Page 42 of Choices of the Heart

She settled more comfortably against him. He laid an arm around her. She pushed from her mind the memory of their earlier kiss. It had been… magical. But reminders of her duty to Mrs. Archer and her inevitable return to Baltimore had brought reality crashing down around her.

“A favorite memory.” He took a deep breath, and then another. “I had a friend at the orphanage. His name was Robert. He told the best stories. He would make them up right on the spot. He would imagine far off places and exciting adventures. We were always the people in his stories. In those imaginings, we lived in big, fine houses and ate all the best food. We had every luxury life could offer.” His voice was getting a little quieter, a little slower. He was probably drifting off. If he was needed, he could be awoken, but she wasn’t sure he would allow himself that freedom.

“Those few minutes, while he told his stories,” Burke spoke slowly, “life wasn’t so heavy for us.”

It was little wonder he put such store by prestige and perceived importance. Whether or not he realized it, since his childhood the idea of such things was his escape. It was his light in the darkness. She suspected he was searching for it still.

Beside her, Burke had grown quiet. Sophie kept her head against his shoulder. She hoped she was offering him comfort. She was certainly receiving comfort in return.

She’d had a realization that night, one that had left her a bit upended. If staying in Hope Springs would have impacted only herself, she would have seriously contemplated remaining. But she needed to go back to Baltimore. She had to for Mrs. Archer. Yet doing so would mean returning to a life where she had to hide some of who she was, where she wasn’t sure she would be as happy as she was here.

She didn’t know how to reconcile herself to that.

Several days had passed since the Archers’ daughter was born. Katie had returned home. Burke had seen a number of patients since then. But he could not clear from his mind the feeling of awakening on his sofa with Sophie tucked up next to him, sleeping peacefully and soundly. It was something he could very easily grow quite accustomed to.

He dropped in at the Archer home after making a call to a family down the Irish Road. He was certain he would have heard if there were any concerns about Katie or the baby, but it wasn’t a bad idea to simply have a look for himself.

Biddy O’Connor was in Katie’s room when Burke arrived there. Katie was sleeping, and Biddy was tending to the baby.

“How are the mother and child doing?” he asked her.

“Quite well. My sisters-in-law and mother-in-law and I have all taken it in turns to come down here and help her out. And the housekeeper sees to the house and meals. I think Katie’ll get all the rest she needs.”

Burke nodded. That would be the most helpful thing of all. “And how is the baby? Any concerns?”

Biddy had children of her own and had helped with the new arrivals amongst her extended family. She had experience enough that she would have noticed anything concerning.

“Healthy as can be.”

That was reassuring.

Emma poked her head inside the room. She looked quickly at Katie before settling her gaze on Biddy. “Is there anything I can do?” she asked. “I’m happy to help.”

“Thank you. But everything’s being seen to,” Biddy said.

“People don’t have to keep coming,” Emma said. “I’m here. I don’t go to school anymore, so I can help all day.”

“’Tis appreciated,” Biddy said. “But we’ve a handle on it.”

Emma nodded and slipped back out.

“I suspect Ivy also likes to help,” Burke asked.

“She does. Despite being incredibly energetic, she’s good with the little one. Katie will have as much help as she could possibly want. And while Sophie is still here, she’s helping as well.”

While Sophie’s still here.Burke tried not to think about how soon Sophie would be leaving. He knew she needed to return home. He knew Mrs. Archer needed her and that Sophie wanted to be with the woman who’d taken her in. But he would miss her. He would miss her terribly.

“Please reiterate to Joseph and Katie that if they need anything at all not to hesitate to send for me.”

Biddy smiled. “We all know you can be depended on, Burke. But I will remind them.”

He dipped his head and slipped from the room. He’d only just reached the bottom of the staircase and stepped into the sitting room when Mrs. Archer, who was inside, asked him to stop for moment.

He sat on a chair, facing her. “Is something amiss? Are you feeling poorly again?”

“No. My health is quite good at the moment. I’ve had a telegraph from my physician back in Baltimore, and I would very much like to discuss it with you.”

Was she looking to him for insights into a diagnosis or to treat some concern before she made the return trip home? He couldn’t imagine what else she meant to speak with him about.

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