Burke leaned back in his chair, though he kept his posture very proper. That had been required of them during sponsor inspections at the orphanage. He didn’t think he would ever be able to slouch in front of influential people.
“I would say you have recovered quite well,” he said. “I’m glad of it.”
“As am I.” Katie sat beside her mother-in-law.
That brought Burke’s evaluating gaze to her. “How areyoufeeling?”
“I’ve been a little tired today, but ’tisn’t anything worth fretting over. All seems well.”
He nodded, then looked to Emma. “You’ll tell me if she’s ever not well and being stubborn about it?”
Emma laughed lightly. “I will.”
“Does every doctor employ spies?” Katie asked, amusement dancing in her eyes.
“When they have a town full of obstinate people, they do.” Only after offering the quip did he remember there was a new person in the room whose sense of humor he was not yet familiar with.
He looked to Mrs. Archer, bracing himself for disapproval. But she seemed entirely unbothered by it. That had been a stroke of luck.
A sudden commotion toward the back of the house pulled all their eyes in that direction. In the next moment, Ivy Archer and Miss Kingston came rushing in the room. Both grinned broadly, laughing and a bit out of breath.
Miss Kingston looked every bit as topsy-turvy as she had upon arriving at the inn a few days earlier. The sight tugged oddly at his heart.
Seems to me she’s caught your attention.
Burke pushed that aside. Patrick liked to needle him; that didn’t mean Burke had to put any store by it.
Miss Kingston made a valiant effort to smooth her hair and look dignified. She mouthed an apology to Mrs. Archer.
“We went to see Finbarr’s house,” Ivy declared with enthusiasm. “And then we ran back. I was faster than Sophie.” She spun in place, then dropped onto the floor and sprawled on her back. “I wassofast.”
Burke eyed the dramatic display. “Ivy is clearly recovered from her chicken pox.”
“How are the Campo twins?” Miss Kingston asked. “I’ve worried about them.”
“They went home this morning,” he said.
She sighed, the sound one of sincere relief.
“Did you see Finbarr?” Emma asked, though whether she posed the question to Miss Kingston or her sister Burke wasn’t certain.
“From a distance,” Miss Kingston said. “Ivy pointed him out to me.”
Her voice a bit quieter, Emma asked, “Did he say anything?”
From her position still stretched out on the floor, Ivy answered, “Finbarrneversays anything.”
If only that were more of an exaggeration than it actually was.
Burke rose from his chair and moved to stand beside Miss Kingston. He quietly asked, “Did Finbarr look whole and healthy?”
“He was at a considerable distance, sitting on a fence with his hat pulled low. Ivy called out to him, but he didn’t answer. We were far enough away it was possible he didn’t hear, especially over the sound of so many bells ringing.”
“He has bells of varying pitches tied at the edges of his property,” Burke explained. “The sound helps him orient himself.” The sound might have kept him from hearing Ivy’s greeting. It was just as possible he did hear and was choosing to keep a distance. “Did Finbarr have his dog with him?”
Miss Kingston nodded. “Sitting on the ground by his feet. A beautiful animal that took note of us there but made no effort to abandon the young man.”
“Madra is very loyal to him.” And a comforting companion.
