29

MAGGIE LEFT IRISH MEADOWS to return to the orphanage, floating on a bubble of happiness. She entered the main hall, pausing to remove her hat before going in search of Rylan. The news that she and Adam were officially courting should come from her. Rylan would need time to accept the inevitability of her future with Adam.

She couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she recalled their parting kiss. Adam planned to stay with his family for a few more days, until he was certain his mother was fully on the mend, and then he would work day and night until his store was ready to open.

He was doing it all for her, Maggie realized. With a respectable business behind him, he would feel worthy to court her. Once the O’Leary Furniture Emporium opened its doors, she would bring Rylan and Gabe to see his accomplishment. Then any objections Rylan might still harbor would surely be abolished.

She paused outside Rylan’s office and knocked.

“Come in.” The tone of his voice did not inspire optimism.

She opened the door to find him staring out the window.

A thread of worry momentarily stole her joy. Surely Delia hadn’t relapsed? “Rylan?”

He turned to face her, his expression bleak. “Maggie. It’s good to have you back. Colleen tells me her mother is doing much better.”

She nodded. “Aye. The Lord is good. First Delia and now Mrs. O’Leary.” She was almost afraid to voice their good fortune. Especially when Rylan’s countenance did not match the happiness within her.

She needed to get her news out before she lost her nerve. “I have something to tell you, Rylan, and you probably won’t be pleased.”

One dark brow rose. “Oh?”

She clasped her hands together in front of her. “Adam has declared his feelings for me and has asked to court me.”

Rylan straightened, a scowl forming.

“I love him, Rylan. And I intend to become his wife. Though I would appreciate your support on this, know that I will continue to see Adam even if you object.” She kept her chin tilted, her gaze level, waiting for his explosion.

But instead of anger, Rylan sagged like a leaky tire. “You’re a grown woman, Maggie. Entitled to your own mistakes. I’ll not stop you.”

Concern shot through Maggie. His anger, she could handle. His defeat, she could not.

“What’s wrong, Rylan?”

“It’s Gabe. He’s gone.”

A whisper of fear invaded her heart. “What do you mean, gone?”

Rylan ran his hand over his face. “I guess you’ve not heard the news. England is at war. The moment Gabe heard, he set out for home.”

The room swam before her. She knew the day would come when Gabe would sail back without her, but not so soon. And not without her bidding him farewell. “He left without saying good-bye.” Her chest constricted. “How could he do that?”

Rylan moved to put his arm around her. “Aurora said he knew we’d try to stop him. And in fact I did, but I was too late. One of the workers said a man fitting Gabe’s description booked passage on a steamer heading to Queenstown. Traded in his liner ticket.”

Maggie’s knees weakened, and she sank onto a chair. “Is he planning to join the war?”

“I don’t know. Aurora only said he felt his place was with our family at this time of crisis.”

“Why was Aurora privy to his plans?”

For the first time, a smile quirked Rylan’s lips. “It appears both you and Gabe have fallen in love during your time here.”

Maggie’s mouth gaped open. So her suspicion of Gabe’s interest in Aurora had been right. “Then why did he leave?”

“You know Gabe. His sense of duty overruled his feelings for Aurora. Although she said he promised to return one day.”

A cold thrust of fear twisted Maggie’s stomach. Her country was at war and her brother was headed right into its path. “What is happening to the world, Rylan? It feels as though God has lost control.”

Rylan tipped her chin up, his brown gaze serious. “You know better than that, love,” he said gently. “We have to trust in God to see us through these rough spots. But don’t ever doubt He knows exactly what He’s doing.”

For the first time in her life, Aurora entered her family’s summer home on Long Island without her usual joy at being back in the country. Instead, a deep sense of dread invaded her heart as she removed her hat and set it on the marble table. She paused for a moment in the hallway to bring Gabe’s beloved face to mind. The thought of him crossing the sea on a steamer, all for the love of his country and family, made her determined to be just as courageous in facing her own situation.

Aurora bolstered her resolve, pasted on a smile, and sailed into the parlor.

Her mother dropped her needlework. “My darling girl, is it really you?” She rose and rushed to gather Aurora in a hug.

“Yes, Mama.” She returned her embrace, drinking in her mother’s comforting scent of Parisian toilet water with the realization of how much she’d missed her. “The epidemic is over at last.”

Aurora allowed her gaze to move across the room to her father. Seated in his leather armchair by the fireplace, his usual before-dinner drink in hand, he slowly rose. “So you finally decided to grace us with your presence.”

Aurora bit back a sigh. He wasn’t going to make this easy for her. She moved toward him and planted a quick kiss on his leathery cheek. “Hello, Papa. How have you been?”

“I’m fine, but your poor mother has nearly worried herself into a pine box.”

Aurora kept her features calm as her parents resumed their seats, and she sat beside her mother on the sofa. “I’m sorry you were worried, but I’m sure you understand the need to keep the typhoid outbreak contained.”

Mama laid a hand on her arm. “Of course. But what we don’t understand is why you were involved in the first place.”

A twinge of guilt pinched Aurora’s conscience. Perhaps keeping so many details of her life from her parents hadn’t been the wisest choice. “That’s one of the reasons I’m here now. To explain a few things to you both.”

“This sounds serious.” Her father took a cigar from the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

“It concerns my future, so for me it’s very serious.” She clasped her hands on her lap. “You know I’ve been volunteering at the hospital for some time now. The reason for that was more than charitable. I wanted to determine if I’m suited to become a nurse.”

Papa’s hand stilled on the box of matches, and his eyes narrowed.

Aurora fought the nervous urge to twist her fingers. “Dr. Reardon, whom you met at the orphanage, Papa, has been acting as a mentor of sorts. He’s allowed me to accompany him on rounds at the hospital and to the orphanage when treating the children. Dr. Reardon asked me to help out before we realized the nature of the outbreak.”

Mama’s hand fluttered at her neck. “My word.”

Papa stormed up from his chair, his cigar forgotten on the table. “No daughter of mine is going to be dealing with illness and bodily waste. It’s outrageous.”

Aurora stiffened her back. “Nursing is a noble profession. One I intend to pursue.” She paused. “I’ve applied to Bellevue’s nursing program for the fall.”

Papa’s mustache twitched, a sign he was distinctly displeased. “You should be putting all your energy into finding a husband. What man will want you now that you’ll be training for such a distasteful profession? Unless . . .” His gaze zeroed in on her. “This Dr. Reardon seemed to hold you in high regard. He acted very protective when I came to the orphanage. I can respect a man like that.”

She swallowed. Time for the rest of her admission. “I’m afraid my affections lie elsewhere.” Aboard a ship on the ocean.

Papa’s brow rose with undisguised interest. “Do tell, daughter. What man has captured your fancy at long last? Someone from a good family, I hope.”

Aurora managed to hold back a burst of nervous laughter. “A very good family. In fact, his brother is the esteemed director of the orphanage.”

Papa’s high color vanished. “Not that blasted Irishman.”

“Yes, Papa,” she said softly. “Gabe and I are in love, and when he returns from Ireland, I’m hoping he will ask me to marry him.”

Mama squeezed her hand, her expression a mixture of happiness and sympathy.

Papa stalked across the room to the fireplace. “He’s gone back to Ireland in the midst of war? Is he mad?”

“Only worried for his family, as I’m sure you can understand.”

Papa grunted. “With the way things are shaping up overseas, I doubt he’ll be back. He’ll probably be drafted into the fighting.”

“Arthur!” Mama’s voice quivered with mild outrage. “Don’t talk that way. Aurora must be worried about him.”

“I am. But I have to trust God to keep him safe and bring him back to me.” Aurora got to her feet and walked over to stand before her father. “And when he does, Papa, I expect you to treat him with decency and respect. He’s the man I love. The man I choose to spend my life with. And I’ll not hear otherwise.”

“I’m not sure I like this defiant attitude.” Papa crossed to the table and picked up the cigar. He rolled it between his fingers, as though contemplating her words, and when he turned, his expression proved unreadable. “If this Irishman ever shows up again, I’ll decide then how to handle the situation.”

Aurora held her ground, not breaking eye contact. “There won’t be anything to handle, Papa. Because when Gabe comes back, nothing is going to keep me from him.”

Instead of the expected anger, her father studied her with an unreadable expression. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

Despite Aurora’s bravado, a niggle of fear invaded her heart. Why did her father seem certain that Gabe wouldn’t return? Papa might be a powerful man in New York, but surely his reach didn’t extend to the other side of the ocean.

If only Aurora could be sure.