In Like Flynn (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #4)

Theresa shook her head. “You don't understand. I try to love Eileen, I really do, and I know she is a sweet child, but I can't. It was too much to ask of me. I should never have—” She broke off as Bamey came into the room.

“Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was interrupting a chin-wag,” he said. “I came to see how you were feeling.”

“About the same,” she said. “My limbs feel as if they are made of jelly”

“You should make an effort, my love,” Bamey said. “You will never get strong if you don't exercise in the fresh air.”

“Fresh air, where is there fresh air on this accursed river?”she demanded, her voice suddenly strong. “I hate this house and every-thing about it. It has brought us nothing but trouble and grief. Why can't we go away, Bamey? Let’s get far away from this accursed place.”

“You know we have to maintain a residence in the state which I represent in Congress,” Bamey said, “but I have offered many times to take you to Europe as soon as you are strong enough for the journey You only have to tell me and I'll make the arrangements for you.”

“And would you come too? Would you spend the summer in England with me, or France, or even Ireland?”

“I have work to do, Theresa. I'm a public servant, remember? Take Clara with you. Take Molly. You seem to tolerate her presence well.”

“Oh yes,” Theresa’s eyes fastened on me. “You could show me around Ireland, Molly. You could introduce me to all the family.”

I gave her what I hoped was an encouraging smile. “First you must make yourself strong enough to travel,” I said. “Your limbs re-ally will turn to jelly if you keep to your bed.”

“I'll make an effort, I promise. 111 get up tomorrow.”

“I'll have Adèle bring up your sleeping powder so that you get a good night’s sleep.” Bamey leaned to kiss her forehead. “I think we'll leave her in peace now, Molly.”

Theresa didn't protest as I was ushered from the room.

“You see how she is,” Bamey whispered as soon as we were outside her door on the upstairs landing. “She'll never be strong enough to travel to Europe. She’s fine for a few days, then she collapses again. I should never have allowed those damned Sorensen women to come. It’s the séances that have upset her.”

“Maybe if you let them have one last séance and Theresa really can speak with her child, she'll be content,” I suggested.

“How can she speak with her child? It’s ludicrous.” Barney’s voice rose dangerously “He was not quite two years old, for God’s sake. Even if those charlatans could make him appear, he could scarcely say a word!”

“He may have grown more articulate in heaven,” I said cautiously.

He looked at my solemn face and burst out laughing. “God, Molly, you're as much a cynic as I am.” He moved closer to me. “You and I would make a great pair.” He was so close now that I stepped away and found my back pressed against the railing that ran around the gallery. “Theresa wouldn't mind, you know,” he whispered, so close to me now that his knee was forcing forward through my light skirts. “She'd be all for it. Keep it in the family. She likes it like that. Less complications.”

His hands moved from my shoulders down my arms, his thumbs just brushing at my breasts. I put my own hands up to push him away. “Barney, I beg you, please stop this at once. Apart from the fact that you know it’s not right, did you ever consider that I might already be promised to another man?”

He moved away, but not much. He was still dangerously close. “Oh, so you've had experience in the pleasures of the flesh, have you?”

“I have had experience in promising my heart, which is not the same thing,” I replied stiffly. “There is a young man who waits for me and I wouldn't break my oath of fidelity to him for anything in the world.”

“And who is this young paragon?” he asked.

“He’s—” I tried to make my brain work rapidly. In all my prepa-ration to take over the role of Molly Gaffney, a sweetheart had never entered into the picture. And worse still, a vivid image of Daniel Sullivan popped into my head and wouldn't leave. “He’s a policeman,” I said.

“A policeman? God’s teeth, woman, you can do better than that for yourself. Isn't one of the reason you came over here to make a good match for yourself?”

“I didn't say the family approved of him,” I said. “Now can we please drop the subject and let me return to the ladies in the parlor.”

As he let me go I heard the sound of a door closing, very quietly, somewhere along the landing.