Lyssa doused it. “The Irish can’t do that,” she said logically. “The country is part of Britain.”
“No, it isn’t.”
She shook her head. “I’m afraid there are many people who would disagree.”
“I’ve learned that lesson. The hard way,” he admitted. He sat up, resting his arm on a bent knee. “Lyssa, we are an independent country. We have the right to our own Parliament and our own religion—whatever that religion may be.”
“I thought you said you weren’t religious—”
“I’m not,” he said, cutting her off. “I was the bane of the priest and my mother. However, I should be able to choose.”
She didn’t answer right away. He knew what he’d said was so radical to the thinking of the English mind, he didn’t know if she’d be able to digest it. And that was the crux of the matter. He wanted her to understand. He wanted to believe she could grasp the depth of his passion that had led to such folly.
Tracing the red line in her plaid, she asked quietly, “So are those beliefs the reason you have a price on your head?”
“A price!” He waved the thought away dismissively. “Ten quid. Hardly enough for anyone to trouble themselves over…but enough to get me transported to Botany Bay if I should be turned in.”
She took a moment to digest this piece of information. Releasing her breath on a sigh, she asked, “So, why are you telling me?”
Because I’m falling in love with you.
But that would be a foolish thing to say. He couldn’t have her. Could never have her. “You should know.”
“So that you can warn me off?”
Her precise assessment surprised him. “Yes.”
She hummed a response as if words failed her. He wished he knew what she was thinking. He wanted her to care—even knowing it was wrong, even knowing nothing could ever happen between them, he wanted her to care.
However, for once, he could not read her thoughts.
“All right,” she said at last, as if coming to a decision she feared she might regret. “Tell me your tale.” She drew her knees up to her chest, tucking her toes under the hem of her skirt, like a child ready to hear a bedtime story.
“I don’t know,” he hedged. “Everything was so long ago.”
“Oh, no.” She shook her head. “You have played me hot and cold and the time’s come, Ian Campion. You’ve trusted me this far, tell the rest. I have to know.”
And he sensed she did. Besides, why not clear the air between them? Then, when they parted, as they must, she would understand he was the worst possible man for her—and be thankful he hadn’t given her the kiss she’d requested.
He began, “It all started after I returned from London. I’d been reading the law at Lincoln’s Inn,” he said, referring to one of the Four Inns of Court where he’d started his apprenticeship to be a barrister.
“You read the law?”
“Yes.”
“I’m surprised.”
He lifted a skeptical eyebrow. “Because I’m not as illiterate as you had assumed? I speak Latin and Greek along with your much-vaulted French and Spanish. Then of course, I’m conversant in Irish.”
“I never thought you were—” she started, and then broke off. Indeed, she had insulted his intelligence on numerous occasionswhen they’d first met and well she knew it. The stain of embarrassment crept up her cheeks, yet Lyssa was one to hold her own. “What I meant is that I’m surprised…I mean, I didn’t know Catholics had access to, um…” Her voice trailed off.
“Education?” Ian supplied. This was going to be a long conversation. “Catholics are educated,” he said quellingly. “Granted, no university in England would accept us and we’d not attend a Protestant School in Ireland, but there are ways. Some of my friends were sent abroad for their education. My father tutored me. He was a learned man, and I had no trouble with my studies. I was even preparing to be called to the Irish Bar.”
“A Catholic?”
“Lyssa! I don’t practice the religion. But even if I did, there are places for Catholics in the law.” Granted, it was a small place with numerous restrictions, but a place nonetheless. After all, they had to take a stand for their rights somewhere.
But Lyssa’s active mind had moved on. “I surmised there was something more to you than met the eye,” she said victoriously.
