that would never work. Uncle Mick was a lot of things, but he’d never pass for a high society gentleman.
“The party sounds like a grand time,” he said. He was watching me carefully. “But you’ll be careful, won’t you? These people have killed before, and I’m sure they won’t hesitate to do so again.”
I nodded. “I’ll be careful. I don’t really think they’d do anyone harm at a party like this. After all, it’s going to be a fairly large event.”
“Just mind you watch your back,” he said. He was never one to fuss, so I knew the fact he had cautioned me twice in the space of a few moments meant he was worried. I moved to his side and placed a hand on his arm.
“I can look out for myself, Uncle Mick. And Major Ramsey isn’t likely to let any harm come to me if it can be helped.”
“You trust him, then.”
His words took me by surprise, and I considered them for a moment. “Yes,” I said at last. “I suppose I do.”
He nodded. “I’ve always been a good judge of character, you know, and I think he’s an honest man.”
“We’ve never had much use for honest people before this,” I said with a little smile. Major Ramsey was just the type of person we would have avoided like the plague. Obviously, our connection with him was only the result of a set of circumstances beyond our control.
It might even be fate, if one believed in such things.
“No, but we should always welcome honorable men as friends,” Uncle Mick said with a wink. “They’re useful people, in their own way.”
“I wouldn’t say the major is a friend, exactly,” I said. “But at least he’s not an enemy.”
“Your opinion of him has improved, I see.” There was a twinkle in his eyes.
“I don’t hate him quite as much as I did, if that’s what you mean.”
Though I didn’t want to admit it, he was right; the major was growing on me. I’d thought him a coldhearted brute upon first meeting, but I was beginning to believe that at least his motives were pure. After all, we had excused our own behavior based on noble motives before this.
Uncle Mick seemed to interpret my unspoken words correctly, for he grinned. “You spoke to him alone. Did he tell you what the next step will be if all of this goes wrong?”
I shook my head. “He’s being very tight-lipped about it all.”
“That’s not such a great surprise. It’s very hush-hush stuff, after all. And, whatever happens, I’m sure he has a plan.”
“I suppose you’re right,” I said. “Whatever else he is, he seems to be terribly competent.”
“He’s a good-looking chap,” Uncle Mick said with a sly glance in my direction.
I gave him a sharp look. “I suppose. If you don’t mind stuffed shirts.”
“Though I don’t suppose a government man would make a very useful addition to the family,” he mused, still teasing me.
“We don’t need an addition to the family.” I knew I sounded sulky, but I couldn’t seem to help it. I wasn’t finding all of this as amusing as Uncle Mick was.
“I know this particular bloke may not be your cup of tea, but I wouldn’t rule it out just yet, my girl. Perhaps this will be our opportunity to turn over a new leaf.”
I knew he meant well, and what he was saying was true. Perhaps now, if we veered onto the straight and narrow, I might have the chance to live a bit more normal of a life. Or at least as near to it as the McDonnells could get.
There had never been much opportunity for me to date; Uncle Mick and my cousins had seen to that. They were a merry enough bunch, unless you crossed them. Everyone knew that, and the local blokes weren’t keen on making them angry and steered clear of me for the most part. I’d been out with a fellow or two in my time, but there had never really been a man I had fancied above the usual. At least, unless you counted Felix. But now wasn’t the time to think about that.
There was an expression on Uncle Mick’s face that I didn’t care to try to interpret. I suspected he intended to tease me about the major, but I didn’t feel it was a joking matter. Perhaps it was because I knew that the major would never in a million years deign to look at a girl like me as