Her brother and his friends felt things deeply, but here was a man even more passionate in his likes and dislikes, a man who had visited Hell and still carried the scars.
Then he looked up, blinked, and his mask of impassivity slipped back securely into place, leaving Elizabeth more confused than ever.
Had she imagined the whole thing? Seen things which simply were not there? After all, she had only just met him. She hardly knew the man to be making such judgments about him.
They all settled around the tea table and Elizabeth poured. She sat closely beside Vevina and Mitchell. Bob and Monroe had taken the children away from the delectable-looking cakes, and now Will sat next to his sister and took the cup offered by Elizabeth. Their hands touched, and she nearly dropped it.
"Sorry. How clumsy of me," he said, trying to account for half the tea sloshing into the saucer.
"No, all my fault," she said, blushing profusely, as she felt herself go hot and cold all over in the most inexplicable way.
Then she turned her attention to Marcus Fitzsimmons as he held forth about all the attractions the area had to offer.
"We can take you shopping in Cork. There are also the races and point to points coming up. I feel sure you must have a magnificent seat," he said, practically ogling said part of her anatomy.
Elizabeth flushed to the roots of her hair.
"Indeed, she rides very well," her sister-in-law said with a sharp look.
"But all is not pleasure and enjoyment, sir, I have told you that. This is a well-run estate. There is also always so much to do to help the poor. Teaching them to read and write, for example. Our vicar's wife back home set up—"
"They go to school for that."
"Not all children can afford to go to school. There are fees in some cases, and the lost wages in others. I would like to see universal education for all children from five to sixteen. But I'm actually talking about teaching the adults to read, so they can help their children and lead fuller lives."
"Stuff and nonsense. They need to work," Fitzsimmons said dismissively.
"If they're willing to give up what little free time they have to come to the vicarage to learn, then why should we privileged few not teach them?"
Fitzsimmons snorted in derision. "Next you'll be telling me you want to have equal rights for Catholics."
"What would be wrong with that?" Parks asked with a seemingly ingenuous smile which was reminiscent of a cat that had licked the cream.
"Why, everything," he said dismissively. "They're little better than savages."
"They can never be better if they are not educated," Charlotte said mildly, seeking to forestall the bitter argument she could see about to break out.
Will, trying to stave off social disaster as well, asked Elizabeth as their hostess what she thought of the Catholic emancipation issue.
But the gloves were already off. Fitzsimmons argued for the status quo long and hard, while Thomas got more and more agitated. Elizabeth occasionally got a word of remonstrance in, and Will remained silent.
Finally Elizabeth asked Will his opinion.
He said quietly, "I think anything which oppresses people has to be eradicated. Slavery, the right of ascendancy, a system of taxation which favors the rich who can afford to pay, instead of the poor who can barely scrape by. All of it needs to come to an end if we are ever to have a just and fair society"
Elizabeth noted many of the company who had come over to engage in the debate looking daggers at Will. One of the Teague brothers now rose to his feet.
"We are of course delighted to make your acquaintance, Your Grace. But you will forgive us if we say that we would have thought you might be a bit more discerning about the company you keep," Timothy said.
Thomas gave a wolfish smile. "What better company can there be for a Radical politician such as myself than a fellow Radical?"
"Radicalism is one thing, sir. Treason is quite another."
Will and Vevina remained calm. It was not the first time they had met with such a response since their return to Ireland, nor would it be the last.
Thomas's eyes were as hard as emeralds. "A man has highly decorated as Will can hardly be accused of treason. Why Wellington himself—"
"Yes, of course, I expressed myself badly. Not treason, but not any point of view I would wish my family to be exposed to," Timothy Teague said hastily.
"Ideas cannot harm."
"No, but they can incite to harm, as I am sure you are well aware. Good day to you, Your Grace."
They rose and began to take their leave, Elizabeth staring after them.