Page 109 of Hidden Daughters

‘If we should get married at all?’

He released her and sat on the chair beside her. ‘Why not?’

‘Because people are getting murdered and you are a suspect.’

‘I didn’t kill anyone.’

‘I know that.’ She twisted round to look at him. ‘But how do we convince other people?’

‘I shouldn’t have to convince anyone. Grace,’ he took her hand in his, ‘I honestly don’t know what to do.’

‘You need to eat,’ she said, ‘but I haven’t cooked anything.’

‘Don’t worry about it. We can go out somewhere.’

‘We can’t do that. I can’t face people staring at us.’

‘They won’t stare.’

She pulled her hand free of his. ‘They will. Until you can clear your name. Have you told me the truth about that DNA?’

‘I told you the reason for it. I did some work at that cottage. So it’s perfectly legitimate that my DNA would be found there.’

‘No, I mean you being some sort of relation to Imelda Conroy.’

‘I really don’t know what it means. I told you all this the other night.’

‘You did. Could she be the sister you told me about. Your younger sister?’

‘I’m not sure the age works.’

‘Maybe a daughter of your sister then?’

‘Anything is possible,’ he said. ‘I lost all contact with my family until I inherited the farm from my brother when he died. My father had bequeathed it to him.’

‘You could try some of those sites. I read about them. Ancestry something or other.’ She suddenly felt excited.

‘The thing is, Grace, I really don’t want to find anyone. I’m content with my life here with you. I can do without the complications.’

‘What complications?’

‘There’s something else I haven’t told you.’

She felt stuck to the chair, frozen in place, with an irrational urge overtaking her. She wanted to smash the three little floral wreaths she had made. ‘I am not sure I want to hear what you have to say.’

‘But I have to tell you this. There is another possibility for the DNA. I was hoping Lottie could find out something for me, and I would have told you then. But events have surpassed all that now.’

‘I’m not liking this, Bryan O’Shaughnessy,’ Grace said, ‘and you haven’t even told me yet.’

He took her hands again, and she felt the callused skin press against her soft flesh. She could hear Tess barking furiously outside.

‘The thing is,mo ghrá, a lifetime ago I had this girlfriend?—’

A knock came on the door, interrupting him, before it was pushed in.

‘Bryan O’Shaughnessy, you are a fucking murderer and I want to know what you’ve done with my wife.’

Grace looked on in horror as Denis Wilson grabbed Bryan by the collar and hauled him up from the chair. Tess circled them, barking.

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