Long Goodbyes Read Free Page A

it, mark my words.’
    ‘Indeed not,’ Jack agreed. ‘But surely you don’t feel threatened by the republicans? After all, yours is an Irish ancestry.’
    ‘That may be so,’ Benjamin said guardedly, ‘but my career in London will have done me no favours in republican eyes.’  
    ‘Come now,’ said Orla Benjamin. ‘Let us not stray into politics. We are far from the reach of these affairs here in the south west. People are treated as people on the peninsula, regardless of their political affiliations.’  
    ‘That may be so for the time being, my dear,’ said Benjamin gravely, ‘but the future situation is less clear.’
    ‘So, when did you move back?’ I asked, hoping to shift the conversation to lighter topics.
    ‘Just before the war,’ Orla replied. ‘It was September, 1913, I think, was it not, William?’
    Benjamin nodded. ‘Thereabouts.’
    ‘The house needed considerable renovation before we were able to move in’, Orla explained. ‘And your cottage too. We had no desire to make reparations to Kilmareich House, though, not with its history. We were quite content to settle in one of the larger estate houses. It is a more manageable size, after all.’
    ‘And where exactly is Kilmareich?’ Jack asked, puffing his pipe with satisfaction. I was pleased to see that his spirits had been lifted, if not by the meal, then certainly by the company. He seemed to have taken to the Benjamins, and I found myself whispering a silent prayer of thanks for their cheering company.
    ‘You’ve not seen it?’ Mr Benjamin replied, his eyebrows arching in surprise. ‘It’s a stone’s throw from your garden, behind the screen of elms.’
    ‘How odd that I’ve never noticed it before,’ I said. ‘Is it very grand?’
    ‘Once,’ Benjamin said, his expression shifting in a flash to one of caution. ‘But no longer. It is run down - in disrepair. It would take more money than I would wish to spend to have it restored to its former glory. Not,’ he said quietly, ‘that I would have any wish to do such a thing.’
    ‘But how mysterious, Benjamin,’ Jack said, leaning forward. ‘Why ever not? I have an interest in property and architecture. In fact, I was thinking of studying exactly that, before-’ He paused, his expression clouding briefly, but then recovered. ‘-Anyway, might I take a look? It may not be as expensive a thing as you imagine to repair. Besides, it’s part of your heritage, isn’t it?’
    ‘Not a part I would wish to acknowledge,’ Benjamin said.
    ‘Would either of you like a little whiskey?’ Orla Benjamin broke in. ‘It is wonderful for the digestion - in small quantities, of course.’ She smiled.
    ‘That’s very kind,’ I said. ‘I don’t usually, but perhaps on this occasion.’
    ‘You are very welcome, my dear.’ Orla Benjamin smiled again and rose to retrieve the decanter. ‘And your husband?’
    ‘Thank you,’ Jack said. ‘That would be very pleasant.’ He turned his attention back to Benjamin. ‘Now look here, Benjamin, would you have any objection to my having a look around the old place?’
    Again I noticed an almost imperceptible, silent exchange between the Benjamins as Orla set four whiskey tumblers down and began to pour a measure into each.  
    ‘If you wish,’ Benjamin said, spreading his hands. ‘But I would counsel you against it, if you would accept such advice.’
    ‘But why?’ Jack’s face was as animated and alert as I had ever seen it. ‘What harm would there be just to have a look?’
    ‘Perhaps you had better tell them, dear,’ Orla Benjamin said. ‘Then they can make up their own minds.’
    ‘Very well,’ Benjamin said. ‘I will tell you. But in my view it would be as well to let such things go, leave them alone, in the past, where they belong.’
    ‘Well,’ Jack responded, ‘you simply must tell us now. If there’s one thing I can’t bear, it’s a secret.’
    And so Benjamin began and we listened, at first politely, then