They left Ross Castle behind, following the last clue to where they would find what they had been seeking. He hoped anyways.
“Do you think we’ll find it on Innisfallen?” Grace asked.
“That is what it seems like we’re going to find,” Kilian said. “I think it’s fitting that we’re here on Lough Leane to find a book.”
“Hmmm, the Lake of Learning… I wonder if that is why the monastery was built on Innisfallen.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that did play into it, but the fact that it’s on an island speaks volumes.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
He shrugged, even though she was facing forward again to concentrate on paddling. Her movements were smooth and graceful as they plowed through the smooth waters of the lough. “I used to think about it when I was younger.”
“Why?”
“Two brothers and sister, plus our parents, all in one house,” he said, as he kept paddling in time with Grace. It was as easy as breathing how well she fit with him and he with her. “There were times that I wanted some privacy and some quiet.”
“I can understand that,” she said quietly. “Even with it just being me, my brother, and father, I wanted some peace as well. At least your sister has the company of your mother.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t have yours.”
“Thank you.”
They rowed in silence for a time, leaving the mainland behind as Innisfallen grew closer.
“Why think about a monastery?” she asked at last.
“I guess you haven’t spent much time with parents.”
She shook her head. “Can’t say that I have.”
“They instilled the fear of God in all of us. Made us go to church twice a week. We still have to attend with them. I figured if I was to get away from them, the least I could do was provide service to Him.”
Grace chuckled. “There’s a rough logic to that.”
“I hear a ‘but’ in your voice.”
“Kilian Kelly, a monk,” she said, cocking her head. “I just can’t picture it.”
He smiled at her back. “I probably would never have met you.”
“Well, now, there’s an upside I didn’t think of.”
His eyebrows shot up. His lips quirked as he stopped paddling for a moment, cupped his hand in the water and splashed her. Grace squealed and laughed.
When she looked back at him, he said, “I had to get you back for that comment.”
“I’m glad you didn’t join the church.”
“Me too,” he said as he started paddling again.
Grace picked up his rhythm without even looking at him. Yes, they fit together well. The remainder of the trip to Innisfallen was done in comfortable silence. Grace surprised him when she jumped out and pulled the boat closer to the shore. He jumped out on the other side and helped her beach the boat, thinking he shouldn’t be surprised by her take charge attitude or her strength. He grabbed the shovel.
Kilian slipped her hand into his as they walked up to the monastery ruins. As they well knew it was one of many that dotted their homeland, a reminder of the days of old when times were different. Innisfallen Abbey had been around longer than England had known smuggling was a problem. Not much information was found about Irish smuggling, at least from what he could find. Kilian had studied everything he could get his hands on when it came to the family business, both the legal and the illegal side.
It only made sense to learn as much as he could. The more he knew, the more he could help his family, especially as a police officer. He had no qualms about what he did to make sure his family stayed safe, didn’t get caught, and continued to run the business smoothly.
They entered the monastic ruins and separated as they searched for the right spot, the one the clue had pointed them to. Something akin to fear ran down his spine. He wasn’t prone to fear easily. But something was definitely off as he continued to look. Grace shouted.
