’Twas the first time I’d actually spoken to Baodan alone, aside for the moment on the horse, but I was no nearly conscious enough for that to constitute conversation. I found it hard to imagine what he seemed so keen to discuss with me.
I quickly drifted in a restless and short-lived sleep, stirring as I felt me father’s lips lightly touch me forehead.
“Ye scared me badly, Blaire. When Baodan rode up with ye, yer head bleeding so fiercely, I thought for a moment I would lose ye. Ye are all I had after yer mother died, and I canna bear the thought of losing ye as well.”
I reached up to dash away a rogue tear running down his face, and he quickly grunted in embarrassment. “Ach, I am no a crying man, but a father’s love for his children is enough to bring a man to his knees. How are ye feeling, love?”
“Better.” I dinna say more, no trusting me chest to stay silent otherwise.
“I’m sure that Bri, Mary, and Adelle have already been to see ye. Did they tell ye what I’ve come to speak with ye about?”
“Nay, but Adelle seemed no too pleased about it.”
Father rolled his eyes rather uncharacteristically. “Aye, I suppose she dinna. She’s a strange lass, but I canna say that I doona like her. She’s fiery like ye, Blaire. I am glad that she was there to take care of ye in yer time away.”
I smiled. “Aye, me too. Now what is it, Father?” A small cough escaped, but I was able to hold it in so that it seemed as if I was only clearing me throat.
Intuitively, he stood and moved to the water basin to pour me some water. Once he returned to me side, he spoke. “Baodan has asked me for permission to marry ye.”
I spit up all of the water in me mouth and lost meself in a fit of coughs. “What?” I struggled to get the word out in between loud rattles of me chest.
Worry creased Father’s brow as he scooted in closer to me and cradled me as Baodan had done earlier. Eventually, the coughing subsided and father shook his head in dismay. “’Tis no good. It must be seen to, lass.”
I dinna argue as I had done earlier. He was right. Each fit of coughing grew louder and lasted longer than the time before. “What did ye just tell me, da?”
“He came to me a few days ago and asked permission to marry ye.”
“Why would he do such a thing? Are ye sure that ye dinna arrange this? Ye did it once before. What did ye tell him?”
He took both of me hands in his own, stroking them tenderly. “Nay, lass, I did no such thing. I was wrong before to send ye here to wed Eoin, but please believe me, I only did it because I thought it best for ye.”
“I know.” And I did know. I was the most precious thing in the world to him. He just dinna know what to do with me.
“I dinna tell him aye, but I dinna tell him nay either. I told him the choice was yers, lass. I will no make such a decision for ye again.”
That was at least some relief. “Thank ye. Ye doona think that I should do it, do ye, Father?”
He looked down and shrugged before looking back in me direction. “I doona know, lass, but I believe him to be a good man. What will ye do if ye doona marry? Ye are welcome to return home, but I doona believe that ye wish to do so. What is there for ye here? Ye were no meant to work in the house of the Conalls. Ye deserve a family and keep of yer own.”
’Twas a fair question but one I’d given little thought to. “I doona know, Father. But I doona know the man, and I doona believe that I could ever love him.”
“Ye canna know that for sure, lass. I dinna love yer mother at all when we married, but she was me very soul by the time she left this world. I will no advise ye what to do. Ye are a sharp lass and, in this, I shall let ye decide. All I ask is that ye think on it. Speak with him. Get to know him before the McMillans leave in three days time.”
I nodded, unsure of what to say. Father could tell that I needed rest. He bent to kiss me once more. “I love ye, lass. Sleep now and think of it come morning.”
Tucking the blankets around me and pouring me more water, he blew out the candles as he left, leaving me in the darkness. I lay awake for hours before sleep finally took me, all that he’d said turning over in me mind.
Chapter 30
The Roadside Inn
Present Day
“What’s the matter, love? What have ye seen?”
Morna jumped at the sound of her husband’s voice. Slowly she opened her eyes, pulling herself out of the dream. “Ach, Jerry. It doesna seem to matter how often I help them, they always find a pathway to trouble.”
He sat with her wrapping his frail and bony arms around her as she’d known he would, the supporter he’d always been for her. “Who, lass? What has happened?”