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“We have to do something, Sis,” Fergus said. “This cannot go unanswered.”
“I don’t want the past dredged up again. It was humiliating enough the first time.”
“Donella is right. You’ll only cause more trouble,” Uncle Riddick said.
Alasdair made an exasperated sound. “But, Grandfather—”
Lady Reese leaned over and whacked him with her fan. “That’s enough, Alasdair. Lord Riddick has made his decision, and the rest of you will abide by it.”
“Who died and left you in charge?” Fergus muttered under his breath.
Her ladyship narrowed her gaze, as if deciding whether to whack him, too.
Donella mentally steeled herself. “The point is moot. I intend to write to the Mother Superior of an order of Franciscan nuns in Galway. Whatever problem there is with the Murrays will go away after I enter that convent.”
That pronouncement resulted in a stunned silence. Not for very long, however.
“No niece of mine is going off to Ireland,” thundered her uncle. “Much less to Galway.”
“I should say not,” Fergus chimed in. “You’re staying right here with us, Donella. In fact, you’re moving back to Haddon House today.”
Donella repressed a wince. “No.”
He paused. “No . . . to what?”
“All of it.”
Her brother rubbed his forehead, looking frustrated and hurt. “Donella, don’t you want to stay with us? Georgie would be thrilled, you know.”
How could her brother understand what it felt like to be a hanger-on in one’s own house? “That’s terribly sweet, Fergus. It’s just that . . .”
“It’s just that Blairgal is a big, beautiful castle,” Eden cheerfully finished for her. “Who wouldn’t want to live in a castle?”
“And you and Georgie are still newlyweds, Fergus,” Donella said. “You deserve time alone together.”
“Oh, very well,” he grumbled. “But that doesn’t mean you have to run off again. Besides, you just got kicked out of the convent.”
“I didnotget kicked out.”
“You rather did, dearest,” Eden said apologetically.
“That doesn’t meansomeorder wouldn’t want me,” Donella insisted.
“I think you should stay with us for a spell before making any final decisions,” Walter said. He smiled at her. “After all, we missed you very much, and it’s splendid to have you back.”
“I missed you too, Uncle Walter.”
Donella had always been surprised by how homesick she’d been at the convent, and how much she’d missed her old life.
Perhaps Reverend Mother had been right about me all along.
Her mind immediately rejected that notion. She’d fought too hard to chart her own path only to give up now. And then the Murray problem was bound to blow up in her face, sooner or later.
Uncle Riddick, who’d been carefully watching her, finally spoke up. “If you agree to wait six months before making a final decision, I will support you.” He leaned forward, lifting a hand. “But you willnotgo to Galway. We’ll find you a respectable convent in England, if need be.”
She sagged with relief. It was a partial victory and didn’t seem . . . awful. After all, she’d made a thorough hash of things with the Carmelites. Taking time to make a careful decision about where she would go next made sense.
Of course, that still left the Murrays.
