He sat, deflated and discouraged.
Maura passed behind him. She leaned close and whispered. “Don’t lose hope. She saw and she listened. You’re making more progress than you think.”
If there was any mercy to be found, his sisters-in-law—bothof them—would be proven as wise and correct as he hoped they were. As he needed them to be.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Eliza bounced Lydiain her arms as she paced inside Mr. and Mrs. O’Connor’s home. Outside, thecéilícontinued. Laughter and music floated in. Was Patrick still playing with the musicians? She hoped so. Sharing important aspects of himself with the people around him would help him heal.
Lydia whimpered.
“Doc will be back any moment, sweetie. He’ll make your foot feel better.”
That didn’t stop Lydia’s tears. She wasn’t feverish, which set Eliza’s mind a little at ease. An infection had taken hold in the girl’s foot, but the warmth was limited. They’d not left it too late.
Footsteps sounded from the doorway. Dr. Jones at last.
“You’ll feel better now,” Eliza said.
“What’s the matter with her?”
She spun back. It wasn’t Dr. Jones at all, but Patrick who’d stepped inside. No matter that she hadn’t entirely sorted out him or the role she was open to him playing in her life; she was surprisingly happy to see him there.
“She got a splinter in her foot about a week ago. I pulled it out and thought that was the end of it. But Emma brought her to me at the very end of your tune because she was crying and fretting over her foot. I peeked at it and”—worry tugged at her heart—“it’s turned a bit putrid.”
“Has Dr. Jones seen it?”
She nodded. “He rushed back to his soddie to fetch his doctor’s bag. I’m just waiting for him.”
Lydia cried more miserably. Eliza didn’t know how to ease her girl’s suffering.
“Come here,mo stóirín.” Patrick held his hands out for Lydia. “Let’s give your ma a chance to breathe.”
Eliza hesitated.
“I’ve not had a drink in more than two weeks,” he said. “I’ll understand if that’s not enough to set your mind at ease, and I’ll always be honest with you on that score. I swear to you.”
