her slim body was heavy with child. Her thin high-cheekboned face was dominated by huge dark eyes that shone with humor and warmth, and her smile was truly beautiful. Glossy dark hair was pulled away from her face in a neat bun, every tendril carefully trained to smooth order.

“Dominic came to see me.” Rising Star’s lips curved in amusement. “He was most upset. I would be interested to know how you accomplished that feat. Dominic prides himself on his control. I haven’t seen him lose his composure since he was a young boy.” The smile faded. “He had reason to develop control; his life has not been easy.”

“You’ve known him for a long time? I understood he had returned to Killara only infrequently during the last ten years.”

Rising Star nodded. “Yes, but I grew to know him well the year after I married Joshua. We became very close.” She paused. “We shared… something. It became a bond.” Her lashes lowered to veil her eyes as she looked away from Elspeth’s face. “This morning he came to ask me to send a message to Quiet Thunder and tell him not to help you.”

A swift flame of anger sprang to life within Elspeth. “That wasn’t fair. He may not want to help, but he has no right to try to hinder me.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Rising Star said. “Dominic hasn’t learned that there are some patterns that can’t be altered no matter how we try. He thinks if he denies that Kantalan exists, the prophecy will not come true.”

“You know about Kantalan?” Elspeth’s face was alive with excitement and eagerness. “What prophecy?”

Rising Star leaned her head on the high back of the chair, her gaze on the green velvet of the canopy. “Dominic does not want you to know. He is wrong. I told him that I would not put barriers in your way, and that I might decide to tell you everything. We must make our own choices.” She shook her head wearily. “Though in the end there may be no choice for any of us. White Buffalo said the pattern was very clear.”

“The prophecy,” Elspeth said, scarcely breathing. She was so close after all these years. “Do you know where Kantalan is located? Did White Buffalo tell you?”

“Yes.” Rising Star was silent a moment. “I’ve known about Kantalan since my fourteenth year. After my rites of womanhood White Buffalo took me to his lodge and told me of the prophecy.”

Elspeth held her breath, her heart pounding, afraid to say anything, afraid to do anything that might stop Rising Star from speaking.

Rising Star’s gaze left the canopy to return to Elspeth. “What do you know of Kantalan?”

Elspeth moistened her lips with her tongue. “It’s a city as architecturally beautiful as Babylon, whose people were peace-loving and more civilized than the ancient Greeks. They had acquired knowledge that was truly astounding. They worshiped the sun god, Ra, as the Egyptians did, and they loved beauty and art and music and-” She stopped. How could she put it into words? She finished simply. “It was paradise.”

Rising Star shook her head. “No, not paradise. Kantalan was flawed.”

“No!” The denial was as instinctive as it was violent. Elspeth drew a shaky breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice, but I think you must be wrong. The legends say it was a perfect city.”

“A city is only as perfect as its people, and people are never perfect.” Rising Star’s lips tightened. “We work, we try, but our perfection, or lack of it, is always in the eye of the beholder.”

There was a thread of pain in Rising Star’s voice and Elspeth realized suddenly that the Indian woman was no longer speaking of either the poeple or the city of Kantalan, but something intensely personal.

Rising Star shook her head and tried to smile. “Centuries ago a young man named Cadra came to our village. He was very oddly and richly dressed and he wore around his throat a necklace of silver and turquoise. The young man knew many strange and wonderful things. Our wise men were like children compared to him. He could have become a god in their eyes, but he did not wish it. He said he had been sent by his mistress to live among them and tell the tale of Kantalan and prepare the way for the four who were to come after. Cadra became the medicine man of our tribe and lived with my people until he died. He never took a wife and there were some who said that his love was so great for the clairana he had left in Kantalan that there was no room in his heart for anyone else.”

“Clairana?” Elspeth repeated. The word was unknown to her and yet oddly familiar. “That was the name of his mistress?”

“No, clairana was her title. Sayan was the high priestess of Kantalan, the keeper of the flames. She saw visions of what was to come and many times predicted disasters that enabled her people to keep themselves from harm. She was the most honored woman in Kantalan, and the priests of Ra were very pleased with her.” Rising Star smiled crookedly. “Why shouldn’t they be? They shone in her reflected glory and soon came to think of it as their own. Then their docile Sayan made a mistake. She fell in love with a young soldier and they lay together. It was forbidden for the high priestess to give herself, for according to the traditions dictated by the priests, the clairana must remain untouched. The priests declared her no longer the clairana of Kantalan and told the people that Ra had taken away her powers.”

“But it wasn’t true.” It was a statement not a question. Elspeth had the strange feeling she knew every word Rising Star was going to say.

“No, it wasn’t true, but no one would listen to her.” Raising Star’s brow wrinkled thoughtfully. “I’ve often wondered how she could bear it. I don’t know if I could have borne it in her place.”

“She had pride. She was the clairana.”

Rising Star nodded. “Yes, that must have helped, I suppose. But when she saw the last vision, the disbelief of the priests must have driven her mad.”

The last vision. The holy flames burning in the temple. The scented incense pouring slowly from her hand into the fire, causing blue sparks to fly, the flame to reveal its truth. Slowly Elspeth’s eyes closed and Rising Star’s words swept over her, painting pictures, lighting corners long darkened by time. She felt as if she could actually see the young clairana, her dark hair straight and flowing to her waist, as she stared into the flames.

“Kantalan is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains. The highest mountain was known as the Sun Child, a volcano. The people of the city became accustomed to the rumbling of its voice and the quaking of the earth. The Sun Child was Ra’s child and they looked upon it with affection. The vision the clairana saw concerned the volcano. The Sun Child was going to spew out great billows of black smoke, poisonous smoke that would cover the entire valley and kill every living thing. Sayan went to the priests and begged them to send everyone away, to vacate Kantalan until the danger was over.”

“They laughed at her.” Elspeth could almost see them, their expressions scornful, their shaved heads adding to the ascetic sternness of their appearance. “They thought she was just trying to regain her status in the city. They called her a whore and sent her away.”

“Yes.” Rising Star’s voice held a note of surprise. “Yes, they did. She decided to stay and accept the same fate as her people, but she sent her servant, Cadra, away to the north.”

“And she died when Kantalan died, when Dalkar died.”

“Dalkar?” Rising Star’s voice was puzzled.

“Her lover.” Elspeth’s lids lifted heavily, dreamily. It was a moment before she could bring herself back from the ancient world that had seemed so real. “You told me his name was Dalkar.”

“Did I?” Rising Star was staring at her uneasily. “I suppose I had to have told you. It must have slipped my mind.” She rose to her feet and, for a fraction of a moment, she seemed flustered. Then, quite suddenly her serenity returned. “I believe I’ve given you enough to think about for the present. We’ll talk again later.” She crossed the room swiftly. “It’s only an hour until dinner. I’ll send Silver to help you dress.”

“Wait,” Elspeth called desperately. “You didn’t tell me about the prophecy.”

Rising Star paused, her hand on the doorknob. The muscles of her back were taut and at first Elspeth thought she wasn’t going to answer. Then she slowly turned to face Elspeth and smiled with an effort. “I was running away. You’ll find I’m not a very courageous person. After all these years you’d think I’d be accustomed to the idea of-” She moistened her lips. “Sayan saw something else in the flames. She told Cadra that for centuries Kantalan would remain deserted, as if frozen in time. Then four people would once again walk its streets. When that day came, the Sun Child would tremble once more, fire would rain down, and Kantalan would be destroyed, disappearing from the face of the earth as if it had never existed.” She paused. “Four would come to Kantalan and four would return from whence they came. Yet two would die when Kantalan died.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Is it some kind of riddle?”

Rising Star shrugged. “If it is, I don’t have the answer.”

“Do you believe it?”

Rising Star hesitated and then smiled sadly. “Sometimes I believe it. I’ve been taught there is a destiny for each one of us. What else can you expect from a superstitious savage?”

Elspeth could hear the echo of Silver’s bitterness in Rising Star’s words and experienced a pang of sympathy, “You think there is danger in Kantalan?”

Rising Star rubbed her temple wearily. “Oh, I don’t know. There is danger everywhere. You must make the decision for yourself. If you still wish to go, I will draw you a map from the one White Buffalo gave me.”

“Thank you, I would appreciate that very much,” Elspeth said haltingly. She should be wildly happy, but it was difficult to throw off the chill that had struck her when Rising Star had told her of the prophecy. “Was Dominic given a map also?”

Rising Star’s brows rose in surprise. “Of course. White Buffalo was a spirit man. He knew Dominic was one of the four who would walk the streets of Kantalan.”

Elspeth’s eyes widened. “Does that mean you-?”

Rising Star’s lips twisted. “Oh, yes, from the moment of my birth White Buffalo knew that my destiny was to be fulfilled in Kantalan.” She turned and opened the door. “And now there are three of us and only one more to come. The pattern is beginning to form.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “Dominic has never known whether to believe the prophecy or not, but he has enough of his mother’s Celtic mysticism to make him wary and enough of his father’s cynicism to make it easy to ignore Kantalan’s existence. Until now. You’re forcing him to think of it again. Are you sure you want to do that?”

Elspeth shook her head. “I told him I didn’t want him to go. It would be terrible to be responsible for-” She ran shaking fingers through her hair. “It’s too wild and terrible to be true, legends become distorted and twisted through time. The prophecy could be nothing more than superstitious nonsense. I have to think.”

Rising Star nodded. “Yes, we all need to think. White men believe we do have choices. Perhaps White Buffalo was only a foolish old man. None of us have to go to Kantalan.” She smiled. “Do we?”

“No,” Elspeth whispered. But if she didn’t go, she would never see streets of matchless beauty, temples and pyramids of faultless symmetry, the Sun Child ribboned with glistening snow. “None of us have to go.”

Rising Star’s eyes were both sad and understanding as she gazed at Elspeth’s wistful expression. “I won’t see you at dinner. I prefer to have my meals in my room when Joshua isn’t here. If you decide you want the map, let me know. But it would be no sin to wait a few days and consider the possiblities, would it?”

She didn’t wait for an answer. The door closed softly behind her.

“You are very silent.” Silver ran the silver-backed brush through Elspeth’s hair with long, slow strokes. “Did my aunt’s words disturb you?”

“Yes.” Disturb seemed too mild a word to describe the turmoil she was experiencing. “Rising Star certainly gave me a few things to consider.”

“I did not know she knew of Kantalan or I would have told you.” Silver’s gaze met Elspeth’s in the mirror of the black lacquered vanity. “I will go with you if you like. There is nothing for me here.” She smiled bitterly. “There is nothing for me anywhere that I do not take for myself. Who knows? Perhaps I will find something different in your lost city.”

Elspeth felt a surge of warm affection. “Oh, Silver, I would like that very-” She stopped. Even if Sayan’s prophecy were mere legend as she was trying to believe, the journey itself might be very dangerous. She had already taken too much from Silver without giving anything in return. Friendship was new to her, but surely this was not as it should be. Even now Silver was treating her as if she were her handmaiden. She had bathed her and was now brushing her hair. And Elspeth was sitting here in her petticoats, almost purring with contentment and behaving as if this cosseting were her due. She reached out and took the brush from Silver’s hand. “We will see. In the meantime, there is no need for you to treat me as an invalid. I’m almost well.”

Silver’s eyes widened. “It is no bother.” She stood watching uncertainly as Elspeth began to run the brush vigorously through her hair, her expression reflecting a flicker of disappointment. “You are still weak. I am not sure you should go down to dinner.”

“You’ve spoiled me far too long.” Elspeth wrinkled her nose at her image in the mirror. “And I’ve allowed it far too long. It’s time I took charge of myself.”

Silver frowned and started for the armoire across the room. “I’ll get your gown. I had Rosa press it while you slept.” She took out the black silk gown with the grosgrain trim and carried it back to Elspeth. “Though there was little that could be done with it. It is ugly. Everything I found in your trunk was ugly, except for that fine red blanket.”

“That’s not a blanket. That’s a MacGregor plaid, my family’s tartan.”

Silver shrugged. “Well, it is finer than anything else you own. Why is everything you wear black? You always look like a baby vulture.”

“It’s the custom. I’m in mourning for my father.” Elspeth turned to look at the gown over Silver’s arm. “It’s only proper that I wear black.”

Silver shook her head in wonder. “I have heard you scream and weep dreaming of this man. You do not mourn him. Why do you lie?”

“Of course I mourn him. He was my father.” Elspeth stopped. Lies. Silver was right. When her father had died she had felt only relief and a poignant regret for the love that might have existed between them. Dear God, surely such an attitude must make her a wicked and ungrateful daughter. One must love and honor one’s father. Her hand holding the brush dropped to her side as she stared blindly into the mirror. But she had not honored him. She had respected him for his truly superior intelligence, but there had been no honor and no love. Had the guilt of that realization made her cling to the trappings of tradition since she could not mourn him in her heart? Had she been deceiving herself about her honesty as she had about her strength? “You’re very wise, Silver. I do not mourn him.”

Silver grinned and tossed the gown carelessly on the bed. “Then you do not need this ugly dress any longer. We will find you something bright to wear that will make you want to sing like a lark.”

Elspeth chuckled. “I certainly would prefer to be a lark instead of a vulture, but I’m afraid I’ll have to wait until I return to Edinburgh. I have nothing but black clothing with me.”

“I will ask Rising Star to lend you something pretty to wear.” Silver had already reached the door. “She cannot wear her fine gowns since she has grown big with child. Put up your hair. I will be back.”

She was gone, leaving Elspeth gazing blankly after her. As usual, Silver had taken matters into her own hands and Elspeth was moving along in her wake. Perhaps she should go after her and insist upon wearing her own clothing, as she certainly didn’t wish to impose on Rising Star. As Elspeth started to get up, she glimpsed the black silk gown on the bed and suddenly realized that she hated the idea of wearing that drab gown. Its ugliness was not only in its color and clumsy fashioning but also in its reminder of her lack of courage during these past months. She deliberately sat back down on the stool and began to put her hair in its usual neat bun on top of her head.

The gown Silver borrowed was of white gauze with lace trim, demure, modest, and the most beautiful garment Elspeth had ever seen. The long tight sleeves and bodice fit her to perfection after Silver had pinned it at the waist. The lace trimming at the high neckline required no other ornamentation and made her neck appear long and queenly. The belled skirt drifted about her gracefully as she whirled to see herself in the cheval mirror. “I look so different.”

Silver nodded with satisfaction. “An upside-down lily.”

Elspeth laughed. She couldn’t ever remember feeling this amazingly young and lighthearted.

“It could be better. I forgot that Rising Star does not wear colors. She does not like to displease the old woman, who thinks bright colors are not ladylike.”

Elspeth looked at her in surprise. The violet gown Malvina had worn this morning had not been in the least restrained. “But Malvina wore-”

“I know.” Silver’s lips curved in a sardonic smile. “But the old woman is not Indian. Rising Star must be more careful.”

“Your grandmother insists Rising Star be more circumspect in her dress than she is herself?”

“No,” Silver admitted grudgingly. “She never says a word of reproof to my aunt. Rising Star is a Delaney, and though the old woman has no love for her, she treats her with honor and fairness. Rising Star has a great thirst for learning and the old woman respects her for that too.” She turned away. “It is time to go downstairs; the old man likes his meals on time.”

“Aren’t you going to change?”

Silver looked down at the calico skirt, elkskin tunic, and beaded moccasins she was wearing. “Why? I am clean and my hair is combed. If they are not happy with me, then the old man can send me to the kitchen to eat with Rosa and Ricardo.” There was a glint of furtive excitement in her eyes and her golden cheeks were flushed with color. “Shall we go see if he will do it?”

Silver actually hoped Shamus would respond to her rebelliousness, Elspeth realized with trepidation. She was obviously aching, burning, to be challenged. “You always look lovely.” Elspeth frowned. “I’m sure it will be all right.”

“We will see.” Silver took Elspeth’s arm with a gesture that held both defiance and bravado. Then, as they started for the door, an object lying on the vanity caught Silver’s notice. “You’ve forgotten your spectacles. Shall I get them for you?”

Elspeth glanced back over her shoulder. “No, I’ll get them.” She turned and took a step toward the vanity. She stopped, looking at the spectacles and remembering Dominic’s mocking words regarding them. Another self-deception? She hesitated. In a way this decision was more difficult than the one to cast off her mourning. She was nervous of the intimidating strangers she must meet tonight and the spectacles would have formed a protective barrier against them. The gold wire frames of the spectacles glinted enticingly, temptingly, in the lamplight. She drew a deep breath and forced herself to turn again toward the door. “No, I don’t believe I’ll wear them tonight. I don’t really need them.”

Shamus Delaney met them at the bottom of the steps. His smile was bold, warm, and held an impish charm that reminded Elspeth of his grandson, Patrick. “Ah, welcome, Miss MacGregor.” His deep brogue lilted pleasantly as he held out his hand. “It’s a good thing you decided to put in an appearance. I admit I was so eager to meet you, I was about to run upstairs and escort you down myself. I’m Shamus Delaney, and it’s a rare pleasure to have you here at Killara.”

“It’s very kind of you to let me stay.” Her small hand was immediately enveloped in his massive clasp. His palm was callused and his strong grip made no allowances for her femininity. “I’ll try not to trouble you any longer than necessary.”

“Nonsense. Malvina will be disappointed if you run off before she can really get to know you, and I’m determined you won’t leave us until you’ve seen all of Killara.” His piercing blue eyes twinkled. “I’m proud as a peacock of my ranch. We’ve got everything you could want here in the Arizona territory. Your Edinburgh can’t hold a candle to some of the sights I can show you.”

Elspeth found herself melting beneath the beaming warmth of the old man. Old? The term seemed wrong when applied to Shamus Delaney. Though he must have been in his seventies, he stood ramrod-straight, his thin, rangy body still as powerful as that of a man of forty. He was dressed in a black suit and vest, crisp white shirt and gray tie, and his full mane of stark white hair shone softly under the flickering light of the candles in the chandelier. That totally white hair should have made him look older, but instead the silky purity of color made his weathered brown face appear younger in contrast. “You have a right to be proud of Killara. Your home is lovely.”

He released her hand. “Malvina’s done a fine job of it, hasn’t she?” His voice was soft with affection and pride. “She reads all those fancy books and journals; she’s particularly fond of that Miss Beetle’s book on home management. She says all the fine ladies read it.”

“I’m afraid I haven’t heard of it.” Elspeth found it hard to imagine Malvina Delaney poring over books and periodicals on homemaking. “But I’ve been in America for only a short time.”

“It probably hasn’t crossed over to the old country yet,” Shamus Delaney said cheerfully as he took her arm. “But you mark my words, it will soon. My Malvina swears by it. You should have seen the hair picture she made from the directions in Miss Beetle’s book.” He chuckled. “Brianne swore she was going to strip her bald before the dang thing was finished, but it turned out real pretty. Come along, Malvina is waiting in the parlor to give us a little music before dinner. It looks like we’ll have you to ourselves this evening. Dominic rode over to Shamrock this afternoon to see his brothers, and that wild granddaughter of mine hasn’t come home yet.” Shamus’s gaze suddenly narrowed on Elspeth’s face. “I hope you’re not disappointed that Dominic isn’t here. You two must have become very close friends lately.”

Elspeth felt a surge of relief at the knowledge that she would not have to confront Dominic tonight. Her emotions regarding him were so chaotic that she had no desire to face him immediately. Rising Star’s revelations and her own response to them must be absorbed before she was ready to speak to him again. “He has been very kind,” she said stiltedly. “But it’s always pleasant to get to know new people.”

He nodded slowly, his gaze still searching her own. “That’s true enough. You’ll enjoy the little concert Malvina is going to give us. She plays the piano very well; she taught herself.” The pride was again shining in his face. “There’s nothing Malvina can’t do once she sets her mind to it.” Then, as his glance fell on Silver watching in the shadows of the curve of the staircase, his smile faded. “You know Malvina doesn’t like to see you dressed in that heathen garb at her table, Silver. Go change.”

Elspeth’s gaze flew to Silver. The girl was standing perfectly still, glaring at Shamus Delaney. “No!”

For an instant there was an expression of utter weariness on Shamus’s face before it hardened in annoyance. “Then I’ll have Rosa send up some dinner to you. Delaneys don’t serve savages in the dining room at Killara.”

“No, they prefer savages to serve them in the bedchamber.” Silver’s eyes blazed clear and hot. “As my father demanded of my mother. Only he never bothered taking her to a bedchamber. A blanket thrown on the ground was good enough for an-”

“Shut your foul mouth.” Shamus’s eyes were suddenly glittering with fury. “I’ll not have your impudence here.”

Elspeth couldn’t bear it any longer. Anger and pain held the two Delaneys captive. “No!” She turned and ran back up the stairs, her arm sliding protectively around Silver’s shoulders. “I don’t think I feel very well, Mr. Delaney. I believe I’d better go back to my room and lie down. Come with me, Silver.”

“What?” Shamus’s face expressed first surprise, then anger, and finally, grudging admiration. His lips twisted sourly. “I don’t suppose you might recover if Silver joined us in the dining room?”

Elspeth nodded gravely. “Being with Silver always makes me feel better, Mr. Delaney. You’re very lucky to have her as a member of your family.”

It was a deliberate goad, but he failed to rise to the bait. “Yes, I’m very lucky in all my family.” His gaze carefully avoided Silver as he bowed mockingly. “Malvina’s waiting.”

Elspeth kept a firm clasp on Silver’s hand as she half-pushed, half-pulled the girl down the steps. “We’re coming. I’ve always loved piano music.”

“You haven’t heard the old woman play,” Silver muttered half beneath her breath. “You will wish you had gone back upstairs and covered your ears.”

Elspeth learned what she meant in the next three quarters of an hour. Malvina drew sounds from the upright Chickering piano that were unbelievably unharmonious. Elspeth listened in amazement as Malvina thumped the keys with blatant disregard of tempo, her hazel eyes shining with enjoyment. Elspeth cast a surreptitious sidewise glance at Shamus sitting on the elegant amber tufted couch beside her and received another shock. His face shone with the same pleasure and pride as when he had earlier spoken glowingly of his wife’s accomplishments. Great heavens, the man must be deaf not to recognize that Malvina was an abominable pianist.

Then, as Malvina finished the tune she was playing with a little flourish and turned to face them, Elspeth changed her mind. The look Malvina and Shamus exchanged was one of perfect understanding… and love.

“A delightful performance, my darlin’,” he said softly. “You get better every time I hear you play.”

Malvina’s cheeks flushed with pleasure as she rose from the piano stool, her emerald taffeta skirts rustling far more harmoniously than her recent effort at the keys. “I thought you’d like it, Shamus.” Malvina was suddenly no longer the grim, forceful woman Elspeth had met this morning. She was as eager and glowing as a young girl, her gaze shifted to Elspeth as if for approval.

What could she say? Elspeth wondered wildly. She moistened her lips with her tongue. “It’s a very pretty tune. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard it played quite like that before.”

She heard a small rude explosion of sound from the window alcove where Silver was sitting. Elspeth carefully avoided looking at Silver and kept her polite smile firmly in place.

Without so much as a glance at Silver, Malvina turned with a sweeping movement of royal disdain. “There are some people who have no ear for music.” She glanced at the fine bogwood clock that graced the mantel across the room. “It’s growing late. We won’t wait any longer for Brianne. Shall we go in to dinner?”

Shamus gallantly offered Elspeth his arm. “I told you we were in for a treat. Malvina could have been even better if she’d taken lessons when she was younger. She’s been trying to teach Brianne how to play, but the girl won’t sit still long enough to practice.” He shook his head. “My granddaughter would rather be down at the Mexican village or riding herd with the vaqueros. Do you know what she begged me to get her for her birthday? A new saddle! Malvina wanted to send her to St. Louis to buy some pretty gowns, but Brianne wouldn’t have any part of it. She wouldn’t leave Killara.” Affection and pride flickered in his expression. “She’s a Delaney through and through.”

Elspeth was growing more curious about Brianne Delaney by the moment. She obviously held a very special spot in the hearts of her grandparents, judging by Shamus’s remarks. A Delaney through and through. She inhaled sharply as the tactlessness, even cruelty of those words impacted upon her. How did Silver feel to have her cousin spoken of with such warmth and affection while she was denied even recognition as a member of the family? It was incomprehensible to her that Shamus could be so warm and callous at the same time.

She cast an anxious glance over her shoulder at Silver as Shamus escorted her through the archway that separated the parlor from the dining room. She sighed with relief as she realized she needn’t have worried about Silver’s reaction. She doubted if Silver had even heard Shamus’s words.

The young girl was standing by the piano, her fingers caressing the black and white keys with a loving touch. On her absorbed face was an expression that was an odd mixture of wistfulness, wonder, and hunger.

Elspeth was able to satisfy her curiosity regarding the Delaney “princess” a short time later. Brianne Delaney appeared in the dining room just as they were finishing their meal.

Her appearance was foreshadowed by the sound of the heavy front door being thrown open, the light clatter of boots on the tiles of the foyer, and then a hurried, breathless voice. “I know I said I’d be home for dinner, but William wanted to show me a pond he had run across in the foothills. And then when we got back to Shamrock, Dominic was there and I had to talk to him, didn’t I? You know I haven’t seen Dom since he dropped by last year and I couldn’t just ride off without saying a word.” A slim, delicate girl dressed in a dark brown riding skirt and white cotton blouse suddenly appeared in the archway. She paused to catch her breath and Elspeth was allowed a moment to absorb an impression of rich auburn hair in a single thick braid, green eyes dancing with humor and spirit, exquisite classic features saved from any hint of coldness by the faintest golden dusting of freckles over a small aristocratic nose. Brianne Delaney might be the Delaney “princess,” but she was certainly down-to-earth royalty. She was too warm, too vital, too alive to be considered anything but entirely approachable.

Brianne’s eyes brightened with curiosity as they fell upon Elspeth. She hurried forward, her hand outstretched. “How do you do. I’m Brianne Delaney and you must be Elspeth MacGregor. Patrick has told me all kinds of interesting things about you.” Her grip was as strong and cordial as her grandfather’s had been as she eagerly shook Elspeth’s hand. “I’ve wanted to see London and Edinburgh since Rising Star persuaded Patrick and me to study geography with her.”

“We can’t even get you to St. Louis,” Malvina said dryly.

“Someday.” Brianne laughed. “There’s plenty of time.” She turned to Silver seated at the place next to Elspeth and gave her an affectionate wink. “Isn’t that right, Silver? There’s no hurry about leaving Killara when there’s always so much to see and do here.”

Silver returned her smile and Elspeth could see no hint of resentment in her expression. It would have been impossible for Silver not to be stung my the favoritism shown Brianne by her grandparents, but she obviously did not blame her cousin for their discrimination.

“You’re too late for dinner,” Malvina said with an effort at gruffness. “You’ll have to grab a bite in the kitchen.”

Brianne nodded. “Rosa will fix me something.”

“And probably a better meal than she served us.” Shamus grimaced as he shook his head with mock ruefulness. “She wouldn’t want her pequiña to go hungry.” Then the amusement faded from Shamus’s face. “Did Patrick ride back with you?”

Brianne shook her head. “Cort told me he rode out of Shamrock five minutes after Dominic arrived.”

Shamus frowned. “I thought he’d gotten over the foolishness that made him fly up at Dominic. I’ll have to have a talk with him. It’s not like Patrick to hold a grudge.”

Brianne avoided her grandfather’s eyes as she said lightly, “Give him a little time. Patrick won’t let Dom leave Killara without settling their differences.” She turned back to Elspeth. “Why don’t I have Rosa fix me a tray and bring it up to Rising Star’s room? Then we can get comfortable and you can tell me all about Edinburgh and the journey across the sea and-”

“Miss MacGregor hasn’t been well,” Shamus said. He turned to Elspeth. “You mustn’t let this wild gypsy impose on you.”

“I don’t feel at all tired.” Elspeth found to her surprise that it was true. She had been so fascinated by the myriad complexities of the Delaney clan that she felt as if they had lent her a large quantity of their own vitality. “I would like very much to have a chat.” She smiled. “Though I imagine your account of your life here will be a great deal more colorful than what I can tell you. It’s true I’ve done a good deal of traveling but I’ve actually lived a very quiet life.”

Brianne grinned impishly. “Well, from what Patrick says, you’ve recently been making up for any past monotony.” She turned away and started for the door. “Just give me ten minutes to talk to Rosa and then get the smell of horse off me and I’ll join you in Rising Star’s room.”

“Elspeth is occupying your room because it’s the best bedroom,” Malvina called after her. “And Dominic is occupying his old room, and Silver’s here, so you’ll have to sleep in one of the guest rooms.”

Brianne smiled and said over her shoulder, “I’ll sleep on the couch in the library. I’ve always loved the smell of that room. The scent of ink and the leather binding of the books and Gran-da’s pipe tobacco…”

Then she was gone, her words drifting behind her as they had rushed before her, in a bright, shining trail.