But neither Sophia nor Nora would let it go that easily; and Jamie soon found himself cursing the women when he found out they'd be taking him and Heather to court. They'd found common cause and had banded together, and the situation was not improved when he found out Conor was pushing for his rights, no doubt prompted by his mother. Jamie didn't like Conor Ryan in the slightest, and he felt sick inside for Saraid. If the poor girl was forced to marry that brute, her life would be a wreck from which she'd never recover.
Iseult also felt ill when she heard the news, and Saraid was white as a sheet. "I can't face them," she said desperately. "Neither of them will let me go, and they'll force me to marry Conor."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooRsvBikiK
"We'll have to get you married to someone else," Patrick said firmly, squeezing his sister's shoulder. "My friend Daniel is a smart young man, and his mam is the sweetest. They'll take you in and give you a home, and you won't have to worry about yourself or the baby."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhxmb15Thv
Saraid found this to be a wonderful idea, but, since she was sixteen, she needed her parents' permission to marry; and Sophia flat out stated she would not let her daughter marry Daniel. This put Saraid in a foul mood, and it was made worse when she found out her father would not back her in this matter. "Just marry the Ryan boy, and put up with it for your mam's sake," he insisted. "That way, she won't be riding my short-hairs about it."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3nAMszjjW
Iseult was very annoyed when she found out how weak-willed Saraid's father really was, but there was nothing she nor her parents could do. The court ended up ruling in Sophia and Nora's favour anyway, believing they knew what was best for their mutual grandchild, and Iseult's heart was heavy the day she bid farewell to her friend. It was a rushed goodbye; Sophia all but hauled her daughter out of the house after a few hasty farewells were exchanged, and she made it clear Saraid would not be allowed to keep in touch once she was married.
Iseult lived in agony for the next few days, until the news of Saraid's wedding reached her. It had been a quick ceremony, with Nora and Sophia as witnesses - and plenty of Nora's connections to make sure Saraid couldn't run away. Conor had been as smug as any man alive to get the girl he'd raped, and according to the reports, he had bragged to all in earshot that he planned on teaching his wife how to behave. Iseult wasn't sure whether she should scream or be sick when she heard this.
"That man is a bastard," Patrick agreed, as they sat by the lake that bitter afternoon. It was a hot, humid day, with a storm brewing in the distance, and Iseult was glad for the bitter weather; it suited her mood perfectly.
"I just wish there was something we could do," she said miserably. Patrick kissed her hair.
"All we can do is pray," he said, putting a hand under her chin and tilting her face up. His next kiss brushed her forehead and she closed her eyes, an unexpected thrill of delight sending a rush down her spine. It was the first time they'd been alone since the night of the ill-starred party, and Iseult again felt an almost irresistable pull towards the young man in whose arms she sheltered. She knew she ought not to feel like this, not when her friend was doomed to an abusive and loveless marriage, but she couldn't help nestling just a little closer. Patrick seemed to sense her mood.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIe2dGwkHM
"Saraid would be the first to tell us not to fret," he said, correctly guessing Iseult's conflicted emotions. "You know as well as I do that she'd want us to be happy. And there's no shame taking comfort where you can. Saraid wouldn't want us worrying about whether we're doing the right thing when she's so miserable."
This was true, Iseult recalled. "But... don't you have a girlfriend?"
Patrick chuckled and kissed her on the forehead again, his lips lingering on her skin and sending another pleasurable shiver down her spine. "I didn't," he said.
Iseult blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Well, there was a girl who thought she could make a match with me," Patrick said, his mouth twisting in a momentary grimace. "And her name is Kate Ryan."
It was Iseult's turn to grimace. "I remember," she said. "You and her were on a 'date', and she didn't like it very much when you stopped by the house to say hello on your way to Belfast."
"She gave me a right talking to," Patrick agreed. "Said I had no right to be talking to a skinny little girl when I could have her."
Iseult giggled, but quickly sobered. "I remember now why she wanted to walk out with you," she said. "She was all smiles to my face, but I thought she hated you and I were good friends, and that we'd known each other since childhood. It really burned her up that she didn't have that closeness with you."
Patrick nodded. "Which is one of the reasons why I politely turned her down," he said. "She's a savage little bitch, and her last party showed her true colours. You can't trust a Ryan as far as you can throw one - with an anchor attached - but you can trust a Murray." He kissed Iseult again, this time on the tip of her nose, making her giggle. "And I know I can trust this Murray above all others." He followed this up with the softest of kisses on Iseult's lips, and she shivered, resisting the urge to pull him closer, guilt again assaulting her. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him until neither of them could see straight, but she had Saraid to think about, and that killed the urge more effectively than a burst of cold water. 98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEJyX3OLiY
"I love you too," she said, tears glistening in her eyes as she looked up at him. "But..."
Patrick put a finger on her lips. "Shush," he said, firmly but compassionately. He stood and helped her to her feet, holding her hands in a fierce grip as they looked at each other in the fading light as stormclouds began to blot out the sun. "Listen," he said. "I know you're fighting inside; I can feel it. But you need not feel guilty, and if Saraid were here, she'd tell you the same. I'll make a deal with you; I won't say another word, and we can carry on just as we are now, with no promises on either side, and I'll wait for you to come to me when you're ready, even if it's years down the track,and you've walked out with half a dozen other men in the meantime. I won't be jealous, and I won't call you out; I love you too much to do either. You're your own woman, Iseult, and if we get married when we're in our eighties, then we'll get married when we're in our eighties."
Iseult had to smile at that. "I couldn't let you wait that long," she said. "But are you sure?"
"As sure as I know just how much I love you." Patrick gave her hands a loving squeeze. "And I love you as I could never love another woman. Bear that in mind, and never forget it, even should you find yourself in the arms of another man."
A crack of thunder sounded overhead, and Iseult looked up. The storm was on them, but she realised she didn't want to go inside yet, even as the first raindrops began to fall. "I couldn't do that to you," she said slowly. "I'd rather be celibate for the rest of my life than hurt you in any way, even though you're all but giving me permission to go out and, well, walk out with other men."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEklnwKfkvi
Patrick kissed her lightly on the lips again. "I hold no claim to you," he told her gently. "You're free to do what you want with whom you want, and as often as you want. I won't be hurt, because how could I let myself be hurt when I've given you leave to sort out your heart and come to me when you're ready, even thouht that may take years?"
It made sense, Iseult admitted. "Thank you," she said, standing on tiptoe and giving him a kiss in return. "But there won't be a man who can hold a candle to you, Patrick Murray, and you know it."
"Oho, so you've claimed me already?" Patrick teased.
Iseult giggled. "No, but I did overhear you when you came back from the court this morning, bragging to all within earshot how happy you were to take the Murray name."
"My secret's out," Patrick said, pretending chagrin, but his smile was too wide for it to be more than a facade. "Yes, I figured the more I distanced myself from my crazy mother, the happier I'd be. But she's too wrapped up in her unborn grandchild, and she even let me have my car. Not that I care too much for it; the Beetle is about ready." He gave Iseult's hands another squeeze. "Let's leave this for now," he suggested. "We've said all we need to say, and there's not another word that needs to be spoken. Our fate and our future together is in your hands, my dear."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E3UEVap2o
But as they started back to the house, hand in hand, Iseult felt a new wave of guilt assault her. Lightly spoken though Patrick's words had been, she'd felt an immense hurt behind them, and she cursed herself for a fool for letting her worries dominate her emotions. She gave his hand a squeeze as they entered the backyard, and he smiled and returned the squeeze, before letting go and hurrying inside. Iseult chose to head to the pool; immersing herself for a while would be the best way to ease some of the guilt and shame she felt for turning down one of the best men she'd ever know; not for nothing had she said there'd be no man who could hold a candle to the one man she loved more than life itself.
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