When they had retired to a less crowded area of the room, Fallon gavethe older womana hug. “I didn’t know you were in England!I sent you an invitation to the wedding, but I didn’t think you’d be able to make it in such a short time.”
Mrs. Hinkssmiled. “I wasn’t about to miss such a festive occasion.” She reached into her reticule and pulled out a sealed missive and handed it to Fallon. “And it saved me the trouble of posting this.”
Fallon took it curiously. “What is it?”
“I wasn’t exactly truthful when I told you that the name Moira Burleigh wasn’t familiar to me.” Fallon’s heart instantly started pounding. “But I didn’t want to get your hopes up before I was able to locate some information.” She gestured to the paper. “That should tell you everything you want to know.”
Fallon’s gaze slowly dropped to the paper, suddenly struck by the importance of the document she held. “I… don’t know what to say.” She lifted her eyes and felt the emotion swirling inside. “Thank you.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “I’m just glad I was able to help.” She sighed. “But as far as the boarding house goes, I’ve decided to sell it. I’m not getting any younger and it’s time that someone else took over. You’ll be glad to know that I am moving to the country with my cousin. She sends her regards, by the way. She has just never been fond of sailing. She gets terribly seasick.”
“Give her my best,” Fallon returned sincerely. “I hope we can keep in touch.”
The lady smiled warmly. “You may count upon it.”
After she excused herself so Fallon could return to her guests, Fallon took the reprieve to slip away from the assemblage. She made her way to an empty, quiet room farther down the hallwayand realizedshe’d entered Wade Clare’s study.
She sank down onto the settee and stared at the item in her hands. She moved itback and forth between her palmsseveral times and yet, she couldn’t seem to make herself break the seal, for that would mean she would have to read the contents. And for as long as she’d wanted to learn the truth, she was almost afraid touncover itwhen the time had finally arrived.
“There you are.” She glanced over her shoulder to see Atticus leaning against the doorframe. “I wondered where you’d gone off to.” As he moved farther into the room and sat down beside her, he asked, “What do you have there?”
“Mrs. Hinks gave it to me.”
She wasn’t sure what else to say, but he came to the right conclusion. “I see.” He glanced at her. “Are you going to open it?”
“I’m not sure,” she murmured. “This could be the key to everything I wanted to know, and yet, I find myself hesitating to unravel the past. There’s no idea what it will reveal and…” Her throat closed up and she couldn’t continue.
Of course, Atticuswas there to offer a comforting shoulder. He put his arm around her and held her close. “You don’t have to decide anything now. Maybe it would be best if you slept on it.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I need to do thisnow. Before my courage fails me completely and I end up throwing it in the fire.”
Atticus said nothing and Fallon realized that was exactly what she loved about him. He wasn’t just her lover, or her husband, but he was… a friend.
Taking a deep breath, Fallon broke the seal and slowly opened the letter.
Miss O’Malley,
I believe that we have a mutual friend in Mrs. Suzanne Hinks.Her boarding househelped me at a point in my life when I was at my absolute worst. I had become with child and I wasn’t wed. She helped me to understand that mistakes are forgivable and that even though I didn’t have a husband, that I should care for my baby the best way I could.
I suppose I am telling you this so you might better understand what Moira Burleigh confided in me during the timewe were briefly acquainted. She had arrived in Ireland after a short holiday in Paris, telling me that she could not return to England because she had made some terrible mistakes. She didn’t tell me what they were, but I could sympathize if they were anything like mine.
She wasn’t one of the women who sought sanctuary at the boarding house like me, but preferred to try and make her own way. Ionlyremember her because I thought she was so strong and independent and here I was, cowering over my misfortunes.
It wasn’t until two weeks later that she came to me crying with the news that she was increasing. She said that she had met a wonderful man in port in France while she was waiting for her ex-lover’s body to be returned to England. She claimed she hadn’t meant to engage in anything further than a slight flirtation, but once again, she said things got out of hand and they ended up sharing a night together. She said he wanted to see her again, but since she had alreadycaused one unhappiness, she didn’t wish to cause any more, since he was also married.
She said she had fled to Ireland as it seemed to be someplace that she could be alone. It was because I felt sorry for her currentpredicamentthat I suggested she travel to Castlebar farther up the coast, as my brother owned a pub and I could ensure that she found gainful employment. I found out a month later she had married my brother’s best friend,EoinO’Malley.
I traveled to see them shortly after my baby was born. Sadly, it was a stillbirth, which I lament to this day, even though I have settled down and have three others of my own.Eoinand Moira were the happiest couple I had ever seen andhedidn’t mind at all that you weren’t his child. They both doted on you faithfully, and when news finally reached me that they had been part of the fatalities of the famine, I would have taken you in myself ifEoin’s grandparents hadn’t done so.
As it stood, I thought it would be best if I allowed what Moira had told me to fade into oblivion, but when Suzanne asked me about Moira, I couldn’t, in good conscience, say nothing when heronlydaughter was in search of answers.
I’m sorry that I don’t have anything further to offer you,exceptthat your true father might have been of German descent, for Moira once told me that she had thought his accentwasrather“amusing”
I wish you all the best and I hope that you don’t think too unkindly of your mother. She was a wonderful friend to me when I needed one the most and I truly believe that she was quite happy withEoin. I know he loved her deeply.
Fallon sniffed when she’d finished the letter and turned it over to seewho it was from, exceptthat it hadn’t been signed.She folded it back together.“It appears I’ve stumbled onto another mystery.The woman didn’t give her name.”When Atticus remained silent, she looked over at him to find him wearing a rather odd expression. “What is it?”
“I think I know who your father was.”
