Three weeks later, Patrick prepared to go to Galway to begin learning the business in preparations for his eventual takeover of the company. Iseult was sad to see him go, but also worried about what might happen while he was in Galway. She knew she had no right to ask him not to let himself fall for either Kate or Quinn's charms, but even so, as she said goodbye to him, it was hard to keep her mouth shut on that subject. Patrick, however, knew exactly what she was trying not to say.
"I'm not going to let myself be beguiled by devil women," he assured her, his tone light, but carrying an underlying note of bitterness that had been present ever since their heart-to-heart three weeks ago. Iseult also had the uncomfortable feeling that he was referring to her as a devil woman, but she bit her tongue. "I've got more sense in my noggin than that," he added. "You know me well enough to know that when I give my word, I keep it."
That was a slap in the face Iseult couldn't ignore. "You're doing a poor job of it," she snapped. "For all that you said you weren't going to upbraid me about my decision, you're acting like a jilted lover!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLb2VCKCXv
Patrick drew a deep breath. "You can't blame me," he said, his voice finally betraying some of the glass-edged hurt he'd been carrying for three weeks. "I thought we actually stood a chance! You're the one playing hot and cold on me, for God's sake."
"You're the one who's playing hot and cold with me now," Iseult pointed out. "You said you had no issues waiting for me, however long that took, but you've been avoiding me like a bad smell, and you won't tell me you're upset so we can have a chance to fix this!"
"What's there to fix?" Patrick demanded, finally losing his temper. "You're the one who got cold feet because you were too scared of what my sister might think! As if she's going to give a toss if you get with me."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIFwsDLNtF
"It's not that," Iseult insisted. "I know she won't give two figs one way or the other, but she's trapped in a marriage that's going to give her hell for the rest of her life. What right do I have to walk out with someone when my best friend is suffering atrocities that ought to be outlawed? And no," she added, "it's not you. I'd say this to any man, so don't think I'm singling you out."
Patrick shook his head. "We've nothing more to discuss," he said. "I can see you won't see sense. Very well. Be a martyr, and see how warm it keeps you at night. But don't think I'll wait for you now. You say you'd treat any other man the same, but I don't believe it for a minute. I can see it in your eyes; you don't want to get involved with me because you feel Saraid will give you hell for it, when you and I both know that's as far from the truth as you can get." He shrugged. "But, like I said, I'll be damned if I wait for a woman who lets fear get in the way of love." So saying, he turned and walked away, and Iseult felt hot tears sting her eyes as he got into his Beetle. There was something of finality in his words, and Iseult was struck by the horrible realisation that the next time she saw him, he'd have another woman on his arm.
It was all too much; with a sob, Iseult ran down the driveway, tears streaming down her face as she chased the Beetle, calling Patrick's name, pleading with him to stop, throwing caution to the winds as she saw her one chance at happiness slipping away in a cloud of gravel dust.
But Patrick never slowed or stopped, and when he reached the main road, he took off, leaving Iseult standing in his wake, helplessly sobbing his name in between gulps of air. "Don't go," she whispered, wiping her eyes as the tears continued to fall. "Please, don't go."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVltcNV8YCE
But the Beetle never returned, and, with a heart as leaden as her feet, she started slowly back up the drive, realising that Patrick had been right to be short with her; she'd acted like a perfect idiot, and now, any chance she might have had with him was gone. He'd been speaking the truth, and Iseult wondered dully why it had taken her losing him for good to realise that he would have been prepared to wait for her, had she not blown her stack at him in a fit of childish temper.
It didn't matter; she'd lost him, and she clenched her teeth in helpless rage. For all she knew, Patrick would probably hook up with Kate or Quinn out of spite, and try though she might to tell herself he wouldn't be that cruel, Iseult could already guess that he would, in fact, be that cruel. It would be out of character for him, but she knew that if she were Patrick, she'd want to drive her message home in the most brutally direct manner possible. She wondered how long it would take him, but shoved the thought down. She'd soon be busy learning the squidding trade, and soon she wouldn't have time to wonder about the doings of the man she still loved to desperation.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQgvE9t1XI
