Ballymurrough sat stoically on 1,132 acres of land. You could see Mount Leinster with a snow-capped tip. The valley captivated the rest of the views in several shades of green and grandeur.
“A wee bit overwhelming, don’t ya think?” Coleman looked at Lili for a response. She laughed lightly; a featherweight giggle that he was addicted to. “You can see how this would be difficult to explain,” he smirked, shifting the car into park.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
She nodded, and slowly got out of the car.
Lili looked up at the massive brick building. It was covered in rich green vines and patches of moss. It was as if the earth wanted to consume it or at least invoke the castle as its own creation.
Lili sucked in the fresh air for revitalization. She had learned a lot about Coleman these past few weeks but she had never expected this.
“I’m tenth generation, last in my line.”
“Terrence was actually the last in your line of the first born males.”
Coleman stopped to look into her eyes. “That’s true,” he said. “And since you brought it up I should point out that if Terrence would have lived he would have taken over eventually. That was the plan, anyway. I doubt he would have declined with you by his side.”
Lili stood in the entrance hall. “I can see why it would have been difficult to tell us about this place.” Lili was thinking of Coleman trying to describe the estate to everyone in the brownstone. She gazed at the woodwork on the ceiling.
“It would have sounded grander than it is,” he mumbled.
“It looks pretty grand to me.”
“It’s a lot of responsibility and a lot of work.” He scooped his arm around her and kissed her cheek. “My father has done well keeping the estate going and I did my best to help when I could. I mostly worked on the family farm. As you can see, the windows need replacing in my mother’s kitchen. I’d like to get that done before we move out.”
“Move out?” Lili stopped at the entrance to the large dining room.
He held his hand out for hers. “Come with me. I’d like to show you something very special.”
Coleman led Lili back to the entrance hall and through a door. The room was painted in a soft yellow, except for one wall that was the original white stone. The dark wood beams on the ceilings throughout the estate continued in the sitting room as well. The fireplace was built from the same white stone as the wall it sat against. It didn’t have a traditional mantle instead the stone above the fireplace was carved in an angular shape all the way to the ceiling with a tree carved in the center of it. Beyond the sitting room was a kitchen with a table for six.
“The east wing is under a bit of construction, but the kitchen is done as you can see. It also has its own separate entrance,” he paused to look into Lili’s eyes. “How we doing so far, luv?”
“I’m good,” she smiled. “Where does this staircase lead?”
“Our bedroom.”
Every wall was covered in fabric with matching curtains from ceiling to floor on every window. It was decorated with an oak canopy bed, fireplace, an ornate desk, and a few cushioned chairs.
“It’s beautiful.”
“This is our home, Lil. I have to live here if I’m going to keep the estate running and I would like you to join me.” He took her hand and walked her to the windows that overlooked the courtyard. “I want you to live here with me,” he kissed her hand. “I want you to take my name,” he kissed her cheek, “I want you to be my wife.”
Lili took her Celtic cross necklace and rubbed the encrusted diamonds between her fingers.
“I want to be wherever you are,” she whispered.
Coleman took her face in his hands. “You’ll be safe here, Lil,” he kissed her forehead.
“You’re worried about my safety?” She wrinkled her nose.
“Er, no.”
“What are you not telling me?” She groaned.
“Lil,” his green eyes were intent, “I only meant this is a place for you to use your gifts. You don’t have to hide here.” He kissed the tip of her nose, which made her smile.
Coleman spent the day showing her the rest of the estate. It had twelve bedrooms, a poorly used ballroom, and a smoking room with a pool table and a huge ornate fireplace. It also housed a large bar with a quaint dining room. It was clear that people were coming to Ballymurrough to dine.
“You serve food here?”
“The dining room is only open on the weekends.”
“With only ten tables in here you must not make much money.” Lili touched the ancient-stone walls and gazed at the wood beams on the ceiling that encased the charming dining room.
“Come this way,” Coleman took her hand and guided her through a doorway. “We’re at the end of the estate, the kitchen.”
There were several students cooking under the direction of a chef in a newly restored georgian kitchen.
“A cooking school?” Lili whispered. “That’s smart.”
“Even better, the students pay for their education and earn credits by volunteering in the garden and greenhouses. It’s a fully sustainable restaurant with a two-year waiting list and it’s making a profit.”
Coleman introduced Lili to the students and the teacher, and after a quick chat, he took her outside to walk the grounds.
She could hear the gravel beneath their feet as they walked the main path toward the gardens. A man was walking toward them wearing blue jeans, a flannel shirt, and a green vest with lots of pockets. He carried a hunting rifle over his shoulder while Springer Spaniels ran alongside him.
“Aye, son,” he shook Coleman’s hand. “Good to see ya.”
“Lil, this is our Gamekeeper.”
“Name’s Seamus,” he said with a firm handshake. Seamus had grey stubble on his face and an equal amount on his head.
“Seamus has been working on the estate since he was a lad. His father was a gamekeeper here as well.”
“Game Shooting is our biggest money maker here,” Seamus said. “It’s kept the Estate going in the worst of times.”
“I’d like to learn,” Lili said.
Coleman stopped walking. “You would?”
“Yes. Of course, and I plan to become damn good at it.”
“You will have to kill a bird, ya know that, right?”
“Yes, I know that.”
“Aye, you really are the Lady of Ballymurrough,” Seamus said.
“That she is,” Coleman said. He held her hand while feeling the emerald ring between his fingers.
They continued to walk the grounds until they reached a large iron gate. Coleman opened it and led Lili into the grand gardens. They walked along a path with trees on each side that had been trained to grow into an arch. Several more paths led to various bridges crossing over beautiful, crisp, clean streams. They had small rock formations that created little waterfalls. The colorful flower gardens featured water fountains, and Celtic metal sculptures popped up everywhere to remind you where you were. It was lush and green with dreamy willows whose branches danced in the wind and would shelter you from a storm.
“This is magical,” Lili whispered.
“’Tis.”
Lili smiled on the inside realizing how many times she had used the word magical since she had been in Ireland.
“You’ve yet to meet the house manager, Gallagher. He’s off today, but you’ll find him very helpful, Lil. He’ll do anything to help ya find your way.” He stopped and took her hand, “You can trust him, is what I’m tryin’ to say.”
“Thank you. Your care for me is tender and sweet, and I love it. I love you.”
“Oh, my Caileen, to hear you say that is everything.” His fingers traced her cheekbones, “I have loved you since the day I set eyes on you.”
She kissed him tenderly and then leaned over the railing of the bridge to watch a fish swim by.
“Do you see now, Lil? You were always meant to be a part of this place.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because if Terrence would have lived, I would have asked him to step up and run the estate and you would have been by his side.”
“I see.”
“This place needs you, Lil. Already, I can feel the land responding to your presence. It’s part of your sacred path.”
The wind shook the willows nearby, drawing her attention.
Coleman returned to a gentle walk guiding her with his hand in hers. “Wait till you see how many people picnic here year round. They throw a blanket down in the grass,” he waved his hand gesturing, “and the next thing you see, is them eating and drinking wine, kids are laughing and playing, or there’s the romantic lad proposing to his Caileen. They come from all over to experience this place, and it’s an honor to host them. Now, that’s magical.”
“How many acres do the gardens cover?”
“One-hundred. It’s only open four days a week. As you can see it takes a great deal of work to keep the gardens in good shape.” Coleman pointed to several people gardening.
“What’s that building over there?” Lili pointed to a small cottage.
“Oh, that’s a gift shop. We sell photographs, postcards…little trinkets. My mother has been in charge of the gift shop for,” he paused to think, “almost twenty years.”
“Your parents have worked a long time on this estate, haven’t they?”
“My father’s eldest brothers actually worked it much longer. They’ve given it their best years. Now it’s time for them to rest.”
“I understand why you wanted to come back here, Cole. It’s such a worthy cause.” She reached on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.
Coleman was home. Green hills surrounded him, and his feet were grounded to the earth he loved so much, but more than that, he was with Lili. She wasn’t just beautiful, she was genuine and loyal.
“You’ve seen almost everything, Lil. We do have some horses on the estate, some grand fishing for guests, which also supplies food for the dining room. And I’m on the town board as well. Things are busy and we’re always looking for ways to keep the estate thriving.”
“I have a few ideas of my own to keep the estate thriving.”
“I’ve no doubt you do, luv. But there is only one idea I want you thinking about right now.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her firmly.
“Cole!”
The cinnamon and amber rose in the air as if nature had developed it. She was dazed, in sort of a heaven-like way.
“I meant our wedding,” he said flashing his boyish grin.