The Seven Sister Series – thoughts and summary of book 7

Missing sister

June 2008, New Zeeland

Mary Kate tells how she saw her father die. Jock mc Dougal was very tall. His parents were Scottish. He had a deep powerful voice, and high cholesterol, but he did not mind, and kept eating and drinking as before. He was 73 in 2008 and had a large personality. He died a few months ago. Should have been somewhere between February and April 2008. He had lived with Merry in the Gibbston valley for the past 30 years. 

They owned “The Winery” where they made wine of the Pinot Noir grape, which was sold in Australia and New Zeland. 

Mary Kate is 22. Interested in music. She did not want to take over The Winery, but rather study music. She had studied in wellington until 2007. 

Jack, Mary Kate’s brother, is 32. He had taken charge of The Vinery after Jock died. He was well prepared. Had been on a 6 month visit to an Adelaide vineyard a few years ago. Could this be the same vineyard that we read about in CeCe’s book?

He is an excellent businessman, and was spending the summer of 2008 in France, at a vineyard. 

The Winery started in the 80s. Starting to sell wine in Europe recently. Could this have helped Georg’s source to find out where Merry was located?

Merry had mentioned her world tour a few months ago. Just left in June 2008. 

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Atlantis, June 2008

Claudia seemed happier than usual. Why?

Georg had suddenly visited Atlantis with an email the day before. Ma is not sure how reliable his sources are, but Claudia interferes and state he must be very sure to have showed up so late in the night. Is this why she is extra happy?

Georg is due to come back today at noon. 

Ally had already been there for a while. 

Georg tells the girls: One of us must go to visit the address I must confirm if it is the missing sister. He had been handed a drawing of a ring that had been given to the missing sister. Unusual design. This is how we know. He has the drawing with him, it was drawn from memory by Pa Salt. The ring has emeralds around a central diamond. Creating a star shape with 7 points. Not sure who had made the ring.

Just before he passed away, Pa Salt had received some information that he asked George to follow up. After finding out where Merry was born (this must have been the clue?) it has taken him and others almost a year to trace where Georg believe she is now (New Zeeland). This time Pa Salt was adamant his source was reliable. Was his source Bridget?

It is now less than 3 weeks until the cruise. 

They want to find the missing sister which is called Mary and bring her on the cruise. Georg mentions that his schedule is very busy, and otherwise he would go to find Mary himself. His phone rang. Claudia was inside. Georg said he had to leave immediately due to pressing matters. He seemed distracted. Ma reassured Georg that the girls could figure this out. Why did he have to leave, what had happened? Could it have been Pa Salt having a set back? Lets say he is not dead, but sick? He cannot pass away so close to the cruise!

Ma suggests that CeCe goes to look up Mary as she is in Australia. 

Ally and Maia emailed Star, Electra and Tiggy, to tell them what was happening. 

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CeCe, Gibbston valley with Crissy, early June 2008

CeCe thinks Claudia might raise an eyebrow of their relationship as she is from the old generation. 

A lot of English lives in New Zeeland, but the largest group of immigrants are Scottish followed by Irish. 

Mary Kate: tall, blonde, and blue eyes. 

She knew about the seven sisters. Tells CeCe and Crissy that her mother is also called Mary. 

They show her the drawing of the ring. Mary Kate recognized it; she got it from her mother Mary (Merry) for her 21st birthday. Very small ring, only fitted on her little finger or fourth finger, where she already had an engagement ring. Was it Elle’s engagement ring from Pa Salt?

Merry asked if she could take the ring with her on her travel. 

Bridget had visited Merry at the vineyard a couple of years ago, they had gone to Norfolk Island. Bridget decided to retire from England there. 

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Pa Salt adopted all the seven sisters after Mary (Merry) was born and named Mary. The missing sister is named Merope. Which is basically Mary. So, did Pa Salt know what Mary’s name was already? Maybe Angelina told him? Or did Angelina tell him to adopt and name the girls so that he could eventually find her? Did Angelina also tell him about Merry/Mary/his daughter’s interest in classics and the Seven Sisters? 

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Norfolk Island, June 2008

Crissy and CeCe meet Bridget’s husband Tony Dempsey here, he is in his mid-60s and Australian. Bridget and Merry were in Sydney. They had left urgently after receiving the call from Mary Kate, telling Merry that CeCe and Crissy wanted to meet her.

Tony and Bridget had met on the island and married 6 months ago. Thats when he had met Merry for the first time. 

Merry and Bridget had gone to school and university together in Ireland. Then they had lost touch after Merry disappeared.

Bridget also had a green ring, with an emerald, because she was Irish. 

After Norfolk Island. Merry is travelling to Toronto in Canada.  

Bridget arrives from Sydney without Merry. Not pleased to see CeCe and Crissy. Denied any comparison of rings. 

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Atlantis, June 2008

CeCe told Maia and Ally about what they had experienced on Norfolk Island, and that they had missed Merry as she had left.

They want to call Georg for more information. His secretary picks up telling them he has been called away. Not sure when he will return. Wanted to let the family know he would return in time for the boat trip. He is not contactable. Why not?

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Gibbston valley, Mary Kate, June 2008

Mary Kate learns that she was adopted via an agency in Christchurch in New Zeeland, the name was Green “something”. It was a private adoption. Had Pa Salt tried to adopt her too?

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Atlantis, Ally and Maia 

Not heard from Tiggy or star yet.

Mk calls with the address and hotel name where merry is staying (Radisson). 

Ally tells Maia about the lift and the basement. A hidden wine cellar nobody told them about. 

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Bridget had discovered Merry’s whereabout two years ago ( in 2006) when their bottle 2005 Pinot Noir had won a gold medal at the Air New Zeeland wine awards. 

The Otago daily times had taken a photo of Merry, Jock and Jack and printed a piece of it. Bridget was retired and on holiday in New Zeeland when she recognized merry from the photo. She showed up at The Vinery and Merry had to tell her to keep quiet about her past. Could this have been Pa Salt’s source? What if he saw the image and recognized Merry as a copy of Elle?

Jack was not a Bridget fan. She ordered others around and only made room for her opinion. 

Bridget got upset when the sisters started looking for Merry. So maybe she was not the source, but the photo was?

Bobby had given Merry Nuala’s diary, so she could read it and understand what the English had done to the Irish. He would call her the missing sister until she returned. Why sister? 

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28 July 1920

Nuala is 19, living in the Argideen valley, in West Cork, Ireland

She and her family were helping the IRA. Their home, Cross Farm was a safe house. 

Christy worked at the pub. Listening to useful information. He and Nuala’s father Daniel collected intelligence. Is it possible that Pa Salt also did this later under the name Pa Griffin? In search of Merry?

Lady Fitzgerald asked Nuala to come to her home and help her son Philip. Her family wanted her to go so that she could gather information. Sir Reginald Fitzgerald and his family had lived in Ireland for a long time. Nuala’s family had bought land from them. They were respected by the Irish even though they were English. 

Maureen was the Fitzgerald’s housemaid at Argideen House. Nobody likes her. Pale face, long nose. Black hair. Mid 20s? Born in Dublin but moved there when her father inherited a farm from his older brother. Moved back to take care of her ailing mother. Lost her husband in the great war. Her baby had been stillborn. She asked Nuala about her family and education. 

Philip Fitzgerald had been caught by an exploding mine whilst fighting in the Great War in1918. His face was distinguished and rearranged. Now in a wheelchair. The right side of his face was untouched. He had thick blonde hair and had undoubtedly once been very handsome. Had been only 17 when he was fighting. 

Christie asked if Nuala knew whether Philip was with or against the Irish. She answers he just doesn’t want to have war. 

Nuala has a cousin in America. They had left Ireland after the famine. 

Philip went to Boston to visit some of his mother’s relatives (before 1920). Could Fitzgerald’s be family with the famous political Fitzgerald family in America?

His father pointed out that Brooklyn was full of Irish settlers, that had built the Brooklyn bridge. 

Lady Fitzgerald was not too grand, well liked, and had a low warm tone. She was English, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Fierce pretty. Looked younger than she probably was. Wore pearl earrings. Wants to offer Nuala a permanent position to take care of Philip. Her son looked a lot like her.

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August 1920, Finn, and Nuala got married. Nuala worked at Argideen House, also called the Big House, and helped the IRA at the same time. 

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September 1920

Finn is going to a training camp at O’Brian’s place. Fully trained service men had arrived fighting for the British. They had to prepare tom Barry is running the camp. The HQ is in Dublin. 

Nuala helps Philip outside. He puts on a tweed jacket. 

Lady Fitzgerald had a private garden at Argideen house. Full of roses. Central paved area with an armillary sphere. She made it herself. Sir Reginald would bring the plants home from his travels. Like a secret garden. This is exactly the same as what we read about Pa Salt’s secret garden and how he kept bringing back flowers and plants from his travels around the world. What is the connection here?

The Fitzgerald’s are renovating the London house on Eaton square in 1920.

Finn returned after a week training. They are planning an attack on Mr. Percival, and Finn must be away more to fight. Mr. Percival is visiting Argideen house, Philip and lady Fitzgerald hates him. She told Finn this. He asks her to get more info and she asks Philip about him later when Maureen walked in with the tea. He believes the IRA is planning on assassinating him and is planning to send his men ransack all houses in Bandon. Then he tells Maureen to leave them. Nuala told Christy so he could warn them. 

Christie has warm brown eyes, and dark hair. He is Nuala’s cousin.

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Autumn 1920

Nuala ask christie for help so that Philip can use his leg. He offers a walking stick she brought to Philip. She helps him use his leg, giving him back some freedom and independence. Lady Fitzgerald entered when he stood for the first time. She was extremely grateful. 

Finn was away more and more. 

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October 1920

Finn had a victory. The British arrested women helping the IRA. He told her to stay at Cross Farm on the nights when Finn was away.  

She is scared the Fitzgerald’s will find out that she is a spy. 

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November 1920

Nuala stayed a lot at Cross Farm. Philip never asked about Finn. Ryan asked Hannah to marry her. He is against the IRA. Do not approve of war. Pacifist. She was one of the most passionate members of the resistance group, but Hannah cannot tell him. 

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End November 1920

Mr. Percival had been at Argideen house. Philip told Nuala. That he wanted to boast about something. 

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December 1920

Hannah and Ryan’s wedding was planned for mid-December. 

Major Percival had been to the big house again. Finn went to a meeting, but did not arrive until very late, with Charlie Hurley. Their friends had been searched and the documents with the IRA plans were found on them. British want to take over the castle and house in Timoleague. So the IRA want to burn it down before.

Philip was very tall, possible to see as he could stand up now and walk outside. He asked her to never leave him. Nuala promised she would not. 

Lady Fitzgerald called her to her office, to thank her for bringing back her son to life. They were interrupted, and Nuala read a letter in Lady Fitzgerald’s’ office that held important information for the IRA. She passed the information on.

That evening, after receiving the information from Nuala, Finn and his team set fire to the castle. Finn and Fergus came home. Next day was quiet. 

Lady Fitzgerald wants to see Nuala straight away when she went to the Big House next morning. The letter was the only piece of info shared about the plan, and so she knows that Nuala had seen the letter. Lady Fitzgerald then put more situations together and knows that Nuala knew. Maureen and Philip had confirmed that Nuala knew about Mr. Percival’s plan a few months ago. Maureen said that Hannah and Fergus were both working for the IRA. She suspected Nuala as well. She knew the neighbor of Nuala and Finn. Laura was torn but had to let Nuala go. Not allowed to say goodbye to Philip. Laura promises not to tell anyone but warns that others might know.

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Mid December 1920

Lucy visits Nuala on the day before Hannah’s wedding to tell her that Philip had committed suicide. 

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Nuala, December 1920 West Cork

Hannah and Ryan married. 

Finn is away fighting.

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Spring 1921

Nuala is pregnant, due late December 1921.

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Summer 1921

Nuala was helping the wounded in action. 

West cork flying column got congrats from the big fellow.

Nuala invited Hannah for lunch and told her about the victory and congratulations. Hannah is not interested. 

Hannah is also pregnant, asking for secrecy.

Lord Bandon was taken hostage by the volunteers. Christy tells Nuala he is kept close to them. He needs feeding, ask Nuala for help. Shortly after Mrs. Fitzgerald visits in secret 

Lady Fitzgerald had protected Nuala and Finn from being ransacked. The wife of lord Bandon asked Lady Fitzgerald for help to get her husband some food + a note from his wife.

She also said she and her husband are leaving Argideen house for London. 

Nuala threw the letter, addressed to James Francis, in the fire and kept the basket and foods in it. Truce was offered by the British after they kept him for several weeks.

Lord Bandon was returned. His house was burnt to the ground. 

Celebrated with the family, including Ryan and Hannah. 

Finn was not there, eventually he came home. 

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Christmas 1921, Maggie is born to Nuala and Finn

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January 1922, John was born to Hannah and Ryan.

The election was looming. 

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July 1922

The volunteers lost the election. Now the civil war will start, due to divides on the treaty. Hannah and Nuala are on each side. The Civil war breaks out, which is making it all worse. 

Finn came crying home. Had planned an ambush on Michael Collins. He had died. 

Finn wants out. 

—

August 1922

Hannah said Finn should be the one in his grave, not Mick. Finn goes to a meeting to tell them he was out. He was murdered. Hannah never came to the funeral. 

A few years later Nuala and Christy married. 

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7 November 1949

Ireland had just become a republic. A lot had immigrated to America. But those who stayed were suffering from depression after WW2. Poor families were struggling. 

Ambrose had just completed a degree at Trinity in Dublin. Just promoted to research fellow. Travelled down to West Cork to see James, who had just taken his first position as priest in Timoleague.

Merry was left on James (Father O’Brien’s) steps in the night. In a wicker shopping basket with a baby in it. He had been living there for 6 months by then. He was very surprised when this happened. Especially as it was a tight knit community. He had no idea who the mother could be. 

Probably someone outside of the community. Ambrose was there. He stared at the baby. 

She was a few hours old. Had huge eyes, deep blue. Well-nourished and rather big. They assumed a difficult birth. 

The emerald ring was in the basket. James and Ambrose assume she must come from a well-off family as the ring is the real thing.

Maggie shows up. She lost her own baby the day before. She feeds her and takes care of Merry. Ambrose suggests they try to find out who the ring belongs to, and that they can track down the family. What if he did so after merry left, maybe even before? Could he have got to know Pa Salt as he might also have been searching for the ring?

Ambrose met James when he was 11. 

Ambrose suggests Maggie takes the baby and raises her like her own. 

Strikes a deal with Maggie and John. 

Named her Mary. After their dead baby. 

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October 1955, Argideen valley

Merry grew up not knowing she was adopted. 

Merry and Katie did not like their sister Nora. 

Bobby and Merry went to school together. Both loved reading. Gossip about his family. Not very popular, but kind to Merry sometimes. He had long dark hair. 

They moved into a new house, funded by Ambrose. 

Mrs. Cavanagh had worked for Father O’Brien for 7 years, since 1948. Thats when he had arrived in Timoleague. 

Maggie O’Reilly was lovely in the house, and a better cook than Mrs. Cavanagh. 

Merry’s interest for Greek mythology came from Ambrose. 

Bridget O’Mahoney looked like Maggie and Katie, with pale skin and flame red hair. Her family was the richest in West Cork. Lived in a house larger than Father O’Brian’s in 1955. Her dad drove her to school in a shiny car. She had a maid at home. Could she have lived in Argideen House/Big House? Maybe their family bought the house after WW2? What if the Eszu’s knew them and sometimes borrowed the house during the shooting season?

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7 November 1955

Merry’s birthday

Her father did not go to the pub often. 

Maggie’s water broke on the evening of Merry’s birthday. She lost a lot of blood. Patrick was born. 

Katie went to Father O’Brien, telling him that Maggie could not come to clean today. Ambrose was there. It was the first time they had met. He stared at her. James offers to help after mass.

Gave her a picnic basket. Ambrose and James want to help the family. 

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Christmas 1955

Maggie was finally better. 

Bobby walked home with Merry, his new hobby was shooting the black and tans. Hiding behind trees and jumping out. He was recounting the stories from the war that he had heard from his grannie Nuala. 

On the last day of school for the holidays, Merry gave Bobby a card she had drawn for him. She had felt sorry for him as he got no from the other kids the day before. 

The atmosphere was different than normal in the O’Reilly home. The parents were unhappy. They hardly spoke and John had started drinking. They could not have more babies, because if they did, then Maggie would die. 

Maggie and Merry went to clean at Father O’Brien’s house on Christmas eve. 

Merry and baby Pat were in the study with Ambrose. He gave her a book: the myths and legends of Greek gods.

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June 1960

Bobby and Merry walked home, with Bill and Helen. Bobby pretended to be a volunteer. His aggression was growing. Thought all British were evil. 

She was his only friend. 

Nora worked in the big house during shooting season when the Eszu family were there in the summer. 

She had been telling Bobby about the Greek myths, reading from the book Ambrose had given her. 

Her favorite was the seven sisters, as she was one of 7 siblings. 

Maggie is pregnant again. James and Ambrose discuss this and what it can mean to Merry if her mother dies. 

Merry is very intelligent, she needs superior teaching. Ambrose do not want her to become a stay-at-home wife. 

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Winter 1960

Maggie gets bedrest. 

The family rarely saw John, Merry’s adopted dad. He spent his afternoons either at the Henry Ford pub or the Abby bar in Timoleague. To chat with the other farmers. 

Merry did not like the sound of Pa Griffin, the owner of the bar. When he was not working in the bar, he would gather dead bodies, and make the coffins they were to lie in. Because he was also an undertaker. 

Is he Pa Salt? Working there to get information that can help him find Elle and or merry? 

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Christmas holiday 1960

Her mother was due.

Dr Townsend wanted to take her to the hospital. 

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January 1961

Maggie and the baby were buried. 

Maggie’s mother showed up at the funeral. They did not have contact. 

Ambrose could not go to the funeral as it would lead to people talking. 

Merry finishes primary school in 6 months. Ambrose refuses her to end her school by then. 

Mrs. Cavanagh walked in on James and Ambrose when James held his hand. 

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March 1961

Ambrose visits James.

Nora is back full time at home, as the shooting season was over, and she is no longer needed at the big house. 

James tells Ambrose about Bridget being sent to boarding school, and that they offer a scholarship for bright young girls from poor backgrounds. Suggest Merry should try to win it. 

Bobby had been reading Nuala’s diary. 

He says you and me are the same you see. You will see. We will know each other for a long time. 

Ms. Lucy visits James to tell him Merry won the scholarship. Not enough to cover all cost. Ambrose pay for it.

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September 1961

Bridget is sent to boarding school in Dublin, like her own mother. Bridget’s dad would drive her and Bridget to the train. 

Bobby came to see merry and told her Bridget’s father was a British sympathizer and that was how he had made his money. He gave Merry Nuala’s diary.

Told her he would call her the missing sister until they meet again. 

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June 2008

Orlando suggests Maia goes to see Jack in Provance to find out more about Mary Kate and her parents. 

Star told Maia she thought Merry looked like someone she had seen before. The woman in the picture in Pa Salt’s bedroom? Aka her mother Elle?

Jack was in the Rhone valley, at the Chateauneuf de Pape. The closest airport was Marseille. 

Ally goes to France to look up Jack. 

She first meets a teenage boy of around 16 at the vineyard. Could he be Maia’s son?

Ginette Valmer, around 40, is the owner. She invites Ally for dinner. 

Jack is very tall, with fair skin, blue eyes, and wavy blonde hair. 

Jock was very fond of Mary Kate. She suddenly appeared in Merry’s arms. Jack did not expect it. Parents did not go far to get her. Was local. 

Jocks parents were from Scotland. He went back a few times with his parents. So, what is the full story here? Why did they suddenly adopt Mary Kate? It did not seem to have been planned.

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London

Star and Orlando lost sight of Merry. 

Merry had flown to Dublin. Jack was worried about her, so he flew over as well. Stayed at the Merrion. 

Maia and Ally suggest that Tiggy goes to meet Merry to convince her that she should not fear them. 

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Merry, Dublin June 2008

Merry goes to visit Ambrose, he is 85, Irish and her godfather. 

He wears thick round glasses and has brown eyes. 

When they see each other, he asks “where have you been for the last 37 years? Cut to the chase. 

Have you been happy?”

Merry learns that Mrs. Cavanagh (James’s housemaid) is Maureen (Lady Fitzgerald’s housemaid). She was a sad woman. Not nice. Cleaned father O’Brian’s house every day except for Monday. Complained about Maggie, Merry’s (adoptive) mother for not doing a good job cleaning. Often talked about having worked at the Big house (Argideen house) for a British family. This must have been Fitzgerald’s.  

Ambrose did not go to west cork anymore since the early 70s, just a year after Merry had left.

He retired 15 years ago. Did he get to know Pa Salt through their shared love for classics?

She tells Ambrose the story about the sisters suddenly showing up, and that they were adopted as seven sisters, but looking for the seventh and that she could be identified by the ring. She then tells him about the wreath they are planning to go on.

Merry’s dissertation was on Orion’s chase of the seven sisters. This cannot have been a coincidence. Did Angelina tell Pa Salt about this?

Ambrose went to take a nap after showing a lot of emotion on his face and a deep sight. Merry leaves him for a few hours. He says: “Please be assured, I believe you are quite safe”. How does he know?

Merry then went to her hotel. Jack was there. 

He later joins Merry to see Ambrose.

June 2008, Dublin

Ambrose wants to tell Merry more about her past. They came back the day after. 

He wanted to tell her about the ring and its provenance after giving it to Merry on her 21st birthday in 1970. But he did not. 

Tiggy went to Dublin to try to convince Merry that they do not mean harm. She checked into the same hotel as her and wrote her a letter. Jack decided to meet Tiggy first and to give an all clear to Merry. 

Tiggy says after meeting her, that everything is as it should. I am sure Tiggy knows everything about the plan.

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Tiggy, Dublin, June 2008

Tiggy insist that Mary Kate jack and Merry all go to the boat trip. “As this will change all our lives”.

She had felt something so strong when she met Merry, and her son Jack too. She would meet Mary Kate this evening but was fairly sure she knew the answer already. Did she know that Jack was Pa Salts grandson and Merry his daughter? Could Mary Kate be related to Elle?

Tiggy still was not given any answers when she called for Pa. Was it because he was not yet there? He must still be alive. 

She asked the question she needed answer to her other ancestors and got a yes as a reply. Did she ask if Pa Salt was alive?  

Tiggy believes Pa Salt was well into his late 80s. 

Tiggy ask Jack who the birth parents of Merry was. He knows she was adopted, but do not think it’s his place to tell. So, he says he think they were Irish. Then Tiggy ask if Merry was adopted as well. She knew after seeing Merry, and that it now all makes sense. 

She thinks it might mean that they had gotten it all wrong, assuming Mary Kate was the missing sister. 

Mary Kate arrives. Merry goes to visit Ambrose alone. 

Merry had asked Bridget if she had seen Bobby in Dublin. She said she didn’t as she had moved to London.

Ambrose seems to know more about the Bobby story. He had come to visit Ambrose, he was looking for Merry. Tore through the house. Threatening him with violence if he did not tell him where she was. He made a run for it when the police came. Never came back. Merry left as she feared Bobby and his threats. She asks Ambrose if he thinks she should go back to where it started (west cork). He asks if Mary Kate and Jack will join, and whether she will see her family. She wants to look up Father James. 

She asks what happened between them. He says: Mrs. Cavanagh. She did not approve of Ambrose and his visits nor friendship with James.

When Ambrose’s father died, he had sold his family house. After the funeral he went to James who had comforted him just as she walked in. She then cornered Ambrose when James was out, threatening a to either leave and never return, or she would tell the bishop what she had seen. He left. James visited and did not understand why. Ambrose invented a lady friend. Then he got the message. 

Merry told Ambrose she had gotten the diary from Nuala. And that she had read it. Offering a to read it. Bobby was a relation to her adoptive family. Not a surprise as everyone in west cork seemed to be related. 

Ambrose asks what happened to Peter. He had also visited Ambrose. Saying he never got letters he had written to her. She never got any from him either. 

Merry wrote a letter and Ambrose would work on locating Peter to give it to him. She also gave Ambrose the diary from Nuala for him to read. 

Mary Kate had found the adoption agency in Christchurch, who had het details on file. She had gone to see them last week and she had now contact through the agency. Her mother was Michelle. Again a link to Elle?

Mary Kate wondered if there had been other people trying to adopt her. Maybe Pa Salt had tried to get her and lost out to Merry and Jock? Could Jock be family or related to Mary Kate’s Scottish parents as he was also Scottish? 

Tiggy came to say goodbye to Merry and Jack.

One week on Thursday is the boat trip. Tiggy ask all of them to join.

Merry, Jack and Mary Kate go down to West Cork.

They drove past Argideen house, Jack asked who lived there as it looked overgrown. She do not know. Merry’s sister Nora used to work there, but she is sure the occupants were long dead. 

Close to Merry’s farm. 

She goes to visit the farm. Greeted by Sinead, John’s wife. Her big brother. 

Katie worked at a home to help people with dementia. 

Merry’s dad died in 1985. 

John gave Merry Katie’s number. 

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June 2008

Ambrose can track Peter very fast. Confirming he is good at locating people and or information?

Mary Kate’s mother is Michelle McNish, she is Scottish. Lives in New Zeeland. 

Merry goes to see Bobby’s sister. She works in the duty free at the airport. Meet a lot of interesting people. Many whom have been in America and is now trying to find relatives in Ireland. Could she have met Pa Salt? 

Bobby was arrested in March 1972, for setting fire to a protestant house (the house of Peter’s parents). Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. In 1978 he was moved to a psychiatric hospital. 

Merry had run away after Bobby threatened her. She had then also left Peter behind. 

James lives where Katie works. Retired 5 years ago when he turned 80. Blue eyes, dark hair.

Merry goes to see him.  Merry calls Ambrose asking if he can come to see them in west cork. 

Mary Kate wants to tell the sisters about her birth parents and that Merry was adopted too. 

Nora, Merry’s sister, had moved to Canada. 

Merry’s family held a party at Cross Farm. 

The sisters had left a voice mail after finding out about the band and coordinates. 

Merry is arranging for Ambrose and James to meet. 

Ambrose gives Merry a letter from Peter. Peter wanted to meet up. 

Merry calls Atlantis, Ally tells her about the coordinates of Merope. It leads to Argideen house. They now think Merry is the missing sister. Merry had passed this house many times. 

Mary Kate and Jack is going to see Argideen house. Merry joins. It is overgrown. Nobody lived there for years. Protestant house. Squared. 8 windows wide. 

Merry knows the Fitzgerald’s owned it 100 years ago but that they returned to England during the revolution in 1921. House was empty for a while. Jack had looked up a solicitor in Timoleague to find out who owned it. He visited the great grandchild of the one that managed the sale.

Someone else bought it after WW2 in 1948 from the Fitzgerald’s. He does not know who bought it. All deeds sent to London. To a Po box address, basically a locker at the post office. To stay anonymous. The Po box was in Marylebone. The number do not exist anymore.

Something about the house unsettled her. Darkness hung over the house. Once been very beautiful. 

Jack and Mary Kate want to go back to Dublin and fly to Nice via London to attend the cruise. Mary Kate asks if Merry wants to join, and Ambrose insists she should. She declines.

Merry arrange to meet Peter instead. 

Katie calls to tell her that the name of the family was Eszu. 

Merry wanted to meet Peter instead of going on the cruise. 

She leaves her suitcase with Ambroise. She will be back tomorrow.

Meets peter the day after in Belfast, North Ireland.

Peter: tall, slim, brown eyes with sand colored hair. 

Worked in London for 25 years at a gas and oil company. As a lawyer. English mother, Irish father. 

Ambrose had read Nuala’s diary, where she wrote about the parlous maid Maureen. The one who betrayed her. She is Mrs. Cavanagh. Who also betrayed James and Ambrose. 

She had later died, only 3 people attended her funeral. She lived and died alone. 

Ambroise still had Merry’s half-finished dissertation. He said it was brilliant. She did not finish it before she left. Did he maybe share this with Pa Salt?

Ambrose found Peter via the newspaper subscription he had via Trinity. This means Ambrose is very good at tracking people or getting information. Did he maybe know where Merry was? Or what had he found out? Did he know Pa Salt or Georg? 

Peter and merry had a plan to escape together. First to London. But bobby showed up at his parents’ door. Threatened him and his parents. Would check he also did not disappear as merry. She had waited for three weeks at Bridget’s place in London. 

Peter had sent her multiple letters, return to sender. 

Person not known at this address. 

Adress is incorrect. Not Cromwell gardens, Cromwell crescent. Merry says she told him that. As this was what Bridget had told her earlier. He says it was gardens. 100% sure. 

__

Atlantis June 2008 

Ma is a bit nervous as Claudia has just been called away to see to a sick relative. Christian took her to Geneva. 

She is not sure how she will manage. Worst timing! 

They want to get in touch with Georg after Mary Kate told them that Merry was also adopted, but he does not pick up. 

Maia went to sit in the secret garden, had a look at the armillary sphere. Lights had been placed since she was there. She had a look at the inscriptions. Noticed Merope’s band had been updated with coordinates. Ran and woke up Ally. Asked when she had looked at it the last time closely, they don’t know when the coordinates were added. 

Coordinates lead to Argideen house. It’s Merry who is the missing sister. This must be where she was born.

Unless the information was accurate, so that Merope was born at Argideen house, it would not have been engraved. 

Ma is stressed without Claudia. 

Ally tells Ma that the coordinates for Merry led to Argideen house, and that it was once owned by a family called Eszu. Ally registered the shock on Ma’s face.  Did she not know?

Ally hopes Georg will be back tomorrow. He has been gone since the information of where merry was shared. Did Claudia go away to take his place wherever he was?

Merry do not want to join the cruise. 

Mary Kate and Jack will fly from Dublin to London tomorrow afternoon, then early next morning to Nice to go to the Titan.  

Merry and Peter are having lunch in Belfast. Its 14:30 when Jack and Mary Kate are in Nice.

Marry went back to Dublin and Ambrose afterwards.

Georg is there:  Tall, immaculately dressed in a suit and tie. Early 60s. Merry held out her hand to him, he took a long time, stared, and did not answer. Shook himself out of his hypnosis.

“You look a striking resemblance to..Someone”. He spoke perfect English, with a German accent. 

Ambrose reassured Merry it was ok, telling her Georg is the lawyer of Pa Salt. Georg says it should have been him coming to her, as he had more info than the sisters. He decided to let them find her as he had other matters to tend to. 

He never had expected this moment to arrive. 

He worked for Pa Salt for his whole career as a lawyer. He joined Pa Salt in the search for the missing sister as early as he could. This time last year, his employer discovered new information that was very highly likely to be correct. Georg had little to work on, but he did, with private investigators. 

He then showed her the drawing of Elle. “If only I had known how easy it would be to identify her, they would not even need the ring.” It was a charcoal portrait of her mother, who looked just like her. Ambrose went to make tea. 

Merry asked Georg if he could explain why, if he knew her birthyear, that the sisters pursued Mary Kate. Georg says it was because he did not know that her daughter was also called Mary and had passed the ring on to her. 

During the past two weeks, whilst they were searching, he was unavoidably detained elsewhere, out of contact with them. 

He knows that the woman in the drawing is her mother, because of the drawing that hung in Atlantis. His employer, Pa Salt, had told him who it was. 

When Merry asked if she died giving birth to her, Georg showed his indecision on his face on whether to tell her what he knew. He did not answer, but instead gave her the diary. Asked her to join him on the cruise. Stating would be fulfilling their fathers long held dream. 

What exactly was that dream? 

She looked at Ambrose for guidance. He urges her to go. She wonders how much Ambrose and Georg had discussed before she arrived. 

She agrees and they then go to the private jet at Dublin airport. 

___

In the private jet from Dublin to the Titan

Georg is on his phone, speaking in German. Agitated. Why?

Georg pulled out a brown padded envelope. Hoping it will give her the answers she had asked. He then leaves her. Glimmer of tears in his eyes. Moved forward. 

Flight time: 3 hours, the envelope contains a diary and a letter.

Letter from Pa Salt, for his daughter

• He do not know her given name or where she lived or if she will be found.
• He found out that she would be born before she was born
• Her mother was also lost from him
• He do not know if her mother is alive
• The diary/journal she gets was written many years ago
• Contains the story of his life
• Ask her to share the journal with the other sisters, because it is also their story
• Great lengths to find her and her mother
• Pa salt thinks her mother has passed on to another life

I think the letter to Mary and the other sisters was written just before they found out where Merry was located and what her name was. I do not think Pa Salt is dead, but he is probably ill, maybe he thought he would be by the time they managed to locate her?