When they finished the apple charlotte dessert, Mrs O’Neill led the two women and Mr Carstairs, who carried the coffee tray, into the drawing room. The four settled into two fern-green velvet sofas facing each other before the fireplace. Settled in enormous cushions, the company fell quiet as they watched the fire burn orange and blue from the turf and coal. Meg looked through a window to the sky above the black outline of treetops. The May Irish sky was a darker grey now, and as dark as it would be all night.
Turning to include first Mr Carstairs, and then Mrs O’Neill, who sat with Mary opposite, Meg humbly said, “Thank you for inviting me to stay in your beautiful home, Mr Carstairs, and for the delicious dinner, Mrs O’Neill.” She willed herself to relax.
Mr Carstairs smiled “You are v
