Land Above

By Leigh Clarke

Since the British takeover of Ireland in the seventeenth century, relations have been strained between the Irish nobilitygenerally identified as Catholicand the newly arrived English Protestants. Benjamin McLain knew of this conflict first hand. He was born the son of an Irish woman from the high-ranking house of OConnor and a Protestant father who served as an admiral in the British Navy.

Benjamin sought to leave history behind him; in 1797, he landed in Charleston, South Carolina. He left his home country of Northern Ireland as an enlisted sailor in the Royal Navy, but upon his arrival in America, he came to realize that the same deep-rooted resentments existed, even far from Ireland. The Irish disliked the Protestants and vice versa, even in this new, foreign land.

As Benjamin struggles to break through the barriers of his birth, he finds himself torn between the love of his mother, the love of his intended fianc, and the love of a strange woman who ignites his desire. Benjamin must decide where his loyalty truly lieswith his Irish OConnor blood or English McLain heritage. Which woman will be his rockhis mother, his Anna, or the mysterious Elina? A stranger in a strange land, Benjamin McLain must determine his own destiny through whatever means he can.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: May 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781426966880

Leigh Clarke

Leigh Clarke holds a BFA in studio art and has taken classes toward her MFA in creative writing. She is the author of the historical novel Land Above and is also in the process of writing her memoirs. She lives in the North Texas Hill Country with her pups, Beau and Bandit.

Book preview

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter One

Benjamin reached the head of the winding staircase overlooking the great hall below; he hesitated a moment to view the gallery of ancestors lining the wall of the stairwell. He remembered how, as a young boy, all the stern, glaring eyes seemed to follow him down the stairs, making him feel guilty for something, something he had probably done. Now, descending, he passed each one and smiled, no longer intimidated by their disapproving gaze. When he reached the foot of the stairs, his boots made a clicking sound against the marble floor, and he knew this would signal his arrival to his waiting parents. Continuing down the hall he passed under a massive 30 foot chandelier casting patterns of light over the frescoed walls and onto the crystal vase of orchids sitting on a table of golden inlay. And then just beyond the parlor, where his parents waited, enormous hand carved doors rose a full twenty feet to the ornate ceiling. The doors came from the old castle, now in ruins, where earlier generations of high born O’Connor’s, his mother’s ancestors, had lived.

Arriving from Belfast after midnight the night before, Benjamin immediately retired to his room, sleeping restlessly, his body aching from three months at sea and the ten mile carriage ride. Now hearing the voices of his parents in the adjoining parlor, thoughts whirled like waters caught in an ebb tide, thinking and rethinking the words he knew would set off a storm, a storm far fiercer than the many he faced at sea.

Entering the red linen lined parlor, Benjamin kissed his mother and shook the hand of his father. His heart swelled with the admiration and affection he felt for them; Lady Katherine, elegant as always in blue satin and lace, her golden red hair touched with silver, and Sir Edward, with a leather face lined with the many years he served as Admiral in the British navy, now broken in smile for his only son.

Benjamin, my darling, it is always so wonderful to see you after your time away. Sir Edward helped her to her feet and she held Benjamin’s face in her hands, looking at him with adoration, and kissed his cheek. In locked arm they entered the breakfast room; glistening gold silk wall coverings and a long sixteenth century table dressed in white from the linens to the large crystal vase of white lilies from the gardens.

So, son, did your mission to North Africa prove successful?

Yes, Father, we accomplished all the Admiralty expected and more. Hopefully, we’ll be able to avoid more conflicts in that region for some time; God knows we’ve enough trouble elsewhere and at home to keep the navy on alert.

I believe my replacement at Admiralty is a good man; I envy his job at times and miss being the one formulating these peace agreements.

You are missed, Father, and everywhere I go the name McLain allows doors to open for me; and you know I moved up faster in ranks due to being your son.

Nonsense, you are a McLain in your own right; a better head for naval strategy or seamanship would be hard to find.

Thanks again to you, Father.

Looking at the two men in conversation, Lady Katherine, pretending great affront said, I wish to change the conversation now my dears, you know I never pretended to like the fact that after so many years married to a naval man, I would also have a son so employed. Edward you know Benjamin would have become a first class statesman after graduating law from Trinity, but, no, like father like son and off he goes to sea.

Benjamin finished a breakfast scone and another cup of coffee, pondering his mother’s remarks and knowing it had become time to speak his mind.

I’ve put off telling you my plans for too long. He hesitated only a moment, This afternoon I’m asking Anna to marry me. Our friendship has developed deeper roots over the past couple years. I love her and hope you will grow to love her too.

No, no, it cannot happen, said Lady Katherine. I knew something awful would come from your friendship with those Campbell’s. Good God, Benjamin, they are Protestant planters leasing land from the British. Oh, you cannot be serious about this.

"Mother, you are aware Theodore Campbell left Scotland because the British ruined the economy of Scotland with high taxes. He left so he could continue to provide for his family; the relocation of Scottish farmer’s to Northern Ireland provided a measure of security.

Of course I know that and I know our lands were confiscated by England and given to these planters.

Yes, and your estate is one of the few left owned by anyone of true Irish ancestry.

As I said, these low blooded immigrants took over Irish lands.

First of all, Theodore owned a plantation in Scotland; perhaps not a castle built by barons and earls, as is your O’Connor estate, but one of prestige in the area of Dumphries. He, his wife, Mary, Liam and Anna lived well and the Campbell bloodlines include Robert the Bruce. You have nothing to look down on; the Campbell’s are an honorable family.

So you say.

No, Mother, so be it. And don’t blame the immigrants; blame the English who devised a way to rule Northern Ireland.

But, the Campbell’s are still not Irish nobility, and you are of that bloodline. You are breaking my heart; all my hopes and dreams for you are dying away; first going to sea and then this. Lady Katherine leaned back in her chair, her long curls falling across her brow. No matter how she suffered she would