At the table, Evleen found herself holding her breath as they all sat waiting for Mama to speak. Patrick had a strange look on his face. Sorcha and Mary did not appear concerned, but then, Evleen concluded, they hardly knew what was going on. Not so Darragh, who sat with eyes alert, so eager to hear Mama’s decision she could hardly contain herself. And Lord Thomas...
He was up and dressed already when they came to rekindle the fire. Now he sat, seemingly at ease, yet Evleen perceived a certain tautness of his body and an alertness in his eyes.
Somehow Mama had found the strength to drag herself to the table again. Although she looked as pale and wan as ever, she sat straight, a look of serenity upon her face as if her decision, whatever it was, had given her great peace of mind. She was about to speak. Evleen pleaded silently, please, Mama, let Patrick stay. Let me stay, too, because you need me.
Sinead addressed Lord Thomas. “I have a question for you, sir, but first–” she looked at Patrick “—tell Lord Thomas your feelings about becoming an Englishman.”
Patrick stood, squared his shoulders and fervently declared, “Even though my father was English, I shall never be an Englishman.”
“Tell Lord Thomas who you are, son.”
Patrick proudly lifted his chin. “I am Patrick O’Fallon, son of Sinéad Coneeley O’Fallon, daughter of James Coneeley, Duke of Dormonde, whose roots can be traced back to Macha Mong Ruad, the red-haired queen who reigned over the land nearly three hundred years before Christ.”
Sinead nodded her approval. “That’s enough, Patrick. I do believe Lord Thomas can see what your background is. Now tell us what you know of the part England has played in Irish history.”
Without hesitation, Patrick continued, “After King James the Second landed in Ireland, to try to regain Britain from William and Mary, he was defeated at the River Boyne. Then the Irish who had not rallied to his cause, both Catholic and Protestants, were punished severely.”
“By measures from which we suffer to this very day,” Sinead interjected, with a meaningful glance at her visitor. “And that, Patrick, is one of a plethora of reasons why we do not like the English, is that not correct?”
The boy nodded enthusiastically. “Indeed it is, Mama.”
Sinead turned to Lord Thomas. “There you have it, sir. Does it appear to you the boy would, under any circumstances, ever forget his Irish heritage?”
“No, it would not appear so,” he replied. Evleen noted that if he was the least perturbed by Patrick’s words, he showed no sign of it.
Sinead smiled faintly. “I know what you think of us in England. The Irish are sinners, you say, and that’s true enough, but we’re much more. We are a mix of sinners, saints, gamblers, gentry, peasants, priests, rebels, heroes, villains, but we’re all Irish, and proud natives of this emerald isle. Lord Thomas, I must make it plain to you that Patrick is Irish through-and-through. If he lives to be a hundred, he will never be an Englishman.”
Lord Thomas nodded solemnly. “I cannot argue.”
Sinead continued, “Then my question is, do you honestly believe Lord Trevlyn would want a grandson who is so thoroughly Irish? Who could never be molded into an Englishman, no matter what measures Lord Trevlyn employed?”
Lord Thomas took his time in answering, seeming to mull his answer carefully. Finally he said, “You understand I cannot speak for Lord Trevlyn.”
“I am aware of that.”
“I can only tell you what I think Lord Trevlyn would say, an assumption I would never dare make if it weren’t for the fact he sent me here to represent him.”
“Understood.”
“Then it’s my strong belief Lord Trevlyn would say, Patrick will do very well in England.” Lord Thomas smiled at Patrick. “Your grandfather is old now, and somewhat feeble, but all his life he has been a man of strong character who believes a man must have a purpose to his life. He would applaud your Irish independence. To his mind, a tenacious belief in oneself and one’s principles is a virtue. Never would he try, as your mother puts it, to mold you into something you are not.” Lord Thomas paused to reflect, then said to Sinead, “Patrick is the heir to a vast estate. As such, his grandfather will be more busy instilling in him the virtues of honor and hard work, rather than the rather dubious advantages of being an Englishman. I cannot