Chapter 5: Confines of Friendship 27th April 1939
Friday morning saw a dramatic decrease of work at the factory. A lot of the main orders for the work had already been shipped, providing most of the girls with an easier workload to end the week. It was so easy in fact, that Erin, Michelle, Orla and Clare were sitting around without anything to do after the mid-morning break. They would most likely have work to do later that afternoon, with the usual mad rush in the last couple of hours before the weekend, but until then they could relax. Their whole section took to relaxing or socialising in some manner, girls from a few desks away choosing to spend their free time in participating in further smoke breaks. All in all, it was quiet.
"Jesus this is borin'". Michelle grumbled.
"Aye…". Erin sighed her reply. "… to think I could be at home writing…".
The others all looked at each other as she trailed off into a world of her own poetic imagination. None of them liked her poetry and ramblings, though not openly telling her as such as to not hurt their friend's feelings. It just wasn't very good.
"I've got to put up with the English bastard tonight". Michelle returned to complaining.
"He's not that bad Michelle!" Clare stepped in to defend Jams. "He was a gentleman when we met him the other day".
"He does sound funny though…". Orla pondered.
"He's English Orla, they all sound like that". Michelle educated her. "Stops him from goin' round Jenny's and ridin' her though I suppose".
Erin could feel the rage rising within at the mention of James's evening a couple of nights before. Since learning of it from Michelle, she couldn't stop thinking about it, feeling betrayed by him for visiting the Joyce mansion and holding feelings for the pampered, snobby girl that they all detested. Stopping him seeing her would be difficult with her standing. The Quinn's were far from the upper echelons of Derry society, instead skirting around the lower rungs without living in true poverty. Jenny, and James, were far detached from that class, so she could only live in the hope that he would not be bothered by it. Then again, it may already be too late. No further news of what occurred at the dinner had been mentioned by Michelle that morning as they worked away. Erin had to find out.
"Are they… ye know?"
"He didn't say much according to me ma, but she doesn't think so".
"What did he say?" She continued to push for answers.
"Am I on trial here or something, Judge Quinn…". Michelle snorted. "… apparently it was a lovely evening, and they were very nice people. Fuckin' prick is always so pleasant!"
"Jenny would probably suit him ye know. She's from the circles he mixes in, has money…".
Feeling the urge to pick up her chair to strike Clare around the head, Erin took a deep breath in order to regain composure. Jenny most certainly was not the right person for James, even if they did come from similar backgrounds and shared similar financial positions.
"I don't think she would".
"No offence Erin, but you think yer in a relationship with John-Paul O'Reilly… what ye think isn't exactly reliable".
"Not this again Michelle…".
As much as it had annoyed her in the past, her annoyance was now a complete exaggeration. She didn't have anything with John-Paul O'Reilly… she never did. Although they didn't need to know that, for the girls had suspicious minds and if she wasn't fawning over him, they may work out just who she had set her mind on. That was dangerous…
"Why do ye care again anyw-".
Michelle was thankfully interrupted as she went to ask about why Erin was so bothered about James, or at least what Erin assumed she was going to ask. The noise that had startled her came from the stairs to the management offices above, the sounds of arguing between two men. An instantly recognisable voice was the shift supervisor Meyler, who was giving a verbal lashing to whoever the other man was. Keeping their eyes trained on the bottom of the stairs, it soon became clear who the second participant was, one of the accounts men, Jim Quinn. Not a relation of Erin's, Quinn was a mid-thirties man who'd once held far loftier ambitions according to Mary, but was never good enough to achieve them. He was disliked by both the men and the women in the factory alike, so seeing him receive Meyler's wrath brought satisfaction to all concerned.
"Meyler's really goin' mental…". Orla commented on the ongoing argument.
"Aye… Jesus, Jim's gettin' battered". Michelle added.
Jim started to argue back, but hearing what was being said, the girls could only see one outcome. An outcome that presented itself a few moments later. He stormed out, shouting that he quit, leaving the already angered Meyler cursing loudly at the man who'd turned his back and walked out. The whole factory had stopped working to witness the culmination of the argument, although a second later Meyler's glare sent them all back to work to avoid his evident anger.
"He's ragin'!" Michelle spoke up again.
"We… we need to find something to do girls… Christ he'll kill us in this mood!" Clare began to cack it, hands shaking as they rested on the table.
"We'll be fine Clare". Erin reassured her.
"Too right…". Michelle voiced her agreement with Erin. "Watch. MR MEYLER!"
Michelle shouted his name, with the older man whipping around to face them. Clare appeared to turn a shade of grey that none of them had ever seen before as he stared at their group, under the strict belief that he was going to be angered by them thanks to Michelle. He made his way over, with the scowl remaining on his face for the whole journey to their section, reserving an especially dour look for the young Mallon girl.
"What is it Michelle?"
"Just… well, just wonderin' what's goin' on with Jim?"
"Jim decided he didn't want to go to the bank today…". Meyler explained. "… and I reminded him that it was his job, and he had no choice, but he started arguing back… and was absolutely ripping. So I gave him the same treatment and he's quit because he couldn't take it".
"What a dick!".
"Hang on, where's Jim?" Orla gasped out a question, the others rolling their eyes at it.
Meyler's expression softened at Orla's ridiculousness, revealing the face of an incredibly stressed man that wasn't having his best day. Being comfortable in the presence of the four young women, he opened up to them about his fears.
"I'm not so bothered about losing him… but I've got no one else to pay the money in for me at the bank. Nobody really wants to do it upstairs and I can't force anyone to".
Opportunity lurked around every corner…
"I'll go!" Erin seized her chance, a note or two more vigorously than intended.
"Miss Quinn?"
"I'll go to the bank for ye during me lunch break Mr Meyler".
"Ach right I see". He replied. "Do ye know what to do?"
"Aye I know what I'm doin'".
"That's settled then, thank ye so much Miss Quinn".
Relieved at finding a short-term fix to the problem, Meyler could begin the search for a replacement when it came to Jim. He walked off with a smile on his face, a situation he'd not foreseen with Jim Quinn's sudden insubordination.
"Yer goin to the bank?" Clare was the first to question when he'd left.
"That might mean having to look at James for half an hour…". Michelle slated her absent cousin. "… I can't look at him for more than a couple of seconds without wantin' to boke".
"Gets me some fresh air girls and its work business. If I do well, ye never know, they might promote little ol' me!".
Erin's luck was in, justifying her approach to wanting to go to the bank and receiving little abuse in return for it. Not that any of her friends believed she would get a promotion…
Not that it mattered.
She finally had her excuse.
An excuse to put her into the path of a certain English fella to strike up a conversation with, one she was already delighted for, though unbelievably nervous for too. Meeting him as he worked would be perfect if he could get away from his other responsibilities, even if it were just to talk. Not that Erin wanted to just talk though.
She wanted him….
As his first week at the Ulster Bank drew to a close, James's colleagues were having their ultimate revenge on him. When they'd seen a certain customer down the queue, they'd all managed to creatively excuse their way out of having to deal with him. That meant when he reached the front of the line, there was only the English fella available to assist the man. James, oblivious to the treachery around him from his colleagues, happily spoke to the man to find out what he could help with. That was when it all went a bit wrong. The man came with a reputation… a reputation of being the most boring man in Derry. There were sniggers from some of the other blokes, the manager included, as the poor Englishman was left to handle the man who was drivelling on about utter nonsense.
"So I said to myself, Colm says I, ye should probably get that elbow looked at. But ye don't want to trouble the nurses do ye, ye know they have so much else to do…".
James believed himself to have the patience of a saint, but he was being pushed into unknown territory as Colm continued on about his elbow. It had been ten minutes since he'd finished sorting the money that the man was paying into the bank and James simply could not find it within himself to ask the man to go. The queues weren't overly long all of a sudden, which meant he couldn't even use the excuse of having others waiting in order to move him along. He would have to just grin and bear it instead. A tactic which did not appear suited to dealing with the boring Colm. However, he suddenly appeared to cease in his monologue, James letting out a small sigh of relief.
"Thank you s-".
"Anyway, did ye hear about that Hitler fella…".
Sadly for him, it was just a brief pause whilst the older man took breath. Any lifeline would be brilliant at that moment and the Lord seemed to favour him, as a figure walking into the bank was about to give him one.
Erin.
What she was doing there, he did not know, but she was a knight in shining armour for him as the old fella continued to waffle on. Making a beeline straight for the counter, she didn't stop where the first person in the queue usually would, instead making her way right up to Colm, who James lost somewhere around Nazi plans to eliminate other races.
"Hello Uncle Colm!" She addressed him.
Uncle. That explained her ignoring the queuing rules…
"Ach hello Erin love. How's yer ma, I've been me-".
"She's grand Uncle Colm, grand. Hadn't ye best be off?"
"What do ye mean?"
"The service at the church starts in fifteen minutes, ye'll be late".
"Christ aye, thanks Erin…". Colm smiled. "… thank ye there fella".
Finally the man walked off and James allowed himself a proper breath of relief this time, chuckling to himself as he put his head on the desk. His patience had teetered on the edge of destruction, finding a new boundary that it could be pushed to. Not that it needed to be pushed there again in the near future.
"Is he always like that?" James asked her, with a smile on his face.
"I don't know why they don't send him off to fight wars… I love Uncle Colm but Christ he could kill an army with boredom, so he could".
James snorted his amusement at her groaning, with the pair of them soon ensconced in fits of laughter. He could feel the eyes of his colleagues on the two of them, the burning sensation as their disgruntlement rose about him having the audacity to feel at peace around one of their own. Erin didn't seem to notice, though any form of distraction would have been beneficial as her own mind overflowed with his images of him, despite having his actual form before her to inspect with her own eyes.
"What brings you here Erin?"
"Oh… erm… yeah…". She stuttered, chastising herself internally for being left so helpless by his voice. "… the fella who usually brings the money in quit and they didn't have anyone else so…".
"You volunteered. How very noble of you". He grinned merrily at her.
"Y-Yeah… I suppose". She remained nervous in her reply, handing over the money to him.
"Give me a minute and I'll sort this out for you".
James went through processing all of the money that the factory sent her to pay in, as Erin stood slightly idly in front of the counter. She wanted to him ask him questions, so many questions, but the majority were ones that were out of place in the setting of a bank. Trying to think of anything else to say became a challenge, so she opted for a comfortable silence, watching him working away. Even when he was concentrating, he was devilishly beautiful, with every little frown of his coaxing a skip in the beating of her heart.
"There you are…". James replied, handing a slip over to her. "… all done".
"Thank ye. How… how are ye anyway?" Erin finally found something sensible to ask.
"Very well thank you. Enjoying the new job as you can see".
"Apart from my Uncle Colm?"
"What would life be without obstacles to negotiate?" He harmoniously chimed back to her.
They were laughing again, a healthy amusement for Erin, stopping her from crossing any lines whilst there were people around to see them. She could hardly just climb over the counter and kiss him… it would be very un-lady likely behaviour; her reputation would fall because of it.
"J-"
"I've…".
The two spoke over each other, giggling as neither attempted to continue on with their statements, waiting for the other to lead.
"You go… ladies first". He said to her.
"No, no… you go". She replied hesitantly, fumbling with her hands as he dipped his head in acceptance of her request.
"I am glad you are here as I wanted to talk to you about something…". He explained. "… It would have waited until tomorrow, but I am on my lunch break now if you could spare me a few minutes?"
Her heart jumped out of her chest as he spoke. He must have felt the same way about her as she did about him and was going to declare his undying love for her. James must have recognised her beauty, realising within himself that he wanted to be with her forever. Her nerves jumped all over the place from worrying how to react to pondering whether she was truly ready for such a confession.
"I… yes… well I need to get back to work though…".
"I can drive you back if you want?"
"Ach well… that would be grand. I've… I've never been in a car before".
"It will be my honour to provide you with your first drive then. Shall we go?"
She nodded to him, praying to the Lord that he hadn't picked up on her reddening cheeks. The two walked out of the bank side by side, James ignoring a comment from one of his colleagues about him disappearing off with the young Quinn girl. It gave them more ammunition to use against him, but as there was nothing going on between him and Erin, it would be easy to defend himself from their assumptions. Or as easy as it could be for an unwanted Englishman in Ireland.
Walking around to the side of the building, where James' car was parked, the two stopped just in front of it. Erin was still fidgeting away nervously, his stare being upon her at all times, wreaked havoc with her attempts to control her internal desires.
"What did ye want to ask me then?" She asked, a cheerful tone emanating from her.
"I was talking to David at the pub the other night and he told me that you liked writing and poetry…". James began.
"Aye". She confirmed, stopping him briefly as he continued.
"He also suggested that you might be able to help me in learning some of the more… local phrases, so that I know what people are talking about when we converse. I was wondering if you would perhaps write me a list with some definitions?"
So it wasn't undying love…
Pausing before answering him, Erin had to wonder whether her friends were really right about her after all. She was perennially jumping to conclusions about how the boys she liked felt about her, every time being dismayed when the reality was far different. James was just the latest lad to disappoint her, without realising he had. Still, there was the possibility of being around him within the confines of friendship, a friendship worth having with such a kind young Gentleman like him.
"I'd love to". She eventually replied. "Perhaps ye could come round to the house tomorrow and we could go through it together?"
"That would be perfect". He smiled his reply, moving his hand to place it over hers. "Thank you Erin".
The confines of friendship were going to have to be rewritten if he was going to continue with acts such as that, Erin knowing that she couldn't hide her blushes this time. His skin grazing hers was enough to send her heartrate through the roof, marvelling at the softness of his touch, his sweet smile invading her eyeline in unfair support.
"What was it that you wanted to ask me?" He enquired with her, removing his hand from where it had rested on hers.
"Oh… I… erm…".
Panicking, she'd forgotten the true reason as to why she was so keen to do the banking for the factory that day, having pushed it out of her mind when the thoughts of him declaring his love for her took over. Never before had she been so flustered by a fella, not even when John-Paul had kissed her on the cheek. James had the ability to make her lose control like no one else, yet it also embarrassed her in front of him, an emotion she did not wish for him to see. It would be mortifying for her; even Jenny Joyce would hold together better!
Jenny Joyce!
"Michelle was… she… she was tellin' me that ye had dinner with the Joyce's on Tuesday?"
"Ah".
James' demeanour changed as he replied to her, Erin watching as he instantly appeared to become defensive. Surely he hadn't…
"I… I didn't know ye with were Jenny like…".
"Oh no… not at all… no!" He immediately stopped her line of thought, his own cheeks burning red. "It… well it's just her father is one of our main clients at the bank and I thought it was best to stay friendly with him once I had received the invitation".
"So yer not…".
"No. Well…".
In the next few seconds, his large gulp terrified Erin. It would be a complete tragedy if James were to have started a relationship with Jenny, a girl with far more financial pull than her, who could give the Englishman whatever he wanted. Please Lord… please…
"She implied… well she tried to suggest to her father that we could be a 'good match'".
"And? What did her da say?" Erin probed for more information.
"He asked for my thoughts but… can you keep this strictly between the two of us?" His eyes betrayed a hint of fear when he spoke, one which she quickly wished to eradicate.
"Aye, of course!"
"I… I don't find Jenny repulsive but… I don't think I'm ready to start a relationship with anyone so soon. I am still finding my feet here and I have hardly made any friendships yet, let alone considered anything more. I let her down lightly and I have to hope her father appreciated that".
"Well ye have a friend in me so ye do".
James looked at her with eyes of wonder and thankfulness. Her heart was back to beating uncontrollably as his stare bore into her, her body seemingly lighting up to his eyes searching her.
"You have been so kind to me since I have arrived. I am indebted to you Erin".
He took a step closer to her, Erin's brain short-circuiting upon registering the movement. Her hopes of love drowned out every other thought, hoping that he was stepping forward to kiss her.
And he was.
Except it was on her hand, like it had been the week before, and not on her lips, where she desperately wanted him to kiss. The sweet, gentlemanly gesture once again coloured her cheeks and retained power over her knees, which threatened to buckle. It was not an overly hot day in Derry, but Erin started to melt, saved only when he pulled away with the adorable lopsided grin on his face, where it had been throughout their conversation.
"I should get you back to work though, else I will increase my debt to your wages!"
He walked around to the passenger door, opening it for her to allow her to get into the car. They shared a grin as she got in, James closing the door behind her before getting into the driver's seat. Unlike Michelle, Erin managed not to scream as the first sensations of vehicular motion set about her body, enjoying the very new experience immediately. It was a shame that the journey only lasted five minutes, as she could have sat there all day with him, chatting away as they drove through towns and villages, city streets and country lanes. Spending time with James was a very appealing prospect.
He might have only been looking for friendship, a friendship she was happy to have with him.
But the moment he did consider anything more, Erin was going to make sure she was at the front of the queue. Jenny Joyce's wealth wasn't going to get in her way.
Saturday Morning…
The weather was favourable that morning, prompting James to leave the Morgan back at the cottage, walking to the Quinn house instead. It was a long walk, but it gave him plenty of time to admire some of the scenery in the country that he would usually drive past, as well as some of the sights of the city once he reached it. The staring from the citizens of Derry appeared to have come to an end, with a couple of ladies even saying hello to him as he walked on by their homes. It appeared to the young Englishman that he'd achieved the privilege of not being too badly treated considering his accent and country of birth. That week had shown him the challenges of being unwelcome in Ireland on the whole, a country tainted by generations of English interference that left lingering resentment that could bubble over at any moment. There would probably be a day when it would, he thought to himself, but hopefully it would be long in the future, when he would either be too old to care or dead.
As the Quinn house homed into view, he could see Erin stood at the door ready to receive him. Their eyes met and he immediately waved to her, watching as she waved back along with someone else who he couldn't see. It was only when he got closer that he saw the figure of a little girl stood by Erin's side, one that he did not recognise.
"Hello!" The little girl shouted to him as he approached.
"Hello". He answered with curiosity, looking up to Erin who was laughing.
"Now Anna, this is James who is was tellin' ye about. James, this is my little sister, Anna".
Crouching down in front of Anna, the Englishman's jolly face made the young girl grin from ear to ear. It appeared that even three year old girls admired James, as before he could speak, little Anna rushed forward to hug him. Stunned, he didn't react at first, but with a look to Erin that acted as a request of permission, he wrapped his arms around the young girl.
"I like you". Anna mumbled into his shoulder.
Having already gained the friendship of her sister, James felt proud of himself that he could also seemingly count Anna as a friend too. He wasn't used to being around young children, apart from his school days back in London, rather surprising him that the young girl would throw herself at him in the way she had, so soon after having met for the first time.
"Will you be my friend?" She cutely asked, moving away to stand back with her sister.
"I would love to be your friend Anna".
Erin's heart was melting for a different reason to usual. She already knew how much of a gentleman he was, but to see him act confidently and kindly around a young child like Anna was incredible. There was a fatherly instinct to him, she realised, rare for a young man without any children of his own.
"Are your parents not here?" He questioned Erin as he stood back up.
"No, just me and Anna. They've gone off into the city with the rest of the family".
"I expected Michelle and Clare to be here too I must admit".
"Ach Michelle was drinking last night, yer Aunt's probably grounded her again!"
"I must say I am relieved that they did not have a spare room. I'm… I'm not sure I could last long living under the same roof as Michelle".
"Ha!" Erin snorted. "I can't say I'd fare any better and I've known her for years".
Laughing away, Erin invited him inside, though it was Anna who took his hand, almost dragging him into the kitchen of their house. Looking around the home, his initial thoughts went to how cramped it was for a family to live in, being less spacious than his cottage where only he lived. Not that it wasn't well looked after though, James not noticing a spot of dust around the whole of the downstairs on his trip through.
"I'll make some tea". Erin said to him as she caught up.
"No. Please, sit down Erin, I'll make the tea".
"Ach I can't, yer a guest!"
"Please Erin, take a seat". He insisted, Erin complying with adorably pink cheeks. "Do you drink tea Anna?"
"Y-".
"She does, but only half a mug".
"ERIN!" Anna shouted at her. "I wanted to answer him!"
James couldn't suppress the chuckles with his back to them, listening to Erin telling her sister off for shouting. Anna didn't seem to be too bothered with Erin trying to be officious with her, with the older sister's annoyance rising throughout as the younger sister refused to listen. He brought the tea over to them once it was ready a couple of minutes later, with both girls thanking him for the making the drinks.
Erin had prepared her list in advance, writing it out the moment she rose that morning, the sound of the birds whistling through the open window waking her. She'd compiled the list with a smile on her face, partly from realising just how ridiculous some of the local phrases were to their English counterparts and partly due to knowing how much James would appreciate the assistance. With some detective work in her own head, she'd come to the realisation that, whilst James was mostly confident, there was a vulnerable side to him when it came to his relationships with other people. To her, it was as if he was never fully relaxed, always attempting to impress someone with her suave sophistication or gentlemanly actions. Being able to fully understand what other people were saying when he engaged them in conversation would be of great help to someone of his disposition.
"This is the best cup of tea I've ever had!" Erin eulogised after taking a few sips.
"You flatter me". James's lips curved up as he spoke, the heat rising slightly in his own cheeks.
"I like it too!" Anna stated clearly. "It's better than Mammy's!"
"Aye it is Anna, but don't ye be goin' sayin' that ye hear? Mammy will be at me with the spoon if ye say that…".
Anna nodded to her sister but shot James a mischievous smile as if to tell him that she'd just lied to her sister and would mostly certainly inform her mother of James's tea making skills. He shot her an equally silly one back, Erin completely missing the looks between the two, taking another sip of the tea.
"I've done ye the list…".
"Before we start…". James, unusually for his gentlemanly approach, cut Erin off as she went to explain. "… I would love to hear some of your poetry. David told me that everyone else is perhaps not so… appreciative… of your work, but I am always appreciative of good poetry. That is if you wish to of course, I do not want you to feel I am imposing upon you".
Unused to anyone caring at all for what she wrote, Erin failed to disguise her lack of confidence in her own work. She would always tell her friends and family that she was the next great novelist, but in front of James, the atmosphere was vastly different. If he appreciated poetry, then he would only appreciate the best. The great poets were who she sought to emulate… it would be an incredible disaster if her work did not live up to the standards of the idols that gave her the inspiration for it.
"I am terribly sorry Erin, I should not have asked…". James, seeing her distress, immediately became apologetic.
"I will!" She almost shouted a reply. "I'm just… like ye said, not used to anyone appreciating my work".
"I like it". Anna offered her sister a little smile.
Emboldened by the support of both her sister and James, Erin chose what she believed to be some of her best work. It was short but profound in her opinion, praying to the Lord that the Englishman would see it the same way.
Be careful, child,
Of the doll made of glass,
For if you hold her too tightly
She will break
And you will bleed
"I… I call it The Glass Doll". She informed her audience as she finished her delivery of the short poem.
Anna immediately leant over to hug her sister, to show her own appreciation, a little tear forming in Erin's eye, holding onto Anna tightly. She was very close with her sister, understandably protective of her. Having Anna enjoy her work gave her satisfaction for her own protective nature over the little girl, knowing that their sisterly connection existed with love from them both, rather than being driven by the older girl.
"Like the poet, the poem is beautiful".
The irrepressibly charming James failed to understand what those words did to her. Heat rose all around her body at them, feeling it from beneath her dress as well as the usual heat from her cheeks. Flustered would have been an understatement to describe Erin's state. She was emotionally eviscerated by his passionate words, holding herself together on the smallest of tightropes, desperately avoiding falling off and throwing her body at him to do as he pleased. It was her little sister she would have to thank. Only Anna being present preventing her from completely breaking apart. If they would have been alone in the house, she knew she wouldn't have held together. Not at all.
"James… yer making me blush…". Her voice barely above a murmur, she turned away as to not look him directly in the eye.
"I mean it. I fail to understand why your family do not appreciate it… it was… outstanding".
Control slipped ever further away, Erin coughing awkwardly in order to do anything to break the tense bubble she'd created around herself. James frowned at the cough, but before he could ask further and, with a high degree of probability, discover why she'd coughed so suddenly, the front door shot open. To Erin, it could only mean one person. That meant covering Anna's ears.
"GUESS WHO'S HERE FUCKERS!"
James recognised the vulgar mouth of his cousin, sighing in unison with Erin in their shared disapproval of Michelle's language. He was going to give her a gentlemanly word about the use of such coarse language whilst a child was present, should the opportunity present itself. However, when his cousin spotted him sat at the dining table, that window soon found itself smashed.
"What are ye doin' here!?" She furiously demanded an answer from him.
"It is lovely to see you too Michelle…". He gave her an answer befitting of his character. "… what brings you here on such a fine morning?"
"Don't avoid the question ye snaky English f-...". Michelle stopped any further swearing on seeing Anna sat at the table too.
"Michelle!" Erin scowled at her. "Can ye calm down, please!?"
"Not until Mister Darcy over here explains himself!"
"Come on Michelle, Erin's right…". Clare, who'd filed in almost unnoticed, spoke up calmly from beside her. "… just calm yerself".
Clare was in need of that very calm a second later, when Michelle turned her rage-consuming scowl upon the diminutive blonde.
"I see what's goin on here!" The dark-haired girl roared into the kitchen. "First Jenny, now Erin… yer just tryin' to ride anyone who says anythin' nice to ye!"
"Michelle! He is not tryin' to ride me!"
Mortifyingly red cheeks swelled up as Erin thundered her reply at Michelle. The reaction was far too strong for a normal denial, Erin realising it immediately, with fear creeping under the hardened exterior that she put up to face her friend. Michelle was encroaching upon dangerous ground for her when it came to the English fella. Everything could be revealed if Miss Mallon could get her own way. And she often did. Yet James turned out to be the hero, as his cousin's attention was drawn to him out of curiosity, finding the Englishman looking at a piece of paper. Only Erin knew what was going on.
He was trying to find out what 'tryin' to ride' someone meant.
When he found the definition on her list, Erin didn't miss the brief storm of anger that passed across his face. But James had the measure of his cousin. Smart enough to realise that exploding at her would only act in her favour, he opted for his own approach.
"Dearest cousin, the reasons for my visit were not lewd, like you believe them to be. I asked for Erin's help with learning some of the wonderful words and phrases that Derry has to offer, and I merely visited to go through the list with her".
"That true?" She snarled at Erin.
"Aye! What do ye think James was just doin' then? Do ye not think he might not know what ridin' someone means?"
"I suppose he wouldn't…" Michelle conceded. "… but I still don't like ye creepin' around, ye rich English perv. I'll be outside!"
Storming out upon being defeated, Michelle left the other three and little Anna in the kitchen. To her credit, Anna stayed silent throughout, not crying or asking why Michelle was so angry. James deduced very quickly that she was a smart little girl for doing so; annoying Michelle even further would be unwise for them all. A three year old could see that.
"How are you Clare?" James asked once the dust of his cousin's exit settled.
"I'm… cracker!" She grinned in an attempt to test him.
"Ah I don't need the list for that one!" He quickly responded. "That means you are doing very well".
"I might not be in a minute though". She replied, tilting her head in the direction that her friend had exited.
Understanding what was being suggested, he nodded his head, Clare turning on her heel to go out to talk to Michelle about what had just happened. It left James alone with Erin and Anna again, quickly noticing the water forming around the former's eyes.
"I am sorry for her behaviour. It was unwarranted". He tried to comfort her, handing her a handkerchief.
"It should be me apologising to you…". She sniffled into it. "…I've known her longer. I know how her mind always assumes situations to be… dirty".
"Do not feel that you must. And for the record, I would like to think that I would not be so forward in my advances with anyone who I may hold in a higher regard. I would prefer to get to know them as a person and a friend before anything else".
"I know ye would. Yer a real gentleman James. We…". She pointed to herself and her sister. "… are lucky to have ye as a friend".
"I like you James!" Anna called out to him.
Their joint giggles filled the air of the Quinn kitchen, returning it to the peaceful setting it had been before Michelle's vociferous arrival caused a change in the atmosphere, along with her vicious tongue. His words spoke of hope to Erin. He could only see himself being with someone who he'd formed a friendship with ahead of any romantic relations. And he was forming a friendship with her…
She could only hope that she would be the lucky girl he held in a higher regard.
For the Englishman, the morning once again proved something about the poetic blonde that he was honoured to call friend. In the confines of their friendship, he adored her nervousness around him, how she would blush at even the slightest of compliments.
He still couldn't figure out what, but there truly was something special about Erin Quinn.