You are a mystery I am determined to solve, Patrick O’Connor.
Chapter Eight
Eliza found her footingamong the Archers surprisingly quickly. Nearly all of them, at least. Mr. Archer intimidated her. He’d never said anything unkind or dismissive, and he didn’t treat either Finbarr or Aidan with anything other than kindness. But he reminded her too much of Terrence’s family for her to ever be truly at ease. His mannerisms, his style of speaking, the way he carried himself, all testified to his being a man of wealth and birth.
He spent most of his time in the barn or the fields. She took her meals in the kitchen with Lydia. They didn’t interact often, and that helped.
Emma was utterly sweet. She was tender and motherly with Lydia. Ivy was far more likely to wind the girl up, trying to convince her to play tag or hide and seek, neither of which Lydia really understood. Little Sean was something of a fussy child, forever wishing for his mother to hold him. But in his more content moments, he was all smiles and baby laughter. He fluctuated between the two extremes. His family adored him, even in his difficult moments. That, more than anything else, gave Eliza hope that this house would be a safe place to live with her daughter.
Sunday afternoons were hers to do with as she chose. She’d spent the previous one with Maura and her new husband in their nearby home. Nearly three weeks as a resident of Hope Springs and she was convinced this town was a wonderful bit of paradise.
Lydia had awoken that morning with a hoarse voice and flushed cheeks. She’d been lethargic all day. Her eyes held that look Eliza had seen there before when her daughter was unwell. Half the day had passed with Eliza interrupting her chores to continually check on and soothe her daughter.
One late-afternoon look-in caught the attention of the older Archer girl.
“Is something the matter?” Emma asked.
“She’s ill,” Eliza explained. “I don’t believe she is in any danger, but I don’t like seeing her so miserable, either.”
“Dr. Jones would know what to do,” Emma said.
He most certainly would. She had danced with him at the last twocéilísand, though he was quiet, he’d shown himself to be personable. He would help; she knew he would. But asking him to do so was not an option she could entertain. She was so newly arrived that she hadn’t yet been paid. Without money, she couldn’t pay for a doctor’s visit.
“If she grows worse, I’ll send for the doctor.”
Lydia coughed. The sound wasn’t overly worrisome, but it did reinforce the fact that the girl was ill. Poor child.
Emma watched Lydia with drawn brow. “Dr. Jones helps Maura with her cough.”
Maura’s lungs had been damaged during her years working in the factories of New York. The cough Emma referred to was a symptom of that too-often fatal disease. Maura and Aidan had left the city, in large part, to find fresh air and an escape from the work that was killing her. She was doing far better here.
“Maura’scough requires a doctor’s care. Lydia’s doesn’t. At least, not yet.”
Emma didn’t look convinced, though she didn’t argue further, either. Instead, she glanced once more at Lydia before slipping silently from the room.
Had Eliza upset her? She hadn’t meant to.
