separate from the main hotel and
it had a charming rustic atmosphere, emphasized by the black wooden beams and the small lanterns hanging from them. The atmosphere was very convivial and relaxed and Devlin sat back and prepared to
enjoy herself. It was Luke’s first time to meet Lynda and Florence and they were all getting on like a house on fire.
‘Did you know that the hotel was once the official palace of the bishops of Down?’ Lynda said, as she attacked her ravioli with gusto.
‘Wow! Lucky old bishops!’ Devlin exclaimed enviously. ‘How come they always end up with a palace? Our fella in Dublin has one in Drumcondra.’
‘The Church must have been loaded,’ Luke remarked, ‘to have been able to afford a pile like this.’
‘You should see the beautiful antiques and paintings,’ Florence remarked, ‘and, Devlin, the Louis XV candeliers are out of this world. You and Luke should take a walk in the
grounds after lunch and then have a drink in the Gothic Bar . . .’
‘. . . and you should take Luke home past Stormont,’ Lynda interjected. ‘At this time of the year it is something to behold. The trees have all turned and the colours are
amazing.’
Lynda and Florence declared that they were dying for the opening of the Belfast City Girl. Devlin knew that in Lynda’s capable hands the opening ceremony would be a great success. After
they had gone, Devlin and Luke took their advice and strolled arm in arm through the picturesque grounds of the hotel and then down a quiet country lane that brought them right on to the shores of
Belfast Lough.XX
‘Isn’t it beautiful here?’ Devlin gazed at the peaceful panorama. ‘You never see this side of the North. It’s always the horror of the Troubles.’
‘It’s hard to reconcile this with the sight of the soldiers and the armoured cars. I wonder how people ever get used to them?’ Luke mused. He found it hard to adjust to the
military presence on the streets. Devlin, who had been a regular visitor to Belfast, had come to accept it.
‘I suppose you get used to anything,’ Devlin murmured. ‘I suppose it’s a case of having to. But it’s such a shame. The people are so friendly and helpful. One man
said to me he’s lived here all his life and he’s never even been caught up in a bomb scare. But if it’s not bad news it will never get on TV.’
‘Well, that goes for most of the media worldwide. It’s in the nature of the beast, isn’t it?’ Luke expertly skimmed a flat stone across the waves. ‘I wonder would a
newspaper that reported only good news sell at all?’
‘It could be our next venture,’ teased Devlin as she tried to copy him. But to her dismay her stone sank beneath the water without so much as one hop.
‘Let the expert show you how it’s done,’ Luke said smugly repeating his previous success.
‘Show-off!’ retorted Devlin, as she tried again and had the satisfaction of two hops before her stone sank. Half an hour later she had mastered the skill, though only after much
laughter and teasing.
‘I’m really enjoying myself,’ she said, smiling, as they walked back to the car.
‘Me too! We’ll have to go away somewhere for a few days that isn’t business.’
‘Definitely!’ Devlin agreed. ‘As soon as Belfast is up and running.’
‘I meant for Christmas,’ Luke said firmly.
‘OK,’ Devlin agreed, leaving her companion speechless.
‘Without even an argument?’ he murmured, hiding his amazement.
‘I’m a changed person, don’t forget!’ Devlin said with a grin. ‘I think I’d like to go to Bali.’
‘I was thinking in terms of somewhere a bit nearer, darling. Paris maybe. But if it’s Bali you want, then Bali you’ll have.’
‘I’ll get the brochures,’ Devlin laughed. She wasn’t serious, but it gave her a warm glow to know that if she really wanted to go to Bali, Luke would take her there. He
really did spoil her.
They drove back to Belfast via Stormont as Lynda had
it had a charming rustic atmosphere, emphasized by the black wooden beams and the small lanterns hanging from them. The atmosphere was very convivial and relaxed and Devlin sat back and prepared to
enjoy herself. It was Luke’s first time to meet Lynda and Florence and they were all getting on like a house on fire.
‘Did you know that the hotel was once the official palace of the bishops of Down?’ Lynda said, as she attacked her ravioli with gusto.
‘Wow! Lucky old bishops!’ Devlin exclaimed enviously. ‘How come they always end up with a palace? Our fella in Dublin has one in Drumcondra.’
‘The Church must have been loaded,’ Luke remarked, ‘to have been able to afford a pile like this.’
‘You should see the beautiful antiques and paintings,’ Florence remarked, ‘and, Devlin, the Louis XV candeliers are out of this world. You and Luke should take a walk in the
grounds after lunch and then have a drink in the Gothic Bar . . .’
‘. . . and you should take Luke home past Stormont,’ Lynda interjected. ‘At this time of the year it is something to behold. The trees have all turned and the colours are
amazing.’
Lynda and Florence declared that they were dying for the opening of the Belfast City Girl. Devlin knew that in Lynda’s capable hands the opening ceremony would be a great success. After
they had gone, Devlin and Luke took their advice and strolled arm in arm through the picturesque grounds of the hotel and then down a quiet country lane that brought them right on to the shores of
Belfast Lough.XX
‘Isn’t it beautiful here?’ Devlin gazed at the peaceful panorama. ‘You never see this side of the North. It’s always the horror of the Troubles.’
‘It’s hard to reconcile this with the sight of the soldiers and the armoured cars. I wonder how people ever get used to them?’ Luke mused. He found it hard to adjust to the
military presence on the streets. Devlin, who had been a regular visitor to Belfast, had come to accept it.
‘I suppose you get used to anything,’ Devlin murmured. ‘I suppose it’s a case of having to. But it’s such a shame. The people are so friendly and helpful. One man
said to me he’s lived here all his life and he’s never even been caught up in a bomb scare. But if it’s not bad news it will never get on TV.’
‘Well, that goes for most of the media worldwide. It’s in the nature of the beast, isn’t it?’ Luke expertly skimmed a flat stone across the waves. ‘I wonder would a
newspaper that reported only good news sell at all?’
‘It could be our next venture,’ teased Devlin as she tried to copy him. But to her dismay her stone sank beneath the water without so much as one hop.
‘Let the expert show you how it’s done,’ Luke said smugly repeating his previous success.
‘Show-off!’ retorted Devlin, as she tried again and had the satisfaction of two hops before her stone sank. Half an hour later she had mastered the skill, though only after much
laughter and teasing.
‘I’m really enjoying myself,’ she said, smiling, as they walked back to the car.
‘Me too! We’ll have to go away somewhere for a few days that isn’t business.’
‘Definitely!’ Devlin agreed. ‘As soon as Belfast is up and running.’
‘I meant for Christmas,’ Luke said firmly.
‘OK,’ Devlin agreed, leaving her companion speechless.
‘Without even an argument?’ he murmured, hiding his amazement.
‘I’m a changed person, don’t forget!’ Devlin said with a grin. ‘I think I’d like to go to Bali.’
‘I was thinking in terms of somewhere a bit nearer, darling. Paris maybe. But if it’s Bali you want, then Bali you’ll have.’
‘I’ll get the brochures,’ Devlin laughed. She wasn’t serious, but it gave her a warm glow to know that if she really wanted to go to Bali, Luke would take her there. He
really did spoil her.
They drove back to Belfast via Stormont as Lynda had
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