if it were a hot coal. “Never in a million years shall I send my boy to England.”
“Of course,” Evleen answered absently. Her mind was on the dark, handsome man with the graceful stride who had so charmed her when he was here. He had told when he said he would not. How could he, when she’d practically begged him not to? She felt an odd twinge of disappointment, even while telling herself she really shouldn’t care. After all, what could she expect of an Englishman? Besides, she most assuredly would never see him again, so why give even one tiny thought to him?
Sinead, in a state of agitation Evleen had never seen before, arose from the table, nearly overturning her chair, and strode to the small front window where she stood, hands jammed on hips, looking out at the sea. “How could Lord Trevlyn even think of taking my son away? By what right has he to–”
Suddenly she clutched her heart, turned, and staggered. Her face turned gray, and she cried, “Evleen, my heart. Help me.”
With a cry, Evleen leaped up to help. Minutes later, she had helped her mother to her bed and was hovering over her. “I’ll send for the doctor...”
“No, I’m all right.” Sinead grasped her wrist. “I do get pains in my chest every now and then, but I’m better now. I’m sure it was just the agitation caused by that terrible letter, but I’m fine, really I am. Just let me rest a while.”
“But—”
“No doctor. We can’t afford it and I don’t need one.”
Evleen knew better than to disobey her strong-willed mother. She concealed her fear as she replied, “All right, I shall just sit here while you rest a while, then you’ll be as good as new.”
Sinead managed a rueful smile. “I had better be. Else, how would we live?”
“I don’t care about that.” Mama had always been so well. Evleen had never had to face the unbearable thought that someday she would lose her beloved mother. And yet, death was inevitable. And what if it happened soon? She, herself, would be all right, since she might be marrying Timothy soon... she guessed, although she still hadn’t completely might made up her mind. But what of her sisters? Darragh was old enough to marry, but with her prickly personality, no one had asked her. But Patrick? For the first time, the thought crossed her mind that her brother might indeed be better off in England where he would live in the wealth and luxury that were rightfully his. She would not dream of mentioning such a thought to Mama, though. That would be a betrayal of all her mother held dear.
Sinead clasped her hand. “I’ll get up soon. Really, I’m fine. Run find some paper. As soon as I get up, I shall give Lord Trevlyn his reply.”
* * *
In the late summer sunshine, Thomas and Penelope were standing in front of the ivy-covered stone stables of Northfield Hall. “What do you think of him?” Thomas ran a brush over the shining brown coat of his new Irish Thoroughbred. “A fine bit of blood, wouldn’t you say?”
“He’ll make a good addition for your breeding farm,” answered Penelope, nodding approvingly. “I shall hate to see you leave. It’s been wonderful having you home.”
“I won’t be too far away.”
“I know, but...” A wily expression came over Penelope’s face. “Such a large house you’re moving to. I hate to think of you there, all alone. A pity you can’t share it with someone.”
“There you go again,” Thomas answered with a grin. “Do you really expect me to marry Miss Bettina Trevlyn? She would no doubt cause me to expire out of sheer boredom. Murder by petit-point, you could say.”
She laughed appreciatively but quickly grew serious. “But you must marry somebody, sometime.”
“I’m thinking about it.” That was all he would say. Although he confided in his sister more than anyone, during the entire time he’d been back from Ireland, he rarely mentioned Evleen, and only in conjunction with his overall description of his trip to Ireland. Despite it’s being utterly insane, he kept wishing he could see her again. But no matter how many times he told himself he would never again make that miserable trip to County Clare, let alone Ireland, her bright blue eyes and enchanting smile stayed as vivid in his mind as the day they’d met. There was nothing he could do about it, though. Evleen O’Fallon would remain an unfulfilled dream, the