Banshee Song
Book Two

Chapter Twenty

"Hello, my child. How may I help ye?"

"Father, I seek council in the matter of my betrothal."

Father Thomas led Rhianna to a pew in the empty church. Rhianna clasped her hands together in her lap. "Father, I learned something horrible about the man I am to marry. He hired one of my workers to sabotage my company from within. He embezzled from the company and tried to kill one of my workers! Father, what can I do? I cannot marry this man."

"My child, this is a serious accusation. Have ye any proof?"

"Aye. My foreman, the worker in question, admitted to everything. He is in jail as we speak."

"Aye, but, have ye any proof to support your claims against Mr. Dimera? Have ye brought charges against him?"

"They can't arrest him. All we have are the foreman's words."

"My dear, I believe that a man who had just been discovered stealing from his employer would probably say anything to cast blame on someone else. I'm afraid I don't se how Mr. Dimera is responsible."

"I know he is. I just don't have any proof." Rhianna gazed up into the minister's eyes. "Still, isn't there a way to break the betrothal? Sean is my guardian. Can't he do something? Annul it somehow?"

"Well, yes, he can, but Rhianna, Mr. Dimera can take care of ye, provide for ye and your brother. I know that the estate is in dire need of money, and what about the company?"

"Well, we've begun to make a profit and even though we recently had to take out a business loan, I know we'll succeed. And as for the estate, well, we've lived this long without the extra money Dimera would bring. We'll just have to do without a few things. Besides, Father, I'd rather be dirt poor than marry him. He, he frightens me."

Father Thomas closed his eyes as a look of sadness crossed his face. He seemed to be fighting some internal battle. Finally he sighed and opened his eyes. "Rhianna, my child, why did ye ever agree to marry him?"

"It was my father - he made the arrangement."

"But ye did go along with it, didn't ye? Didn't ye stand here in this very church and make a vow before God that ye would marry him?"

Rhianna's shoulders slumped. "Aye," she said dejectedly.

"Rhianna, the church takes the act of betrothal very seriously. As far as the church is concerned, ye are already married. The only reason why ye aren't already married is out of consideration for your tender age."

Father Thomas stared deeply into her eyes. "I'm afraid that the church will not allow ye to break your engagement. Ye must marry Mr. Dimera. If ye don't, then ye will be excommunicated, removed from the church. And ye know what that means."

Rhianna's heart sank. "I won't be able to enter into Heaven; my soul will be lost," she whispered.

"Aye." Father Thomas lifted Rhianna's chin and smiled. "Cheer up, my child. Mr. Dimera is a good man, well respected in this town. And he loves ye very much. He'll take good care of ye."

" I don't love him."

"Maybe not now, but you'll grow to love him. Besides, our hearts are fickle, easily swayed. The man ye love today, you'll hate tomorrow. Do ye really want to risk your eternal soul over something so fleeting?"

Rhianna bowed her head, remembering how easily she'd been tricked by Brian's "love". Maybe he was right and there was no such thing as love. "No," she answered.

"Then you'll marry Mr. Dimera on the appointed day?"

"Aye."

"Good girl. Now if you'll excuse me, my child, I have duties to perform."

Father Thomas watched the despondent girl leave with a look of shame and remorse in his eyes. He stared after her for a moment and then turned and entered the confessional booth.

"Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned," he said to the man on the other side of the confessional wall. "I lied to an innocent young girl for financial gain."

The screen opened to reveal Alexander Dimera's grinning face on the other side of the dividing wall. "And you did a great job. Here's the fee we discussed," he handed the priest a bag filled with coins. "I know the church will be glad for a new roof."

After Dimera left, Father Thomas counted the money while guilt ate at his stomach. "How ironic, I ruined the girl's life for thirty pieces of silver. (sigh) I have to do something."

"Due to unfortunate circumstances, Mr. Flaherty is no longer employed here at Cassidy's. Mr. Brady is taking his place as foreman. I know that ye will give him the same respect and hard work ye gave Mr. Flaherty. Now we have a big week ahead of us so let's get to it." Rhianna dismissed the men to their duties. She walked past Sheamus without a word and headed to her office.

Sheamus frowned. She hadn't spoken a word to him all morning. She wore a strange expression on her face, like the one she wore at her father's funeral. She seemed as if all joy and happiness had been sucked out of her, leaving her cold, emotionless. He vowed to find out what was wrong with her.

He spent a few minutes looking over the employees. When he was satisfied that all was operating smoothly he went to the office. There was no answer at his soft knock so he slowly opened the door. His heart twisted at what he saw.

Rhianna sat at her desk staring out the window. Her sad eyes were distant and cloudy. She had the look of one ho had resigned herself to death.

Sheamus was puzzled by her behavior. She should be happy - they found the saboteur, bought new machines, the company's future was looking brighter than ever. So why did she seem so despondent?

"Is something wrong?" his soft question broke the silence.

Rhianna inhaled deeply and tore her gaze away from the window. She straightened her shoulders and turned to Sheamus with a look of cold stone in her eyes. "Everything's fine, Mr. Brady."

{So we're back to proper names, now,} he noted. "Are ye sure, Lady Cassidy? Ye seem a little.sad."

She hastily averted her eyes. It was so hard to look at him now, especially after their almost kiss. It was a cruel reminder of something she could never have, never really experience: passion.

Sheamus pulled up a chair and sat down facing her. "How did he take it?"

Rhianna looked up, puzzled by the sudden shift in conversation. "How did who take what?"

"Dimera. I assume ye broke it off - that is why you're so upset?"

Rhianna dropped her gaze again. "No, I haven't told him."

Sheamus studied her with narrowed eyes. "Something tells me you're not going to."

Her silence spoke volumes. Sheamus jumped to his feet. "I cannot believe ye are even thinking about marrying that man! Have ye lost your mind?"

Rhianna stood up. "I fail to see how my engagement is any business of yours," she said hotly.

"He tried to kill me!" he yelled. "That makes it my business. Not to mention the fact that ye were very nearly killed in the process." He gripped her shoulders. "Ye cannot marry him, Rhianna," he pleaded softly. "That man is evil."

She shook his hands off of her. It was hard enough just being around him, with the way he made her feel. She just couldn't handle his touch; his touch that made her stomach lurch, that made her dream things no good Catholic girl should be dreaming. She tried to clear her mind, to shake off the effect he had on her.

"Ye think I don't know he's evil? My skin crawls whenever I'm near him, and when he touches me." she shuddered with revulsion. "I have no choice," she said softly.

Sheamus threw his hands up in disbelief. "Ye have no choice?! Is someone point a sword at your heart? Of course ye have a choice. Just don't marry him. It's that simple."

"Maybe to someone who doesn't go to church, who doesn't care what happens to their eternal soul. My standing in the church is very important to me. I won't jeopardize that for anything."

"Not even for love?" he asked softly as his blue eyes bore into hers.

Rhianna's heart quickened despite herself. "Love? What is that? I thought I loved Brian. I thought he loved me," she said; hurt flashing her in her watery eyes. "If that's love, then I don't need it," she finished softly.

He took a step toward her and reached out for her. "That wasn't love."

She allowed him to touch her, tired of fighting it. She momentarily gave into his sweet caress and the things he made her feel.

She stared up at him, wide eyed. "And I suppose you're going to show me what love is?"

Sheamus stepped back, faltering. He wasn't ready to admit his feelings for her. In fact, he was positive that he felt nothing towards her. She was just a means to an end. "I.I."

Rhianna's face hardened. "No, I didn't think so. Besides, 'tis a moot point, remember? Eternal damnation and all that." She sat back down at her desk. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do and I believe ye do too."

Sheamus exited the room and leaned on the closed office door. Somehow he had to break their engagement. This was about more than just gaining control of the factory; it was about saving Rhianna. The thought of her marrying that old man, sharing a bed with him, made Sheamus's stomach heave. Once again he saw Rhianna in his mind as a beautiful caged bird longing for freedom.

"I'll free ye, Rhianna. I promise ye that."

Elizabeth stood in front of her parents' grave. She smiled sadly at the tombstone. "Hi Mum, Da, it's me. Just stopping by to tell ye I'm doing fine. Sheamus is doing well - working hard. He got promoted. He's the foreman now, and they put in new machines too. I'm working hard too. Mum, I don't know how ye did it, managing this place. It's hard work, but I'm managing. I brought ye your favorite flowers." She knelt and placed the daisies on her mother's grave. She straightened up and wiped her eyes.

"Well, I guess I'll be going now. I love ye both and I miss ye terribly. I'll see ye soon." She turned to go but stopped when a small head topped with curly brown hair peeked over the top of a headstone.

"Hi Liam," she called to the young boy.

He came forward. "Who were ye talking to?" he asked.

She pointed to her parents' graves. "I was talking to my parents. They're in heaven."

The boy pondered this. "My mum's in Heaven. Da told me so."

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, she is."

"Do people in Heaven ever come back?"

She smiled sadly. "No, they don't."

Liam's large blue eyes filled with tears. "Why not? Doesn't Mum want to come back? Doesn't she love me?"

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his little body. She tried to explain to him as he cried large, wet tears into her neck. She held him and rocked him as her own rears slipped from her eyes.

"I want my mum!" he cried.

"I do too."

"Mr. Callahan, what can I do for ye?" Sean greeted the groundskeeper.

"Have ye seen Liam?"

"Nae, I haven't. Anything wrong?"

Mr. Callahan sighed. "He's turning five, and is just starting to wonder where his mother is. He was so young when Maeve died, yet he does have some memories of her. Anyway I tried to explain that she was dead, that she had gone to Heaven and he became upset and ran off. I've been trying to find him."

"I'll help ye look."

{Poor kid,} Sean thought as he searched the estate. {I certainly know what he's going through.} He too had lost his mother at an early age. {It's hard trying to understand death at that age. Well, we'll just have to see him through it. We'll be his family.}

He stopped suddenly when he saw them. Elizabeth was holding Liam in her arms. They were under a large willow tree and appeared to be sleeping. Sean walked closer, careful not to make a noise.

He stood for many minutes just watching them. His heart twisted in sympathy for their tear stained cheeks. He noticed that the tree was near the cemetery and that they were facing the graves of Elizabeth's parents.

Sean was moved in pity. He knew that Elizabeth made frequent visits to her parents' graves. {She must have bumped into Liam here.}

He smiled, noticing how Elizabeth cradled the boy in her arms. She held him so naturally, like she was born to be a mother. Liam's head rested on her chest. His dark eyelashes fluttered against his white cheek. {She would be a wonderful mother.} Sean was surprised to find that the thought filled him with desire. He imagined her as the mother of his children. He envisioned her beautifully rounded curves as she carried his child.

He shook his head to clear his mind. {That's not going to happen, Sean.}

Suddenly, Elizabeth snapped awake. Sean noticed that she instinctively tightened her arms around Liam - as if shielding him from some unknown danger. Her eyes focused on Sean and she became more alert.

She blushed at having been caught napping. "I'm sorry," she moved to stand up.

Sean chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I've taken many an afternoon nap myself. I was actually looking for Liam here. His father's worried about him."

Liam woke up at hearing his name.

"Hey, sleepy Liam, your Da's looking for ye." Sean affectionately ruffled the boy's curly brown locks.

Liam wiggled out of Elizabeth's arms. "Thank ye," he said simply. He planted a wet kiss on her cheek and scampered off.

Elizabeth laughed s she wiped the moisture form her cheek. "Children; they certainly are resilient."

"Aye, they certainly are."

Elizabeth stood to her feet and brushed off her dress. An awkward silence followed as both searched for something to say to the other. Their relationship had been strained since their encounter at the pond.

Elizabeth broke the silence. "Well, I've taken a long enough break. There's still much to be done to prepare for Miss Lockeheart's arrival."

Sean watched her leave and regret filled him. {Am I doing the right thing?} he wondered. Then he remembered Rhianna and Dimera and knew he was.