The Emerald Key - By Christopher Dinsdale Page 0,88
here in precisely two minutes’ time.”
Jamie did a double take. Those clear grey eyes suddenly seemed so familiar. He gripped her by the hands as a grin broke across his weathered face.
“Beth, is it really you?”
She laughed. “Yes, underneath all of these wrinkles and greying hair, it’s really me.”
Cardinal James Galway wrapped his arms around the finely dressed woman, bringing curious stares from passersby. “I’m so happy that you finally made it back to Ireland! How was your trip across the ocean?”
“Much better than the one our families took to Canada.” She smiled. “Unlike those old slave ships, today’s large steamers are more like floating hotels! You should come and visit Canada sometime and find out for yourself.”
“Perhaps I will.” Jamie grinned. “I would love to come and visit Canada again.”
Beth laughed. “I’ll see what I can do about making your next visit more relaxing.”
He took her arm in his. “I’m looking forward to hearing all the news, but I’m afraid it will have to wait for a moment. Time is of the essence.”
Jamie led Beth around the cathedral’s graveyard and into the west wing of the abbey. Inside the massive stone building, Beth was stunned at the elegant beauty of the huge arched ceilings and stained glass windows, but Jamie kept up a quick pace. This was not intended to be a church tour. They went quickly down a short stairway, then out another door, which led into a small stable. A driver waited patiently on the bench of a polished coach. Jamie opened the door for Beth and helped her climb in. He nodded to the driver and as soon as the coach door was closed, the driver shook the reins to the pair of horses. They quickly accelerated down the cobblestone alleyway.
“I apologize for the covered windows,” Jamie said as he took his place on the back bench of the darkened coach. Beth sat across from him.
She smiled. “I completely understand all the secrecy. So tell me, how does it feel to be a cardinal with your own cathedral?”
“My new position as cardinal has a great deal of responsibility, but it certainly has its rewards too. Besides doing the Lord’s work here in Ireland, I’ve also been to Rome and the Vatican several times. Rome is such a marvellous city. Perhaps I might get a chance to show you around its ancient streets some day.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “You know, Jamie, I could never understand how you became a priest in the first place. You are so handsome and now with your talk of sweeping me off my feet to far away cities … if it weren’t for that collar around your neck, I would almost think that you are proposing something far grander than just a lovely vacation with me.”
Jamie chuckled. “I’m sorry, but the only ring I can ever offer you is the one that is already on your finger.”
She held out her ringed finger and took his hand so that it could be next to his identical ring. “The ring is one of my favourite possessions. Did you get in trouble when you returned without it?”
He shook his head. “No. This is Ryan’s ring. Just as yours reminds you of our time together, this ring will always remind me of my brother.”
“And how is your brother?”
”Remember, I wrote to you about Ryan leading the three-thousand-strong Irish militia across the Niagara River and into Canada, where they defeated the British Army in the Battle of Ridgeway? Well, during their retreat to Buffalo, New York, he was captured by the U.S. Army. Instead of being charged for his invasion of a neighbouring country, the U.S. Army was quite impressed with his tactical skills and instead promoted him to a U.S. colonel! He’s currently based in Fort Jackson, South Carolina.”
Beth leaned forward in shock. “Ryan leads an Irish invasion into Canada from U.S. soil and, instead of throwing him in jail, the government made him a colonel?”
Jamie shrugged. “It seems the Americans were still angry at the British for supporting the South during the Civil War. They simply look the other way on Irish rebel activities to teach Britain a lesson.”
“And what of Ryan’s Irish militia?”
“Well, the movement is still alive and well, but they are now fighting a direct war with British troops here in Ireland. Many Irish Americans are sympathetic to the rebels and support them with large amounts of money and weapons.”
“I’m not surprised about the lingering anger in the United States. Do you