I realized as I spoke that I had probably never told him the full details of my time in Dublin. Our relationship wasn’t on the firmest of ground at that point and Daniel had just been released from prison. I didn’t want to tell him too much, even now, knowing that he might well agree with the English authorities.
“Come, Molly. Nobody is going to blame you for the reckless acts of your brothers,” he said gently, but I shook my head. “You don’t know it all, Daniel. I was involved in that failed prison break attempt that cost my brother Joseph his life. I had to flee from Ireland. I’m probably still a wanted person in the eyes of the English. I can’t risk being on an English ship and one that would call at Southampton. You’re worried for my life here. I’d be equally worried on that boat.”
“You’d be traveling as Mrs. Daniel Sullivan,” he said. “I don’t see why they would ever put two and two together, but I take your point. I’m sure there will be a ship of the French Line departing soon enough and until then you can lie low in an area where we hope the gang will never think of looking for you.”
“How can I even leave this room?” I demanded, looking down at my current attire. “I can hardly go through the city dressed in silk pajamas.”
“All being taken care of even as we speak.” Daniel lifted Liam into his arms, swinging him into the air and making him squeal with delight. “I met your friend Mrs. Goodwin just as she was going off duty after a night shift. She heard about what happened and offered to help. She’ll be coming around later with clothes for you and she’s going to escort you to the house where you’ll be staying.”
“How kind of her,” I said. “Especially since she’s been working all night and must be exhausted.” Mrs. Goodwin was one of two female detectives on the New York police force. She had started out as a matron, supervising inmates, but had been so successful in undercover assignments that she was now a full-fledged detective. I had met her when Daniel was wrongly imprisoned and she had been helpful to me on several occasions since. “But did you mention Liam to her? He doesn’t even have a clean nappy.”
“She’s a woman, Molly. I expect she’s thought of that too,” Daniel said, putting his son down hastily as he detected the wet towel now on Liam’s nether regions. He went over to the tray that was still on the dresser. “I could do with some fresh coffee,” he said, picking up the last remaining piece of cold toast and eating it greedily. “I haven’t eaten a thing all night.”
“Let me send down for some for you.” I went over to the bellpull. He shook his head. “Too much to do. I’ll have one of the constables bring me in a sandwich. I have to go back immediately. I’ve a vehicle waiting. I only came to see if you were all right and to let you know what’s happening. You will be careful, won’t you? I think you’ll be quite safe here. You’re registered under a false name and the desk clerk knows, but just in case don’t open your door to anyone you don’t know.”
At that moment there was a noise outside and the door handle began to move. Daniel leaped across the room and wrenched it open. “Holy Mother of God,” said a shocked voice outside. “You gave me quite a fright, Captain Sullivan.”
“Oh, it’s you again, O’Hare,” Daniel said in a clipped voice. “What do you want now?”
“Such a warm greeting, it brings tears to my Irish eyes,” Ryan said, coming into the room past Daniel. “As to what I want—first I wanted to see how Molly was this morning and if there was anything I could do to keep her happy. And second I’ve rummaged through my things and brought over some clothes she might wear until she has some of her own. I told her she’d look stunning in britches.”
“My wife will not be wearing britches,” Daniel said curtly. “And thank you for your offer. It was most kind, but I have a woman police officer coming over shortly with some suitable new clothing.”
“Then ‘all’s well that ends well,’ as we say in theater,” Ryan said, giving me a breezy smile. “If you need company, Molly, you only have to summon me. I’m dying to read you a scene from my new play. So funny I have to chuckle every time I read it. Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Of course we’ll have problems with the fig leaves and the censors…”
“I must be leaving,” Daniel interrupted. “And Mrs. Sullivan will be leaving soon as well.”
“Where are you going, Molly, my love?” Ryan asked.
“I’m afraid that has to stay a secret,” Daniel said before I could answer. “One attempt has been made on my wife’s life. I can’t risk a second. The object is to get her away from the city as quickly as possible. And the fewer people who know of her whereabouts the better.” He tried to usher Ryan from the room with him, but Ryan refused to be ushered and dodged nimbly to my side.
“I think I’ll stay and watch over you until you are transported away,” Ryan said.
Daniel sighed. “I’ll come to check on you later today, when you are settled in,” he said. “Take care of yourself.”