The next morning,Fallon’s plansweretemporarily foiled, asa note was sent’round from Brendan Hayes inviting Eliza on a picnicfor luncheon. Butshe was soon to learn,it wasn’t just for his betrothed.
“He wishes for you to join us!” Eliza said happily. She grasped on to Fallon’s hand at the breakfast table. “Oh, say you’ll come with me!”
Before Fallon could even answer, her aunt, seated at the head of the table, was quick to say, “Your cousin has duties that require her presence here.”
Eliza rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re referring to Locklyn Durmor.”
“I am,” Francine returned firmly. “I shouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t offer for Fallon very soon. He seems to be growing quite attached.”
The food that Fallon had just consumed solidified in her stomach.The day Locklyn asked for her hand was one shehad beendreading, for she knew that Francine was quite set on a union between them. While Fallon was careful not to spend any more time alone with Locklyn after that day in the garden when he had tried to cajole her into a tryst, the look of lust in his eyes was still presentevery time they were together.
She dreaded the day when Francine would allow the rules of chaperonage to lapse, for she wasn’t sure she could continue to dissuade him from his amorous pursuits. The very thought of lying with him as she had with the mysterious Raven was not something she was eager to experience. But if the Raven didn’t stay true to his word and send for her soon, she might very well find herself chained to Locklyn for life.
As if fate was finally on her side, a servant entered with a missive for Francine, before silently departing. She read the contents, her eyes narrowing slightly, before she set it beside her plate. “It seems that Locklyn will not be able to join us today after all,” she said stiffly.
Eliza immediately clapped her hands together. “That settles it then!” She winked at Fallon. “She’s coming with me.”
Fallon breathed a sigh of relief and found that the day had suddenly gotten much brighter, and it had nothing to do with the sun shining in the sky.
After Fallon left the dining table, she decided that if she was going to be out and about, it might be a good time to pena replyto Father O’Leary.She’d finally received a note from him the day before.
He said the Clan na-Gael in New York was gaining more strength every day, and now Stephens had gained control of O’Mahony’s supporters. He said that severalthousandwho had fought in theAmericanCivil War were ready to cross the Atlantic to fight for their homeland. And now that they had the experience with battle, Stephens was confident of a victory.
Fallon hadn’t been as overjoyed at the news as she’d imagined. In truth, she was concerned that such a bold invasion against England would result in more deaths than the famine. She hadcertainlyseen enough misery and grief to last her the rest of her days. Shedesperatelyyearned for Ireland’s freedomlike the rest of her compatriots, but she didn’t wish to obtain it at the expense ofanymore Irish lives.
She thought of the Raven and how his presence had given even more hope to the people. He had become a beacon of light to many who had lived so long in the dark abyss of depression. He was the hero her country had been waiting for, but was he willing to go so far as to give his life for it?
The very idea that he would be cut down caused her stomach to clench. She would forever mourn him if that happened, for while she didn’t know who he was, she would remember that one, magical night in his arms.
With the noteto Father O’Learysecuredin the pocket of her skirts, she attempted to turn her attention to her sorely neglected novelfor the rest of the morning. However,time passed swiftlyand soonElizawas comingto retrieve her. Dressed in apalepeach cotton dress with a crinoline petticoat underneath that made her waist appear even more narrow, Fallon complemented her cousin’s choice of attire. “Brendan won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.”
“Icertainlyhope so,” Eliza said with a conspiratorial grin. “And I daresay you look lovely inthatcolor.”
Fallon had chosen to wear lilac and with a hat perched slightly to the sideandon top of her upswept dark curls, she had to admit that Ingrid had outdone herself. Of course, she wasn’t out to impress anyone. Without Locklyn or Francine breathing down her neck, she had chosen her attire with care merelybecause she’dfelt free for the first time in days.
Eliza threaded her arm through hers and said brightly, “Shall we depart?”
***
Fallon had been to Hayes Manorbeforewith Elizaand thought itwasa rather eleganthome.Its large rooms beckoned for guests to roam its halls, the polished marble and molded trim a nod to the families’ comfortable existence.It was a mixture of Queen Anne furnishingswiththe quaint charm of a few modern, industrialtouches, including aJohann Reis talking telegraph that Fallon had found particularly odd, but which Mr. Hayes had seemed rather proudto show off.
That morningthey were greeted in the foyer by Brendanhimself, who walked over and kissed Eliza on the cheek. As he threaded her arm through his, he turned to Fallon with a charming smile. “I’m glad you could join us.”
Fallon suddenly felt like an extrawheel, but that was before another figure stepped into view.“Good day, Miss O’Malley.”
Fallonturnedat the sound of her name coming fromthat familiar,deep, velvety timbre.Even so, hermouthwentlaxat the sight of Atticus Clare.It didn’t escape her notice how snugly histan suitfit those well-defined muscles beneath, nor that he was just as handsome as she’d remembered withthat overly longdark hair pulled back in a queueandthose onyx eyesfull of charisma and something deliciously…dangerous.It immediately put her in mind of a manwithrather similarcharacteristics.
But just as she was feeling those annoying flutter of butterflies in her midsection, she recalledone key factor. She lifted her chin slightly. “Mr. Clare.”She glanced behind himexpectantly.
He smirked, as if reading her thoughts. “I fear it’s just my company that you’ll have to suffer today.Mrs. Stuart has business to attend to that occupies her this morning.”
“Oh.” Fallon wasn’t surewhat to say.
Thankfully, Eliza saved herfromany embarrassmentas she announced,“Shall wego?”
Brendanbent down and spoke softly into her ear,andFallon watched her cousin blush lightly.Falloncouldonlyimagine whatEliza’sfiancéwas whispering to heras they walked out the door together. A twinge ofunnecessaryenvybrushed upFallon’s spine, but shetamped it back down.Elizawas gaining a love matchandFallonwas thrilledbecause of it.
It wasn’t until Atticus walked forward and offered his arm thatFallon stiffened slightly, but accepted his offering.However, she lifteda brow, for shewas suddenly theobjectof his intensescrutiny. His dark eyes were mocking as his mouth quirked upward. “I do hope you don’t mind the intrusion,” he offered smoothly as he followed the couple to afour-passengerphaetonwith a single horse ready and waiting.A wicker picnic basket had also been tied to the back.Eliza and Brendan were already seated in the front, where the latter had taken the reins from a waiting groom.
